I'm wondering what people class as good lyrics, and why more importantly.
BQ - Favorite lyricist
Thanks. =D
Interesting question!
In a single word: relatability. If I can relate to the song, the genre becomes unimportant - it's brilliant.
In a second word: emotion. If lyrics can invoke a strong emotional reaction from me - anything from laughing to crying, it's brilliant.
I think good lyrics are lyrics I can relate to, that make sense, and sound good. They have to flow, like a poem. If there's no rhythm to the lyrics, nothing that grabs my attention and makes me want to listen, then I won't like the song. Just a bunch of words or phrases that make absolutely no sense when put together or don't flow off the tongue are bad lyrics - regardless of who writes them.
My favorite lyricist is Prince. Although people may think he's 'weird' I find his music to be good. I can relate to his music and do any daily activity to it. When you look at his lyrics, a lot of them have such deep meaning it's astounding.
Lyrics that make you think
-----
My favorite lyricist is Neil Peart
I call good lyrics ones that can tell a story or tell reflect something meaningful. For that, I enjoy Bruce Springsteen.
I think it starts with a signature style. I like hearing a sort of continuity and vibe to a songwriter. Kind of like Paul Simon is very conversational and Steve Malkmus is very quirky and veiled and is based greatly in round about language. Elliott Smith is incredibly blunt and has a sort of poetically gritty style.
From there, it's really about playing to your strengths. For me personally, it takes me a lot to really think about what is being said. I like to learn the words because I'm that guy singing along in the car, but the content isn't terribly important to me. There are those who kind of rise above and make me curious though. If you can make me even wonder a little about what a song is born from you have written a great song.
Generally (at least from where my head is as I am writing this) there are three major concepts that most good songwriters have in some combination (or are very strong in one). It can either be a powerful use of language. Kind of like I said with Elliott Smith. Gritty and poetic. Elliott Smith, and in a less volatile way Lou Barlow, are very good at making the listener feel that they have some insight into their head. Through effective imagery and blunt language they create something sort of relatible. They give you a perceived window. This is a very powerful style for a songwriter because when you can bring the listener into you... well, a connection to the writer feeds the concept of an overall narrative and listeners love feeling like they know exactly where a song comes from.
Another way is syllable fusion and veiled content. I gave up on trying to figure out veiled content a few years ago, but I love the concept of these weird lines that sound so great together and kind of grab at the analytical brain being placed together. That question of "does this mean anything at all?" It sounds like it's a 50/50 proposition, but the syllables line up so nicely and have catch factor to them. Either that or the whole picture comes to a vibe. Seeing that you're a Nirvana fan I would place Cobain for instance as a sort of hybrid of these first two concepts. He may have been more straight forward than say a Steve Malkmus, but a great deal of his mystique was built on grit and vibe. The old Smells Like Teen Spirit joke is that you were already a Nirvana fan before you even had any clue what he was saying.
The third is the classic sing song, catch factor, poetic but in a classic song format and vibe. This is a category that the song, the song that I believe is perhaps the best piece of songwriting I've heard, Here Comes the Sun just exemplifies. Paul Simon's St. Judy's Comet, Tom Waits' Please Call Me Baby. I'd say a great number of the all time greats generally walk between this and the first category (people who lean heavily to the second category are generally more niche songwriters). One of the things that made Lennon/McCartney so successful was that Lennon was a great example of the first (with a definite splash of the second) and McCartney is a master of the third.
At any rate, that's my take for what it's worth. Great question.
BQ - Probably Elliott Smith
Lyrics that make me think, or make me feel something, are good lyrics. If there aren't good lyrics, doesn't mean the song is bad though.
Lyrics for me need to evoke a strong reaction, be it love, pity, determination, or any combination therof.
Favorite lyricist hast to be Paul Simon, Next would be Whoever wrote Supertramp's songs.
Well written words that paint a picture in the mind and captivate the soul.
Bob Dylan:
EX: There's a home place under fire tonight in the Heartland
And the bankers are takin' my home and my land from me
There's a big achin' hole in my chest now where my heart was
And a hole in the sky where God used to be
There's a home place under fire tonight in the Heartland
There's a well with water so bitter nobody can drink
Ain't no way to get high and my mouth is so dry that I can't speak
Don't they know that I'm dyin', Why nobody cryin' for me?
John Hiatt:
EX: What there was left of us
Was all covered in dust and thick skin
A half eaten apple
The whole Sistine chapel
Painted on the head of a pin
A life long love's work
Gone up in a smirk
And you didn't even see her waltz in
Now this love is a ghost, for having played host
To the most unoriginal sin
At the wedding we smiled
While some devil played wild violin
Soon after the chapel
She offered me that apple
One bite and i was gone with the wind
They have to make sense. I don't like them to be too rhymey either. I have to be able to "feel " them too. But the too rhymey lyrics are just NO.
**** I forgot... I will get a lot of tds for this, but my favorite lyricist is Courtney Love. Her lyrics are a sucker punch to the gut for me. She ( when she was in Hole ) really struck a nerve.
If there is much emotion in it (e.g. Fade To Black, Hallowed Be Thy Name). This when I get addicted to a song.
If it doesn't contain too much gore like Cannibal Corpse, which made them posers.
What I hate the most is the ANGSTY fa66ot lyrics like those in Fall Out Boy, Secondhand Serenade, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus! I can't stomach how they dared play loser love songs with distorted guitars.
i donno, sometimes good lyrics can be just one line in a song that sticks with you and hits you hard. other times just something that makes you think, or other times something you can relate to. there are lots of ways to have good lyrics.
BQ- Bob Dylan
Lyrics can be good for many reasons. They can make you think. They can reflect your feelings at the time which makes them personally meaningful to you. They can paint vivid pictures of a time and place or situation. As you get older, they can bring you back to an event (good or bad) in your life.
My favourite lyricists are clever ones. Songwriters who play with words and make you laugh sometimes. A good example of this would be Elvis Costello with lyrics such as "She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake" in Watching the Detectives or Tilbrook/Difford (Squeeze) "My assets froze while hers have dropped" from Is That Love?
My favourite lyricists, besides those mentioned above, would be Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding from XTC. Joe Jackson is also fabulous.
I like songs that tell a story, or one that stresses a powerful meaning to it.
BQ:James Hetfield or Layne Staley
What makes lyrics good to me is something lyrics that are deep and meaning full. Also anything that you can relate to or empathize with.
Layne Stanley
When I can relate to them... That's actually the only reason for me.
BQ-- Devin Townsend
If I don't get pictures in my head, they're not good lyrics. Peter Gabriel is good at this.
2 things: when the artist knows what they are talking about and when the lyrics are witty, funny or cool.
Bad Lyrics: Selling an untrue story like it's true and then making money off it.
BQ- Don't have one
 Where's The Advantage In Windows Genuine Advantage?
 Stocks Bounce After S&P Joins Bear Market
|
PRINT
Add to favorites