eli5: Despite both just being “sounds”, why does a melody of a foreign songs is so much easier to remember/recall than the foreign lyrics?

Question

eli5: Despite both just being “sounds”, why does a melody of a foreign songs is so much easier to remember/recall than the foreign lyrics?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I agree with u/MultiFazed, and wanted to add that music/melodies activate a different part of the brain than words, even when listening to singing in a foreign language.

I am very good at picking up languages and can sing along with a song in a language I absolutely cannot speak (I am even able to correctly pronounce the words), but once the song is over I cannot sing it without the music.