Obviously good music is usually achieved through an effective combination of music, vocals and lyrics put together as one.

However these 3 key elements that make music can be performed and executed independently, there are songs without vocals (instrumentals, dance music) and there are songs without music (acapella, beat boxing etc).

Great bands like Radiohead, Glassjaw, Middleman and Rage Against the Machine et al all feature a creative fusion of the key elements of music and songwriting and consequently this has made these bands stand out from the crowd (and their competition) as ‘classics’.

However, I do occasionally ask my peers what it is that matters most in their music listening? The first time I listen to a new song by a new artist – what is the key thing my ears are tuning into?

Is the music the backbone of a good song? the pace and drums? the guitar riffs? the sounds of the snyth?

Are the lyrics the key ingredient? what is said and how language is used to express feelings (simple and/or complex)?

Or do the vocals matter most? The way in which a song is sang and how these lyrics are delivered by the artist?

Personally, I have always stood by the argument that the vocals are the most important element of good music. I base this opinion on my favourite artists that are still in my playlist and recurrently return to my 3x CD shuffler at home 🙂 – bands/artists like Damien Rice, Thursday, Scroobius Pip, Sage Francis, Eyedea and Abilities, Middleman and Johnny Cash will always stand out as unique and individual artists because their vocal talent makes them stand out – there are few equivalents to these artists because of the power and individuality of each voice. I want the vocalist to express lyrics with heart, feeling and individuality. I knew nothing of Tommy Cooper until I heard Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip’s track ‘Tommy C’, the way Scroob told me Tommy’s life story and expressed his appreciation of the stand up artist through his delivery alone made me realise how important this vocal instruments is to music.

Vocalists who ditch the X Factor approach to singing and just use their own voice as an instrument in itself are who matter the most in this music business to me.

The way in which a song is sang needs to be expressive and needs to highlight the meanings of the lyrics and/or just give an overall mood to the song itself.

Bands like Sigur Ros for example don’t even sing in the English language, but the lead singer’s voice is beautiful and more-ish in its appeal, I have no idea what he’s saying but I love how he delivers it either way.

Super Furry Animals (although predominantly release albums and singles in the English language) originate from Wales and thus have in their discography, an album sung entirely in the Welsh language called Mwng. This album was loved by fans across the country, despite it not being understood by many of its listeners as to what was being sang, it was Gruff Rhys’ voice that (to a large extent) sold the album alone.

Vocals also help to identify the genre of music – if the singer is loud, aggressive and clearly angry, you can bet the genre this music falls under is rock, punk or heavy metal. RATM’s Killing in the Name would lose all meaning if Matt Cardle approached it for his X Factor final sing-off, as would De La Rocha’s vocals be unwanted in a cover of, say, Will Young’s Stay Right Now.

One perfect example I’ll use to finish this small piece of writing is a band called Easy Star All Stars – if you’ve not heard of the band, don’t worry, you’ll (hopefully) be familiar with their material as their discography is compiled of ‘cover albums’. The twist with this band is they alternate classic albums by putting a Reggea and dub style spin on the material.

Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is a classic – indie, moody, prog rocky in places and very atmospheric in tone.

Easy Star All Stars have covered the album (entitled The Dub Side of the Moon) and delivered each song through a traditionally Jamaican genre of music and vocal styles. All song lyrics remain the same between both albums, the chord and note structure is practically the same too, but the overall feel and tone of the album changes because the vocals have switched genres.

So – what matters the most to you? Music, vocals or lyrics? Explain yo’self! 🙂