Why do people listen to songs they don't understand

@swirlz (3136)
Philippines
February 25, 2013 2:03am CST
I have a lot of friends who listen to Korean Pop even though they don't understand the lyrics. Foreign dance songs are also popular, like Gangnam Style, Macarena, and many others. Even rap songs are difficult for me to understand, but people enjoy these songs even without knowing what it means. Do you enjoy these types of music, as well? Why do think people listen to songs even though they don't understand the lyrics?
6 people like this
30 responses
@kourdapya (924)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
It's probably because it's their generation. Back in those days when Taiwanese boyband F4 was really popular, I would listen to their song even though all of it is in Chinese. But it will soon pass, and new ones will come, so just let them love those music.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
I remember those days! LOL! I was a fan of F4, too. Hmm, I didn't understand the lyrics of their songs, either, but the songs were definitely catchy. It also didn't hurt that those boys are cute! LOL
1 person likes this
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Those were my guilty pleasure, but in real life I won't admit that I was once an F4 fan, lol!
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
LOL! I was busted when my friends found my F4 casette (casette!) tapes!
@AkamaruKei (5204)
• Malaysia
25 Feb 13
Hmm i like to listen Japanese song. The reason i like because i like Japanese language. Although i not understand all the lyricr in there i stilll enjoy their song. I very like Japanese rock song but i also listen Japanese pop song.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Hi! I listen to Japanese songs, too! I enjoy watching anime and listening to its soundtrack.
• Malaysia
28 Feb 13
Look like we have same hobbies. I hope i will see you start a discussion jpop or jrock interest. Hehe.
@derek_a (10874)
26 Feb 13
As a musician I used to play all genres of music, from classical to pop and I always enjoyed listening to the melody lines of lyrical songs even if the lyrics were in a language I couldn't understand. It was the structure of the music that I enjoyed. I can appreciate good lyrics if I can understand them, but it is not absolutely essential. So perhaps that is why your friend enjoy these song.. Just an opinion. _Derek
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Right. There's a lot of good music out there, and it would be sad to limit ourselves to what we could only understand. Thank you for responding!
@Chico1793 (135)
• United States
25 Feb 13
I know what you mean but I do like a lot of songs where I don't even know what they are saying I guess the rhythm grabs my attention and the singing style...... But don't get me confused. The gangnam style oh my goodness that song really gave me headaches. My little nieces and teen cousins they were so into it bumping it on a daily basis. Especially the Mexican version they did I don't think many non Spanish speaking folks know about that one that one cause more headaches and annoyed me.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
I can't handle Gangnam Style, too. It also doesn't help that that song is being played everywhere all the time. There's a Mexican version? I think the original version is more than enough. Yes, kids seem to enjoy this. My niece dances to it, as well. I'm not really amused. LOL!
@babyeve (1048)
• Seychelles
25 Feb 13
Sometimes it is not about the words, it is basically because of the beat and vibes that the music sends to the soul. Music like Gangnam Style puts you in a freaking mood and make you wanna dance like a freak.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Right, I have friends who can't help but dance to those tunes. Even I can find myself bobbing my head to the beat of some songs sometimes.
@babyeve (1048)
• Seychelles
26 Feb 13
Ha ha that's the way it is. It's not just bout the words in the songs in the end when it comes to music. ???
@Lucky15 (37346)
• Philippines
16 Jun 16
I don't know why inam.listening to them but not understanding..well except for saranghe. Haha
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
16 Jun 16
Hehehe I also understand saranghe. Just one of the few Korean words I understand. :) I don't listen to a lot of K-pop. J-pop I particularly enjoy.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
There are songs in other language that have nice melodies so perhaps those who listen like the melody so even if they don't understand they enjoy listening to them. But as for me, I prefer listening to songs that I understand the message. If the melody is good but the lyrics is strange to me, I'd be bored. Rap songs don't appeal to me. I don't think they even qualify as music.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Yes, there are people who enjoy music regardless of the lyrics. Although I do listen to songs in other languages, I tend to be picky with songs in languages I know. I don't particularly enjoy songs with senseless meanings. Thank you for responding!
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
25 Feb 13
I often listen to songs where I don't understand the lyrics. Sometimes I listen to those songs so many times that I learn the lyrics and start singing along...but I don't know what I am singing I listen to songs in other languages because I enjoy the melodies. If the melody is beautiful I enjoy listening to the song and I able to focus completely on the beautiful melody if I don't get distracted by the words. Of course I also like to listen to songs in languages that I understand like Danish or English, but a foreign song does not prevent me from enjoying a beautiful song.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Yes, my friends are like this, too. They listen to Korean Pop and learn the lyrics after some time listening. What's amazing is that they now know a few words in Korean. I think this is a wonderful way to learn a foreign language.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
26 Feb 13
A deaf person can't hear lyrics of any language, but they can feel the vibrations and therefore still enjoy the music. Thanks to the internet we can find out what those words mean, but music isn't only words in the first place.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Yes, we can definitely enjoy music for its elements other than it's lyrics. I think it's cool how you relate how deaf people enjoy music to how people nowadays listen to foreign music. It just proves that music is indeed universal.
