is it the music? it can be
the lyrics... it can be
but songs are just poems with music in it...
so...?
the lyrics... it can be
but songs are just poems with music in it...
so...?
what is it that makes a song?
- Thread starter Godfather
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Godfather said:
Of course, there are songs without poems--instrumentals. The key element of a song is of course, music.
The online M-W dictionary defines "song" as this:
1 : the act or art of singing
2 : poetical composition
3 a : a short musical composition of words and music b : a collection of such compositions
4 : a distinctive or characteristic sound or series of sounds (as of a bird or insect)
5 a : a melody for a lyric poem or ballad b : a poem easily set to music
6 a : a habitual or characteristic manner b : a violent, abusive, or noisy reaction <put up quite a song>
7 : a small amount <sold for a song>
So based on #2, as long as it's poetical....
1 : the act or art of singing
2 : poetical composition
3 a : a short musical composition of words and music b : a collection of such compositions
4 : a distinctive or characteristic sound or series of sounds (as of a bird or insect)
5 a : a melody for a lyric poem or ballad b : a poem easily set to music
6 a : a habitual or characteristic manner b : a violent, abusive, or noisy reaction <put up quite a song>
7 : a small amount <sold for a song>
So based on #2, as long as it's poetical....
gogoshire said:
True--I mean there is "Song of Solomon" in the Old Testament, and didn't Whitman call one of his poems Song something or other? That seems to ring a bell anyway.
Anyway, Dylan and Guthrie--both put their words to music. They were both poets (Dylan for sure, Guthrie, maybe just a lyricist), but both used music as a means to convey their poetry.
Shane
You're right about Whitman -
He wrote several "song" poems, most famously "Song of Myself," but also
"Song of the Broad-Axe," "Song of the Banner at Daybreak," "Songs for a Prelude," "Song at Sunset," "Song of Joys," "Song of Exposition," "Song of the Redwood Tree," and "Song of Occupation." I think that's everything, at least according to my Whitman's Complete Poems table of Content.
I would definitely agree with the Dylan analogy. I'm not familiar enough with Guthrie to agree or disagree.
Maureen
He wrote several "song" poems, most famously "Song of Myself," but also
"Song of the Broad-Axe," "Song of the Banner at Daybreak," "Songs for a Prelude," "Song at Sunset," "Song of Joys," "Song of Exposition," "Song of the Redwood Tree," and "Song of Occupation." I think that's everything, at least according to my Whitman's Complete Poems table of Content.
I would definitely agree with the Dylan analogy. I'm not familiar enough with Guthrie to agree or disagree.
Maureen
Godfather said:
I'd love to read a book of poems with some Motley Crue in it. LOL
I think it can be any combination of the stuff u mentioned. Yes, sometimes songs are just instrumentals. Sometimes, they are a capella. Pretty much like trying to define art.
what makes a song!
I think more than anything is the beet. some songs before I even learn the words I like the beet. than I start liking the song.
I think more than anything is the beet. some songs before I even learn the words I like the beet. than I start liking the song.
what makes a song!
I think it's the beet of the song. some songs I don't even know what the song say, but I know the beet. that's what make a song
I think it's the beet of the song. some songs I don't even know what the song say, but I know the beet. that's what make a song
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I can't stand beets...ick.
I think it's just a matter of having a song stick in your head...lyrics, beat, uniqueness, all of it can be a factor.
But then, unfortunately, I can't seem to get any song out of my head that I've heard more than a few times...sigh.
I think it's just a matter of having a song stick in your head...lyrics, beat, uniqueness, all of it can be a factor.
But then, unfortunately, I can't seem to get any song out of my head that I've heard more than a few times...sigh.