What holds your attention?

Lcjones · #1 February 4th, 2006

There are threads about the best guitarist, the best song, the best riff, the best of everything. But what is the common factor? The common thread that holds this "best of" altogether for you?

What is it that holds your attention when you decide a particular artist/song is the "best"?

For me, first and foremost, without hesitation, without remorse, without a doubt, it is the music. If the melody doesn't catch me within a very few seconds, I'm history. The lyrics may be killer, but if the melody is weak... it's adios, sigh-ah-nar-ah, I be gone, sorry boutcher luck!

Les

allthumbs · #2 February 4th, 2006

Gotta agree with that. Melody is king.

mcollett · #3 February 4th, 2006

Well this topic got me to chim in.
I requested a possible lesson a couple weeks back. Either Vertigo or Beautiful Day by U2.
Seems like I said I didn't really like the band overall but really dig those two tunes.
Windy reply just to say I agree. 20-30 seconds into a tune and it's either grabbed me or not.
Mike

Kirk Lorange · #4 February 4th, 2006

Yes, melody rules, and it's also got to 'feel' good to perk my ears up. It's a subtle thing, feel, but even the most wonderful melody in the world can sound lack luster without 'feel'.

Canuck-Playa · #5 February 5th, 2006

personally they could be talking gibberish and i could still like the song. take eric gibberish classical gas the song has absolutely no words, but when he plays it its like a drug going through me. Music is probally the only thing that can get me happy in seconds, and then mellow the next. I dont think the world would would be this far or even exist if we didnt have our own little song we can relate to. and thats were the lyrics come in.

If i wanted to feel mellow and lay back i would play some eric gibberish or XTC-Dear god or Gordon would-ship wreck of Edmond Fitgerald ( excellent gotta get)

and if i want something to make me happy o get some wicked melody like nirvana-lake of fire or stairway to heaven or THe Band-the weight you know those good melodies nice and simple.

Canuck-Playa · #6 February 5th, 2006

Hey you from Scotland ICJones because my familly clan is in scotland. The Mclarens clan

And highlander was a sick movie lol

Lcjones · #7 February 5th, 2006

Cankuk

That exactly what I'm talking about. So what makes Gordon Lightfoot so special when "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" is coming through the speakers?

I know why I like Gordon, but what makes this song so strong to you that you would even mention it? What holds your attention to this song/lyric?

Les

Lcjones · #8 February 5th, 2006

Canuk

Clan MacEwan
Clan MacLachlan
Clan MacBean

My primary Clan is MacEwan.

Mae heart be in Scotland. Everyday.

The Jones' only go so far.

Clancy · #9 February 5th, 2006

It's the artist's delivery that does it for me. The melody and the lyrics can be beautiful, but if the artist is delivering a soulless rendition of the song, it will never move me.

Clancy

Lcjones · #10 February 5th, 2006

Excellent point Clancy.

coldethyl · #11 February 5th, 2006

For me the melody is vital. It's got to be "alive!" Thus, for it to be alive it must have "feel" to it. Without that, you may as well forget it! The ol' grey matter will just shut down.

For example, when I first heard "Nadia" and "'Cause We've Ended As Lovers" by Jeff Beck, it just blew me away. WHY??
Because first and foremost it has "FEEL" It's nothing spectacular, but the seat of motivation in Jeff's playing comes from the guy's heart. The guy bleeds emotion and feel in his playing, pure and simple!

joehere1 · #12 February 5th, 2006

and please if i may the quality of the recording, all the points you make are valid and i dont know enough yet to really say
i have a decent system and if it is a really qaulity recording usually i will listen i may not like the music all that much but it just stands out
hope you get my drift
joe

joehere1 · #13 February 5th, 2006

kinda like the first time i heard highway to hell on a great system, it grabed me or how about mother from the wall, or just about anything that's well done. even (now this on a high end system) kenny rogers, don't like his music much but if you really listen to the quality of his recordings and voice there impressive .
i know i can sit and listen to the wall for hours and never get bored

joehere1 · #14 February 5th, 2006

and one more final note then il shut up lol
since i started trying to play i notice alot more of the music, before it sounded good and i liked it but now im holey ****, how do you do that
anyways night all
joe

Canuck-Playa · #15 February 5th, 2006

I think Gordon Lightfoots music is great because for me it was something new. a new type a music for me. And how he sings it he sings it with purpose and makes the music clash together with the lyrics like theye belonged together. You listen to how he sings it it has... grace. Its the only way i can describe it.

The way he puts the music witth the words and how he describes an entire story its may be my favorite song.