Na, just a dopey lyrical phrase embedded in a popular song. There are a bunch out there.
I think there might be a few (dare I say) pretty good phrases in there. It might take 5-10 listens to catch them:
If loveâs the cure, Iâll take the medication
To survive this situation
and
What felt like my limitation
Was the start of my situation
I am constantly challenged to rethink the importance of lyrics in music. Especially when it comes to songs I enjoy listening to. Although it can be very subjective, there are so many great songs with lyrics that are uninspiring.
A song is made from a combination of various parts: melody, chord progression, arrangement, lyrics, performance, production, etcâŚ
Do we give lyrics too much importance?
Each to their own of course, and I suspect it depends on the type of music you enjoy, but for me lyrics are probably the most important element. I would suggest they are the most unique part too. Thatâs not to say that there arenât lots of great songs with less than wonderful lyrics or even instrumentals - but the songs that resonate most for me are the ones where the lyrics are central.
For me, I generally do not get on very well with music if I do not have a connection and liking for the lyric and the voice of the singer, ideally both.
All the rest - including guitar histrionics - come secondary.
One thing I know, whatever the mix of man and machine behind its creation, Clint could play his guitar and sing this song in a one-man performance if he wished.
Yes, I have examples to point to, but I donât always feel compelled to publish both versions, or to fully flesh out my acoustic version. Having some musical talent and a vision for a song going in is very helpful in prompting/guiding the AI in the right direction.
The experimental nature of AI should not be overlooked. Taking my scratch padded song and having it sung by a choir, along with my vocals (which I have done), can be kind of mind bending. The options are pretty endless. ![]()
Maybe. Although not sure what âtypeâ means in this case. But let me rephrase. I didnât mean that music I enjoy has less than great lyrics. I meant that I also enjoy some music that has less than great lyrics.
(And obviously I am not taking about complete garbage of lyrics that would just put you off)
I listen to music from different genres, sub-genres and regions spanning several decades (from 50s to today). If the song is good (to me), then itâs good, regardless of genre or decade. Average lyrics creeps everywhere and not limited to a specific genre or decade.
Itâs great to hear other peopleâs perspective and taste. I personally tend to appreciate the performance a lot (by any musician, not only the singer) and I am truly fascinated about the artistic desicions of arrangement and production. Not to say that anything else is not important.
I am also very comfortable in listening to music in languages I donât fully understand. So lyrics there doesnât play any part for me.
Agreed. It doesnât make sense to approach music with a checklist of requirements. It can be good or bad for any number of reasons. It can even be good or bad in part. Donât even get me started on the lyrics to John Lennonâs Imagine. Beautiful music though. ![]()
Iâd love to hear more, Clint
. They might be naive but otherwise very beautiful in my opinion.
Itâs very subjective. Lyrics, just as any other type of art, should be judged in the context it was created in.
If weâre already talking about John Lennon, The Beatleâs âCome Togetherâ is a favorite of mine. I will happily sing along with it. Do I think the lyrics are good? I donât even know if I understand them. I know some part make a reference to Chuck Berryâs âYou Canât Catch Meâ, and I think the title line refers to John and Yoco coming together, over him. But I have no idea what lines like âHe got monkey finger, he shoot Coca-Colaâ mean.
This does not change the fact that I think itâs an absolute fantastic song. The bass guitar riff and the drum part that completes it to perfection, the decision to slow the song down as a pose to playing it the same speed as Chuck Berryâs âYou Canât Catch Meâ (the song is heavily modeled after Chuck Berryâs one), the production (itâs one of the best sounding tracks of The Beatles in my opinion). A great track!
@nadimz
John Lennon was known to be an admirer of Edward Lear and fashioned some of his lyrics (and other writings) after that authorâs ânonsense poetryâ. Several of his songs - partly or wholly - are lyrically nonsense by design.
I think I kind of figured that the lyrics were a mix of random stuff happening around the time of writing and things that didnât make sense. But I did not know about Edward Lear and ânonsense poetryâ. Very interesting fact. And Iâm glad itâs not me not understanding Johnâs message
.
