vainandy said:

The first thing I pay attention to is the drums on a song, whether played or programmed (doesn't make a difference, folks, they're both music).

If there are no drums, my mind actually just focuses on the "pulse" of the song, however that characteristic of the song is being carried.

After I have heard the song a few times, I might notice other instruments or layers, or if the drums don't change very much, by the end of the first listen I will start to notice more instruments playing the chord changes.

Sometimes when you are listening on weak-ass speakers, the bassline isn't easy to hear but that is the next part I like to focus on.

The voice is like an instrument to me, and singing without words is just as powerful to me.

I listen to voices very viscerally (the expression, delivery, the cadence) and to be honest, lyrics first time hearing always wash right past me, and it takes me forever to learn all the words to a song.

Not that I dislike lyrics, they are very important to me once I have the capacity to hear and understand them, but I feel like sometimes it takes using the other side of my brain to translate the language.

Sometimes less is more because it is just less information for me to pick out, and I understand how those songs become popular. But other times, like Darude's "Sandstorm" and Usher's "Yeah" I am just appaulled by the lack of character melodies have. Those two are probably the same in some way.

I noticed that a lot of people listen to voice first.

I listen overall initially. If I don't "feel" the track, I won't go any further.
If I dig the track, I break it down into elements 2 see how much time and effort when into the making of the song.

If I really dig the track, it inspires me 2 new level of creatvity with my own work. There is not much out these days that fit this category.

Graycap23 said:

When do you pick up on lyrics?

Vocals are very important to me. That can make or break a song. But lyrics to me are the least important. There are many songs that I really liked that I didn't find out what the lyrics were exactly until years later.

That's why horrible shows like "American Idol" do so well these days. I'll be flipping through the channels and see fools standing up there singing acapella and I can't think of anything as simple, or in other words, people being entertained by something that is stripped down to absolutely nothing, not to mention how silly looking and boring it is. I don't care how well someone can sing, if it ain't on top of some kickass music, it's going to be boring as hell. I just don't get the entertaining part these folks get from it but they keep tuning in week after week to see it though.

The overall arrangement.

Usually it's the beat first. Percussion, bass and drums. I like to hear what they're doing first, then see if there's a strong keyboard or guitar presence. Then I listen for the journey the overall music takes me on, melody and the mood it creates. This usually applies for instrumentals.

If it's a vocal song obviously vocal quality is key. If I can't take the quality then it's pretty hard to get past. The music has to be outstanding from there or the vocals minimal. If the quality is okay or good, I listen for the melody and particularly the chorus. That can make it or break it for me. A predictable chorus or bridge in a chord that doesn't sound pleasant to me could mean the end. Lyrics are also a deal breaker.

Depends on the song.

If it's funk, the beats.
If it's soul, the beats and the voice.
If it's pop, the voice.
If it's rock, a mixture of guitar, beats, etc.
Jazz - beats
Hip-hop - beats/music

It depends.

vainandy said:

I find that show to be a bore as well.

The only time lyrics really catch my ear is if they are cussing or explicit. Other than that, it's mainly the groove that catches my ear. I love explicit lyrics, but even they have to have some kickass music behind them.

With me, no matter if it's funk, disco, rock, country, or basically anything, the beat and rhythm of the song is what catches my ear. I guess you could say, the way the song flows. Even with slow jams, it's the same thing such as the melody which is still the overall way the song grooves and flows.

But the flow has to change up a little throughout the song. For instance, some of the acid trance type stuff might sound really good but it sounds like an undeveloped song in progress because the flow of the rhythm never changes thoughout the song. No matter how good that groove might sound, if it never changes up throughout the song, it just sounds like a continuous groove that never changes and sounds extremely repetitive which becomes boring before the song is even half over. I guess the best description of trance would be a record that is scratched and keeps playing that one section over and over and over.
[Edited 2/6/09 14:52pm]

vainandy said:

Yeah I can see how that'll matter too. I always check for the rhythm in funk/soul/R&B songs first before I decide whether it's a groove or not.

Timmy84 said:

Even that explanation is probably oversimplified, but it would explain why we like a lot of the same stuff.

basslines and synthesizer melodies take control of my soul

for example:

Jesse Johnson- be your man


the opening screech of the car tires followed by those drums/bassline already has my attention.I sit eagerly awaiting a funky breakdown and Blaowww!!. It does not dissapoint! those synthesizers Glide across the beat like iceman racing to save professor X.


at this point i have already decided i like this song and will listen to again. but wait! the groove switches up and carries me into a 80's wonderworld of perms and rhinestone studded pastel jackets. but just as the daydream reaches its climax i get a dose of reality and the song goes back to normal(if you want 2 call it that).

the main hook kicks back in and i notice all of the people staring at me because i was belting it out as if i was jesse himself.

embarassed but poised i continue to strut around the corner safe from view and begin to shimmy until the song comes to a close

You guys overanalyze things!

I just listen to the song
Subsequent listenings will add details. Lyrics come last if they come at all.

Cinnie said:

I pick up on the lyrics last. Most times, especially these days, people are not talking about much anyway. There are a few exceptions but there are not that many.

Cinnie said:

It depends on the artist/musician/singer and the genre.

Jazz: The one thing I like about jazz musician's (whether they are instrumentalist or singers) they usually have set of standards they play throughout their careers. As their musicianship evolves they take turns for which those songs are being sung or played for the very first time. I can tell what decade Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, or Bill Evans recorded a song. Yeah,
jazz consist of improvising on a chord/melody but trick is playing/singing and placing those notes/chords in unforeseen or unique ways and that ain't easy.

Singers: Some singers are just masters of interpreting a lyric and a sublime talent for timing... the band or orchestra really arranges the song(s) around their singing: Rosemary Clooney, Aretha Franklin, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Billy Holiday, Frank Sinatra come to mine.

In most cases I'm listening to the layers of a song and how well it's arranged and how the lyrics play within the confines of the music.
[Edited 2/6/09 18:53pm]

PANDURITO said:

No we don't.

Cinnie said:

Usually with at least 6 beers from a 12 pack.

Just kidding.

I suppose the more profoundly I can feel a 4-minute walk in someone else’s shoes, the more likely I am to stay the course.

The real difficulty is in determining whether I’m giving myself a fair shake at taking up the gait.

Or being even more esoteric in my attempted explanation of how I listen to music or how I view art appreciation:

Heaven – Rolling Stones

Smell of you baby, my senses, my senses be praised
Smell of you baby, my senses, my senses be praised

Kissing and running, kissing and running away
Kissing and running, kissing and running away
Senses be praised
Senses be praised

You're my saving grace, saving grace
Nothing will harm you
Nothing will stand in your way
Nothing, Nothing
Nothing will stop you
And nothing will stand in your way
No one will harm you
No one will stand in your way
No one will bar you
Nothing will stand in your way
Nothing
There's nothing



==

So much to spin, so little time.

== Damn the Edits ==
[Edited 2/7/09 2:03am]

Rhythm.

Thats the 1st thing that captures my attention right off,,,the song doesn't even have to be fast to be rhythmicaly driven.

I have to admit though, the lyrics are the last thing I pay attention to, I could listen to a certain songs for years without paying so much attention to lyrics.