What Makes Good Lyrics?

Almost two weeks ago I had unbearable fight against Bro Hamid, regarding ‘what are the good lyrics supposed to be’. The Indonesian Idol show potentially triggered our nerve to defend our decisions. Some people might think that we were total retards. But since I loved to debate against brainless issues (either did he XD); I ended up accepting his challenge.

Starting from Bro Hamid’s point, that good lyrics should be easily devoured by all kind of audience, means that the lyrics were supposed to be simple, sharp, and literally easy. He then highlighted one of simple and easy Indonesian song in particular, titled ‘Satu Jam Saja’ (‘Just One Hour’ or ‘One Hour, Please?’ pardon my poor English XD). Furthermore he started to elaborate that most Indonesians were already physically and mentally miserable, so they might not be able to think further about the meaning of the lyrics and thus fancy the simple lyrics.

His evidence of ‘good lyrics’ (direct translation from ‘Satu Jam Saja’/’One Hour, Please?’ or ‘Just One Hour?’ whatever):

Don’t put this to an end
I decline to come to an end
Just one more hour, please?
I’m yearning to be at your side
Bringing back those silent memories

Please don’t put this to an end
Coz tomorrow will never be meant to us
Just one more hour, please?
Such moment of happiness
Finally come to an end

When it came to my points, I argued that good lyrics should have universal interpretation, or else, literally sophisticated. I persistently countered that lyrics were another form of poems, which were hypothetically believed to have thousands interpretations beyond its words. Perhaps those were reasons why I wasn’t into most of Indonesian songs (remember, I said ‘most’, not ‘all’=p), ever since majority of their lyrics were relatively easy to understand (I hinder the word ‘shallow’ to describe all these *sigh*). Off course I’m referring my version of good lyrics to most of J-Rock songs (you get my point, Le Cieler was here!)

My evidence of ‘good lyrics’ (direct translation from ‘Kaze ni Kienaide’/’Please Don’t Go With The Wind’):

Ah, everything is but clockworks
I can even look forward to a future run by gears

(Looking for you..)
If I am led away from this boundless world
(Kissing your mind..)
It doesn't seem so bad if we fall holding hands like this

The feeling overflowing in the middle of the city is yearning,
Hard for me to breathe as it drowns me

For this is a time shining in rainbow's colors,
I caught you so that you wouldn't be wiped away by the wind

Personally I realized these debating matters were totally dumb. But anyhow we enjoyed our (absurd) debate and even somehow pretended to be the hosts of popular talkshow. For Honorable Readers, please take it lightly, since I have no grudge or harmful intention against Indonesian music and stuffs. Though I am the worst companion in pledging loyalty into my home country, still I am a patriotic at heart XD.