Absolutely but in addition to that the emotions with the vocals. When there is a connection between the singer and the words itâs amazing especially when the music is stripped back.
My 2cs worth (if even worth tuppence)
The actual lyrics are low down on my list of concerns. I think if I really wanted to be all in on the meaning and beuaty of words then Iâd lean into poetry.
I am more attracted to all the other elements of the music and consider the vocals more like an instrument.
That is not to say I wonât be especially attracted to lyrics sometimes, or the opposite. For example, a lot of the rap/hip-hop lyrics put me off, but I am also not drawn to the music as as a rule.
Often connect more to lyrics when I have some sense of context eg Needle and the Damage Done.
And luckily, we can trumpet âeach to his ownâ, âlive and let liveâ
This is a great way to put it.
Interesting, I realise that lyrics are often the last thing I focus on. The melody is always what grabs me first, or the hook of course. The lyrics are always a part of the whole and not in themselves so important.
I am often surprised when the lyrics are actually read. ![]()
Donât get me started because it would include him being (not just naive but) way off-base on religion & politics, instead of evil & greed in the world that thrive independent of religion and politics --meaning that his line should read, âYou may say Iâm delusional.â I would agree to that, because his dream is pure kr@p. ![]()
Here are some lyrics written by a real bona fide fair dinkum flesh and blood hooman.
Ainât no machine gonna write nuffinâ like this:
Ieya, Solar, Ieya
Calling
The perfect sphere
A star
My crystal balls exploding
Ieya, Solar, Ieya
Calling, calling, calling you
Solarâs calling
Calling, calling, calling you
Tell me can you hear me?
Are lasers interfering? Can you hear me?
Calling, calling, calling, calling!
Iâm calling you, Iâm calling you
Mizieya, I am solar, Mizieya, Calling
So youâre the perfect sphere? A star?
Iâm the beast, The shiny beast, Meet me, the beast!
Mizieya, I am solar, Mizieya
Iâm the beast, The beast of the jungle, The beast on the street
Meet me! Fear me! Fear the beast!
My metals are shining, The serpent screams
Fear the beast, Fear me! Iâm the beast! Iâm the beast!
Can you hear me? Iâm calling you
Mizieya, I am solar, Mizieya, Chanting
âZion, Zooberon, Necronomicon, Zion Zooberon, Necronomiconâ
Ieya, I am solar
Zion Zooberon, Necronomicon, {spit}
Zion Zooberon, Na na, na na hey! Debauch {spit}
Zion Zooberon, Say youâre solar?
Zion Zooberon, I am your solar
Mizieya, Mizieya (Ieya), Mizieya (Ieya), Mizieya
Mizieya, Mizieya (Ieya), Mizieya, Mizieya
Na na na na hey debauch, Na na na na hey debauch
Na na na na hey, Debauch, debauch, Na na na na hey debauch
Zion Zooberon, Zion Zooberon, Na na na na hey, Na na na na hey
Zion Zooberon, Debauch debauch debauch debauch
Na na na na hey, IeyaâŚ
WuddaFudda!!
Ah right, yeah - itâs Toyah.
You win the prize!
Au contraire, mon ami.
AI is perfect for that kind of thing. Especially the language models.
They cracked it way back in the 90s with a program called âBabelfishâ
I used to use it to translate German and French. It was handy as a dictionary aid, but only if you knew the other language for context. The translations it came out with were of high-calibre-comedic value⌠If you were into surrealism ![]()
Iâm pretty sure, if you told the platform of your choice to write lyrics in the style of say, Capt. Beefheart, with a sci-fi flavour, thereâd be plenty of food for thought⌠![]()
In a funny twist of fate, I heard the latest Apple Airpods work exactly like Richard Adamâs Babelfish in the Hitchikerâs Guide to the Galaxy: You put the tiny thing in your ear and it translates foreign (alien) languages in real time! ![]()
Iâm keeping a close eye out for the Vogons and the superhighway, but not too worried as Iâve made a reservation at the Restaurant at the end of the Universe
![]()