Can lyrics ruin a song?

[metalmariachi]

Yea. I agree. If I don't like the vocalist for a band, I can't listen to the band. It's like having another guitarist that plays totally out of tune, it ruins the whole experience. I don't know why people aren't more careful of this.

I totally agree.
I’ve also heard great lyrics and wondered why they wrote such crappy music for them.

IS RUSH A BAND?

No.

I will take your Rush and raise you a Yes and Kings X!

Neither Rush nor Yes should ever be mentioned again

MM

[devnulljp]

I was listening to one of my favorite Kiss songs, Shock Me, today. I love the music, great song, great solos, but the lyrics just suck anus. I find this true of about 95% of Kiss' music. But I still love the music! So what do you think, can bad lyrics ruin a song?

Not as much as Gene Simmons can ruin a song. I used to love Kiss (I was 8, give me a break), but now I have to skip everything with that cheesy used car salesman up front & centre. He creeps me right out.
Whitesnake just makes me want to barf.

Although I think lyrics can definitely ruin a song, I still love T.Rex, and his lyrics have to be the worst ever written. I seem to have a bigger problem with the personalities behind it. Can't listen to Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, The Ramones...lots of stuff really where the music isn't too bad, but the people just piss me off for whatever reason.

But rock n roll has pretty much always been about stupid lyrics: Be bop a loo la she's my baby / don't mean maybe?

As for ruined by a singer...I spent years trying to track down a copy of the Zephyr album with Tommy Bolin, and can't listen to any of it because of the screaming harpy they had as a singer. She sounds like a cross between nails on a blackboard and projectile vomit...all rolled in broken glass and poison ivy.

[metalmariachi]

But rock n roll has pretty much always been about stupid lyrics: Be bop a loo la she's my baby / don't mean maybe?

Shana Na Na Na.

Every time you write a crappy rock song an angel gets its wings.

I believe we all have our favorite rock song that makes absolutely no sense.
If not we should.

MM

[the raytownian]

Why, yes, yes they can.

Ever heard of a band called SKREWDRIVER?

Great tunes, HORRIBLE fucking politics. Completely ruins it.

[devnulljp]

I believe we all have our favorite rock song that makes absolutely no sense.

Well you can tear a plane in the falling rain
I drive a rolls royce 'cos it's good for my voice
But you won't fool the children of the revolution

[steevdeadman]

Not as much as Gene Simmons can ruin a song. I used to love Kiss (I was 8, give me a break), but now I have to skip everything with that cheesy used car salesman up front & centre. He creeps me right out.

Here is the thing... Gene Simmons is part of the reason I started making music at all, plus I really dig his voice. But I do agree, his whoring himself is getting me slightly sick also. I mean, Kiss to him is more of a brand now than music. Plus, I haven't listened seriously to anything Kiss has done after they took their makeup off the FIRST TIME!

[bigchiefbc]

Not as much as Gene Simmons can ruin a song. I used to love Kiss (I was 8, give me a break), but now I have to skip everything with that cheesy used car salesman up front & centre. He creeps me right out.

Here is the thing... Gene Simmons is part of the reason I started making music at all, plus I really dig his voice. But I do agree, his whoring himself is getting me slightly sick also. I mean, Kiss to him is more of a brand now than music. Plus, I haven't listened seriously to anything Kiss has done after they took their makeup off the FIRST TIME!

I've tried ... and I've tried ... and I've tried.

I don't "get" KISS. I just don't.

[steevdeadman]

I've tried ... and I've tried ... and I've tried.

I don't "get" KISS. I just don't.

It's a love it or hate it kinda band. I have NEVER heard anyone say... "I Like Kiss", it's usually love, hate or as you put it, just don't get it.

[Antero]

Lyrics can definitely ruin a song. There are a number of Who songs that make me cringe, and I really do enjoy The Who. There a difference between lyrics that are just not good and lyrics that are truly an assault on the listener's taste and intelligence, though.

KISS just sucks in general.

[devnulljp]

I don't "get" KISS. I just don't.

You are over 10 years old / you were over 10 years old when you first saw/heard them. I still kinda dig Ace Frehley, but the rest of them....pffft.

[cloudscapes]

sure they can

I love the music of NIN, but the lyrics/voice.... omfg

[CBGB]

It makes me feel like an idiot when I like a song that has really bad lyrics. I mean, if you can write a song that's so good, why can't you just write decent lyrics to go with it?

Because it takes talent and ability and [*cough*=]manyvocalistshavemoreegothantalent[*cough*] and [*cough*=]manymusicianshavenofeelingforwords[cough].

As for ruined by a singer...I spent years trying to track down a copy of the Zephyr album with Tommy Bolin, and can't listen to any of it because of the screaming harpy they had as a singer. She sounds like a cross between nails on a blackboard and projectile vomit...all rolled in broken glass and poison ivy.

The second Zephyr album with Tommy Bolin is a little less painful...

[the raytownian]

sure they can

I love the music of NIN, but the lyrics/voice.... omfg

This... Love the music... Outgrew the lyrics by, like, 9th grade.

[Antero]

sure they can

I love the music of NIN, but the lyrics/voice.... omfg

This... Love the music... Outgrew the lyrics by, like, 9th grade.

Totally reasonable move. This is why The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust is an amazing album - Trent Reznor producing, Saul Williams singing and speaking and rapping.

[sev]

Y'all aren't the only ones who grew up and realized that Kiss lyrics and Rush lyrics suck musty anus..........and I guess that goes for Yes and King's X too.

But, it's like growing up and realizing that your parents aren't perfect. Ya still gotta love em.

I wouldn't even be a musician if it weren't for KISS.