What makes you say "those lyrics suck"

[dropdeadlegs]

I was just goin' through an old thread about Van Halen songs with the worst lyrics. I wanted to post a comment but unfortunately, it was closed. I was suprised by many of the songs people named as being the worst because I always thought most VH songs (save for maybe, the stuff on Van Halen III) followed a similiar lyrical pattern: women, sex & relationships, drinking & partying, maybe throw in the odd car. It never bothered me 'cause in my mind, Van Halen was never a band out to save the world. They were about havin' fun. If I wanted more serious, deep rooted themes & lyrics I listen to Rush. (no knock against them)

Anyhow, I'm wonderin' what is it about the lyrics of a song that makes people say: "Those lyrics suck"? It's all subjective of course, but I'd like to know what criteria people use to determine that. Is it the choice of words, how they sing it or what they're trying to say?

[ZeoBandit]

If the lyrics for a song suck, then I say "Those lyrics suck."

[Axxman300]

It depends, I love the old surf song "The Bird" and I like George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You", neither have profound lyrics and both tend to drive people nuts after the second time they hear it.

The worst song I can think of is "Lost In The City" by Vandenberg. Partly because English is their second language and because the song is about a guy driving around lost in a big city.

[mistere]

Ha! Vandenberg. I remember my older sister giving me shit about 'Wait':
"Wait, wait, wait, til the shit hits the fan!" It was at that point I threw some
Accept on her: "Restless and wild!". As if the Scorpions weren't bad enough:
"Bad boys running wild!"... etc...

[WinterlessIceness]

When wannabe-bands like Paramore start their albums with:
"We tried so hard to understaa-aaaa-aaaaaand!!
But we caaaaa-aaaaaaaa-aaaaaaant!"

[right-here-i-say]

Everything from Dave was cool, didn't matter what he was talking about (nobody knows). But Sammy had some pretty stupid lyrics. The worst being up for breakfast. Spanked was real bad too.

[rockyvanheineken]

Meh, I liked Spanked's lyrics. UFB was pretty bad, but it has an awesome solo to make up for it.

I hate cheesy and overly romantic lyrics.

[VanBlu]

Everything from Dave was cool, didn't matter what he was talking about (nobody knows).

[jws5150]

Basically any song by Nickleback. When I hear any opening riff, I say this song will be ruined by some shitty lyrics. Chad Kroeger sucks!

[LLFHS]

I never listen to Van Halen for their lyrics.

That's what Rush is for.

[belikemike]

overally corny, or overally sappy i generally don't dig
and what some others here said...with van halen, the lyrics were of secondary importance at best.

[Raldo]

Some examples might be:

1.) An older band still singing about sex, drugs, boozing..
2.) A hard rock band singing a ballad with lyrics that should be sung by Celine Dion or Barry Manilow.
3.) Trying too hard to find a word that rhymes every time that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

[abe5150]

As Raldo mentioned, I hate it when they try to make every other sentence Rhyme. Sammy is so guilty of that. When you listen to his lyrics, he tries to make most of them rhyme. Sometimes it really works (Right Now), but sometimes it is just gawd-awful.

[Filthy 150]

Everything from Dave was cool, didn't matter what he was talking about (nobody knows). But Sammy had some pretty stupid lyrics. The worst being up for breakfast. Spanked was real bad too.

Nobody knows...but its cool?

Goosfraba.

[Railrunner130]

I'd say it's not the lyrics itself, unless they just don't fit. I'd say the subject makes a song suck. "It's About Time" was a good example of that, especially when it turned out to be a lie.