I was just wondering, when you guys listen to Music, do you actually listen to the lyrics or do you only listen to the beat? I like to listen to the lyrics, if I only listened to the beat, the song could be singing something insulting and I wouldn't know because I'd be too busy nodding my head to the beat xD

So Discuss <3

I listen to the chorus and the beats

For me, it's different time to time. I don't really listen to music in my own language or english so much [Still listens to it]. I listen to most japanese/korean/chinese music. So if I listen to Korean or Chinese music, I have no chance of understanding a thing XD So I just listen to the beat. But when I listen to japanese music I usually first listen to the beat, and when I've listened to the song a few times, I listen to the lyrics. [If I'm lucky I can understand mostly of the song.. Sometimes I don't understand too much, though XD]

Um.. When we talk music in my language or english, I always think about the lyrics [If I can hear them XD] from the first time I hear the song. But the beat's important aswell.

I like to listen to the lyrics/music and beat. ^_^

• It depends what song it is :3
  
  Like some of my songs, I listen to the awesome guitar in it 8D. Like Jimi Hendrix, Pantera, Avenged Sevenfold <333. But some, I listen to the lyrics and voice, like The Used or My Chemical Romance. But sometimes it's hard to even understand what they're saying >___>. Like Atreyu, they scream a lot so it's hard to get what they're saying sometimes xD. Or in some bands, all listen to their overall sound like The White Stripes, AC/DC, or Led Zeppelin ;D. Or in some cases, all the band has is a nice voice like Evanescence (did I spell that right?) but at one point, it just doesn't really cut it anymore :/ . And Fall Out Boy has quite the mumbling problem. As my friend said, "Patrick Stump (the lead singer) needs to take speaking lessons along with all those screaming bands" x)
  
  I used to like them but I have such hate issues against them now D<. But sometimes, listening to all of the song and understanding what they're saying can really make a difference ;3. Like, I had no idea Givin' The Dog A Bone was about sex until after a while Dx
  
  O-O

Lyrics are too important to me; I'd never be able to just ignore them. In my mind, that's what makes a song good. You could have the best beat in the world, with an amazing musical chorus, but if the lyrics are complete crap then the song is crap.

A lot of times, I'll look up lyrics on the Internet if I can't quite understand what the singers are saying. It can be disappointing. When the words just fall flat and dull on paper, the song is doomed right from the very start.

The lyrics are important to me, even when they're in different languages. I'm of the writing persuasion, so words and turns of phrase tend to stick in my mind. If I'm listening to a song in a different language, one of the first things I'll try to do is find a translation. If I can't, then I'll still listen to it but I won't be as vocal about my love for the song and/or band.

I usually listen to the lyrics if they're in a language I understand..xD 'Cause I like to sing along. :]] But I like the beats as well. ^^

If they're songs that I don't understand, I just listen to the beat because...I won't understand the lyrics so why try? xDD

I listen to both because I never listen to a song just once. xD

• I'm usually attracted to songs for their lyrics. ._. Most of my 400+ songs are there for lyrical value. But a few are for the beat, or because they're funny. 8 )

Seeing as I don't know enough Japanese to know anything other than a few words/basically what the song is about, I try to listen to both. Most of my music is in Japanese. I can't always listen to the lyrics so as long as I have the beat and the singer has a decent voice, i'm fine. But for a few bands like Def Tech, I really try to listen to the lyrics. They have good ones. :3

I'm all about lyrics. The beat gets me pumped up and excited to listen to the song, but for me to love the song I need love the lyrics. That's why I'm absolutely in love with Tool and APC, they're lyrics are amazing, and the beat is killer. <3

I normally disregard the lyrics and listen to the beat because I like the feel-good rhythm going through my body instead of worrying what the lyrics are saying. From time to time I will pay attention to the words but the content usually doesn't bother me even if it's something that I don't like. I really like to kick back and "listening" instead of paying attention to what the person is saying but I am a sucker for love songs. Those I will pay attention to and memorize lol

I listen to the entire thing, but it's usually the beat that makes me listen to a song, not so much the lyrics.
It's all about melody for me, hence I like very melodious stuff, for example music by the Pet Shop Boys.

Lyrics are really important to me, it's one of the reasons I love Tilly and the Wall so much, their lyrics are very silly, but hold a depth to them that's hard to explain. While rhythm is important to be memorable, it's not everything.

I don't think I could listen to a song without focusing on the lyrics, unless it like.. had none.. D:

THERE'S TUNE, TOO, Y'KNOW. In most music, at least.
Mostly what I listen to is melody. Instrumental, vocal...
Though, by listening to the vocal melody, I catch the lyrics. They don't really matter much to me, but I do listen to them, memorize them, and spit them out. If the lyrics are particularly good or particularly bad, I will take note, but mediocre lyrics don't have any effect on a song for me.

I guess because I have the words memorized to all of my favorite songs that I listen to in playlists, I'm more of a beat kind of person. I like the rhythm and the flow of a lot of the songs I listen to more than the lyrics. But when I find a new song that I like, it's definitely lyrics first :']

Unless the reason that I ever first listen to a song is because I saw the lyrics for it somewhere and liked them, then I pretty much start listening to songs for their beats. Not saying that I don't like the lyrics, I adore the lyrics to songs. However I don't believe that most music would be half as catchy without its lyrics. xD

All in all, I prefer the musical side to... erm... music, it's what gets me interested. Lyrics are just a bonus. If I wanted music mainly for the lyrics, I think I'd stick to poetry. My boyfriend hates me for thinking like that, I swear. xD (Edit: Not that I have anything against poetry, I love it. Just saying.)

I actually listen to the lyrics and the beat at the same time. I pick a part each part of songs, like all the instruments one by one, the lyrics and things like that. Any little extra noises in a song really bug me most the time.

Usually I like to listen for the lyrics, but sometimes I'll just ignore what the lyrics actually are in favor of dancing. <3

Bit of both. @w@

I rarely listen to the lyrics. Most of the time I can't understand them. xD Or I also listen to a bunch of instrumental things, where I don't even have to worry about them.

So the words themselves are low on my priority list.

All that matters to me is the bass line of the song and how well the things flow together. And I just don't mean rhythmically. The sound of the instruments have to fit. If the bass or guitar is out of tune or something, it just grates on me. Unless it's done purposefully, of course.

That depends. If I'm listening to something in a foreign langugae I can't understand at all, such as Hindi, then I don't listen to the words as much. I might pick up something from the chorus/refrain, but that's about it.

If it's something in a language I'm familiar with, then I'll sing along, or at least pick up some choice phrases. For example, had three semesters of Japanese when I was in college. I am by no means fluent, but I can catch small phrases and remember them in the song.

Usually I listen to the lyrics in most music. I love the beat, but what about ballads? There are some that I love simply BECAUSE of the lyrics.

Lyrics are very important to me.. If they are lacking, the music HAS to be good to make up for it... A song can be completely ruined for me, due to bad lyrics only... O_O

Luckily, most of the music I listen to where the lyrics are lacking, the music is nothing short of amazing ^^

I love my music <3