Do Lyrics Matter?

What matters more to you - lyrics or instrumentation?  I once had a boyfriend who pronounced during a leisurely drive, "The lyrics just don't matter as long the actual music is good."  Something in me went off, and I realized he might not be the one for me.  He is now an ex.

Hey, I certainly value instrumentation.  The composition of a song, whether it has lyrics or not, is one of my favorite things to analyze.  Lyrics aren't all important - but they are important  If there are words over that beat I believe they should be factored into the quality of that song.

Note that it is also in my opinion that if it is in the nature of a song to be silly, the lyrics can be a bit silly too.  For different genres there are different types of lyrics, and that is perfectly respectable.  Lady Gaga, for instance, is one of my favorite artists.  She has written various verses and choruses with odd phrases - remember "bluffin' with my muffin?"  It works for her.  It helps that she's written some great lyrics with substance as well - "Speechless," for example.

Check out musician and YouTuber Alex Day analyzing Lady Gaga's lyrics for "Telephone."

To those who say lyrics today are worse than in the past, I beg to differ.  Many of them simply mean pop music lyrics are worse than they were in the past.  We have more options in what we listen to today.  You can't complain about the quality of our lyrics if all you're listening to are the current charters.  You may have to go looking for the well-written choruses, but they're there.  What's more is you don't have to rule out Top 40 radio either!  Gotye and Adele lyrics will tear your heart out, in a good way.

So keep in mind the genre you are listening to when you get discouraged by less than stellar wording.  We haven't lost our talented singer-songwriters.  Great lyrics are still alive; lyrics that resonate with you, lyrics you can belt out and cry to, lyrics that change you.  And if you're having difficulty finding them in today's music...well, there's always the classics to restore your spirit.

Who knows?  Perhaps you'll even write some yourself. 

Gotye: Rising to Global Fame

Last summer, I was introduced to the music of the man with the name I could not yet pronounce, the music of a man that you have almost definitely heard of by this point - Gotye.  Now, I do not want to sound like one of those people who shows off because they knew about an artist before everyone else...but I did know about Gotye before many other Americans did!
Today, however, you can't go on a social media outlet without seeing someone post one of his hits, "Somebody That I Used To Know" (featuring Kimbra) at the forefront.  This multi-talented musician with a voice that sounds like it has been sent from the gods is not just huge in Australia anymore, but has worked his way into the hearts of the rest of the world.  I have noticed people I never would have guessed would like his work posting it to Facebook or their Tumblr's.  Keep in mind, however, that I didn't think some of these people would ever have a Tumblr, either!
More recently, his music has moved from the web to radio stations here in New York.  I've had friends inform me they heard him on Q104.3 and Fresh 102.7.
Let's just say I'm glad I got (cheap) tickets to one of his shows at Webster Hall when I did!  He has already added a show in NYC, noting the desire for one by new fans.  The next time he tours and passes through the city, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to get tickets so easily (and for so cheap).
How do I feel about that?  Sad that I'll have to dole out more money in order to see him, but happy that his music has now gone global.  This man deserves it.  His music makes me weep, and dance, and sing with all my might.  Other people should get to live through the experience, and he, the true talent that he is, should get to give it to them.  I'm happy for him and I'm happy for us, the listeners.
So, if you have yet to listen to Gotye, do yourself a favor and make it happen.  After you do, you may want to attempt to find a ticket to one of his shows.  I cannot express how excited I am to finally see this man.
I leave you with the first song I heard by Gotye, a song I have heard again and again and again since that first time.  This is one of those songs, and music videos, that has made me cry all of the tears.