Re: No good song lyrics in the world

Why do many English speakers want to listen only songs with English lyrics? Because they want to understand the lyrics. This is stupid.

First off, uh, how is that stupid to want to understand the lyrics? To me that's like saying it's stupid to read only books in English even if you can't read other languages. People listen to music for a variety of reasons. Some people prefer instrument-driven music; others prefer content-driven music. I fall into the latter category. I am a lyrics person more than an instrument person. I will listen to iffy music with good lyrics before I'll listen to iffy lyrics with good music, though I prefer both to be good and seek that out. Secondly, don't stereotype all English speakers. There are plenty of them who like foreign music.

I do not know a single song in the world with really good lyrics

By who's standards? Yours? Most of the world disagrees with you, and for good reason. I would say that Josh Ritter and Maynard Keenan are both amazing lyricists (as well as excellent musicians.) Ritter can tell an incredibly complex story in a single song, and Keenan packs layers of meaning into his lyrics. Both Keenan and Ritter are highly inspirational to me. Another is Siouxsie Sue of Siouxsie and Banshees. She has a way of painting vivid scenes in your mind that are haunting. And Poe. God, I could go on and on about what a brilliant pop album Haunted is.

Dylan? No, not really great poems.

That's one thing I agree with you on. Dylan is overrated. His lyrics aren't all that great and neither is the music for the most part. However, he was cutting edge in his day and pretty much single-handedly generated interest in folk music. There were better folk singers, I think, but Dylan became the poster boy for folk music and thus became an iconic musician.

Sometimes the poem is written by a great poet and the music is composed by a great composer, but they are somehow incompatible and the outcome does not sound good.

Hmm, care to provide some examples of what you mean?

And I happen to know something about writing and literature.

Well, good for you.

You may think that you know a song with good lyrics, but it may also be that your standards are much lower than mine.

Ya think? Clearly your standards aren't simply high; they are impossibly so, allowing you to look down on us poor deluded saps.
:eye roll:

Re: No good song lyrics in the world - your opinion?