Understanding lyrics: is it important?

[viper37]

The subject came over last week, and again, during Rammstein's show and over here again.  Lots of people seem bothered by the fact they sing in German, a language not many understand around here.

My argument, which did not win me any points with my cousin's girlfriend was that her favorite singer (Eric Lapointe), even though he sings in French, we can't understand a word he's saying, and even when we do, it doesn't make any sense.  She was pissed, really, really pissed at me

It came again during the show, and I had her noticed that Gojira had a song in French she never noticed.  

I listen to music in Celtic, German, French, English, Spanish.  I don't care.  I don't give a flying fuck what it says.  I just like it.
I grew up listening to english songs I did not know the meaning of, like Touch Me or Karma Chameleon and I didn't care then, nor now.

Last time Rammstein came in Quebec city, they were with Apocalyptica.  Some people tried to incite a boycott of the "anglo-saxon invasion of the Plains of Abraham" and requests more French music. Didn't work out really well, 90k people went to see the show and the idiots looked like the morons they were.


So, what about you?  Do you get pissed off by bands that don't sing in your language?  Do you try to organize massive boycott of events where non (your language) bands play? Do you avoid them at all costs if you don't understand what they say in the songs?  Do you need a translation before you can enjoy the music?

[Valmy]

Obviously depends on the song Everybody should understand songs about spilling the impure blood of ferocious royalist soldiers on the fields and plains of France.

For pop music it is just as well I don't understand the lyrics. They are usually idiotic anyway.

[Savonarola]

[viper37]

Everybody should understand songs about spilling the impure blood of ferocious royalist soldiers on the fields and plains of France.

there needs to be a like button on this forum

@Sav:

[CountDeMoney]

Oh, she may get wooly, women do get wooly
because of all the stress...

[Monoriu]

I am terrible about understanding lyrics.  70-80% of the time, I have no idea what words people are singing, regardless of the language.  I am pretty much a melody person. 

[CountDeMoney]

I am terrible about understanding lyrics.  70-80% of the time, I have no idea what words people are singing, regardless of the language.  I am pretty much a melody person.

Of course you are.  Less effort, hide in the back of the chorus.  Don't have to sweat as much.

[LaCroix]

is it "important"? for people who care enough, I guess. while I like songs with lyrics, I never seem to pay attention to them. I can listen to a song a few hundred times and have no idea what it's about.

[Josquius]

Totally depends.
The lyrics make some songs (e.g. common people), less so others

[lustindarkness]

I am terrible about understanding lyrics.  70-80% of the time, I have no idea what words people are singing, regardless of the language.  I am pretty much a melody person. 

[Razgovory]

I can barely understand about half of what people tell me.  Granted I live in the Ozarks, and everyone has a weird accent and seven great-grand-parents.

[dps]

You have to understand the lyrics in order to use them to make witty pop-culture references.

[11B4V]

So, what about you?  I just listen


Do you get pissed off by bands that don't sing in your language?  No

Do you try to organize massive boycott of events where non (your language) bands play? No, that's fucking stupid.

Do you avoid them at all costs if you don't understand what they say in the songs? No

Do you need a translation before you can enjoy the music? No

[The Brain]

No
No
No
No

The vast majority of music I listen to is in English (regardless of origin, I rarely listen to Swedish music with Swedish lyrics).

[Rex Francorum]

I usually don't care about lyrics except in classical music