I do enjoy most types of music and share your opinion of rap. I don't enjoy twangy yodliny country ("Gonna buy me a blueeeeee birrrrrdddd") or when most sopranos sing opera (grates on my nerves). Tenors are good, though. I love classical music most, but I'm also drawn to the Big Band era. Like the jazz musicians, it's nice to hear someone who really knows how to play their instrument. That's why Eric Clapton is so good.

Good lyrics are important, that's why I hated disco so much. They kept repeating the same few words over and over until I practically begged them to stop.

"Fly robin fly"
"Fly robin fly"
"Fly robin fly"
"Up, up to the sky"
(lather, rinse, repeat ad nauseum)

That's the complete lyrics (6 different words) to one disco "song" that played for at least 5 minutes. There were others just as bad.

"Why can't we be friends?"
"Why can't we be friends?"
"Why can't we be friends?"
"Why can't we be friends?"

"I may not talk right"
"But I know what I'm talking about"

"Why can't we be friends?"
"Why can't we be friends?"
"Why can't we be friends?"
"Why can't we be friends?"

Quick, where's that radio button! Damn the traffic and distraction, make it stop! Make it stop!!!

As for song writers, I like people like Harry Chapin and Bob Seger who can tell a story with a song.