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. 

The Spring Break Music Fix

For me, relaxing and music go hand in hand.  So, naturally, I spent quite a bit of my spring break using the art to lull me into as relaxed a mood as I can get into.  Here are a few highlights from the week, and, no, Coachella isn't featured.  This New Yorker has stayed on her own coast, catching the desired performances on good old YouTube.

 

 

Grunge Beginnings

Me with Eric Erlandson of Hole

The set-up in Brooklyn's Book Court

Mark Yarm's book

Eric Erlandson and Mark Yarm discussing grunge topics

I'm a grunge woman.  By that I mean some of my favorite bands of all time hail from the era, and I love to wear plaid.  So when my fellow grunge-loving friend asked me if I'd like to go to Brooklyn to see former Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson discuss his book Letters to Kurt (yes, that Kurt), I presented her with an enthusiastic "Yes."

The crowd at Book Court in Brooklyn Heights was modest but filled with a palpable energy.  Mark Yarm, former senior editor for Blender and author of grunge-stars story filled Everybody Loves Our Town, soon introduced Erlandson. They began by discussing Letters to Kurt, a book of prose poetry inspired by Cobain's suicide twenty years ago and the grunge scene.  Yarm then questioned the rocker-writer about his lifestyle in Hole and his lifestyle today.  Yarm and the audience threw around the questions concerning the "real" Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain.  Erlandson, now a practicing Buddhist, replied sweetly and humorously to these questions.  "Do you really want to know what Courtney's like?" he responded to an audience member, and we in turn guffawed.  He chose to focus on her high points, like her being an example of a strong woman storming through the business.  We could tell that she very well is probably what we'd expect her to be like.  A few days later, we were treated to news of her latest Twitter madness.

Eric Erlandson and Mark Yarm inspired me with their ability to combine passions for music and writing, passions I share.  I must mention that they were both very pleasant men to meet as well.  The night was definitely a successful venture.  I look forward to reading both of their books.

Below, I present you with a quick grunge playlist I put together of just some of my favorite songs.  I would encourage music-lovers to listen to the entire discography of these bands.

 

Spring Cleaning

Okay, so perhaps it isn't the most relaxing event, but sometimes a break is the only time you have to clean house.  What better way to get it done than by singing your little heart out as you do?  This isn't Cinderella.  No birds were coming along to help me scrub the floors, but jamming out does seem to help the time fly by.

One of my prime artists to clean to this break was Nerina Pallot.  Never heard of her?  Do yourself a favor and listen to as much of her catalog as you can.  The British singer-songwriter's music is well-constructed and catchy.  Her lyrics are effortlessly beautiful, and she can do some wonderful things with her gorgeous voice.

I hope everyone's spring break was as relaxing and musical as mine was.  Now it's back to the grind.  There is work to be done...and there are albums to be listened to!