Hi Everyone!
In this post, I’ll discuss what makes good lyrics and share examples of songs that support my perspective. Some people prefer long, complex lyrics in every song they write. Others don’t care as much about the meaning, length, complexity, or even whether the lyrics are comprehensible. I’m not here to take sides. Instead, I’ll argue that both approaches can be valid—and both can also fail. It really depends on the specific song.
There’s no universal guide or pattern that must be followed. The only rule I can think of is that the lyrics must be in harmony with the composition. They should complement the song. When that happens, the best choice for the lyrics is whatever flows well.
News:
After writing a post about great covers, I had a moment of inspiration and created a playlist. It now has 50 songs and counting! If you can think of a great cover I’ve missed, please let me know:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Z3cc7Oy9CjPooHTs09HIv
I also created two more playlists that might interest you. These playlists are open for music submissions:
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Montreal, Quebec, Canada: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fYaxObf7SZ650Yx8566Hc
- This playlist is exclusively for Canadian artists.
- This playlist is exclusively for Canadian artists.
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Easy Listening: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1NofYOKX2pmlgYAYmgbcY3
- This playlist is open to all artists and genres, as long as the music is suitable as background music and is well-produced.
- This playlist is open to all artists and genres, as long as the music is suitable as background music and is well-produced.
Music Picks:
To illustrate my ideas from the introduction, here are some songs that are very different from one another but beautiful in their own way:
"Rebel Architects" by Paul Cargnello: https://open.spotify.com/track/2WAdrhNfiWu1W1s9Xj7nuy
This song features thoughtfully crafted lyrics where the message is just as important as the flow. Although the text is in French, it can be easily translated online because it doesn’t use overly complex grammar. Enjoy!
"Stay Bless" by Kiko Bun: https://open.spotify.com/track/0i1n1UChDIbwQfCka293yZ
The text is not at all politically correct, which is admirable in itself. Plus, the song flows very well. Don’t you agree?
"Kolyada" by Ivan Kupala: https://open.spotify.com/track/5FhTtsZhhSiSZUTTQKz4co
This folk imitation is from Russia. Although you may not be able to get the meaning of the lyrics, don’t worry—neither can I. The words flow well, and musically, this is lovely. But trying to put the words together doesn’t make it coherent.
I will finish my music picks with a song that I think can be considered the anthem of independent musicians. Listen to it carefully and let me know if you agree.
"I Dreamed Slim Shady" by Sonny MG: https://open.spotify.com/track/322SDS6cCMdnXUzrHQ5aSQ
Final Thoughts:
Although I always enjoy complex, well-thought-out lyrics in songs, I also don’t mind when the lyrics make absolutely no sense. I think short lyrics or lyrics with little to no meaning can sometimes be better than lyrics with a very heavy political or personal message. It’s also best to avoid vulgarity as much as possible. Trends of the day may die off quickly, and after just a little while, a song’s message may start to feel awkward. Walking the line without crossing it is the key—or at least, that’s my opinion. I’d be curious to know yours.