How much do you care about lyrics in music?
 

A lot of lines and song lyrics are memorable and/or historical. Good lyrics are nice and bad lyrics can either be funny or very cringe-worthy.

Personally, as someone who likes death metal and Japanese pop music, I can't say lyrics are THAT important to me. in thrash metal, traditional heavy metal and rock music in general obviously they'll be more important, but it's not like it will bother me if the bands happen to sing in a foreign language I don't speak either. And ofc, let's not forget that a lot of music is instrumental. I doubt people will feel bothered by the lack of lyrics in classical music and jazz, for example. Music itself is a form of communication, just like art is. A comic panel or a drawing doesn't necessarily need to have text on it to get its message across.

At the end of the day, the most important thing of music to me is the actual music itself. Kinda like the most important thing in a video game is its gameplay and the experience, and not how great the story is per se. Good lyrics are more of a bonus overall. Mediocre lyrics can easily be overlooked if the musicians behind the song are talented. But good lyrics simply will not save a terrible musician/song, imo. Not to mention that a lot of time I listen to music I'm outside, riding public transit or just home on my computer working on something else, meaning I'm not 100% focused on the lyrics.

Basically, I don't play a song expecting to hear lyrics that could possibly win the Nobel Prize of Literature award.

What about you?

A lot.

/10char

90% of the time I don’t understand the lyrics to any song because the music goes over the words or I can’t understand the singers. And I’m too lazy to look up the lyrics online. So I get about 10 words in on every song.

Depends on the artist. My favorite Band is Blind Guardian, and if I'm listening to them, I'll probably bring up the lyrics and read along (especially if I'm listening to tracks like 'And Then There Was Silence' or albums like 'Nightfall in Middle Earth')

Blind Guardian have pretty clear vocals being a power metal band and all though.

I agree it depends on the artist. Doesn’t matter to me if it’s opera, metal or in a foreign language. I care more about the lyrics if it’s other genres.

Bob Dylan
 

Bob Dylan is the only pop artist to have done that.

Bob Dylan is an interesting case. He's not a good singer, especially live, and I bet even himself would admit that... but yet a lot his songs are pretty great. It's like he's telling a story every song.

Do I listen to the lyrics to a song and care about them?

It depends on if I like the song. Granted, it takes a few 're-listens' to a song to actually understand the lyrics, but I take to them pretty quick afterwards.

I'm not going to lie and say that I never misheard a few lyrics or song titles because, I totally have done that on more than one occasion.

A lot. I mostly listen to rap. Eminem, Tech N9ne, ones like that. Also a lot of older artists. I don't like the mumble mess.

Yeah, I only like some rap, but in that genre specifically the lyrics are a big part of my interest. I'm a big fan of Madchild and Swollen Members specifically for that reason, although the beats are great too. But the lyrics are what makes it all come together.

Yeah, I do. But I have to take it with the artist's intent, as well. If the song is meant to just be a fluff piece that sounds good, then there's not a whole lot to unpack. If it's supposed to be some deep riddle of a song that warrants a closer look, I'll give a closer look.

Or, if I hate the song, I'll read the lyrics so I can hate it better.

See, rap is a good example of how good lyrics won't necessarily save a song for me. A lot of times I've happened to listen to rap songs which had interesting enough lyrics but the background beat/sample wasn't to my liking, thus making the song less enjoyable.