If you’ve ever had difficulty understanding song lyrics, you’re not alone. Many people are in the same boat, but there are ways to improve your understanding. The first step to understanding music with lyrics is to learn to listen with your brain, not just your ears. The truth is that there isn’t one right answer to this question; understanding music with lyrics is more about connecting with your favorite songs and appreciating all styles.
Often times, song lyrics are difficult to understand, even for native speakers. Lyric sheets were created to help people learn to understand song lyrics. In addition to difficulty with song lyrics, many songs are composed with parts that are hard to hear. Music can push words to the background, and slower songs may still have loud sections. If you’re unable to understand the lyrics, consider a different genre, or simply switch the lyrics on the CD to listen again.
Scientists have learned that the brain processes music and lyrics as two separate streams of information. The brain processes the words and the melodic content of the song simultaneously. A McGill University study found that the right hemisphere processes the melody and lyrics, while the left hemisphere processes the melody. According to Robert Zatorre, a professor at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute, song lyrics take place in two distinct areas of the brain.
The process of learning song lyrics is a long one. It’s important to break it down into smaller chunks and memorize them as you go. The best way to learn song lyrics is to surround yourself with the song. Play it while cooking or driving. It will soon become second nature to you. It’s best not to play it too much, however, as the freshness of the song can keep you motivated.
