Inspired by the Leash thread.

I know a lot of people here don't like a lot of the older songs based on the lyrics being "immature" and "inexperienced". What about the music. Do those of you that dislike Why Go, as an example, dislike the music, lyrics or both? What about Leash?

For me, music comes first. If i don't enjoy the music surrounding the lyrics, I won't give two hangs what the words say or mean. Conversely, if I dig the music, yet dislike the lyrics, I'll still pretty much say I like the song. For me, the important part is the music. After all, without the music all we'd have is poetry.

Which is more important to you as a listener and fan, the music or the lyrics?

( Wish I knew how to do a poll).

The music, but when the two come together beautifully it makes for the best songs. Satan's Bed is the prime example

I lean toward the lyrics. Always have. I have evolved as a listener however and appreciate the music more, but I always look at the lyrics first.

I think I am an ex-lyric man.

I think I started focusing more on the music just in the past few years. I think dull music can crush even the most thought-provoking lyrics, but dull uninspired lyrics can be fine when they are delivered with some awesome music.

I did not know what Ed was saying in ANY song up until Yield, when I finally learned English. (I still have a hard time with Ed the mumbler)

I was able to understand a little bit with the lyrics in front of me but to tell you the truth I didn’t need it.
The music was so powerful that I immediately became a fan after seen the Jeremy video.

if you dislike Why Go or Leash.. get off the board! haha

I am being serious when I say this, it is hard to even distil whats going on lyrically with PJ anymore post vs because starting with vitalogy, Eddie started to mumble lyrics. For example, it is impossible t know all the lyrics the the great Satans Bed without reading a booklet.

i'm OK with that though. using headphones and reading the liner notes is what i do right when i get the CD. i usually lay in bed and just veg out and enjoy!

The best songs have to have both. I love the music on lowlight, get right, and no way but the terrible lyrics really put me off. On the other hand sleight of hand and thumbing my way have excellent lyrics but I can't get into the music.

But can you get past either of those and say, "I like that song"?



See, with good music, I can. Bad music doesn't save a song for me at all. I'll never like SOH of NaiS because I just can't get past the fact I absolutely hate the music in both of those.

I'm kinda in the same boat on Low Light, Get Right and No Way in that I dig the music but don't really like the lyrics. But I can say I dig the songs.

And I'm not suggesting that the best songs not contain the two factors. They do. That's why they are the best songs.

i agree. the music is more important. if the music is good but the lyrics are bad, i will still listen to the song (and often eventually grow to like the lyrics for whatever reason). if the music is bad i can never seem to get into the song- it will either bore me or irritate me and i will skip it!

basically, the music carrys the lyrics

They are of equal importance, I think, because I can't get into a song that fails in either department.

"It's not about the lyrics,... it's about the feeling" -Eddie

forget where i heard it but i know i had it in my aim profile for a long time

I think Lowlight and No Way are perfect examples of songs that should be great, but aren't because of the lyrics. I like both songs, but with better lyrics I would like them a lot more.

both awesome songs.. musically and lyrically

both awesome songs.. musically and lyrically

if i can relate to the lyrics and a song is written well-im sold, music comes second for me

It really depends on the band. Generally I'd say music, but if a song has really terrible lyrics, I sometimes can't help excluding that song from my favorites. But either way, I'll take a song with terrible lyrics over a song with terrible music any day.

The real solution is to listen to bands that sing in such a way that the lyrics are difficult to decipher.

i don't realy like why go.
why? the music. lyrics are fine for me.

and i love the lyrics of leash. and the music. one of the best on Vs.

drop the leash
drop the leash
get outta my fucking face

i like it. really similar to Whipping lyrically, i think. love both.

but i'll agree that this band's best music comes when they have good lyrics and good music. the lyrics sometimes can be so good that it makes a song one of my favorites though. Who You Are for example.

This isn't true with all bands(some of my favorite bands don't even sing), but with PJ it is fairly true.

If I don't like the music, I won't like the song (Even Flow). If I don't like the lyrics, I may still like the song (Sweet Lew). So I suppose in my case the music is more important overall, even if I pay more attention to the lyrics.