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Im just wondering what everyone thinks is the most important part of a song and why? Is it the niggun or melody? Is it the majestic voice of the singer? Is it the lyrics that manage to touch us in places nothing else can?????
If so what part of the lyrics is most important, the bridge? Chorus? The rest?????
In my opinion, these days Jews are more interested in a good voice than the actual niggun or words. I mean the singer should have at least a decent voice, but why should you appreciate some music better than other just cuz the singer is AMAZING and the other sings pretty good.
I believe the lyrics are the most important part, they can make us happy or sad or want to dance, as being a songwriter myself I think its a great outlet and is the main part of a song. But if one day I was actually able to write songs for a CD, and I wouldn’t be able to get a very known singer, would that mean even if my songs are better than others (lets say IF, I doubt they are seeing my age) less people would listen to them???????
Words, words matching melody, melody.
I love lyrics, lyrics are where I connect with the song. I also enjoy a melody that I can connect to. I enjoy certain styles of melodies more than others. A good chorus is always wonderful and I like big notes. I really enjoy good k’vetchy songs. I’m into many different styles of music, but I listen to the words and that’s what gets me. I think that’s why I’m not enamored with the Beatles, for the most part they just sound like nonsensical ramblings of spun out druggies.
Also, in regards to Jewish music most of the time the lyrics are divrei kedusha, so usually the lyrics are quite meaningful and an amazing vocalist can take them to the next level. What a talented singer can do to a song should not be discredited. In the Jewish music industry, 90% of song making is composing the melody because the words are already written. So when you’ve composed a beautiful melody you’re obviously going to look for the RIGHT singer to do it justice. Certain vocalists are perfect for some songs that other singers couldn’t bring to their full potential. Yes, if a less popular singer performs your song, chances are less people would hear it. I think that’s pretty basic.
In this case, you’re misspelling made something unclear. “a goof voice” I thought you were making fun of the electronic voices certain producers are fond of. Please make an effort, I do.
It depends on the song.
I always connect first with the melody. How many of us hum a beloved nigun and don’t actually know the words? Some songs have words that are so powerful that they MUST be heard and understood. But for me, the power of the song is in how the melody grabs me and resonates with me. For some reason, I always LOVED “daagah minayin.” I never could quite catch the words, but the tune made me want to jump up and dance. When I hear a recent “Im Eshkacheich,” even though I totally know the words, some of the melodies for it make me become emotional more than others. Same song, same words, different nigun.
Outside of the chassidishe world, most yeshivish men could not name more than maybe 2 niggunim, and I think I’m being overly generous. I’m not looking for poetry, thank you. The passukin and passages chosen for songs were written far better than any modern lyric. I was simply commenting that in the Jewish music industry lyrics typically don’t play as big of a part in producing a song, and thus the talent of a vocalist plays an extremely large factor. This was in response to your (snide?) comment, about Jews caring about having only an AMAZING singer.
Thank you for the more coherent response. It is appreciated.
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Why? Because that’s what I like about songs, in order.
I’m with popa. it’s all about WHERE you’re singing the song. the tune, words, and singer could be terrible, but if you’re listening to a song, and then suddenly find a free parking space in manhattan, for example, that song is now officially, eternally awesome.
vice versa applies to. so, if you’re blasting some Udi Davidi (famous israeli singer) in the middle of kiryas yoel, that song NOW becomes bad, even if it WAS actually good. It’s all relative.
My mom used to have a phobia of highway driving, and once, she was trying to merge, and freaking out, and the next song on her Carlebach CD came on “oyoyoyoyoy”….and she was like, “Yeah, I agree!!” lol
Shopping613 – I was under the opinion that all adolescent girls can sing. Isn’t a subject in Production/Shabbaton/Melave Malka/Choir? Just kidding. I understand why that can be frustrating, but Carlebach didn’t get famous for his voice. Also, if you do write really well, you can definitely have famous singers perform your songs. You can even reach a wider audience this way because a popular male singer has a much larger listening base than a frum woman. Don’t let the inability to sing, keep you from writing. Also you might find it interesting to meet with Rachel Factor, and see what she has to say about a frum women practically being able to express her talent.
Mods can you please correct the spelling in the title…
Thanks 🙂
OI: well put…
The musical introduction. It is usually nicer than the song.
Udi Davidi songs are amazing… the tune and the lyrics go together perfectly- as if they were both made for each other. That’s what I like best about a song… the whole of it together! When it all goes well. Nice lyrics to me are meaningless if the tune isn’t appropriate for them.
Very hard to judge based on this but looks like you’re on to something,
personally the melody plays a very important role and an honest rating would only be if I’d judge both the lyrics and melody together
For those of you having a difficult time finding the sincerely me demo google sincerelymecd.bandcamp
shopping: I did not find the “Theres a place in my mind” by any female singers on mostly music, the only thing that did come up was – Theres a Place in My Mind
byYehuda ! (Singer), Dov Levine (Singer), Deena Storch (Composer), Avromie Flam (Singer)
If I understood your question correctly, you’re asking two separate questions:
What is more important?
A. Songwriting: Lyrics vs. Melody
B. Song sections: Verse vs. Chorus/Bridge/Intro/Outro and vice versa.
Lyrics vs Melody;
Tough to answer. A song without a decent lyric can get by, (Some songs go viral without lyrics in the first place, i.e. No Lyrics [Benny Friedman], a whole slew of 8th Day songs, etc.) but a song with a horrible melody won’t get off the ground.
On the other hand, a really good song has both. Abie Rotenberg’s work is a fantastic example of this, with both really beautiful, meaningful (and on occasion, witty) lyrics fused with fantastic melodies.
A song does not, however, really require an extraordinary melody to be a hit. Baruch Levine’s Vezakeini has, in my opinion, a really plain, ordinary tune,with nothing extraordinary going on (as anyone who plays an instrument by chord will tell you). Not a bad melody, just not an exceptional one. A really plain melody! Lots of repeating notes! And yet, the lyric, which is quite poignant in this day and age, is what propelled it to the #1 ballad (slow song) in Jewish music of the past couple years, along with the likes of Yossi Green’s Anavim and Shwekey/Yonatan Razel’s Vehi Sheomdah, both unique songs (both in melody and in lyric).
So what is more important? Lyric vs melody? Given a choice of one or the other, I’d reluctantly say melody. Realistically, you really need both for a good song, along with a good arrangement (intro/verse/chorus structure; precise chord pattern), orchestration (choice of instruments), vocals (which singer, vocal effects, choir or not, if so, which size adult vs children), and other miscellaneous bits and bobs such as “feel” (laid-back vs upbeat, regardless of tempo [song speed]) and choice of musicians.
And verse/chorus structure?
Hands down, the chorus is the most important part of the song. The chorus is the song. Imagine Ma Ma Ma, Anavim or Hofachto without the chorus! Without a chorus you’ve got nothing.
Some songs have a hybrid style, such as Kach Es Sheli with a blended chorus/bridge.
The chorus is the heart (like the bass in orchestration). Everything else is mere detail.
Drum stick, wing, back, neck, breast, in that order.
I thought I replied to this, but maybe not.
The most important part of the song is obviously the melody. The lyrics, without the music, is just poetry–not a song.
While the harmony may be beautiful, and the rhythm complex and interesting, neither are much use without the melody.
And the performer, without the melody, is just some guy standing around holding a microphone.
So why the question?
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