Poetic Lyrics Vs. Unpoetic Lyrics (rock, effect, quote, songs)

sleepy jack · 01-26-2008, 07:37 PM

Alright I'm doing the lyrical side of my demo right now and I'm curious for your thoughts. I've noticed sometimes that lyrics that are pretty direct are usually more effective than poetic lyrics but sometimes they're pretty cringeworthy which usually isn't a problem with poetic lyrics but it makes them hard to relate to because often times the lyrics just kind of slip by. So yeah what are your thoughts?

Comus · 01-26-2008, 07:40 PM

Definitely depends on the song topic and style, hard rock definitely should have straight forward lyricisms, unless you want to do tongue in cheek songs about taboo subjects. While most progressive rock seems to work best with poetic often nonsensical lyrics.

sleepy jack · 01-26-2008, 07:41 PM

My music is lo-fi bedroom acoustic type songs I should add that. Similar to early Bright Eyes except I don't scream or whine.

Comus · 01-26-2008, 07:45 PM

Hmm, depending on the subject matter, acoustic songs are normally best telling a story in a rather straightforward way if it's on a topic with characters. However if it's about a specific subject matter or theme (love, hate, war, peace, death, sadness, depression, insanity, greed etc.) poetic lyricism works best

savannah · 01-26-2008, 07:56 PM

personally, i lean twards more poetic lyrics,....and am astounded by the amount of people i run into who say things like 'i love that song, but i've never really listened to the words before'

are you freakin kiddin me?

ghostonstage135 · 01-26-2008, 08:16 PM

Well for me.... I have listened to a bunch of music that has 'poetic' lyrics... When I listened to Million Dead for the first time I noticed that a lot of the lyrics were more straight foward. It seemed that I had more of a personal connection with them because they didn't speak in riddles.

I think a lot of it has to do with how vunerable you want to make yourself as well. The more direct you are the more you let others that listen to your music into your life.

If I was doing it I would kind of mix it up and play with it. See what comes easier heh.

Lizzie · 01-26-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savannah

personally, i lean twards more poetic lyrics,....and am astounded by the amount of people i run into who say things like 'i love that song, but i've never really listened to the words before'
are you freakin kiddin me?

I know, I hate that, cuz for me, the lyrics are half the song. And poetic lyrics defnalty make a song just that much more better.

savannah · 01-26-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzie

I know, I hate that, cuz for me, the lyrics are half the song. And poetic lyrics defnalty make a song just that much more better.

i feel the same way,.....i've found the that music draws me in, but if i dont get anything out of the lyrical content i normally dont pursue it

sleepy jack · 01-26-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Not really sure what you mean by "poetic".

Look at this:
Here is a scale, weigh it out
And you will find, easily
More than sufficient doubt
That these colors you see
Were picked in advance
By some careful hand
With an absolute concept of beauty
They are smeared and these blurs
Come in random order
To color the eyes of your former lovers
Hers were green like July
Except when she cried
They were red

In comparison to this:
Sometimes all I really want to feel is love
Sometimes I'm angry that I feel so angry
Sometimes my feelings get in the way
Of what I really feel I needed to say
If you stand in a circle
Then you'll all have a back to bite
Backlogged voices on the seven wonders
We're all so funny but he's lost his joke now
A communication from the one lined joke
A stand up comic and a rock musician
Making so much noise you don't know when to listen

I guess poetic isn't the right word since poetry can be pretty minimalistic at times but I figured people would get what I meant, flowing with imagery and flowery wording all that etc

Lizzie · 01-26-2008, 11:48 PM

I definalty perfer the first set of lyrics. I dunno, I just like the more inderect emotions as opposed to just saying things straight out. Especially seeing as your music is more acoustic

View Poll Results: ?
Poetic	7	87.50%
Unpoetic	1	12.50%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll

01-26-2008, 07:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
savannah afrocentric Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: texas Posts: 753	personally, i lean twards more poetic lyrics,....and am astounded by the amount of people i run into who say things like 'i love that song, but i've never really listened to the words before' are you freakin kiddin me? __________________ i changed my mind; i changed my mind;now i'm feeling different all that time, wasted i wish i was a little more delicate i wish my i wish my i wish my i wish my i wish my name was clementine - sarah jaffe

01-26-2008, 11:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lizzie Diskobox Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: vancouver Posts: 660	I definalty perfer the first set of lyrics. I dunno, I just like the more inderect emotions as opposed to just saying things straight out. Especially seeing as your music is more acoustic __________________ white and black, are you looking for the sun boy? the sun doesn't shine down here, no, not in the shadow

01-26-2008, 08:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
ghostonstage135 Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TX Posts: 89	Well for me.... I have listened to a bunch of music that has 'poetic' lyrics... When I listened to Million Dead for the first time I noticed that a lot of the lyrics were more straight foward. It seemed that I had more of a personal connection with them because they didn't speak in riddles. I think a lot of it has to do with how vunerable you want to make yourself as well. The more direct you are the more you let others that listen to your music into your life. If I was doing it I would kind of mix it up and play with it. See what comes easier heh.