Most important song topic....

[BubbaC]

this was gonna be a poll about the message vs talent.. which is an age old topic in rock.. but after a long winded rant, i decided maybe discovering which message a band tries to convey is more important to people would be better... cause i'm sorry but if a band has nothing to say... they aren't worth listening too. and if you think otherwise.. i'm sorry for you.
that said i tried picking the most prevalent topics of songs/bands

Politics - the messages conveyed and accepted, effect the fate of the world.

General Life - combine all the categories. and mush them all together into a giant cornucopia. usually ending in some sort of depressed overtone. nothing completely stands out. but nothing get ignored. (topic wise)

Love - unfortunately most of these songs come off as corny. or worse yet emo cry baby crap. how ever there is occasional gem about love happiness and/or the pain associated with it in an intelligent and meaningful way.

Religion - probably the most taboo topic in rock & roll. a culture which has spent probably 80-90% trying to separate itself from, yet becoming one in the same as it. the haven for lost souls that rock has been for many years, these songs are often seen as blasphemy. how can religion co-exist with "drugs sex and rock & roll"?

Drugs/Alcohol - sometime the sturggles of one mans addictions and down falls can be the most moving thing you have heard in a long time. not too mention a possible life saver. and /or reflections upon society and one's self.

Partying/Rocking Out - Parties are a mainstay in rock & roll music. with out them, half the other topics don't exist.

Comedy - some band like to be comedians.. the vandals and A.C. come to mind. a good laugh is always needed.

Misc other emotions - this category really isn't even one. it's along the line of the Life category. everything mushed into one. how ever some band specialize in being angry. some in depressed moody stuff. other in being happy. it's not emo. but it is about emotions.. take it how you wish... i figure i would throw it in, because there are "specialists" bands out there.. plus some bands dont really fit into the other categories. DEPRESSION is probably the most prevelant of them..

[Lord_Mhoram]

I voted other.

I really like songs / album with a science fiction theme, or song about where humanity could go. Or about mythology (sometimes fantasy).

[Hungryfreak]

Voted Other for lack of gore on the poll. How can you resist the charming lyrics of a song about turning corpses into pet food? Or perhaps the irresistible debonair of a vivid description about zombies tearing your head off and then feeding on your flesh.

[WhiffleBallTony]

I don't like my music to really have an emotional message. I prefer songs that tell a story.Irn Maiden has really perfect that which is one reason why I love their lyrics. They've written about everything.

I used to like a lot of music that reflected my political and religious views, but I've realized that music and protests should not be fused. I don't judge music by the lyrics, but former favorites of mine like System of a Down have kind of come out of my iTunes rotation.

I love the way that Maiden incorporates lots of famous pop-culture items into their music. Examples are "Children of the Damned", "To Tame a Land", and "Phantom of the Opera".

[BhindBluEyes430]

I voted politics. My Favorite songs have some sort of outlash at politics. but the best are pointed Critiques. For Example "White Riot" was pointed at the White kids who won't riot and do anything for what they want while the black kids are ready to fight for anything. Sociopolitical.

But I dont really know what catagory Bob Dylan would fit in? Dylan uses the tone of the music and the tone of the words to evoke an emotion.

For example Right now i am listining to "Desolation Row" (at a full 11:21 min long!) the lyrics evoke that Desolation but peace and freedom, he describes random things in the world and how they are diffrent and outcasts. I think its a song about redemption how everyone can be so disconected but yet they all return to this "Desolation row"

[Chief Stubbs]

Voted politics. Political topics bring out aggressive music that actually means something, as seen in Rage Against The Machine, Ministry, Black Sabbath, etc. Religion is all good and fine except it's generally the same old song and dance over and over again.

[JukeBoxHero]

I voted for life but I didn't read down below. The description of life lyrics are not what I had in mind so I choose misc. I like a variety of lyrics. science fiction, politics, peace, life, any kind that makes me think a second time about the lyrics.

