Music Genres With the Most Intelligent Lyrics
Progressive rock is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States throughout the mid to late 1960s. Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull:
The cattle quietly grazing at the grass down by the river,
where the swelling mountain water moves onward to the sea.
The builder of the castles renews the age-old purpose
and contemplates the milking girl whose offer is his need.
The young men of the household have all gone into service
and are not to be expected for a year.
The innocent young master, thoughts moving ever faster,
has formed the plan to change the man he seems.
And the poet sheaths his pen while the soldier lifts his sword.
And the oldest of the family is moving with authority.
Coming from across the sea, he challenges the son who puts him to the run.
Heavy Metal music is a sub-genre of rock music that originated in the late 1960s-70s, featuring more distorted and heavier instrumental work and darker lyrical themes. Heavy Metal broke into mainstream success with bands such as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Metallica... read more "We have the power make our lives what they are to be
Reconnect with our humanity
Transcend to a higher place, accepting reality
You are the key to the life that you seek"
(Iced Earth - Anthem).
Iron Man, Paranoid, Enter Sandman, Master of Puppets...
At first, I thought heavy metal was all about hard instrumentals and extreme rhythm. But the day I listened to a heavy metal song with lyrics, I was blown away. The lyrics spoke the truth about the dark nature of today's society.
Don't knock this genre because of some of the idiots who represent it - every genre has those. If you listen to rappers like Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Tupac, J. Cole, etc., there is a lot of skill and meaning behind what they do, and it's impressive. From the messages they try to send to reflect what was happening in the world during their time, to the deep stories of their personal lives and the delivery that paints a vivid picture, it's a brilliant form of music when done correctly.
Kudos to rappers: It's not easy to do. Prog lyrics (and I love prog lyrics) have wide possibilities since they don't have to hold the song together. They don't have to be perfectly rhythmic or in the same meter, and most songs have only a few short verses.
In rap, however, verses are long, and lines have to be held together by cohesive elements of assonance and alliteration. Otherwise, it's weak and doesn't hold. This constraint pushes creativity: rap is the definition of a lyrical genre.
Listen and read the lyrics for bands like Opeth, and try to comprehend them - it's very difficult. The lyrics are intelligently written. Black Rose Immortal, for instance, and anything else in their discography, showcase this.
Psychedelic Rock is a style of rock music in the late 1960s where it is incorporated, influenced or inspired by psychedelic culture which revolves around the perception of hallucinogenic drugs. It is incorporated with improvisation, electronic sound effects and extended solos. Some of the best songwriters of all time made psychedelic music, such as Jimi Hendrix, Syd Barrett, John Lennon, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Jim Morrison, Grace Slick, and others.
Alternative rock is a style of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. In this instance, the word "alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream rock music. Remember Kurt saying, "Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are." We need more of this in music.
Blues is a music genre and musical form originated by African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the end of the 19th century. In the words of Bluesman Albert Cummings: "Oh well, now some people say that the Blues makes you feel sad, hah! Best damn feelin' I musta ever had. I said the Blues makes me feel so good."
You really don't need big words or a degree in psychology or philosophy to be this clued-up. You just need to know what you're talking about. This man sums things up pretty well, methinks.
Yes, it is the music of intelligence and peace.
Most power metal lyrics are also close to poetry:
"Just hand me my harp, this night turns into myth
Nothing seems real, you soon will feel
The world we live in is another skald's
Dream in the shadows."
(Blind Guardian - Skalds and Shadows).
I can't argue with Bob Marley that "none but ourselves can free our minds."
The Newcomers
Deathcore is a subgenre of death metal. The difference is that deathcore can sometimes have anime influences, and there is much more screaming.
Bands like Suicide Silence, Thy Art Is Murder, and Thy Will Be Done are examples. Deathcore started in the 1990s or 2000s.
To be very honest, I don't know what they're saying half the time in the songs, but I know that they have good life meanings. I saw one opera show back when I was 15. I thought I was going to hate it, but it actually made me cry because of the ending.
Very underrated, but opera rock should be here too.
We need to pack more changes because:
"I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere
Unless we share with each other
We gotta start makin' changes
Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers."
Punk rock is a subgenre of rock music. It usually has rebellious lyrics and down stroked power chords played on guitars. Bad Religion, Sex Pistols, and Green Day (actually pop-punk, which is still punk in a way) are a few punk rock bands. The subgenre influenced thrash metal because of it's down stroked... read more Definitely one of the most lyrical genres. Just listen to the Dead Kennedys or Bad Religion.
Most artists in this genre say, "We just wanted to uplift the lyrics in music, talking about what was happening in the real world." I remember a guy from a famous anarcho-punk band saying something along the lines of, "Venom was even singing about Satan! I don't wake up in the morning and see Satan. I hear about wars, famines, disease, corruption..."
Most of the time, punk is a political statement. That's the whole point of the genre - expressing one's own thoughts on subjects instead of mindlessly agreeing with popular opinion.
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is a subgenre of alternative rock and a subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s.
Thrash Metal is a Heavy Metal subgenre developed during the early 1980s and an early precursor of Extreme Metal. Thrash Metal features a faster and more aggressive guitar work than Traditional Metal with shredding and double-bass drums and can range from melodic singing to loud shouts... read more Slayer has some very complicated lyrics, like World Painted Blood. Many of their songs cover intelligent topics like history, religion, and mythology. And Slayer isn't the only thrash metal band with intelligent lyrics. Other examples include Metallica's Sad But True and Master of Puppets, as well as Megadeth's Symphony of Destruction and Holy Wars...The Punishment Due.
"Brother will kill brother
Spilling blood across the land
Killing for religion
Something I don't understand
Fools like me who cross the sea
And come to foreign lands
Ask the sheep for their beliefs
Do you kill on God's command?
A country that's divided
Surely will not stand". (Megadeth - Holy Wars)
If "every step that I take is another mistake to you," "I can't feel you there," it's because I'm resting at Linkin Park.
This makes more sense than rap metal. They are completely different.
Blues rock is a fusion genre combining elements of blues and rock. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock: electric guitar, electric bass, and drums, often with Hammond organ. If you think I am wrong, you should be led by "Whole Lotta Love" back to schooling.
Rock music is a music genre that was created in the 1940s. The genre was popular during the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Rock bands generally consists of a guitar player, a drummer, bass player and singer. There are many rock subgenres - such as heavy metal, alternative, hard rock, grunge, and more... read more Hey Jude, please guide me through the Stairway to Heaven, so I can walk All Along the Watchtower. After you get here, I know you will find the definition of intelligence Across the River.
If you deny this, you probably don't know how to read the cards by reading your opponent's face. Ask Kenny Rogers.
For God-fearing people's choice.
