I always wondered about what people's answer would be to this question: When you guys listen to music do you listen to the lyrics/singing only or to the tune or the actual "sound" however you want to put it. Sorry it might sound confusing but I couldn't really think of a better way of putting it lol. Anyway I tend to listen to the musical tunes and stuff more definately..
I've never really cared much for lyrics, i'm usually all about the actual music. There are a few bands where I do listen/read the lyrics such as Meshuggah, but I also listen to a lot of power/traditional metal which for those who listen to metal know can quite often be very cheesy.
the music, definately. I very often don't realise what the poo they are singing until someone covers it and sings it clearer, or they sing it live....
Firstly, I tend to see how decent the drummer is And nice guitar effects are nice, and the singer if he has talent. i.e GlassJaw, cover that well.
I usually listen to the bass and drums initially...then guitars... But some bands have a singer that grabs you so well that you have no choice to listen to him/her. *n
Normally I listen to the drums, guitats, then lyrics, bass, other - in that order. Lyrics come first for some bands like Bad Religion, and with bands like Opeth the guitars come first.
I just listen to the combined music, I can't make out the lyrics half the time so it's not worth trying <A88>
Being a bassist, I generally pick up the bassline first, then drums and guitars and sometimes (honestly...) the vocals. I still have no idea what the singer in the last band I played with was actually singing, it just doesn't seem that important most of the time There are obviously exceptions, but for the main, the above applies. Sorry too all those lyricists out there (especially Joe, sorry mate)
Like Penski implies, really depends on the song and what's going on. Some songs, I just know the song so well that the whole thing just blurs into one and I'm just listening to it as a 'sound' (Depeche Mode ). Some are all about the music and the vocals over the top are just another instrument (Prodigy, Chemical Bros, etc..) and some are the complete opposite, it's the lyrics and singing which make it and the instruments just back it up. (This Womans Work - Kate Bush)
Depends entirely on the artist. If it's electronica then the music obviously. Some bands rely on lyrics more than music and it shows, however I tend to listen to the music slightly more than lyrics; but, again, it depends on the artist.
It really depends on the artist, but I'd say I listen more to the 'whole thing' than just one part. (Especially true when lyrics are indistinguishable from music) - H.
Definitely depends on what I'm listening to. Artists like Beth Orton (etc) I definitely listen to the lyrics, and the same goes for many hiphop acts like Kweli, Mos Def, etc, where their songs have strong messages. Others though, like some Cunninlynguists stuff, I havne't got a chuffin clue what they're saying half the time. It's all about the music.
The song as a whole the first time round then I get down to the individual parts unless its a female singer with a really unique or powerful voice.
