This actually came out with a conversation with Lex, but was reminded of my intention to start this thread by discussion on the 22Listens thread.
Now I realise that many people do not listen to lyrics, at all ever, beyond recognising that there are human vocals there. But if you ever pay any attention to lyrics, such as singing along with them, how do you relate to the lyrics? Do you identify with the singer of the song and their emotions and concerns? Do you listen for a "you" in the song, and imagine the song being sung to you? Do you struggle to see yourself in either singer or subject, and just view the lyrics as stories? Does anything change whether you identify with the singer or the subject, e.g. if you are male and listening to a female singer, do you have more trouble relating to the singer, or just go with it? If listening to music from hugely outside your culture or experience (so long as you actually speak the language the lyrics are in) do you look to identify with the singer, or are you more likely to view that as story or vignette?
If you pay attention to lyrics at all, what is your most common way of interacting with them?
Poll Results
Option | Votes |
I don't identify with either singer or subject, I just listen to them as little stories or vignettes | 18 |
I go back and forth between identifying with subject and object depending on circumstances I will describe | 12 |
Some other option not covered | 12 |
I identify with the narrator/the person singing the song | 11 |
I primarily listen to music in languages I do not speak | 4 |
I primarily listen to instrumental music | 3 |
I do not ever listen to lyrics, not even to sing along | 2 |
I identify with the "you" in the song/the person the song is about | 1 |
― "righteous indignation shit" (Branwell Bell), Wednesday, 5 February 2014 19:00 (ten years ago) link