I be up at the gym, just working on my fitness. He's my witness., ....wow, intelligent. Options

[HakunaMatata]

Okay, I have nothing against that song in particular, but that line irks me like no other line can.

My brother and I were debating about the importance of lyrics, and whether a really good beat or rythym can override terribly stupid lyrics. Personally, I can't stand songs with uber-dumb lyrics, no matter how catchy they are. There have been memorable exceptions (most embarrassingly, Fergie's songs), but as a general rule it's a big, big NO. Perfect example? "I'm in Luv With a Stripper" WTFOMG. I know people that love that song but hate the lyrics, but solely because of the lyrics, I can't stand it.

So, to you, can a catchy tune make you ignore lyrics? Can really good lyrics override a so-so song?

[Señorita Semi-Au...]

Intelligently written or at least poetic lyrics are a must for me. I cannot stand Fergie and I don't like rap (although I do like some hip-hop).

[*mona lisa*]

Yes. I can ignore the stupid lyrics of Touchdown Turnaround by HelloGoodbye for the music. I don't know what it is about the music that get my foot tapping but the lyrics are dumb and it seems that they were chosen merely to rhyme.

Ew, Fergie is just...ew.

[Comptine]

sensible lyrics is a must. it doesn't have to be nobel laureate material but it has to make some sense.

i hate lyrics that just insert random words in either just to rhyme or just cause. it's like... they couldn't come up with anything better and just stuck something in.

[*StanleyThePanda*]

Intelligently written or at least poetic lyrics are a must for me. I cannot stand Fergie and I don't like rap (although I do like some hip-hop).

I concur. Well written lyrics are definitely a must.

[*Duchess of Dork*]

It's a John Lennon VS Paul McCartney thing for me.
John wrote lyrics like this:

Working Class Hero - It's set to a very simple guitar melody. Nothing fancy at all.
As soon as your born they make you feel small
by giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and despise a fool
Till you're so f**king crazy you can't follow their rules
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years
then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religon, sex and T.V.
and you think you're so clever and classless and free
but you're still f*cking peasents as far as I can see
Working Class Hero is something to be
Working Class Hero is something to be

There's room at the top I'm telling you still
but first you must learn how to smile as you kill
if you want to be like the folks on the hill
Working Class Hero is something to be

Yes , A Working Class Hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me

Compared to Paul -

Silly Love Songs - Set to an up beat, some horns, back up vocals by Linda, etc
You'd Think That People Would Have Had Enought Of Silly Love Songs.
But I Look Around Me And I See It Isn't So.
Some People Wanna Fill The World With Silly Love Songs.
And What's Wrong With That?
I'd Like To Know, 'Cause Here I Go Again
I Love You, I Love You,
I Love You, I Love You.

I Can't Explain The Feeling's Plain To Me; Say Can't You See?
Ah, She Gave Me More, She Gave It All To Me
Now Can't You See, What's Wrong With That
I Need To Know, 'Cause Here I Go Again
I Love You, I Love You.

Love Doesn't Come In A Minute,
Sometimes It Doesn't Come At All
I Only Know That When I'm In It
It Isn't Silly, No, It Isn't Silly, Love Isn't Silly At All.

How Can I Tell You About My Loved One?
How Can I Tell You About My Loved One?

How Can I Tell You About My Loved One?
(I Loveyou)
How Can I Tell You About My Loved One?
(I Loveyou)

Now, obviously there is nothing wrong with Paul's song. It's cute and snappy and makes you do this little dance in your chair when you listen to it. It's got its place.

But John's. Wow. He has something real to say, something profound to say. Chances are people will listen to this less (and I'm positive people are less aware of this song than they are of Paul's). Why? Because it isn't as easy to listen to.

To answer the question - I really don't choose either or. I listen to both the deep and the shallow. Let's face it, sometimes bubblegum is softer to chew and the element of fun (sometimes escapism) is welcomed after a long hard day's work. However, if I truly want to get something of music, I'm going for the lyrics with a less catchy tune.

PS - This isn't at all inclusive of what either guys are/were capable of, just examples.

[tokyo-rose]

I'd rather have good lyrics than a good tune. If a song's lyrics are completely stupid (like Fergie's) or the song title alone turns me away ("I'm in Luv With a Stripper"), I'm probably not going to like the song.

I don't like Paris Hilton's songs either.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

Yeah, there's lots of dumb lyrics.

I remember the first editted version of the "I'm in love with a stripper" song said "I'm in love with a tipper" on the radio

I hate it when people go out of there was to try to make words rhyme. Esspecially when it's a gross song and little kids are singing it like "she chewin' on that --- like a peice of bubble gum" No one wants to hear a kid singin' that...

