words or music

Hi joeyjoeyjoey
Don't apologise spend enough time on chordie and you will realise most questions/statements have asked before...
Anyway
My two penny worth.
Melody…Always the melody for me.
I can’t see how any song can be loved just for it’s words alone..
If you love the words only then you might as well read a poem.
All great lyricists songwriters have decent tunes to go with words.
ark

Each can be moving and memorable, but my personal preference is for good lyrics.  I like folk and country music mostly because I can understand the lyrics and they tend to be different from the one-track minded lyrics extolling the prowess or experience of the singer.  I heard a lyric the other day about a guy who had a dream that he had gone to hell and had a conversation with the devil.  Upon waking, he decided that he ought to take a good look at how he lives his life.  Then he came out with the lyric "some get spiritual when they see the light and others when they feel the heat."  Now that's just good stuff right there.  Good story-telling put to music is what I like, I guess. 

- Zurf

Howdy Folks, I'm new to the Chordie Chat Corner but have been a big fan of the site for a long time.Everyone is very helpful and supportive,I sure like that.
To me it's the lyrics. That's what grabs me first. Everyone can take a song and make it their own.  That's the beauty of music. Each person can make the same song different yet very appealing. From very simple to drive you crazy complex. That's what keeps music magical. Now don't get me wrong music is important,it's just as dynamic as the expression of the lyrics. Think of it as the icing on the cake. Love it , nurture it, let grow. It's a lifetime of enjoyment no matter what you do with it. Joey, great inquiry. Keep the thought process going.
 
  Joe

I pick up on the melody first(tempo etc) . Then I listen to the lyrics,I did not know louie,louie was a sea song for about 6 months.

Thanks Amy,
  There's deffinetly no right or wrong process to songwriting. I've written songs that started with a single line and I've writtten songs from a short note progression or a four chord pattern. You go with what inspires you at the time. What ever sparks the process. I have about four songs now that have been in the pot for about a year. I've written songs in as little as twenty minutes. One thing for sure is they will develop on their own. Save them, don't throw them away just because you hit a wall with your writing. Somewhere along the way they will come back to life.
One thing that works for me is to take a notepad and pick a subject. Write down anything that pretains to the subject or a line that catches your fancy about the subject. Don't worry about lines or phrases or catchy hooks. If you have some ,write them down but don't worry they will show up when you need them. Collect your info study it and add to the list. Let this brew inside your head . When you least expect it to be there the song verses will start to present themselves. When they do be prepared to write them down or record them. As someone earlier said keep a notebook handy because once you start this process verses will start to jump out at you and you don't want to miss them. Keep writing whenever you can. Write as many songs as you can no matter how simple they may seem. Everytime you complete a song you wil be honing your skills until you become a little better songwriter each time. We all have to start somewhere. Hope this helps.

  Joe

off the subject/ Zurf what is Succinct?

hey joe, where you going with that gun in your hand? change that to, guitar in your hand....

me personally, i love a good story line, well written, well sung.

i also enjoy a good ripping solo, or if it fits, a sensitive musical interlude. (dont need to be a guitar solo)

then again, a good catchy tune, a hell of a good hook (chorus) leading to a crashing finale!

to sum up; a cracking song with a catchy tune played by competant musicians. and of-course, i must be able to hear the words, which dont repeat themselves over and over. and to end my diatribe of the modern pop song...more than just one note!!!!

phill