Depends how I'm feeling really, so technically all of the above

Often its a background, but when i really want to listen to something i prefer to have something occupying my hands and eyes, so i tend to listen most closely when playing tetris. This is possibly a bit weird

Usually as background music to when I'm reading (or playing the Sims - I can't stand the Sims built in music)

In the car I tend to get a bit more involved with the music, which usually involves me ending up driving like a prat.

I don't usually try to find meaning in the lyrics, but then I have been listening to a lot of Cradle of Filth recently & just being able to pick out the lyrics is challenge enough.

Usually its the background stuff i listen for. But as an example, the lyrics to Puddle of Mudd's 'Blurry' are excellent and i listened out for them the first time I heard it.

depends what mood I'm in.

I have a really good musical ear, so I can listen to both at the same time. Usually when I hear a song for the first time I listen to the lyrics, and then after that I can sing along to it!

both

Depending on what music I'm listening to, I change what I'm trying to get out of it.

Being a guitarist I very rarely even notice the lyrics, I listen to the music.

If it's "guitar" music I'll be listening for tunings, inversions, patterns and all sorts of geeky Nigel Tufnel type things, like if they've got their amps turned to 11, which everyone knows is the single most important thing

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and -
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
Marty DiBergi: I don't know.
Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.
Marty DiBergi: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel Tufnel: [Pause] These go to eleven.

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by MonSTeR
Depending on what music I'm listening to, I change what I'm trying to get out of it.

Being a guitarist I very rarely even notice the lyrics, I listen to the music.

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Same here, Mon.

Being musically inclined myself, I tend get involved in the music and rarely get anything out of the lyrics (which would explain why I have extreme difficulty remembering most of them).

Regardless of genre, I like it to have omph. This can lead to some rather strange looks if I stop at a junction with an orchestral or brass band CD blasting out.

Most of the time these days I have music on while I'm doing something else. Sometimes though the only thing to do is just listen and concentrate solely on the music.

Not quite as bad as MonSTeR, but I did find that when I started playing the guitar I began paying a lot less attention to the lyrics. I do usually try and pick them up after a few listens, though.

If the lyrics are something i relate to, i notice them.

otherwise i just sing along mindlessly or it's just background.

(Edited by Cat 31/07/2002 18:25)

I listen purely for enjoyment and for a good sing song really!
Well I have to have music playing most of the time- when I'm cooking, cleaning, on the net, getting dressed, in the bath, practically everywhere!
But I listen to it coz it puts me into a state of quietness and thought normally. Even if its my fave band Linkin Park bursting out the lyrics, I still have to have the music.

If that makes any sense?

I do both, depends on my mood, if I`m feeling down i listen to depressing stuff and really pay attention to the lyrics. It also depends on wether i really like the song. x

I don't generally have music on in the background as I always have to sing along to it meaning I can't concentrate on things like reading with it on.

I like listening to the lyrics of songs especially Eminem which usually has very interesting lyrics
If i'm listening to something like Eva Cassidy, I love the way the lyrics interact with the melodies as her songs have such beautiful music.
I guess it depends therefore on what music I am listening to

I like my music really loud so I can get totally lost in it! The louder the better!!! My poor neighbours must hate me!

I'm a lyrics person definitely! Don't get me wrong, the music is just as important, but I tend to focus primarily on the lyrics.

And I'm with Miss Edith, volume is important!

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by PictureOfFlowers
I'm a lyrics person definitely! Don't get me wrong, the music is just as important, but I tend to focus primarily on the lyrics.

And I'm with Miss Edith, volume is important!

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so what do the lyrics 'i should be so lucky, lucky lucky lucky' mean?

Depends on the album.

sometimes I'll listen properly, sometimes I won't.

I've noticed I can ONLY listen to Shai Hulud in the background, but If I put any punk CDs on in the background I get drawn away from what I should be doing to listen to the song.

Interestingly, I've discovered the best background music for playing video games is New Found Glory, Lit and blink-182.

And if I play "Forget My Name" by New Found Glory while playing Tony Hawks 2 I can get the "Sick Score", which is something of an achievement for me

largely listen to music at home, or some heavy trance down the gym (Tiesto or Oakenfold).