Music. Why do you listen to the stuff you do

[Jarvicious]

Me and a good buddy of mine are constantly discussing this because we get two totally different things out of music.  He's a lyrics guy.  He could go into the meaning of a song from ten different directions, but he couldn't tell you what kind of guitar the band is using or what kind of time signature they're using.  I might also add that he's a horribly depressing bastard, which is another reason why our tastes differ.

Simply put, I'm into the goosbumps I get when I hear a certain part of a song.  I'm into that rush I get, the hair on the back of my neck standing up when a band hits that perfect rhymic groove.  I've almost driven off the road just because of a single breakdown in a Between the Buried and Me song numerous times.  I can't get enough of it, but I'd be hard pressed to tell you what any given song means.  I CAN play the same tune the singers is singing on my guitar, I just don't give a shit what he/she is saying.  The singer is little more than just another instrument in a band, thus a lot of bands that have become quite popular I literally can't stand just becasue of the singer's tone (Modest Mouse.  God I hate Modest Mouse).  I listen to a lot of metal/hardcore/screamo/whatever the make the beast with two backs you want to call it.  Some bands you simply cannot tell what the singer is saying, but the technical proficiency and the songwriting style in a lot of these bands is so much better (imo) than you can find in the indie/pop/singer/songwriter areas.  That being said, I can't get enough of Ben Folds, Maynard Ferguson, or Bela Fleck either.

Lame genra classifications aside, (I use them simply for examples sake) why do you cats and kittens listen to what you listen to?  I didn't want to jack the "what are you listening to" thread, but I thought some music examples with your reasoning would be interesting.   

[mrs minnesotamonster]

I'd have to say mine is a combination of both. I frequently get shit from people because of the music I listen to.

For example, I listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan mostly because of his amazing talent as a guitarist, his stuff gives me chills.

I am an Elton John fanatic because he is a phenomenal piano player but also identify with the lyrics of a LOT of his songs (even though he doesn't write them).

As cliche as it is, I do honestly listen to everything because I can't say I listen to something ONLY for the music or ONLY for the lyrics. I'll listen to anything.

I'm not even sure if that post made very much sense...oops:)

[somegirl]

I never have any idea what the lyrics are, I just listen for the music (possibly because I am a instrumentalist myself).  In fact if I sing along to something you would hear all sorts of weird made-up lyrics.

[the_Journeyman]

I am an Elton John fanatic because he is a phenomenal piano player but also identify with the lyrics of a LOT of his songs (even though he doesn't write them).

Bernie Taupin IIRC does most of his lyrics, while he does most of the music.  Excellent composer he is 

I have various things going on.  Some is lyrics.  I do enjoy the writing style of some writers.  Same goes for music, some composers are just excellent when it comes to creating something.  I'm musically knowledgeable, but can't specify much about specific types of guitars etc.  Sometimes I listen to music to sing, sometimes to be soothed, sometimes to chill....  The list could go on for days. 

In my music collection, you'll find most musical styles represented at least once.

JM

[ZLTFUL]

I do it for the emotion...whether it is the music OR the lyrics or a combination of both.
The Richard Thompson song, 1952 Vincent Black Lightning chokes me up no matter how much I listen to it and the music gives me goose bumps.
I get the same feelings when I listen to alot of blues music (SRV is a personal favorite).
When I am getting ready to work out, I listen to fast paced metal to get my emotions pumping...

I am definitely different songs for different moods kind of guy. ANd that Zamfir and his pan flute...SPECTACULAR!!! (And I am just kidding about Zamfir)

[metallimonster]

^^^+111111111


I am really all about the emotions too.  If its the guitars that gets me going than that is what I pick out if its the lyrics than that is what i focus on.

[redxblack]

I liked punk rock and metal when I was younger and angrier because the lyrics and music made me feel like I wasn't an outcast. Now I usually listen to those same people's singer/songwriter material (Bob Mould, Chad Price, etc) because they're older and less angry, but I can still relate to them.

[gage]

'cause it makes me cry 

[Bun-bun]

Wow, good question.
I've never really thought about it.
I listen to a lot of different classes of music, some for lyrics, some that have no lyrics.
Instrumentals I come back to over and over again include Tschaikovskys 1812 overture, Simple Minds "Somebody up there likes me",  Yes "Starship Trooper" from yessongs.
Lyrical songs that I like for the tempo, and see the singer as just another musician include The Raconteurs "Steady as she goes", Massive Attack "Angel" and "Teardrop", and Stan Ridgeway "Uba's house of fashion".
Lyrical songs I like for the lyrics usually tell a story, including Oingo Boingo "No one lives forever", Wall of Voodoo "Drive' she said", The Offspring "One fine day", etc.
I'm not a big fan of sad, downer music, but sometimes I like a song that juxtaposes down lyrics with an up-tempo beat, like Stan Ridgeways "The roadblock", or Yello "La habanera" for example.

[Grampa]

I tried tasting it.... but it did not work.

[DoubleEagle]

I've been listening to the same music that I listened to 40 years ago.

I guess it was music that defined a time and attitude that I liked and attached myself to.

Whether it be Zeppelin's " Whole Lotta Love , " or Deep Purple's " Highway Star ."

Those are songs that get me really going and the Lyrics still make whatever sense now that they made back when the songs originated.

I continue to listen to Blackmore's Night which has Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple and his now wife Candace Night .

Candace sings songs with great lyrics while Ritchie still plays some hot electric melodic Riffs which makes the songs both insightful but also heavy with hard rock guitar.

I've liked Tim Buckley since the late '60s for his unique voice, magical lyrics and phantasmagorical music which I still find relevant today.

Bob Dylan , Jimi Hendrix , Eric Clapton and Cream , Steve Windwood and Traffic , Neil Young and C, S and N., George Harrison and the Beatles . Icons of the last 40 years.

Mel C , Kim Wilde , No Angels  from the fairer sex are found in Europe and on you tube. They offer a different type of musical entertainment.

Every now and then I hear some new music that I like i.e. Manu Chao . But for the most part as far as I'm concerned , most of today's music is just " noise ! "    Dolph

[Popeye the Sailor]

Mostly because it covers up the rattles in the car, so I don't have to fix things.

[Jarvicious]

Those are songs that get me really going and the Lyrics still make whatever sense now that they made back when the songs originated.
Dolph

I know exactly what you mean.  I can hear a song and remember exactly the day and what I was doing when I first heard it.  Or I remember a point in my life where that was the ONLY album that I could listen to.  The memories sometimes are almost as strong as when you smell something familiar and it takes you back. 

As far as music today being nothing more than noise, I mostly disagree with you there.  There's so much good music around, you just have to be a bit open minded and search for it.  If you can find it, there's an album by a band Coalesce called "There is Nothing New Under the Sun".  It's got 5 or 6 old Led Zep songs on it that they covered, but they didn't really change anything.  They're a metal band, so the guy yells a lot for most of the lyrics, but the point of the album was to point out how little a lot of music has changed through the years.  Led Zep was metal as hell, people have just changed up the guitar tones, vocals, and recording methods through the years to make it sound more or less "crunchy".  Listen to any (decent) modern band and dollars to donubs it's going to be fundamentally the same shit they were puting down in the 60s and 70s.  Except disco.  Disco died an unfortunate death, though every once in a while you hear something that brings it back.  And it makes me smile

[Bun-bun]

Mostly because it covers up the rattles in my carhead, so I don't have to fix things.

Fixed

[Bick]

Because the brainwashing corporate marketing machine tells me that is what i am supposed to like.