The trend of Modern Lyrics

Dominic · April 2017

We can look back and laugh at 70s Rock Lyrics - lots of Demons ,wizards ,fire- gods and 'the Legend of the Rent '( for those that have seen School of Rock)
......But the modern trend of chart -Indie rock Lyrics has become so Urbane and dire that it is starting to really bug me.
They go something like this.....
Waiting for the 83 at the Bus Stop.....with my friends
Your trainers had the laces undone
The bus driver was in a bad mood
I hate rainy thursday mornings and the journey to work

The coffee had gone cold by the time I made it to the office
photocopy machine broken again and Deidre moaning about it
etc ..etc
ED SHEERAN type dross .........just dreadful
They don't write 'em like they used to....

Grumpyrocker · April 2017

Completely agree. Often these lyrics seem like a rushed diary entry. You just need to add some synth and drumming that sounds a bit like a military marching band and you've got another dream pixie girl pop hit.

I'd much rather listen to Ronnie James Dio (may he rest in peace) sing about dragons.

They say that life's a carousel
Spinning fast, you've got to ride it well
The world is full of Kings and Queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams
It's Heaven and Hell, oh well
And they'll tell you black is really white
The moon is just the sun at night
And when you walk in golden halls
You get to keep the gold that falls
It's Heaven and Hell, oh no!

Moss · April 2017

It sure was better in the good old days

randella · April 2017

Doo-doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo!

Feel like makin' love! (X3)

Doo-doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo!

Feel like makin' love to you!

(c) Paul Rodgers.

I hear Chaucer's shitting himself.

randella · April 2017

For reference I love that tune and cover it in my band...

Grumpyrocker · April 2017

It's not about old vs new, we all know there are plenty of terrible old lyrics. It's about good vs bad.

The OP even mentioned there was plenty of terrible old lyrics. But having not read the first post properly you're just arguing against a point already covered.

Which has reminded me why I never bother with "Off Topic". Thought it wa sa thead in "Music".

guitarfishbay · April 2017

This is going to be a thread where the classic songs that endured decades go up against songs that were on Radio 1 for a few weeks

randella · April 2017

Grumpyrocker said:

It's not about old vs new

Grumpyrocker said:

I'd much rather listen to Ronnie James Dio

Dominic · April 2017

Yes, but old bad was better than new bad

randella · April 2017

Dominic said:

Yes, but old bad was better than new bad

Interesting thought - old bad was maybe backed up by better tuneage though?

In in terms of modern (last decade or so) I like some modern lyrics that follow the everyday life observations thing. Arctic Monkeys' "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured" springs to mind:

Ask if we can have six in

If not we'll have to have two
You're coming up our end aren't you
I'll get one with you
He wouldn't let us have six in
Especially not with the food
He could have just told us no though
He didn't have to be rude

See her with the green dress

She talked to me at the bar
How come it's already two pound fifty?
We've only gone about a yard
Couldn't you see she were gorgeous
She were beyond belief
There was this lad at her side drinking his Smirnoff Ice
Can I buy you a tropical reef?

I agree there's dross about, but wasn't it always the case that you had to filter out the painting-by-numbers tripe in commercial music?

randella · April 2017

Thinking more about this, maybe what's happened is that commercial producers have spotted that the observational thing shifts units and have simply just overcooked the whimsy?

Flink_Poyd · April 2017

Yeah Grandad, demons, wizards and goblins are cool

Dominic · April 2017

Grandad ?..........respect for your elders now boy !

Freebird · April 2017

dtr · April 2017

Ate eight bananas and i thought about a jog

Legged it around the gaff and took my top off

I look crap with my top off

Spend my time watching Top Gear with my trousers down

Covered in Sudocrem and talking to myself

Garlic Curry Cheese Chips

(Girl Band - Pears for Lunch)

Dominic · April 2017

No ,the Jarvis lyrics are brilliant
don't confuse modern for old -there's loads of great modern lyrics
It's the dreadful Ed Sheeran type stuff that gets me .......like his latest rubbish
.......Same guitar chord plays for about 14 bars..and then something like ...
I broke my leg when I was 6 years old
I think it was my brothers fault
or,one of his friends
we all went down to the Fish and chip shop
I didn't get a pickled onion
I got a pickled egg instead
I was going to get a steak slice but I changed my mind.......
...........well something like that anyway !.......equally terrible

Nunogilberto · April 2017

I'm not a fan of Ed Sheeran, but the banality of things you'll hear on the likes of Crapital FM is what does my head in these days... "Oh Oh, Oh Oh Oh Oh... Oh Oh Oh Oh, Oh Oh Oh Oh..."

richardhomer · April 2017

Not convinced most lyrics from any era stand up to much scrutiny.

BRISTOL86 · April 2017

Image: https://i.gyazo.com/03816da095543990827404ee3fdfce70.png

WezV · April 2017

Freebird said:

Oh we were born within one hour of each other
Our mothers said we could be sister and brother
Your name is Deborah, Deborah
It never suited ya
And they said that when we grew up
We'd get married, and never split up
Oh, we never did it, although I often thought of it
Oh Deborah, do you recall?
Your house was very small
With wood chip on the wall
When I came around to call
You didn't notice me at all
And I said let's all meet up in the year 2000
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown
Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road
I never knew that you'd get married
I would be living down here on my own
On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago
You were the first girl at school to get breasts
And Martyn said that you were the best
Oh the boys all loved you, but I was a mess
I had to watch them trying to get you undressed
We were friends, that was as far as it went
I used to walk you home sometimes but it meant
Oh, it meant nothing to you
'Cause you were so popular
Deborah do you recall?
Your house was very small
With woodchip on the wall
When I came around to call
You didn't notice me at all
And I said let's all meet up in the year 2000
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown
Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road
I never knew that you'd get married
I would be living down here on my own
On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago
Do it
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Ah Deborah do you recall?
Oh, your house was very small
With wood chip on the wall
When I came around to call
You didn't notice me at all
And I said let's all meet up in the year 2000
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown
Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road
I never knew that you'd get married
I would be living down here on my own
On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago
Oh what are you doing Sunday baby
Would you like to come and meet me maybe?
You can even bring your baby
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
What are you doing Sunday baby
Would you like to come and meet me maybe?
You can even bring your baby
Ooh ooh oh oh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

I'm confused. Is this an example of old or modern lyrics.

Foster · April 2017

WezV said:

I'm confused. Is this an example of old or modern lyrics.

Old, the song is 22 years old. Bloody good lyrics mind, I'd say the same for Oasis. It doesn't mean the 90's was the last salvation of songs with good lyrics in them, there was plenty of shite out there too (fucking mystery girl my arse...).

Two albums of last year that really stand out for lyrics are 'The Skeleton Tree' by Nick Cave and 'You want it Darker' by Leonard Cohen but I suppose you could argue that both artists have been going for decades.

More modern artists with good lyrics? Arctic Monkeys (as mentioned), Lana Del Rey, Amy Winehouse, The Darkness (Open fire is a belter of a song) and I'll even throw in Public Service Broadcasting even if it is cheating - it's not as though they write any of their 'lyrics'.

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The trend of Modern Lyrics

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