The Music Experiment

Music. The only universal language, and in my opinion the easiest to become fluent at. It conveys all emotions - even those which are indescribable by words. Though I believe instrumental songs are most of the time superior to songs with lyrics. The songs with lyrics are constrained to one meaning, one emotion, one story. Instrumental songs are up to your imagination. They can tell many stories, and can have many meanings. However, each have their own same range of emotions. If songs with lyrics are to compete with instrumental songs, the singer must have a voice that follows his or her story or message. Singers may want to portray their one meaning or story, and that is fine, and some do it with near perfection. But my personal preference is a song with a variety of meanings. It can be the same song, but it can tell a different story the next time I listen to it. This way, the song stays fresh and interesting - unlike lyrical songs that you can sing the lyrics to over and over again. Instrumental songs have that sense of mystery - a sense that calls the listener to interpret the countless meanings, to feel the variety of emotions, and to engage in the hidden stories.

So here is my experiment:
Listen to some of the songs below and post a comment describing what you hear. I would like to see how everyone's opinion compares. Minimize the window if there is a video to make the results better. Feel free to post what you hear from other songs too.

1. Gary Jules - Mad World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4&NR=1&feature=fvwp

2. God is an Astronaut - Echoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXFprnuyOEM&feature=related

3. Ronald Jenkees - Guitar Sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UvzD4gZnw4&feature=PlayList&p=9412082B3BF96B93&index=4

4. Steven King - Scarborough Fair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYHDQHQDS-4

5. Ronald Jenkees - Throwing Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O2aH4XLbto&feature=fvw

6. John Petrucci - Glasgow Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFXvfBL4WkU

7. Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMrZ7lChK-g