References within songs?

When you listen to music do you ever have the need to understand the lyrics?

A name, event, location etc is sung about but you don't know the reference.

I do and often have to look it up so I fully understand the song.

Another thing is when I can't quite get all of the lyrics within a song, and I have to then look up the lyrics to see what they are really singing. Do you have to do that?

One thing I did discover while looking the lyrics up for a song today is that not all lyric sites can be trusted. Some for a song were clearly wrong, and I had to look up three different sites before I found one with accurate lyrics. Not good. But that is the internet for you. Created by fans, for fans.

I did always have a look at the lyrics when I was a lot younger, when I listened to my metal bands, I had to know what the message of Slayer f.ex. was. Nowadays I don't really bother, as I have so many CDs, that I don't look at the lyrics every time, only if something really interests me.

Usually i just look on the CD/LP cover and they have the lyrics in there. But if you own nothing but pirate copies of everything then you deserve to have difficulty in finding the correct lyrics. Support the multi milionares artists that spend three weeks of the year to bring you thier music and not the pirates who are all members af Al-quieda if you believe the Americans.

I find that if I try to understand the lyrics, I spend too much time/effort focusing on that rather than enjoying the song, so most of the time I don't even listen to what's being sung. Perhaps it's just because my native language isn't English, meaning I have to focus a lot more in order to 'get' the lyrics, while it comes naturally to most of you guys.

Strangely enough, I'm just not that interested in what Kylie Minogue and Co have to say.

The same thing for me.

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Originally Posted by Demon Cleaner

I did always have a look at the lyrics when I was a lot younger, when I listened to my metal bands, I had to know what the message of Slayer f.ex. was. Nowadays I don't really bother, as I have so many CDs, that I don't look at the lyrics every time, only if something really interests me.

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yes, the same with me. Some years ago, i went to the web and look for lyrics about Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Dream Theater etc... today i don't do it, only if a track really interests me a lot.
Last year i went to pick all Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons lyrics, but was only for this 2

Depends on what I'm listening to. I listened a lot to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds before, still do sometimes. And that isn't easy listening, the lyrics is a very important part of most of Cave's songs. Often the music itself is only there to complement the text and doesn't really work on its own. Not all of his music is like that, but a lot of it is so you really need to pay attention to his lyrics to get the most out his music in my opinion.

But for other generic music I don't really pay much attention to the lyrics anymore.

I used to read the lyrics quite often for Nine Inch Nails, The Doors, PWEI, Neds Atomic Dustbin, Therapy? and a few others but i'm not so bothered now.

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Originally Posted by Buleste

Usually i just look on the CD/LP cover and they have the lyrics in there.

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It annoys me when they don't though. I like reading the lyrics and I find it a bit irritating that some bands never include them (Idlewild and New Order have never included lyrics in the album sleeve) especially when they can be hard to decipher at times.

It's not a big problem obviously as you can get 'em on the internet anyway (though has anyone ever come across songs that don't actually have the lyrics on the 'net? I can't find the lyrics to Idlewild's "Hidden Ways" anywhere, for instance) and I'm generally only interested if I really like the song anyway.

Same here. I will only look lyrics up for a song I really like, where I just can't work out certain words or lines.

Years ago a lot of LPs had lyrics included, and many early CDs continued to do the same, but in recent years it seems more and more don't include any. Instead just including a 4 page booklet with a couple of abstract pictures.

Back in my teen years I knew the lyrics to just about everything I listened to off by heart. Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Exodus, Megadeth, Death, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, etc. Nowadays I don't really pay much attention to lyrics because it's too much time and work to learn them. Although I do ocassionally enjoy reading lyrics for a laugh(ie. Anxl Cxnt, Cannibal Corpse, The Mentors, etc.).

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Originally Posted by LowercaseE

Back in my teen years I knew the lyrics to just about everything I listened to off by heart.

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I'm a bit like that, too.

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Originally Posted by LowercaseE

Back in my teen years I knew the lyrics to just about everything I listened to off by heart. Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Exodus, Megadeth, Death, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, etc. Nowadays I don't really pay much attention to lyrics because it's too much time and work to learn them. Although I do ocassionally enjoy reading lyrics for a laugh(ie. Anxl Cxnt, Cannibal Corpse, The Mentors, etc.).

