17 Written for Listening

March 6, 1997

written for listening written for listening

By: Valerie Reyes Section Editor

Not all songs tell a story or have a deep meaning, but I feel most good songs have one to tell. I think it is important to understand song lyrics because it makes listening to music more enjoyable.

Before I begin explaining why I think lyrics are important, I should be honest first. I love listening to music, but I haven’t always listened to lyrics to try and understand what the singer is saying. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I told my friend this that I started to actually pay attention to the lyrics of a song.

She was shocked, so she played some songs for me to understand. For me if a song sounds good, I simply add it to my playlist and just listen. Now, I try to understand the songs I find myself listening to more often. There must be a reason why I listen to certain songs more than others, right?

Lyrics are powerful. They tell a story that comes from the artist, which at times can show their vulnerability to their fans. Artists write about their personal experiences of heartbreak, love, happiness or sadness, and this can shed light on issues that people may be afraid to face. It can reassure people they are not alone. According to www. nrgrecordingstudios.com “Lyrics take you back to a certain time when you were happy or sad while opening up your senses to be vulnerable.”

Sometimes people listen to songs to help feel something they have not felt in a while, and with the right lyrics, they can bring those feelings to the surface. Niall Doherty on www.theguardian.com says, “The best songs pull you in beyond their hooky topline, and there is a fresh wave of superstars whose music encourages you to hone in on the lyrical content.” Obviously, there is more to music than just the lyrics, and the rhythm of a song can help bring the lyrics to life.

According to www.nprmusic.com, Stephen Thompson says, “Strictly by definition, lyrics and singing play a slightly secondary role to music: Music without lyrics is still music, but lyrics without music are poetry." The rhythm, melody and other elements to music can help add to the lyrics and give it a more powerful meaning.

Without lyrics, I think music would not be as meaningful and not as enjoyable. University of St. Francis sophomore, Saba Aamir shares, “Lyrics are an important aspect of music, as they provide storytelling and convey a message, but all aspects of music are equally as important to evoke an emotional response.” Music is music with or without lyrics, but lyrics without music can still tell the story it is meant to tell.

Next time you listen to a song, I encourage you to really listen to the lyrics. Maybe you will find that the song means even more to you than it did before. Embrace what the singer is saying, and take the time to understand the lyrics because they are just as important as everything else in music.