David Byrne: Song lyrics are overrated

The Talking Heads front man says the way you say a word is as important as the word itself. He spoke at TED 2010.

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[cactaceous]

I knew it could not be accurate for one of the best lyricists in modern music to make such a statement as "Song lyrics are overrated". That title is misconstrued because he never even made that comment in this video and I think he would never believe that.

[vitamincity]

i love david byrne hes such a character we need more people like him

[JadeTomZ]

LYRICS ARE ONLY IMPORTANT IF THE SONG IS BEING SUNG BY A GREAT SINGER.

SINATRA MADE LYRICS MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE MUSIC.

VERY FEW SINGERS CAN DO THAT.

[BlargGargle]

I listen to the notes of the vocal melody and the instrumental music mostly, but really lyrics are important because they set the framework that the vocal melody works in. Words are (except in the case of purely instrumental music) needed, they need to flow with the music and they need to sound right. In that case they are important.

[MrZzachariah13]

@mommyimadeapoopy bullshit asshole.. it starts it over

[grunt12394]

@Dactuck most songs are better with just instruments though because nowadays it takes no talent to sing in my opinion.

[festiveintoxications]

It looks like he has MS or some nerve disorder. Very jittery and his mouth movement doesn't seem normal. 

[culwin]

On some songs, the lyrics are more important.

On other songs, the music is more important.

[Dactuck]

Fuck lyrics? Really?. The melody of the lyrics and the instruments create a song. Fuck your sense self-righteous bullshit. I kick ass on the weekends.

[AlexandriaM]

@cactaceous I agree completely. Really he was making the point that lyrics aren't the only thing a listener reacts to and uses to interpret or as a reason to like a song.

[mommyimadeapoopy]

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