Ask Lemmy

I disagree that you can't share a song with the whole world due to language. I listen to stuff in languages I don't speak frequently. And making music out of one's voice seems pretty darn human.

There is a time and place for instrumental for me. I like listening to it when I need to focus, as opposed to songs that sometimes distract me more.

I wouldn’t really say I prefer one over another; they both have their place to me

If you don't understand the language then singing is just another instrument

Yes but only because most lyrics are simple rhyming slop.

Absolutely. Most songs I hear are repeating garbage. Instrumental repeat as well but it's just not the same mickey mouse lyrics.

Language is irrelevant, beautiful music transcends. Weather it is lyrical melodies or harmonies... makes no difference. There are VERY many truly sublime operatic performances across a variety of genres

Vocals can be a good generic instrument too. See NieR: Automata soundtrack or more recently Clair Obscur, although this one have more actual sentences.

I’m on the same page as you, but really it’s for different reasons.

Oftentimes when I listen to music with vocals (especially American music), I can’t shake the feeling that the singer is being an attention whore / trying too hard.

I don’t always get that vibe, but it definitely impedes my ability to listen to a lot of tracks.

I also like that instrumental music gives me room to think.

I listen to a lot of music in languages I don't understand. Growing up I especially loved Rammstein. No clue what they were saying until I was older, but feeling is feeling.

There's a time for both instrumental and vocals, and that's of course dependent on my mood and focus. I'll put on something like an elder scrolls soundtrack or lo fi hip hop if I need to focus.

I have a little bit of a cringe-problem, so If the lyrics of a song portray some feelings I can't imagine sharing or being worthwhile having, I can't really listen to it.

Lyrics are also banned for background distraction music, the kind of music I listen to to block Background Noise that would be annoying me when I do homework. Listening to music like trance (my lofi beats to relax/study to replacement) moves the problem from being annoyed by noises I don't want to hear, to slight problems having complicated thoughts I would want to vocalise out loud or in my head. So sometimes I just turn on Brown Noise (Bass-boosted White Noise), or Pink Noise where I forgot what it is, but that feels weird in the ears after 1 to 2 hours. I don't always need to play sounds I pick, but sometimes, I really don't want to hear other people's noises.

I enjoy both. I also enjoy music of multiple languages I don't understand. I don't think understanding the lyrics is necessary to enjoy a song or feel an atmosphere.

I'm not a musician, but I don't think it's necessarily harder to compose with instruments only. Lyrics and voice are one of many tools in music, and whether you include one or the other, you compose with what you have or choose.

Additionally, I often listen to music without consciously paying attention to or observing the lyrics.

I agree that it can be seen as more universal, though.

For an instrumental recommendation, I recommend This Will Destroy You, particularly the songs

• The World is our ____
• I Believe In Your Victory
• Burial On The Presidio Banks
• Quiet,

Web links:

• This Will Destroy You on YouTube
• This Will Destroy You on Bandcamp
• This Will Destroy You linktree

I like both, just depends on what I feel like listening to.

It’s due to auditory processing issues

https://youtu.be/X7R2Vl_hcCA

i usually don't catch most of the lyrics the first or second go around, so anything i hear for the first time basically sounds like this. because of that, i treat vocals like any other instrument- is the tone good? is it carrying a good melody? only if i like a song enough to listen multiple times (because of or in spite of the singer) do i start to pick up the words, which can elevate the experience if they're good but if they're not, nothing gained and nothing lost.

Remember Gangnam Style?

I struggle to parse fast paced song lyrics, so often find myself listening more to the music than what they are saying. This has gotten me in trouble before.

Right now I am digging Dance with the Dead's "Driven to Madness". Reminds me of an 80s monster movie synth/metal album.

Sometimes I prefer it, yes.

I'm not sure why the need to draw a firm distinction between the two. I'm quite focused on lyrics if they're present and in a language I understand. I'm not fussed if they aren't.

If you find the music in some way engaging, that's enough. Denigrating other music as in some way lesser than your preferred genre is odd.

I enjoyed both, but i like instrumental more tbh. so yes

depends of what platform its being played, like as a ost on a show, or a game, and only in ochestra. other instruments combined makes it better.

I used to dislike singing in music. I mostly listen to electronic music and honestly I found the sound design much more interesting. Nowadays that has shifted though. I'm more connected to and aware of my emotions. Sometimes I need music with the same energy as I used to love, but with some nice vocals to match my emotions. Nowadays it's more of a mix, buy my taste is still faster and harder than most people.

The issue for me is that musicated poetry has to be good poetry in first place. Generally, the voice even if good just interferes with the music unless it is a choir. Plus I've always had a hard time parsing lyrics by ear... I'd never considered cross-culture universality.

Instrumental music for working, music with vocals the rest of the time.

80% of my listen time is probably instrumental.

I do prefer instrumental music, but for completely different reasons. Mostly for me it's because I get earworms extremely easily, and can have a song stuck in my head for days at a time. 99% of the time it's the lyrics that are stuck, so it's a much lower chance to get an instrumental song stuck in my head.

I don't know about taking more skill, but I do like instrumental, and pretty much ignore lyrics when present.

Sometimes I do prefer instrumental music for the exact reasons you described. It lets me focus on the music itself instead of music and lyrics simultaneously. If it’s minimalistic enough, I’ll have it playing as I read too. Other times I want something fun to sing along to, or to hear lyrics that resonate with me in certain moods. Almost every form of music has its appeal.

I’d prefer it when I’m out shopping. So tired of usually horrible pop and country music blaring from the speakers in shops and restaurants.

60:40

I cannot listen to lyrical music, it ends up making me mad. I can't explain it. I just stick to instrumental or game soundtracks to listen to

Instrumental all the way, been vibing to house, techno, psy and trance. Irrespective of country of origin, they are easy to listen and universal.

Techno coming out of Berlin when the wall fell does carry emotions.

Sometimes, it really depends on my mood and what im doing

Yes. Hi. Am jazz singer and player :)

I'm pretty good at semi- tuning out lyrics so nonsensical ones don't bother me, but they're still distracting if I'm reading so instrumental is great for that