[Tyson]

MUSIC!

Otherwise I would NEVER listen to Wagner.

That's funny!  I feel the same way.  I finally got around to watching The Ring and oh man the plot was so dumb.  But the music?  Glorious. 

[JakeJ]

Definitely music.  Not that I don't like lyrics but if one were to dive into my library they would find the larger percentage is instrumentals.  My first "song" preference was Dvorak's The Sorcerer's Apprentice and I wore out the first copy playing it over and over on the parents' Magnavox console.  Good times.

[AllanS]

   Music first, but I recognize some bands use the vocals as an extra instrument.
When I listen to Japanese Metal, I don't know what they're signing about. When done right it doesn't matter the vocals fit the song.
Led Zeppelin in Song Remains the Same is using his voice in such a way as an extra instrument.

In a very different sense Billy Joel, in this Rick Beato interview, discussed nonsensical lyrics chosen for how they sound.

The whole interview was a fun listen, but tune in for a minute or so starting at 20:15.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Bebf3Y2rk

[nlitworld]

In a very different sense Billy Joel, in this Rick Beato interview, discussed nonsensical lyrics chosen for how they sound.

Red Hot Chili Peppers made an entire career out of it. 

I think both ways of listening have merit. Bands like Slayer or Bob Dylan where music is good but lyrics suck or are unintelligible are fine. Bands with amazing lyrics but music is blah are also fine. But just like the Married With Children theme song, you can't have one without the other. I'm usually a music first listener tuning into the drums and vocals fill background, but when the lyrics are good, I sing along with the rest of the carpool karaoke crowd.

[FullRangeMan]

That's funny!  I feel the same way.  I finally got around to watching The Ring and oh man the plot was so dumb.  But the music?  Glorious.

There is The Ring in symphonic instrumental SACD with the Duisburger Philharmoniker under Jonathan Darlington.
Great sound quality and performance, one of my favorite SACDs.
https://hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=6217

[mick wolfe]

Red Hot Chili Peppers made an entire career out of it. 

I think both ways of listening have merit. Bands like Slayer or Bob Dylan where music is good but lyrics suck or are unintelligible are fine. Bands with amazing lyrics but music is blah are also fine. But just like the Married With Children theme song, you can't have one without the other. I'm usually a music first listener tuning into the drums and vocals fill background, but when the lyrics are good, I sing along with the rest of the carpool karaoke crowd.

More often than not, I can't even decipher the lyrics. The music itself is what draws me in. Then again there are/were some great wordsmiths like James McMurtry, Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt that pull me in both lyrically and musically.

[cleeds]

Logical fallacy of "false choice."