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Exactly, but that was also because the market wasn't as big as it is now. When I was young I had a lot less LPs than I have CDs now, nowadays there are a lot of bands coming out of nowhere, in the mid 80's, the only major bands were those you mentioned plus a few others like Overkill, Possessed, Suicidal Tendencies, Deicide, Sepultura, Kreator, Sodom, Destruction (the 3 main german trash bands) and of course Motörhead.

@LowercaseE: We should organize a karaoke night with metal songs and sing in a duet :lol:

That is true. There definitely used to be a core few groups in each genre that most fans would concentrate on. These days there are a lot of smaller groups flooding the market. Although as I never just listened to one genre I always had quite a range to pick albums from. Especially in the alternative indie area.

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Originally Posted by Demon Cleaner

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Originally Posted by LowercaseE

@LowercaseE: We should organize a karaoke night with metal songs and sing in a duet :lol:

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:lol: I've actually done karaoke a few times to metal songs. I usually have to be extremely drunk though as I generally don't like being "on stage". Once I even did "death metal karaoke" to a Madonna song. Unfortunately, I was so drunk I don't even remember what song. :lol:

Alcahol the cause of, and solution to, many of lifes problems - Homer Simpson

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Originally Posted by Harrison

Same here. I will only look lyrics up for a song I really like, where I just can't work out certain words or lines.

Years ago a lot of LPs had lyrics included, and many early CDs continued to do the same, but in recent years it seems more and more don't include any. Instead just including a 4 page booklet with a couple of abstract pictures.

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...and myspace links and a message thanking you for purchasing the CD and not illegally downloading it.

I like to try and understand lyrics as there are songs which sometimes don't make sense until you read the lyrics alot to try and make sense of it. And sometimes it is impossible to work out what a word is so have to look it up.

I don't look up the lyrics of everything though. Just songs where I find them interesting, or when I want to attempt singing it myself..

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Originally Posted by Stephen Coates

...or when I want to attempt singing it myself..

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:eyebrow::p

Are you trying to imply that I can't sing harrison?

@Harrison

Yes mate, that's out of order.
I'm sure Steve will glady sing and record something then post it here to prove he can.

Might I suggest Puff the Magic Dragon or it's Raining Men?

I think I'll give It's Raining Men a miss, but that song was played before Celebrations on the radio, when I had a mention for my birthday. Strangly, the song which was played straight after Celebrations was Crowded House - Weather with you.

Two songs (kindof ;)) related to weather.

I know I used to be able to sing a few years ago, I just havn't heard myself singing much recently (I still lack a tape recorder).

Talking of songs, I would like to dedicate this to Steven (sung to the tune of So Macho, sort of)

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I don't want no seven ounce iPod
Or a phone that thinks it's a TV
I'm after a hunk of plastic
An Amiga, not an Atari ST
There ain't no way that I'll make do
With anything less than I'm used to
If I play a game tonight
It's gotta be right, right, right

*So Retro
It's got to be
So Retro
It's got to be big and beige enough
to turn me on
Its's got to have, L E D's
Not built to play D V D's
Its's got to be big and beige enough
to turn me on

I'm tired of skinny pow-er leads
I want a toy for my ga-ming needs
Something which will please and amuse me
And look good next to my tv
Now I don't mean to be personal
But a toy like that's more preferable
In my humble point of view
Than any new CPU

*Repeat
(And on, and on, and on)
Retro man
-Ooh I'm so much of a
Retro man
-Ooh I'm such a Retro Fan...
It's got to be...
*Repeat and fade

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Hope you enjoy, i couldn't help myself!

Love that! :D

(How do I nominate something for poster of the month? EDIT - I used the submit button to add it to POTM Feb 2008. Is that correct?)

Brilliant, Steve, you have to sing it.

Just been listening to the So Macho song and looking at those words.

I am definately going to have to get some music and record that song.

Did you write it v85rawdeal? :D

Yes, it just clicked with the macho/retro sound.

