dandan Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 OK - slighty weird questions, not the norm for this place but figured I'd ask anyway What's the difference between a poem and a song? Can a poem have a chorus? Could most songs be considered to be poems? I can understand that a song must fit to music and sing/sound well without overcomplication and complexity. A poem is read on a page and can be re-read and re-read to pick up on buried images and messages. So any thoughts......discuss... Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flukey-lukey Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 urgh its like a journey back in time...I feel like I'm trying to answer one of those stupid GCSE questions that are worded so complex that even the class genious struggles to answer... I was never any good at poems or stories...or songs for that matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Cheers Luke - I was expecting some limp wristed gestures or that sort of thing so your reply is quite positive I know what you mean though - it's a slightly odd tricky question... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snooze Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 My answer would be: A poem is just words (not sure if the actual enunciation is part of the definition, or just the words themselves). A song is a musical composition (ie. it also defines the tune) which includes a vocal part (which may not actually be words!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Ah yes...good point...I'm not sure I asked the right question. Let's try..... What's the difference between song lyrics and a poem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Ah yes...good point...I'm not sure I asked the right question. Let's try..... What's the difference between song lyrics and a poem? That can't be answered because neither follows a strict form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Diematrosen Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 A poem and song both have a lyric (note: lyric singular i.e. the words) therefore in terms of the lyric both are the same, the difference between a song and a poem is one is set to music while the other is not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 If a poem is set to music does it become a song? Many poems have been set to music or have had a musical accompaniment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Diematrosen Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 If a poem is set to music does it become a song? Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Yes. Rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 what about a hyme? Surly thats just a song but then not always to music...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 A poem is designed to be read on the page a lyric is designed to be sung by the human voice and heard with music. Also poetry stands alone without music. A lyric must work well with the rhythm and structure of music. Poems can be any length without definition, lyrics have to be snappy as the movement of the music moves quickly. The same things make up a poem and a lyric, but they are entirely different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 What about poetry spoken aloud? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 A poem is designed to be read on the page a lyric is designed to be sung by the human voice and heard with music. Also poetry stands alone without music. A lyric must work well with the rhythm and structure of music. Poems can be any length without definition, lyrics have to be snappy as the movement of the music moves quickly. The same things make up a poem and a lyric, but they are entirely different. I found an almost identical definition from ask.com I've got more replies than I was expecting so far How about this one.. Can a poem have a chorus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Can a poem have a chorus? WIKIPEDIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Iambic Pentameter or Haiku? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 What about poetry spoken aloud? It doesn't tend to be sung. A song lyric conveys itself through music and sound. Lyrical images and descriptive phrases need to connect with the ear, as well as the brain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Diematrosen Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 OK. try again, how about, the lyric of either a song or a poem if sung, is a song, if spoken, is a poem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 OK. try again, how about, the lyric of either a song or a poem if sung, is a song, if spoken, is a poem. Disagree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 OK. try again, how about, the lyric of either a song or a poem if sung, is a song, if spoken, is a poem. E.g. Jerusalem "And did those feet in ancient times...." etc. Poem by Blake, or you can sing it as a hymn (music by Parry). There's little distinction between the two. It's entirely possible to write song lyrics that will stand on their own as poetry, but it seems to be a pretty rare ability in recent songwriters. But then, most recent music I hear is at the gym where I am exposed to such gems as: I met a girl down at the disco. She said hey, hey, hey yea let's go. I could be your baby, you can be my honey Let's spend time not money. I mix your milk wit my cocoa puff, Milky, milky cocoa, Mix your milk with my cocoa puff, milky, milky riiiiiiight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 On on that very same song, this p*** take by a talented singer/writer was rather amusing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 On on that very same song, this p*** take by a talented singer/writer was rather amusing: Very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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