@redredrose (1105)
• United States
25 Feb 13
I think people listen to songs they don't understand the lyrics to because they like the style of music or the sound f it and the tune. Maybe it is something they can dance to like the macerana or gangnam style. I know i listen to Spanish Hawaiian and American Indian music where i don't know a single word, but the tune is nice i can dance to it and just enjoy the tune or sound of the music.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Yes, although there are people who are very particular regarding lyrics of songs, many others enjoy music for its other elements. I haven't heard any Spanish Hawaiian music, but it seems interesting. I did hear a few Hawaiian songs and they are very relaxing to listen to.
@jricky1 (6800)
• China
25 Feb 13
I always listen to songs that i don't understand,lol,the melodies that attracted me and i listen to korean songs and also american music.Music just got no boundries,so i'm a big fan of it.The music will convey to us their feelings and emotions,we can get it trhough the lyrics.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Right, music has no restrictions, and we can always have our own interpretation of songs we don't understand. I'm a big fan of music, as well. Thank you for responding!
25 Feb 13
maybe because the lyrics or the rhythm are catchy that's why most people relate to the song, its funny but that's the magic of a song
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Yes, music truly is universal. Thank you for responding!
• Dhaka, Bangladesh
25 Feb 13
Hi, you are very right. there are many people, who do not understand single line of the song but they like to listen foreign music. They only enjoy music. Nothing else, they understand. Have a very nice day.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Hi! Yes, there's so much more to music other than its lyrics. People nowadays listen to music without limitations like language difference, which I think is a good thing. Have a good day!
• United States
25 Feb 13
Alot of people are trying to get in to the new century, of listening to things they dont understand which could be in other languages. Most rap singers like to make there music all fast to where we dont understand at all.. thats why youtube is a good source to find the lyrics to every song to where we could understand what they say
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Yes, I do often got to YouTube to find lyrics of songs, and what's great is that I am able to sing along, as well!
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
i also korean and taiwanese song, though i don't understand the lyrics, what i like on their songs is the beat of the song, its nice to hear.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Yes, some of these songs are really catchy, and they often get stuck playing inside my head over and over.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Do you like them? lol I for one don't. I mean it is ok to listen to those songs but i don't want to hear those often.. like that of gangnam i am fed up with it lol last December my kids danced to that song almost 24 hours a day! it ws just crazy.. lol as for k-pop i know what you mean, i have officemates who do listen to those and don't know what it means. kinda stupid lol
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Gangnam Style gives me headaches. Schools do use that song a lot nowadays. My niece also danced to that song. There was a time my roommate played that song early in the morning, I actually begged her to change her radio station for the sake of my sanity. LOL! I was actually late in the F4 bandwagon. I have not watched Meteor Garden on TV but after watching it on VCD, I was hooked! Those were the "last song syndrome" songs at that time. I listen to some J-Pop, but I avoid all the dance songs. They're too loud and rackety for me.
• India
25 Feb 13
Some persons are interested in music and dance and listen the songs for them even though they don't under stand the lyics and song.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Yes, I can see people enjoy these kinds of music especially through dance. That's why those dance songs are particularly popular nowadays.
@theselan (74)
• Malaysia
25 Feb 13
There are two type of people when we come to music world, one will seek the music and another one will seek for songs that have good meaning and musics.For example, i don't understand Chinese songs but i do hear some of their songs because of the music itself. Gangnam style song has a very racy music and cool words "Ops gangnam style" , so it be famous all over the world. It depends on you and you hear and enjoy it. Thank you my dear friend.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
Yes, there are people who are very particular when it comes to lyrics, and there are others who enjoy music through its other elements, such as its rhythm or harmony. I agree, those songs became popular because they are catchy. Thank you for responding!
• Indonesia
25 Feb 13
maybe I'm a kind of your friends too :) . I felt so strange at the first but my friends always sing those songs every time we meet, so i started enjoying it. Seems like I know the meaning of the song just by hearing the rhythm. :)
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
I think that's interestingly cool, how you can seem to know the meaning just by hearing the rhythm. It's like taking music as an abstract and giving it your own interpretation. Thank you for responding!
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
20 Jun 16
Well, they're just enjoying the nice melody of the songs.