[packerfan8675309]

Comedy ten

[frizzy_bj]

I would be lying if I didn't choose love.

What can I say? I am a girl. I like that kind of stuff from time to time.:D

[defenestrater]

I put Misc, but only because there wasn't a choice for "I Don't Care About Lyrics That Much." I do pay attention to singers, but I'm more interested in how they're singing, and how they blend in or contrast with whatever the rest of the band is doing. What they're singing about isn't as important to me.

[CheezerRox]

I put Misc, but only because there wasn't a choice for "I Don't Care About Lyrics That Much." I do pay attention to singers, but I'm more interested in how they're singing, and how they blend in or contrast with whatever the rest of the band is doing. What they're singing about isn't as important to me.

Ha, that's almost the opposite of me. I like lyrics, especially if they're very interesting and make you think. I do pay attention to how the singer...well, sings too, though. Lyrics are big to me, though.


As for me, I can't pick.

[TheCrimsonSaint]

I pick life. If I picked anything else, Metallica "fans" would be all over me. Why? Because St. Anger is my favorite album. Go read the lyrics. Now we understand each other.

[moneyp]

There aren't enough songs out there about pie.

[Rockbandfan23467]

I don't caaaaaaaareeee
I don't caaaaaaare
I don't care
I don't care
I don't care
I don't caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaareeeeee!

[onduvalst]

I don't caaaaaaaareeee
I don't caaaaaaare
I don't care
I don't care
I don't care
I don't caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaareeeeee!

You just live for this kinda crap don't you?

I picked love. To me love is more than just happy endings. Its heatbreak, cheating, sex, lust, jealousy, and everything in between.

[Hungryfreak]

Love is made of pure synthetic cheese, like cheese whiz. The only ones that don't come across as cheesy are parodies, like Zappa's(I'm thinking Freak Out! album here)

[frizzy_bj]

Love is made of pure synthetic cheese, like cheese whiz. The only ones that don't come across as cheesy are parodies, like Zappa's(I'm thinking Freak Out! album here)

Awww. A little bit of cheese never hurt nobody.:D;):p

*sings*


I can't tell ya baby what went wrong
I can't make you feel what you felt so long ago
I'll let it show
I can't give you back what's been hurt
Heartaches come and go and all that's left are the words
I can't let go
If we take some time to think it over baby
Take some time, let me know
If you really want to go

Don't know what you got till it's gone
Don't know what it is I did so wrong
Now I know what I got
It's just this song
And it ain't easy to get back
Takes so long

LOL. I am waiting on my friend list to decrease in droves after I hit submit.:D

[WhiffleBallTony]

I pick life. If I picked anything else, Metallica "fans" would be all over me. Why? Because St. Anger is my favorite album. Go read the lyrics. Now we understand each other.

Nice avatar.

[Ultimatum]

This should be multi-option.

[Ultimatum]

The lyrics to St. Anger are so mundane that I couldn't even stand reading them past the 3rd song.

[Rockbandfan23467]

I pick life. If I picked anything else, Metallica "fans" would be all over me. Why? Because St. Anger is my favorite album. Go read the lyrics. Now we understand each other.

WTF? What are you saying?

[l-o-t]

I think the definition of Love songs is a bit narrow. I mean is "Whole Lotta Love" corny? No. It's not. Lot's of Zeppelin's early stuff is "love" related. Not a corny song among em'. All of the Beatles early stuff (while corny by today's standards was really cutting edge at the time) is Love related. On that note I voted Life.

[TheCrimsonSaint]

WTF? What are you saying?

Think about it. I know you don't do much of that, but try for me.;) Love the avatar, BTW.

[TheCrimsonSaint]

The lyrics to St. Anger are so mundane that I couldn't even stand reading them past the 3rd song.

I fail to see how mundane lyrics are bad. That's what I like about them.

