Equipemnt to Music to Lyrics

@larsman 

Some artists' lyrics are so good that they can stand on their own just fine even without music. 

Seems like the only way to validate this would be to read song lyrics off the page without having heard the song.  I suspect relatively very few lyrics could withstand such a test. By contrast, poetry provides its own rhythms and music. It requires nothing else. Song lyrics by definition are only half of a two-part "compound" genre.

I really appreciate good lyric writing but still, I can't imagine listening to songs and deriving most of my enjoyment from lyrics. It's the combination of lyrics and music that creates the magic. 

Equipment has never been my main focus, so there's nothing to "shift from" in that regard. 

As Sly sang, "Different strokes for different folks". 

@slaw

Do you read poetry?

@immatthewj

I guess I am not exactly sure what you are asking.

Me neither. The fact that the question is phrased as if this is a common shift of focus is in itself perplexing.

@tomic601

Not sure what your point is. Care to elaborate?

Mine is that that simply because something is "poetic" or well written does not make it poetry.