What's more important? Melody or lyrics?

[Delta]

If you are a singer/songwriter, which is a more vital ingredient to commercial success? The song's melody or the lyrics?

[OoOoOoooOOoOoorgle]

bass

[DarkCrystalMethod]

Tool has that one song where the lyrics are recorded backwards, and its a pretty good song musically. The words don't entirely matter in some cases.

[saranacX]

Melody of course. It's what makes a song, a song. Lyrics is just poetry.

[L1qu1dator]

Originally posted by L1qu1dator:

I'm no singer/songwriter, but some "one hit wonders" prove that melody is more important for success.

Here's an example :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_2D8Eo15wE

[The Icecream Snowman]

When trying to compare two things, I often find it helpful to examine extreme cases, with all of one and none of the other.

So in this case, would you rather listen to instrumental music with no vocals, or one vocal only varieties such as a cappella, choir, or just plain poetry?

Personally, I listen to lots of instrumental music. There have been many highly successful musicians in a wide array of styles and sounds who don't have any vocals in their music. On the flip side of this coin, I'm not into vocals-only stuff. It's just not my thing,

[Original Cast Recording]

Can you think of more songs with great/enjoyable music and bad/forgettable lyrics, or songs with great/enjoyable lyrics and bad/forgettable music?

[DarkCrystalMethod]

I don't know the words...
and you can too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLd22ha_-VU

[L1qu1dator]

Originally posted by Breathe:

Originally posted by L1qu1dator:

Here's an example :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_2D8Eo15wE

How dare you. That song got me through some pretty hard times. It's one of the few times lyrics have really touched me.

Probably joking, but not sure :P

[L1qu1dator]

Originally posted by Breathe:

Originally posted by L1qu1dator:

Probably joking, but not sure :P

I do not normally like to keep anyone guessing but it's amusing to think you'd be relistening to that song, trying to find something of value there.:D

And I was already imagining the part about "shaking that thing" :P

[vkobe]

Originally posted by The Icecream Snowman:

When trying to compare two things, I often find it helpful to examine extreme cases, with all of one and none of the other.

So in this case, would you rather listen to instrumental music with no vocals, or one vocal only varieties such as a cappella, choir, or just plain poetry?

Personally, I listen to lots of instrumental music. There have been many highly successful musicians in a wide array of styles and sounds who don't have any vocals in their music. On the flip side of this coin, I'm not into vocals-only stuff. It's just not my thing,

depend of song some song is greatly improved with lyric, other not so much example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ1E47M88p8&ab_channel=EltonGradash


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzmUde_EK5Y&ab_channel=ElectronicArts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2RnxZnubCM&ab_channel=HDFilmTributes

[Chaosolous]

Melody is what hooks the ears.
Lyrics are what stimulates the mind and soul.

I believe that your lyrics won't land if your melody cannot carry them.

[Triple G]

Originally posted by Chaosolous:

I believe that your lyrics won't land if your melody cannot carry them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abpd0ovuHt4

[Chaosolous]

GGG this is like the third time you've responded to me with a video that I have no idea how I'm supposed to interpret. I'm trying here but I don't know how to take any of it.

Haha.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Melody...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ

[Electric Cupcake]

If there's melody but no lyrics, it's still music.

If there's lyrics but no melody, it's poetry. Or rap.