[Hungryfreak]

I think the definition of Love songs is a bit narrow. I mean is "Whole Lotta Love" corny? No. It's not. Lot's of Zeppelin's early stuff is "love" related. Not a corny song among em'. All of the Beatles early stuff (while corny by today's standards was really cutting edge at the time) is Love related. On that note I voted Life.

The lyrics themselves are corny, though. Whole Lotta Love is more about sex, though, than love.


You need coolin, baby, Im not foolin,
Im gonna send you back to schoolin,
Way down inside honey, you need it,
Im gonna give you my love,
Im gonna give you my love.

Love is about wanting a girl, not wanting to be inside a girl, haha.

[Rockbandfan23467]

WLL does have horrible lyrics in the vein of several modern rap songs.

[Ultimatum]

I fail to see how mundane lyrics are bad. That's what I like about them.

Compared to their earlier works, they actually could've written better lyrics.

Like MoP was an entirely metaphorical song, which is a lot better than getting smacked over the head with a pan.

[TheCrimsonSaint]

Compared to their earlier works, they actually could've written better lyrics.

Like MoP was an entirely metaphorical song, which is a lot better than getting smacked over the head with a pan.

Maybe in your opinion. Sometimes getting smacked over the head works. Hell, that entire album is a smack over the head. I like it.

[Hungryfreak]

The entire album could more accurately be described as a kick in the balls. A kick in the balls like 'how could they do this to us?'

[polishdog90]

I don't care for one topic more than another. As long as it's a good song I'll listen to any topic.

[sg327]

I don't care for one topic more than another. As long as it's a good song I'll listen to any topic.

Agreed...:D

[TheCrimsonSaint]

The entire album could more accurately be described as a kick in the balls. A kick in the balls like 'how could they do this to us?'

Just pointing out that Metallica doesn't now and never did care "what they did to us".

[Ultimatum]

Then wy did they make their sound more mainstream?

Sure, Metallica is obssessed with themselves, but they care about the fans to a certain degree (depending on how much money they have :/).

[TheCrimsonSaint]

Then wy did they make their sound more mainstream?

Sure, Metallica is obssessed with themselves, but they care about the fans to a certain degree (depending on how much money they have :/).

Please. The only album of theirs that sounded mainstream was their s/t. The other two were in no way built on a mainstream sound, but had mainstream appeal because of anticipation that built up after the s/t.

[Ultimatum]

They completely rode on the Groove/Nu-Metal trend until they started to get criticized for it.

Don't forget the cheesy ballads Unforgiven I and II, and Nothing Else Matters.

[TheCrimsonSaint]

^^What groove/nu-metal trend? Maybe with St. Anger. But that trend did not exist during 1994, when Metallica wrote Load/ReLoad. Also, if you don't like "The Unforgiven", then you probably shouldn't like "Fade to Black" or "Welcome Home". Because all three songs are the same concept, just the "The Unforgiven" is heavy verse, ballad chorus instead of ballad verse and heavy chorus.

[Ultimatum]

Fade To Black and Welcome Home still had that very raw sound to them, The Unforgiven was overproduced.

Pantera made waves with their Groove Metal release Vulgar Display of Power in 1992, Metallica had just started to fade from the spotlight and came out with a very Groove Metal influenced Load in 1996, with ReLoad following it in 1997, trying to furthermore capitalize off the Groove Metal approach.

When St Anger was released, Metalllica tried to bridge a gap between the non-mainstream thrashers and their mainstream fans. St. Anger had a much heavier Punk influence and ended up being one of Metallica's lowest rated releases, particularly due to the absence of solos.

[guitarguru2112]

I had to choose life on this one, although I sort of disagree with the description; life is not always depressing. I like lyrics that sort of use a life experience to make a point, but yet I am a guitar player and I don't always pay attention to the lyrics!

[foolosophy]

I never look to music for a political or religious opinion. But I am always interested in the insights on Life and Love that other people have.