Glad you like it

Steve, you gotta record that then we can release it on a Classicamiga Hits CD, or should I say tape - in fact your so retro it would probably be a four track! ;)

As the song is retro, it would only be right to record it on a retro device, so compact cassette it is. (I don't have the facilities to record it onto anything else so I don't have much choice expect tape).

Didn't you get a sound card with your Mediator?
You can use that and HD Record.

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Originally Posted by TiredOfLife

Didn't you get a sound card with your Mediator?
You can use that and HD Record.

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This retro thing just passes you by doesn't it.;)

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Originally Posted by Buleste

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Originally Posted by TiredOfLife

Didn't you get a sound card with your Mediator?
You can use that and HD Record.

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This retro thing just passes you by doesn't it.;)

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No, you are aware a Mediator is used in conjunction with an Amiga aren't you?
Any more retro than that and he will be singing into a cavern and asking us to listen to the echo.

Yep, it has a sound card.

I could use that if nothing else was avaliable, but it just isn't right recording stuff straight into computers without if being on some kind of proper audio storage format first.

Yeah, I've always wondered about that "come on Eileen" song :p




(actually, I have been told the story behind it, and it's not quite that smutty but still kinda dirty).

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Originally Posted by J T

Yeah, I've always wondered about that "come on Eileen" song :p




(actually, I have been told the story behind it, and it's not quite that smutty but still kinda dirty).

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Well come on then, spill.
(Hmmm, perhaps not the most well chosen sentence ever)

those lyrics are excellent! Good work!! :D

I know most of the lyrics to the cds I own...all 500 or so. If I have listened to the songs a few times I can usually pick them. Having to have to listen to alot of rap crap when with friends, it makes it easy to pick up lyrics when they are slower. I dont listen to death metal so I dont usually have to contend with screaming

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Originally Posted by TiredOfLife

Well come on then, spill.
(Hmmm, perhaps not the most well chosen sentence ever)

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Apparently (so I've been told) is it is about encouraging an (underage) girl into sex.

Amusingly, a few months ago we were at a house party and I got chatting to this girl because she looked lonely (and most of the other people there were jerks). She was called Eileen. Later in the evening "come on Eileen" just happened to be on one of the CDs being played. I chuckled to myself, un-noticed. Then Eileen goes 'oh, this is my song' and looked thoroughly confused and more than a little pissed off when I damn near pissed myself laughing. I really don't think she got it. She was sweet and everything but seemed really naive.




And no, I didn't......

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Originally Posted by J T

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Originally Posted by TiredOfLife

Well come on then, spill.
(Hmmm, perhaps not the most well chosen sentence ever)

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Apparently (so I've been told) is it is about encouraging an (underage) girl into sex.

Amusingly, a few months ago we were at a house party and I got chatting to this girl because she looked lonely (and most of the other people there were jerks). She was called Eileen. Later in the evening "come on Eileen" just happened to be on one of the CDs being played. I chuckled to myself, un-noticed. Then Eileen goes 'oh, this is my song' and looked thoroughly confused and more than a little pissed off when I damn near pissed myself laughing. I really don't think she got it. She was sweet and everything but seemed really naive.




And no, I didn't......

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I believe you mate. ;)

A mate of mine once copped for a girl called Irene.
Every time that song came on in a club we used to surround him and sing it pointing at him.

You could just about hear him screaming over the music and our singing, "Here name isn't even Eileen, it's Irene.

Yeah, like we cared. :)

Surely a song called 'Come on, Eileen' is in reality a song about bukake!

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Originally Posted by Stephen Coates

Yep, it has a sound card.

I could use that if nothing else was avaliable, but it just isn't right recording stuff straight into computers without if being on some kind of proper audio storage format first.

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But...but...but... you have an Amiga! That can be used to make music! A standard A500! Some audio samples and a mod tracker. It's the only way!

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Originally Posted by v85rawdeal

Surely a song called 'Come on, Eileen' is in reality a song about bukake!

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:lol: I just choked on my drink...you dirty b@stard! lol

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Originally Posted by v85rawdeal

Surely a song called 'Come on, Eileen' is in reality a song about bukake!

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That's why I laughed at that girl at the party..... :tease: