Big Jim, just be thankful you don't have to hear the ones that didn't make the cut!

As far as lyrics, I'm on both sides of the fence. I love a good lyric that I can really reflect on, and I also feel the same as Brian about so many songs I love that I really don't remember much of the lyrics. I don't even understand some of my favorite lyrics. (The movement you need is on your shoulders. I mean...I think I understand that...I think...but how do I let her under my skin? And won't that hurt? Will it be gross?)

Country NEEDS lyrics...they're generally the most memorable part of a country song. It's a storytelling genre, a cinematic thing, like little mini-films. And even though there is a whole lot of country dance music, I think it's the sort of thing that people hear mainly in their cars, and they listen to the words.

If you play a rock song in the car, you just might be listening to the guitars and the howling voice more than the words...the story is the mood. Or sometimes the lyrics are like surreal poetry.

And the kind of highly polished international pop that Big Jim hates is usually filled with short phrases about a feeling. Sometimes without even needing words. Ra Ma Lalala, Gaga Oom pa pa.

You know, whenever I hear that Lady Gaga song, I like to add a little "walla walla bing bang" to the end. smile

I get a lot of funny looks at the mall.

http://www.soundclick.com/MarkKaufman