Does music have to be meaningful to be enjoyable?

[Calebark]

Does music have to be meaningful to be enjoyable? Perhaps thematically, lyrically, or just based on the memories around that song for you.

[strawberries]

nope

alot of my favourite songs - I like them because I like the music (i.e. the tones/pitches/melodies/tune/whatever it's called) or it's catchy, not necessasrily because I like the lyrics or the meaning of the song (a lot of my favourite songs I don't even know most of the lyrics haha )

[elysepopplewell]

My favourite song is an Italian song by Lucio Dalla released in 1977 called Disperato Erotico Stomp. Seriously - listen to it. It's such a happy song. The lyrics are about a man who has a wife that is saying no to sex, and then he goes to a prostitute, but she also says no, so he walks home sad like "oh well, just another day" lol. I didn't know what it was about at first, I just thought it was really catchy. Then I translated it and couldn't believe it - but I guess that proves it doesn't need to be deep

[Sine]

can you please give an example of something you feel does not have "meaning'?

[Calebark]

My favourite song is an Italian song by Lucio Dalla released in 1977 called Disperato Erotico Stomp. Seriously - listen to it. It's such a happy song. The lyrics are about a man who has a wife that is saying no to sex, and then he goes to a prostitute, but she also says no, so he walks home sad like "oh well, just another day" lol. I didn't know what it was about at first, I just thought it was really catchy. Then I translated it and couldn't believe it - but I guess that proves it doesn't need to be deep

I just listened to it! I would have thought the song was a bit deeper, just judging from the sound. Wonderful example!

can you please give an example of something you feel does not have "meaning'?

Songs in other languages (where it may be harder to tell if it's lyrically meaninful), such as this Finnish one; party songs, like this one about drinking vodka; and joke songs,like this one about being tough. If you can't find meaning without clear vocals, then perhaps instrumental music like this, or even some metal/rap where the vocals can be hard to decipher.

As long as you, the listener, don't consider it meaningful, then for all intents-and-purposes it is not meaningful

[Sine]

I just listened to it! I would have thought the song was a bit deeper, just judging from the sound. Wonderful example!
Songs in other languages (where it may be harder to tell if it's lyrically meaninful), such as this Finnish one; party songs, like this one about drinking vodka; and joke songs, like like this one about being tough. If you can't find meaning without clear vocals, then perhaps instrumental music like this, or even some metal/rap where the vocals can be hard to decipher.

As long as you, the listener, don't consider it meaningful, then for all intents-and-purposes it is not meaningful

So my answer is No
Re: despacito  before looking at translations and JB's remix // classical/baroque,romantic era piano etc

[S200]

Mine's a yes...

I like to know what I'm actually listening to...
I enjoy the song better if I know the lyrics, and they actually touch you...
That's why my fav style is country or texican rock...
Hardly ever listen to rap...

[Calebark]

Mine's a yes...

I like to know what I'm actually listening to...
I enjoy the song better if I know the lyrics, and they actually touch you...
That's why my fav style is country or texican rock...
Hardly ever listen to rap...

What are some of the songs you find most meaningful?

You might enjoy participating in the Lyrics of the Week thread, where we post and discuss (normally) meaningful lyrics!

[S200]

What are some of the songs you find most meaningful?

You might enjoy participating in the Lyrics of the Week thread, where we post and discuss (normally) meaningful lyrics!

Skin, by Rascal Flatts is one of the best...
Also 'Drink a Beer', by Luke Bryan, primarily because of the first time I heard it..

I will take a look at that thread.

[Anonymous_]

People find EDM enjoyable, even though those ones lack meaning (the ones which don't have any vocals).

[S200]

People find EDM enjoyable, even though those ones lack meaning (the ones which don't have any vocals).

Yeah, but the listener could find a meaning in instrumentation.
Beauty is in the ear of the hearer??

[heids]

Orchestral/instrumental lyricless music can have a pretty deep meaning or association - good music tells a story in itself.

But yeah, enjoyment doesn't require meaning in any field of life imo.

[Joseph41]

In the same way I don't think taste or touch requires meaning (whatever that is) to be enjoyable, I don't think music does.

[spectroscopy]

i dont regularly listen to any songs that have meaningful lyrics - and even the ones that are meant to be meaningful really dont speak to me. you know now that i think about it I can't legitimately relate to pretty much any of the music I listen to either, I just listen to songs that I think sound nice LOL   so my answer is gonna be no - music doesnt have to be meaningful to be enjoyable