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We explored the role of lyrics and melodies in conveying emotions in songs. Participants rated the intensity of four types of emotions in instrumental music or the same music paired with lyrics. Melodies and lyrics conveyed the same intended emotion in Experiments 1 and 3 but were mismatched in Experiments 2 and 4. The major findings in Experiments 1 and 2 were that lyrics detracted from the emotion in happy and calm music (positive emotions), but enhanced the emotion in sad and angry music (negative emotions). In all cases, melodies of songs were more dominant than the lyrics in eliciting emotions. In addition, in Experiments 3 and 4, the emotion in the songs appeared to transfer, simply by association, to pictures of common objects arbitrarily paired with the songs.
“In all cases, melodies of songs were more dominant than the lyrics in eliciting emotions.”
Would you rather hear weak lyrics with a strong melody or strong lyrics with a weak melody? Or is it all about context and dependent on the presentation?
This test was probably too small to extract any solid information, but the line about melodies being more dominant than lyrics jumped out at me. Surely in styles like Country music it’s true that lyrics are king. It’s a storytelling genre. And there are many contemporary styles where it’s very fashionable to have the same I-V-vi-IV progression droning over new lyrics. It works, and it’s used in most styles of music including contemporary worship.
But can you remember when you first heard your favorite melody? The power it had, it held you in it’s grasp and charmed you. I know a very fine orchestra conductor, Roupen Shakarian, who has said the draw of the melodies in Bach’s Fugue in G minor was what drew him into a music profession. I had the same experience with the same song, ironically (though I had never thought about it until I heard that from Roupen, so maybe I’m making it up.) Point is, the power of a melody can change a life.
Can we say the same about lyrics? My experience is there are those that listen primarily to lyrics and those that focus on melodies and music. I am one that listens to music. Most of my favorite songs I could not tell you more than a couple of the lyrics. Often, I’m amazed to find out later that the lyrics of a song I like are actually very good. Maybe I miss out on the experience as a whole by focusing just on the music. But it’s not something I control, it’s just the way I’m wired.
Do you listen to lyrics or music, or both in tandem? And what was the song that changed you or spoke to the depths of your soul?
Interesting topic! Quick picks off the top of my head –
MELODY:
“Fare Thee Well Love” (Rankin Family) Moves me to tears, even though
I don’t know the words.
“Ode To Joy” Again, don’t know the words, but become unbelievably
energized when I hear it.
“Sing To Jesus” (Fernando Ortega)
Almost anything by Beach Boys, or Dianna Ross & The Supremes, or
Jerry Lee Lewis simply because of upbeat tempo.
STRONG BEAT:
(Again, don’t know the words, but can’t sit still when these play):
“Wild, Wild West”
“Strokin'”
“Mustang Sally”
“Addicted To Love”
LYRICS:
“Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood)
“When I Look To The Sky” (Train)
“Against The Wind” (Bob Seger)
“Already There” (Lonestar)
“Holy Water” (Brooks and Dunn) Actually don’t enjoy their voices!
Travis Tritt, Garth Brooks, & Reba McIntyre are exceptional when it comes to story-telling/lyrics.
MUSIC SELECTED FOR BEST VOICE:
Sarah McLaughlin
Roy Orbison
Everly Brothers
Vince Gill
Celine Dion
ODDBALL (Weak lyrics, melody and voice, but I love this song anyway!)
“Angelina” Billy Bob Thorton
Life changing? Not so far…but it certainly is a medium that brings much
pleasure!