[tokyo-rose]

I hate it when people go out of there was to try to make words rhyme. Esspecially when it's a gross song and little kids are singing it like "she chewin' on that --- like a peice of bubble gum" No one wants to hear a kid singin' that...

Meh, like "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent...
I really dislike those songs that are just totally sexual innuendo and kids sing them while they're innocent enough to not know what the lyrics really mean.

Then there's also the fact that I just don't like 50 Cent, but I won't go into that.

[monxcheri]

without good lyrics, the value of a song decreases.

i don`t mean using the words fun and nun to make a little poem either.

i mean lyrics with sentimental value, or ones that make you wonder or think. or at least ones that make sense.

i absolutely cannot stand songs with lyrics that talk about killing people or having sex everywhere for lack of better things to say.

i also hate songs that have titles that aren`t even spelled right *just like the "I'm In Luv With A Stripper" song*. that just irks me.

[HakunaMatata]

^FOR SERIOUSLY. The only mis-spell that I've ever forgiven is "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly. And even that still bugs me.

[voguelove]

i think it's funny when the guy goes..

T to the A to the S T E Y guuurrrl, you tasteyy.

um, dear fergie, tasty is spelled without the e.

and to answer your question, yes..i think they can. i like that song. because it's so catchy. haha.

[goodcharlotte]

I prefer lyrics over song any day. Like Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional. Not into the whole dashboard thing but the lyrics are pretty good.

[*disco infiltrator*]

Ack, I hate Fergie for that exact reason. And Fall Out Boy. Their songs don't make any sense! I can't stand listening to them because I don't even know what they're trying to say. Music is an art form and the point of any form of art is to convey a message, to envoke emotions, to appease to the senses - songs that have lyrics that don't even make any sense can't even start to do any of those things.

[minioligo]

Lyrics are extremely important to me. (: I like to know that the artist that I'm listening to has something to say, something to make another feel a particular feeling, etc. It's kind of inspiring, even.

But when songs have everything but the 'good lyrics', I tend to ignore whatever the artist is singing. It's still good music, yeah?

[*mona lisa*]

An inspiring song that always makes me shiver in a good way is You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban. Not only is his voice amazing but this song about God always moves me. How's that for deep lyrics? :D

[multifaceted]

If the catchy music isn't there, I won't bother to listen to it again.

I don't really pay attention to the lyrics that often so I probably won't like a song for its lyrics.

[*Monochrome.*]

Im sorry. i cant listen to music thats lyrics suck and they werent meant to be funny.
i cant listen to music about things when the artist clearly went against what they were singing about.
Example.
justin timberlakes song with that long ass video with scarlet johansen.
hes talking what goes around comes around. and cheating.When him himslef clearly cheated on cameron diaz with scarlet WHILE MAKING THAT VIDEO.
thats a song i cant listen to.
james blunt's song your beautiful.not only was that anoying in the first place. but he was singing about his current gf who he ended up cheating on but his gf gave him another chance so they looked passed that.but still i cant listen to that song because i lost respect i had for the artist.

[pandamonium]

i cant stand fergies songs anymore.


in glamorous she says

"I got money in the bank and I'd really like to thank,
all them fans I'd like thank, thank you really though,"

like seriously lol. wth.....

dont get me started on pretty ricky's single ughhhhhhhh

[angelrevelation]

I can only think of one example in particular where the lyrics are good, but the song itself is bad... "Girl Next Door" by Saving Jane. her voice and just the... guh.

[Stefanny]

To answer your question, no.
The song has to be good, both in lyrics and tune.

[viugiufgjhfhjfhg...]

The first few times around that I listen to a song (that includes vocals, obviously), I tend to look at the lyrics as an integral part of the song and sort of skip over their meaning. I do so in order to get an overall idea of where does the whole creation lean towards to, and once I have that covered, I start paying attention to the details.

I do really appreciate well composed lyrics, although I tend to not read too much into the words, digging for a hidden meaning. Instead, I prefer to let those inspire a free response in me.

That being said, unless the lyrics are totally awful or else are a masterpiece they don't influence my view of a song too drastically. I may like a song a bit more or a bit less because of the words attached to it, but I don't recall any extreme case where I considered a song to be ruined nor saved by its lyrics alone.

[AimeeLynn]

I prefer lyrics over song any day. Like Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional. Not into the whole dashboard thing but the lyrics are pretty good.

I love that song!
I like Dashboard Confessional, the Fray, and John Mayer's Lyrics. They actually say something.
Lyrics and Melody. Basically.

[me1issaaaa]

Mmmmm, I'd love to shank Fergie. That'd be nice.

[synthase]

'My Humps' annoys the crap out of me

[*Frénésie*]

The winner of this competition goes to:

SNOOP DOGG / AKON - I wanna love you.