If you don’t understand the language then singing is just another instrument

Absolutely. Most songs I hear are repeating garbage. Instrumental repeat as well but it’s just not the same mickey mouse lyrics.

I enjoy both. I also enjoy music of multiple languages I don’t understand. I don’t think understanding the lyrics is necessary to enjoy a song or feel an atmosphere.

I’m not a musician, but I don’t think it’s necessarily harder to compose with instruments only. Lyrics and voice are one of many tools in music, and whether you include one or the other, you compose with what you have or choose.

Additionally, I often listen to music without consciously paying attention to or observing the lyrics.

I agree that it can be seen as more universal, though.

For an instrumental recommendation, I recommend This Will Destroy You, particularly the songs

• The World is our ____
• I Believe In Your Victory
• Burial On The Presidio Banks
• Quiet,

Web links:

• This Will Destroy You on YouTube
• This Will Destroy You on Bandcamp
• This Will Destroy You linktree

I like both, just depends on what I feel like listening to.

https://youtu.be/X7R2Vl_hcCA?si=mfgmIxuL11dE3qzA

i usually don’t catch most of the lyrics the first or second go around, so anything i hear for the first time basically sounds like this. because of that, i treat vocals like any other instrument- is the tone good? is it carrying a good melody? only if i like a song enough to listen multiple times (because of or in spite of the singer) do i start to pick up the words, which can elevate the experience if they’re good but if they’re not, nothing gained and nothing lost.

Instrumental music for working, music with vocals the rest of the time.

80% of my listen time is probably instrumental.

I do prefer instrumental music, but for completely different reasons. Mostly for me it’s because I get earworms extremely easily, and can have a song stuck in my head for days at a time. 99% of the time it’s the lyrics that are stuck, so it’s a much lower chance to get an instrumental song stuck in my head.

The issue for me is that musicated poetry has to be good poetry in first place. Generally, the voice even if good just interferes with the music unless it is a choir. Plus I’ve always had a hard time parsing lyrics by ear… I’d never considered cross-culture universality.

I don’t know about taking more skill, but I do like instrumental, and pretty much ignore lyrics when present.

I struggle to parse fast paced song lyrics, so often find myself listening more to the music than what they are saying. This has gotten me in trouble before.

Right now I am digging Dance with the Dead’s “Driven to Madness”. Reminds me of an 80s monster movie synth/metal album.

60:40

Sometimes, it really depends on my mood and what im doing

I’m pretty good at semi- tuning out lyrics so nonsensical ones don’t bother me, but they’re still distracting if I’m reading so instrumental is great for that

I disagree that you can’t share a song with the whole world due to language. I listen to stuff in languages I don’t speak frequently. And making music out of one’s voice seems pretty darn human.

There is a time and place for instrumental for me. I like listening to it when I need to focus, as opposed to songs that sometimes distract me more.

I wouldn’t really say I prefer one over another; they both have their place to me