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How Bad (On Average) Has Songwriting Gotten?
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:05 pm
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:05 pm
Saw this on my news feed just now, and couldn't help but shake my head. Now, I don't listen to a lot of current music, for various reasons, but can it stand to reason that today's music cannot even compare to the music of the past in terms of quality of lyrics?
10
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:11 pm to When in Rome
you will find music today that has songwriting like beyonce's, and you will find music today that has songwriting like queen's.
for some it's writing to appeal to a target audience (or a mass audience). for others it is an artform.
it hasn't gone away, it's just harder to find.
for some it's writing to appeal to a target audience (or a mass audience). for others it is an artform.
it hasn't gone away, it's just harder to find.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:16 pm to When in Rome
Nah. You just picked a Beyonce song. 
I don't think there is a major difference in the quality of lyrics today as compared to the past.
I don't think there is a major difference in the quality of lyrics today as compared to the past.
This post was edited on 7/10/12 at 4:34 pm
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:23 pm to When in Rome
A song from mewithoutyou
I do not exist, we faithfully insist
while sailing in our separate ships
and from each tiny caravel
tiring of trying there is unnecessary dying
like the horseshoe crab in its proper season
sheds its shell
Such a distance from our friends
like a scratch across the lens
made everything look wrong from anywhere we stood
and our paper blew away before we left the bay
so half blind we wrote these songs
on sheets of salted wood
you caught me making eyes
at the other boatmen's wives
and heard me laughing louder
at the jokes told by their daughters
I'd set my course for land, but you well understand,
It takes a steady hand to navigate adulterous waters.
The propeller's spinning blades held acquaintance with the waves,
As there's mistakes I've made no rowing could outrun.
The cloth low on the mast, I say I got no past,
I'm nonetheless the librarian and secretary's son.
The tarnish on my brass, the mildew on my glass-
I'd never want someone so crass as to want someone like me.
But a few leagues off the shore, I bit a flashing lure,
And I assure you, it was not what I expected it to be!
I still tastes its kiss, that dull hook in my lip
Is a memory as useless as a rod without a reel.
To an anchor ever dropped, sea-sick yet still docked,
Captain spotted napping with his first mate at the wheel.
Floating forgetfully along, with no need to be strong,
We keep our confessions long, but when we pray we keep it short.
I drank a thimble full of fire,
I'm not ever coming back...
Oh, my God.
"I do not exist," we faithfully insist,
While watching sink the heavy ship with everything we knew.
And if ever you come near, I'll hold up high a mirror.
Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as you!
That was released in 2007 lyricism today isn't so bad I don't think
I do not exist, we faithfully insist
while sailing in our separate ships
and from each tiny caravel
tiring of trying there is unnecessary dying
like the horseshoe crab in its proper season
sheds its shell
Such a distance from our friends
like a scratch across the lens
made everything look wrong from anywhere we stood
and our paper blew away before we left the bay
so half blind we wrote these songs
on sheets of salted wood
you caught me making eyes
at the other boatmen's wives
and heard me laughing louder
at the jokes told by their daughters
I'd set my course for land, but you well understand,
It takes a steady hand to navigate adulterous waters.
The propeller's spinning blades held acquaintance with the waves,
As there's mistakes I've made no rowing could outrun.
The cloth low on the mast, I say I got no past,
I'm nonetheless the librarian and secretary's son.
The tarnish on my brass, the mildew on my glass-
I'd never want someone so crass as to want someone like me.
But a few leagues off the shore, I bit a flashing lure,
And I assure you, it was not what I expected it to be!
I still tastes its kiss, that dull hook in my lip
Is a memory as useless as a rod without a reel.
To an anchor ever dropped, sea-sick yet still docked,
Captain spotted napping with his first mate at the wheel.
Floating forgetfully along, with no need to be strong,
We keep our confessions long, but when we pray we keep it short.
I drank a thimble full of fire,
I'm not ever coming back...
Oh, my God.
"I do not exist," we faithfully insist,
While watching sink the heavy ship with everything we knew.
And if ever you come near, I'll hold up high a mirror.
Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as you!
That was released in 2007 lyricism today isn't so bad I don't think
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:27 pm to treble hook
I think songwriting credit has become more lucrative, and therefore more litigious. This is why you may have more people credited with songwriting. Regardless of their input or the quality of the overall song. 
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:30 pm to Notro
pop music has always had shitty songwriting
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:40 pm to Brosef Stalin
There's plenty of great songwriters. Just not making empty pop songs. Just like always.
Not to pick on the Beatles, but it's not like the lyrics to Love Me Do are stellar.
Not to pick on the Beatles, but it's not like the lyrics to Love Me Do are stellar.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:46 pm to When in Rome
Posted on 7/10/12 at 4:47 pm to Baloo
quote:
There's plenty of great songwriters. Just not making empty pop songs. Just like always.
How do people not understand this?
"music just isn't as good as it once was!"
bullshite
Posted on 7/10/12 at 5:23 pm to TheDoc
Yeah, I'd say it is about like it always was.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 5:53 pm to gokevin
quote:I think this is what I'm getting at. Seems like mainstream stuff has gone down lyrics-wise. But I concede to the others in this thread that good songwriting currently exists.
it hasn't gone away, it's just harder to find.
All valid points made
Posted on 7/10/12 at 6:05 pm to When in Rome
If you play Beyonce's song backwards it say santanic shite.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 6:27 pm to When in Rome
Try getting to the bottom of a Coheed and Cambria song.
Damned things are mind twisters.
Damned things are mind twisters.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 6:40 pm to Baloo
quote:
Not to pick on the Beatles, but it's not like the lyrics to Love Me Do are stellar.
No one liked the Beatles when they first took off because of their writing ability. That part of them came later.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 6:44 pm to Marciano1
quote:
That part of them came later.
post-LSD
Posted on 7/10/12 at 6:46 pm to When in Rome
There were equally shitty songs in Queen's heyday, I assure you.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 7:35 pm to Rocket
Posted on 7/10/12 at 7:48 pm to When in Rome
I would say most mainstream music today has garbage lyrics. Most new rap songs suck, a lot of country songs are just garbage, and pop music is just painful to listen to. Smaller bands that are not as popular still have some good lyrics though.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 8:05 pm to Slinger16
I think if there is one genre where songwriting isn't as good as it used to be is traditional country. It may not be terrible but back in the early 90's, Nashville was churning out megahits(that were more country than pop) with assembly line production it seemed. But I guess "good" songwriting is subjective.
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