Poptart

So many questions, so little time ;)

* Lyrics vs. Music Which is more interesting ?

Music of course, though the occasional mad phrase will linger and I prefer mishearing things.

* Which rattles around in your head longer ?

Mmm, actually hard to say one is tempted to say lyrics, I've been running around with bloody 'Free Nelson Mandela' for the past 24- hours a propos nothing! But I suspect noises, melodies, etc are lingering in my head longer on an almost subconscious level.

* (b) Culture As well is this reconsideration of "foriegn" pop culturally imperalist ?

No please, the term imperialist is so overused. Falling in love with something alien, unknown doesn't make you Cortez. Don't let guilt spoil innocent joy.

* Does the country of origin matter ?

No.

* Is their a universal quilty to pop ?

I suspect the anwser is no. But that's because universal is such a big word ;)

perhaps 'banal' lyrics can take on a beautiful emotive quality, due to their very 'banality' sometimes? triteness can oft be poetic?

Music is always the overriding factor when buying CD's, but lyrics, no matter how bad, can still add to the quality of this music. And sometimes it's better if you don't know what the singer's prattling on about (imagination always outweighs reality), especially if the main melody is coming from the vocals.

So on the basis of this I would say that music DOES have a universal *quilty* as if the listener can't make out individual words and meaning, then the voice becomes another instrument in the mix, rather than a communication tool. I think.

I need interesting lyrics or no lyrics. Don't know whether they're MORE important but I happily listen to non-innovative music if the words intrigue me, while I switch off even the most out-there music, if the lyrics are dumb. If it's instrumental, fine. But stupid, clumsy words and soap-opera sentiment? someone's wasted a precious opportunity. Like, a pop song is a perfect shaped box in which to complete an idea or story.

I reckon pop - particularly R&B - is often less bad than alternative and rock at the moment. Perhaps because manufactured stuff has to compete hard on every level and the songwriters are pros, plus the hip hop lyric thing. Perhaps because rock/alternative/dance are all obsessed with style and appropriation. Lyrics: Papa Roach vs Sugababes?, Eminem vs. Spiritualized?, JJ72 vs Craig David (or anyone who can string a fucking thought together rather than whinging "oh why won't it snow when they said it would?").