What has the greatest influence on a great song?

Question

The lyrics of the song or the melodic sound?

Answering "both" isn't what I'm after... Im interested people's answer to which is the bigger hook.

Answer 1

I would have to say that the lyrics to a song do not stand on there own, except for the poetry aspect.
The melody is what binds a song. Without a good melody a song is doomed, excluding some types of music. Speed metal, for example doesnt need much of a melody, but you can still find one if you try. As for a vocal performance, inflection is so very important, with tone, pitch, etc. falling close behind. Check out the lyrics below and when you just read them it doesnt have much effect on you. If you dont have the song, find it and you will understand what I am talking about very quickly.

To quote John Popper from the Blues Traveler song called "Run Around" From the album called "Four".-

"It doesn't matter what I say
So long as I sing with inflection
That makes you feel that I'll convey
Some inner truth of vast reflection
But I've said nothing so far
And I can keep it up for as long as it takes
And it don't matter who you are
If I'm doing my job then it's your resolve that breaks"

Answer 2

It's like a person sometimes, the lyrics being what's inside and the melody being the outward appearance. Sometimes all it takes is a good melody to get you moving and it doesn't matter about the lyrics. More importantly though, it's what's inside that counts; which (more often than not) determine whether your heart is touched or possibly changed.

The melody attracts you to the song but it's the lyrics that determine whether you hold on to it.

Answer 3

i know you don't want to hear it, but it depends.

there are songs where i love the lyrics, but hate the music.
There are songs where i love the music, but hate some, many , or all the words. The concept.

for me to buy it , and sing it, i HAVE to like the melodic sound. But i am more likely to buy it if i like both the melody and the lyrics.

Answer 4

My initial reaction replaced into "Metallica, obviously", yet i'm no longer so effective. in case you had stated impression on not straight forward Rock or Rock more often than not, it may well be Metallica. yet impression on the metallic international? Metallica actually inspired alot of bands. i don't understand how a lot the guy individuals quite inspired the kind, although. Kirk is a magnificent guitarist, yet replaced into similar in type (IMO) to a lot of his friends. James vocals were no longer quite some thing particular previous the actual undeniable truth that the in wonderful condition properly with the music. Dimebag for sure inspired alot of guitarists. i imagine Phil had distinctive impression on the music international "accepting" harsher vocals. There wasn't alot of screaming or growling form vocals that were given airplay in the previous Pantera. For now i will say Pantera.

Answer 5

I would have to say the melody is the most important.

If a song just doesn't sound good, it doesn't matter what the lyrics are.

Answer 6

I know you don't want to hear "both," so I'm going to say, "either." People like aesthetics and when they hear a song, they'll focus in on what they like best (either the lyrics or the melody) and their opinion of that with color their opinion of the rest of the song.

Answer 7

It's the music. The rhythmic sounds, the drum beats..if it doesn't sounds good, no one will care about the lyrics. Example: "Stairway to Heaven" , the music grabs you, and the lyrics almost make no sense, but the sounds draws you in , and we all ended up memorizing those mysterious lyrics!

Answer 8

The Melody. There are a lot of songs I love but I don't have a clue what the words are.

Answer 9

the lyrics i believe. And i think relationships (women) have the biggest impacts on lyrics. But there is also the boose and drugs and hatred that shares a big part too.