True, which is why Trollheart is right. Technically speaking, a song is a piece of music with words that are sung, even though many people use the word colloquially to mean any piece of music.

Songs usually have words=/=songs inherently have words. Much in the same way that all metalheads don't have long hair despite it being a trend in that community.

Does this count if I sing a song intended to be instrumental?

Definition: a musical piece adapted for singing or simulating a piece to be sung

At a certain point the colloquial forms of words become the formal version and this definition reflects that. I think that things have changed a bit since we've moved away from Old English.

They sure have. For example, the word "song" didn't exist in Old English.

It was just a throwaway line, dude. Don't make a federal case of it. This is why I qualified my statement by saying "to me", which you then replied to with a frankly stupid analogy about stars. All the major dictionaries back me up on what I say, but as Zappy says, it is a trivial point and, you know, I got Hugo-award losing novels to write.
:thumb:

Your qualification is invalid.

So it just originated in Old English and was never heard from in that part of the linguicity again?

Online Etymology Dictionary

Read your own link. The Old English word was "sang".

Old English is different from modern English? You don't say...

People use to say this to me so much. It was a massive irritant. I knew a kid in high school who said it about metal. Refused to hear me out.

https://cdn.meme.am/cache/instances/...ced-stupid.jpg
That was going to be my response, then we had pages of arguing over trivial information. FFS.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thin...l&tid=34606962

I think blankmind learned a new word today.

Those kinds of people are usually pretty boring too.

What the hell! This crap shouldn't be in the Rock and Metal sub-forums.

wat

The word originated from Old English and had a different spelling. Right? And things have changed since that origin?

Yes. And?

That's why you don't need lyrics for a piece of music to be a song.

Except, technically, you do.

But even more technically speaking, you don't, as I mentioned before with simulating a vocal piece qualifying.

ill put 5 bucks on Jansz taking this round

I consulted the ultra-technical dictionary and it literally said "Frownland is wrong about this".

According to my technical design pamphlet here, it says that you're wrong.

If it says "you're wrong" it's talking about you.

But I read it at the same time that I was thinking "maybe Janzsoon's right about this," so I guess we're both wrong.

Turnaround is a great song too though. And Girl U Want.

And "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA".
And "Gates of Steel".
And "Freedom of Choice".
And "Beautiful World".
And "Peek-a-Boo!".
And "Explosions".
And "Patterns".
And "Speed Racer".
And "I Desire".
And "Here to Go".

Freedom of Choice now added to queue

plus...
S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain)
Mongoloid
Gut Feeling
Uncontrollable Urge
Pink Pussycat

Freedom of Choice is one of the greatest songs ever. Their lyrics were so left-feild e.g. Girl U Want and that riff is so killer-diller, same with S.I.B. and Mongoloid.

"She sings some song where you can't see
She sits in the top of the greenhouse tree
She sends out an aroma of undefined love
It drips on down and missed my balls."

Devo - Girl U Want


DEVO - Mongoloid


Devo - S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain) (Live) 1980

I meant the album. I'm gonna go listen to it soon.

Oh, did you get a chance to hear their first two studio albums too?

1. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
2. Duty Now For The Future (1979)
3. Freedom Of Choice (1980)

I've listened to Q and A and loved it, just not anything else bar the singles from Freedom of Choice.

One of my favorite albums from the late 70's/early 80's.

It's pretty hilarious - and appropriate - how this thread has been warped into the exact opposite of what the OP intended, and has now become basically a Devo appreciation thread! :laughing:

I got that Devo is mainly beloved by hipsters.
For example Devo debut is rated pretty good on a hipster-type site RYM:

http://http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/devo/q__are_we_not_men__a__we_are_devo_/

Does anyone else think RYM is hipster? I always felt like it's more of a music nerd site. I'd say MB is hipster.

Music nerd becomes synonymous hipster the second you disagree with one.

Whether hipsters love or hate Devo has zero impact on my appreciation of them.

You should probably leave the site now.

devo defo awesome

I'm just waiting for bob.'s thesis length response on the subject.