Lyric Deafness?

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I find myself having to Google the lyrics for almost everything I listen to, because I can't hear what the actual words are over the guitars and other instruments. So some songs (in English) might as well be in German! Does anyone else have this "auditory filtering" problem?

Although I rarely look up the lyrics of songs, I have this problem too. If it isn't the instruments drowning out the words, it's the singer not enunciating them clearly while singing, so I am left wondering just what they are singing/saying to go along with the pretty music.

It depends on the singer.

Yes, I do. I don't know if I'm just hard of hearing or if it has to do with my auditory sensory processing disorder problem. I can usually only concentrate on one thing at a time, music or lyrics.

Absolutely. I have to memorize the lyrics in order to hear them within the song when I hear it. I think its another reason why I will obsess over a single song at a time, until i know it, so to speak.

Happens to me with movies too. If an actor is making gestures that catch my attention, I may loose what they said, or what another actor said, in between the action.

It can be irritating (for others) because I always have to go "what did he/she said?"

this is a common-enough problem for there to be a website devoted to it, "kissthisguy.com."

I can understand parts at first and slowly the entire song...though my memory for lyrics is always less than my ability to remember vocal styles used, guitar and bass riffs and bass drum kicks.

I'm really prone to mishearing lyrics too; it annoyed me for years then I grew to like instrumental stuff, and got into Jpop/Jrock around the same time. Now I think of vocals as just another instrument in the mix, and appreciate it that way.

There are a few lyrics that still resonate with me though...but that's a small number (sometimes after having to look them up!) I'm one of those people who appreciates a thoughtfully-arranged inlay booklet that has lyrics, cool artwork and other info. I'll miss that if/when packaged media goes out of fashion!

I know right some songs I need to look up the lyrics some its like I can get the jist of what the artist is getting at.

While a song is playing, I can only understand about half the lyrics.
And as far as memorizing the lyrics to a song... it just doesn't happen. I could hear a song a 1000 times and never know the words to it.
I don't really process words very well in general. I have an extremely difficult time repeating what anyone says verbatim, even seconds later. I'll remember the general idea of what someone is talking about, but the actual words get lost.

I just don't consider myself a verbal person. My brain stores information in everything but words.

Yeah, I do sometimes have trouble hearing the words correctly, even when there's no weird singing techniques.

(clicky) kiss this guy.com is a funny website!

Really? Someone other than me has this problem? I can't understand lyrics until I listen to the song at least three times and sometimes I still need to look up the lyrics. I like listening to songs in foreign languages, because I don't even need to try and understand what is being sung.

one one hand, foreign language songs are enjoyable because foreign tongues are much more poetic than the utilitarian english i am familiar with, but on the other hand i am frustrated at not knowing what on god's green earth they are singing about.

Yes, but I've only had it when listening casually before developing my own taste. The first time I heard what the proper lyrics to a song were was 'Wonderwall' and then 'Don't Look Back In Anger'. I'm an Israeli, so I can think of no logical reasons why I only heard lyrics with a British accent, of all accents.

This is a huge problem for me. Lyrics often sound like complete gibberish to me.