The unsung hero of a song - lyrical magic that says it all!

       Rhythm, beats, tune, melody – while these are some of the aspects of a song that influence our attention, its lyrics or words are often forgotten about. Though some songs ride on the wave of popularity by the virtue of their lyrics alone, they generally come across as the last ingredient in the recipe of a hit number. 

      

      With new found love for words and immense interest towards music, I was tempted to throw light on these literary wonders! An excellent play of words combined with melody of notes create the masterpiece called ‘song’. While lyrics add meaning and purpose to a song, their poetic effect and flawless recitation make it totally interesting.

     Framed with a view of conveying the idea behind a song, lyrics certainly form the backbone of any musical piece. Pumping life into the music, when singers bring charm to the lyrics, we are able to appreciate its true meaning. While some lyrics appear too difficult to contemplate, the heaviness in their literature adds an excellent touch of surprise. From lyrics with strong poetic feel to lyrics with traditional, regional and cultural shades; from modern age lyrics with new interesting words to those without any meaning at all – lyrics appear to enjoy wide variation.

       Though beats of a song may act as magnets, attracting our ears towards it; lyrics are the reasons that ensure our sustained interest. Depending on their meaning, rhyme, flow and arrangement, lyrics of songs can make room in our hearts. Lyrics of most of our favorite songs enter into our minds effortlessly, bringing out the singers hidden deep within! As one of the factors that influences our love for a particular song, lyrics assume great responsibility in deciding the fate of this musical creation. Though fast beats of rhythm or voice of our favorite singer may pull us towards a song, meaning of the lyrics and strength in its words provide the final verdict.

       Lyrics give birth to the magic called ‘dedication’. Conveying our thoughts, emotions, feelings and experiences in a rhythmic manner, lyrics can say it all. Be it devotional song for the ‘Creator’ or folk song for celebrating our culture, be it romantic number for the special one or fun-filled lyrics for a celebration - every occasion, relation, event, moment have dedicated lyrics to their name. Giving words to our feelings, lyrics certainly come to the rescue whenever vocabulary refuses to address our loved ones.

      Forgetting the lyrics while flowing in the rhythm of a song or adding own set of words to continue its charm form some of the entertaining moments along the course of our job stint as a singer!

     While falling in love with words of a music album recently, I was prompted to classify lyrics into various categories:

§  Literary wonders – Inspired by richness of literature and power of vocabulary, these lyrics celebrate the magic of poetry. Laden with deep meaning and laced with wonderful words, power of such songs lie within the scope of their lyrics.

Be it any language or any time frame, these literary wonders celebrate the happiness of words. Though melody of these songs may sound simple or variations in the music notes may not be significant, their poetic effect manages to steal the show.

§  Humorous thunders – Light hearted meaning and comical connection are the highlights of this category as its real purpose is to radiate laughter and smiles. With no concrete foundation, these lyrics are enjoyed for their sense of humor.

Though they appear light and easy in their flow, lyricists have to ensure a tough balance between humor and mockery.

§  Stereotypical blunders - Focusing on repetitive words and age-old themes, such lyrics spoil the fun of a song. Set against the backdrop of most portrayed feelings, relations, situations and places, these lyrics appear stereotypical in every way.

§  Olden golden gems – Depicting magic of good, old times, these lyrics stay evergreen forever. Carving a permanent position in our minds, they refuse to be wiped away.

Besides the meaning of their words, these lyrics can also bring back old memories and wonderful moments.

§   New- age flavors- With use of modern vocabulary, many of the lyrics appear too difficult to understand. Making use of latest trends, short forms, slang and fast-paced recitation, such new-age flavors demand repetitive hearing and patient understanding.

§  Fusion fun - Mixing words from different languages or using certain significant words from another language, fusion lyrics sound interesting and vibrant.Giving an opportunity to learn a new language, these lyrics are certainly educational, too!

 Think about your favorite songs and match them with the categories above. If they fail to fit into any of these, I would love to create new ones based on your valuable suggestions!

P.S:  If you wish to sing them first,before categorizing, kindly do so at your risk; this blog is not responsible for any complaints from irritated ears of family, friends, neighbors or colleagues!