Comments on: Why Your Musicians Don’t Know Your Lyrics… And Why It May Not Matter

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 20:11:34 +0000

In reply to Daniel.

Daniel,
Thanks for reading and writing.
When I play a song, I pay attention to lyrics… a lot! But I’ve noticed that many very good musicians don’t, much (though many do)… and over-literal interpretations can be counter-productive.
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 06:31:00 +0000

I don’t want the kind of literal and obvious instrumental cues you mention but as a horn player who also writes and sings, I find that I play a melody better when I know the words. It is a question of phrasing. I don’t think it matters as much for a bass player or drummer but I notice that some of the best players do pay attention to lyrics.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 01:06:45 +0000

In reply to Jon Gordon.

Great example, Jon. You followed your instincts and it obviously paid off. Had you taken a more literal approach… probably not so much.
Thanks,
Tony

By: Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 23:35:37 +0000

All great points, Tony. To that I would add: Sometimes there can be a noticeable disconnect between the musical background and the lyric, yet somehow the whole works. The Smiths did that a lot, pitting lyrics wallowing in misery and self-pity against bright happy pop instrumentals.
It’s arguable that the Suzanne Vega song “Luka” has a similar dissonance between the quiet, dark lyric and the triumphal music. I worked on that record, and while I remember distinctly how we got to that arrangement, I do not recall that anyone ever questioned why we were doing it that way, in apparent opposition to the lyric.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:31:46 +0000

In reply to Mark Permann. Thanks for reading and writing, Mark! TC

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:31:06 +0000

In reply to Angela.

Thank you, Angela!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Mark Permann

Mark Permann — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:49:02 +0000

I very much agree with your suspicion that most listeners internalize songs intuitively rather than literally.

Quite often a song will pop into my head and I don’t know why… And almost every time, if I look at the lyrics, they are relevant to something I’m feeling – in fact, they work to reveal what I’m feeling to me.

And I have to look up those lyrics because I almost never know them, certainly never read them before, and often the snippet I do recall isn’t the most revealing part of the song.

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:11:34 +0000

You give me such great alternative ways to think about things Tony. Love your blog!!