Comments on: Why You Sometimes Like Songs With Bad Lyrics https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/ Songwriter, Producer, and Coach, based in New York City. Thu, 23 Jun 2016 06:56:31 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7016 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 06:56:31 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7016 In reply to Joyce Rogers.

True indeed.
Thanks for writing,
Tony

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7015 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 06:56:05 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7015 In reply to Annie Dinerman.

Annie,
Thanks. I think you speak for many of us!
TC

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7014 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 06:55:12 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7014 In reply to Sherman Ewing.

Thanks, Sherm!

]]> By: Joyce Rogers https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7013 Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:12:00 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7013 Words are fun to play around with; their sounds and meanings. Such diversity available.

]]> By: Annie Dinerman https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7012 Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:52:34 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7012 OR we sometimes like songs with lyrics that don’t make sense or seem trivial but they’re so memorable and pleasant to the ear. Paul Simon, John Lennon and Steely Dan have all recorded songs with lyrics that benefit from euphony, the writing of words that sound good. I’ve never done this and would love to try it. Sometimes, I feel, as a lyricist, the pressure of having to make sense, having to be understood in real time by the first time listener, even having to come up with a piece of wisdom to make my lyric work. How about simply sounding good? Sounds like fun!

]]> By: Sherman Ewing https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7011 Sun, 19 Jun 2016 22:24:39 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7011 Hey Tony
This is great .. looking forward to the class!!
Shermab

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7010 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 19:19:40 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7010 In reply to Robin M.

It’s ’cause “there ain’t no one for to give you no pain”!

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7009 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 19:18:20 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7009 In reply to Bill.

Bill,
Just curious… did you read beyond the headline? Because I don’t disagree with you!
Thanks for writing,
Tony

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7008 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 19:15:48 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7008 In reply to Charity James.

Yes! And I really like that one.
Thanks, Charity.
TC

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7007 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:12:54 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7007 In reply to frank.

Good point, Frank.
Thanks,
Tony

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7006 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:10:59 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7006 In reply to Robin M.

Love that one too.
Thanks for reading and writing, Robin!
Best wishes,
Tony

]]> By: Bill https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7005 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 15:36:42 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7005 Depends ‘ on what you mean by “bad” lyrics. I don’t think song lyrics has to be logical to be good. Many of REM’s best songs are incomprehensible. Townes Van Zandt once stated that one of his goal was to “write songs so perfect that no one understands them. Not even me.” Art is different from other types of writing.

]]> By: Charity James https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7004 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 20:42:14 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7004 Rhianna’s “Work.” Perfect example. Lyrics aren’t comprehensible ~ but the SOUND of the words is enough. It’s all FEEL. And they do throw in a catchy lyric now and again which pricks up your ears. Good analysis, Tony!

]]> By: frank https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7003 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 03:18:52 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7003 Tony~ “The sound is part of the meaning” – very very astute comment.
So – I think when lyrics get bad is when it sounds like the singer is proud of wailing out a cliche. Now, I didn’t say that cliches are bad. I’m saying that inherent in the performance should be the sound of humility or at least the sound of participating in a collective consciousness rather than the sound of “dig this! It’s ME singing the same words you’ve heard a million times before.”

]]> By: Robin M https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7002 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 01:52:41 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7002 Two words:
American Pie!

]]> By: Robin M https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7001 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 01:51:56 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7001 In reply to Christopher Gansky.

I still love the evocative nature of “Horse With No Name!”
Always take me back to the sonic space it creates and I have tired of hearing it, believe it or not:)

]]> By: Jon Gordon https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-7000 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 14:27:24 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-7000 In reply to Tony Conniff.

Supposedly the song was written by US and Swedish collaborators, and at one point the phrase “Sex on the beach” was mistranslated to “Cake by the ocean”. Apparently they liked the mistranslation so much they decided to go with it.

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-6999 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 07:13:06 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-6999 In reply to Christopher Gansky.

The heat was hot!
Thanks, Chris,
Tony

]]> By: Christopher Gansky https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-6998 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:41:03 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-6998 My nomination for most idiotic lyric in an otherwise respectable song: The band – America. The song – Horse With No Name. The lyric – The heat was hot.

Still a big hit.

]]> By: Tony Conniff https://tonyconniff.com/why-you-sometimes-like-songs-with-bad-lyrics/#comment-6997 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:38:31 +0000 http://tonyconniff.com/?p=2808#comment-6997 In reply to doc peru.

Lee Dorsey… written by the great Allen Toussaint!
Thanks for reading and writing, Doc.
Tony

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