I prefer songs without words or of words I don't understand. I just want to enjoy God's wondrous creation of a voice or a sound that can produce a reaction to move the heart. There are some songs with words I didn't understand that I have enjoyed, but as soon as I understood what they say, I lose interest, or sometimes I'm even irked. If it is a song, for which I understand the lyrics, then the lyrics should be meaningful. It should either make me ponder about life and struggles, or inspire me to be better, or generate empathy or just a good advice.
At my age, of course human love songs, don't mean much, after knowing what I know now. No, you shouldn't die for love, and love is not all you need.
I am also more sensitive now to what I let into my head. Sometimes I am unable to control, or forget, but when I do remember, I don't want to let empty or imbecile words and ideas invade my mind. We have to be more conscious, we have to keep our minds as clean as possible. Those times when I am unable to control or I forget, I wish I can scrub my brains clean of worthless words or ideas that can endanger the little intellect that God has blessed us with.
But there is a way to 'clean' them. That is to read or to listen to good words or goods sounds a lot more than the little time that we have let those garbage enter. InsyaaAllaah, this can help.
Listening to instrumentals lets you own the song. Since there are no specific words or ideas that are programmed into your mind, you can make of it, what you want to feel about it. Of course the tempo of the songs will have an impact, as such most of the instrumentals that I like and prefer are those of medium slow or medium tempo. Most of the time, I use these sounds to enjoy my coffee break, or when I take a break and look out my window at life or the sky or nature. It's wonderful, subhanallaah.
Of course the most inspiring words or sounds would be that of Quran and the Quran recited in a calm and moderate voice. May the default words and sounds the envelopes my mind, be that of the Quran and calm recitations of the Quran. Aamiin.
