Saturday, February 22, 2025

VA - Lyrical Genius (A Butterboy Compilation) CD1+CD2


LYRICAL GENIUS

VA - Lyrical Genius (A Butterboy Compilation) CD1+CD2

Lyric writing can be a very difficult process. Finding words that carries exactly what a songwriter feels, while making them fit into a certain melody and tempo, as well as the sound of the words being pleasing to the ear. Sometimes the lyrics come first suggesting a certain feel or mood that inspires a melody. That is the power of a good word. Great song lyrics have the power to move you, whether it’s a tear of happiness or sadness. This is the songwriter’s gift.  Other lyrics can be simply catchy, sing-along lyrics they stick in your head, even if they’re completely meaningless.

Some of the best lyrics can read like the finest poetry. Handpicked words that give you a sense of what the songwriter wants you to hear and in such a way that your imagination works overtime. Poems and lyrics, while usually interchanged by many people, are actually very different, there is a real difference with poetry and lyrics. Words in a poem take place against the background of silence and lyrics take place in the framework of thoughtful and sympathetic musical composition where melody, rhythm, instrumentation, the singer’s voice and other makings of the recording to name a few.

You could easily argue that Bob Dylan, Cole Porter, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Neil Young and Nick Cave are indeed poets as well as songwriters. It’s a tricky job alright and it is rare to craft exquisite lyrics like theirs.

I'm not going to suggest that words or music are better than each other, because both have their place, and I am moved by either if in the correct mood. But I will say when a poetic phrase is combined with emotional music and comes across by a singer who means it, then I am truly moved by their words.

Enjoy!

==================================================

ALL 

OR

ALL 

=================================================

Track list 

CD1
01 Beach Boys - Surf's Up     04:14 1971
02 Van Morrison - Astral Weeks     06:59 1968
03 David Crosby - Wooden Ships     05:14 1969
04 Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire     02:36 1963
05 Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall     06:54 1963
06 Laura Marling - Ghosts     03:01 2008
07 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son     02:19 1969
08 Fleetwood Mac - Landslide     03:19 1975
09 Verve - The Drugs Don't Work     05:08 1997
10 Neil Young & Crazy Horse - My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)     03:46 1979
11 Mercury Rev - The Dark is Rising     04:52 2001
12 Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road     04:50 1975
13 Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees     04:43 1995
14 Kris Kristofferson - Me and Bobby McGee     04:22 1970
15 Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah     04:38 1984
16 Rolling Stones - Wild Horses     05:44 1971
17 Suede - The Wild Ones     04:18 1994
18 Jimmy Buffett - He Went to Paris     03:31 1973
19 Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi     02:15 1970
20 Beatles - A Day in the Life     04:59 1967
21 Blur - This is a Low     05:17 1994
22 Travis - Driftwood     03:34 1999
23 Carole King - Up on the Roof     03:46 1970
24 Neil Young - Old Man     03:20 1972
25 Golden Earring - Twilight Zone     09:13 1982

CD2
26 David Bowie - Life on Mars     03:55 1971
27 Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven     07:58 1971
28 Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind     02:49 1963
29 Beach Boys - God Only Knows     02:46 1966
30 Pink Floyd - Time (Early Mix 1972)     06:56 1972
31 Manic Street Preachers - A Design for Life     04:21 1996
32 Boston - Peace of Mind     05:04 1976
33 Cat Stevens - Wild World     03:37 1993
34 Helen Reddy - I Am Woman     03:17 1971
35 Wilco - Ashes of American Flags     04:44 2002
36 Smiths - There is a Light That Never Goes Out     04:05 1986
37 Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Into My Arms     04:15 1997
38 John Cougar Mellencamp - Minutes to Memories     04:13 1985
39 Cure - Just Like Heaven     03:32 1987
40 Radiohead - Creep     03:56 1993
41 Jam - That's Entertainment     03:33 1980
42 Johnny Cash - I Still Miss Someone     02:36 1958
43 Libertines - Music When the Lights Go Out     03:02 2004
44 Who - Substitute (Original Mono Version)    03:48 1965
45 John Lennon - Imagine     03:04 1971
46 Regina Spektor - Samson 03:54 2002
47 Budgie - Parents     10:25 1973
48 Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer     05:06 1970
49 Frank Sinatra - My Way     04:37 1960
50 Beatles - The End     02:22 1969
================================================

7 comments:

  1. Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson is a great example of what you are saying. amazing lyrics and beautiful music!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The more I listen to this the more impressed I am. Great choices. the lyrics are amazing. Thanks also for the Budgie tune. Another undervalued band that is just so great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pol.
      That means a lot.
      Especially from man like yourself who is clearly a person who appreciates music.
      Enjoy this set over and over.
      Budgie are a great band not always a lyrical as I would like but fantastic to listen to. Many great titles to their song catalog.
      Cheers.

      Delete
  3. Many thanks Butterboy - another great idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Little Bill.
      I hope there are many great memories in these two track lists.
      Cheers.

      Delete
  4. Great idea. Personally I would have put some Cream/Jack Bruce (Pete Brown), Grateful Dead (Robert Hunter, John Barlow), Yes (Jon Anderson) in there as they are amongst the greatest lyricist in my view. Grace Slick could also have deserved a place.🎶🙏

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sí, la poesía unida a buena música y voces que
    la transmitan con sensibilidad enriquecen la vida y amplían el enfoque sobre diferentes temas. Y es un vehículo poderoso para sentir a nuestra alma elevarse. Muchas gracias, excelente trabajo.

    ReplyDelete