A study published on Thursday revealed that song lyrics are indeed getting simpler and more repetitive, contrary to the beliefs of aging music fans.
The study found that lyrics have also become more angry and self-centered over the past 40 years, aligning with the views of grumpy older music enthusiasts.
A group of European researchers examined the lyrics of over 12,000 English-language songs spanning rap, country, pop, R&B, and rock from 1980 to 2020.
Prior to discussing the simplification of lyrics, the study highlighted that iconic US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, who rose to fame in the 1960s, received a Nobel Prize in literature.
Eva Zangerle, a senior study author and expert on recommendation systems at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, declined to pinpoint a specific contemporary artist with simple lyrics.
However, she stressed that lyrics serve as a reflection of society, demonstrating how a culture's values, emotions, and concerns evolve over time.
Zangerle informed AFP that the music industry has undergone significant changes in the past 40 years, from how music is marketed to how it is created.
Throughout the 40-year period under review, there were multiple shifts in music consumption, from vinyl records and cassette tapes in the 1980s to CDs in the 90s, and finally, the emergence of internet-driven streaming platforms today.
The researchers analyzed the emotions conveyed in lyrics, the use of diverse and complex words, and the frequency of repetition for their study published in Scientific Reports.
“In all genres, lyrics tended to become simpler and more repetitive,” summarised Zangerle.
The results validated earlier research that indicated a decrease in positive, joyful lyrics over time, along with an increase in lyrics expressing anger, disgust, or sadness.
Moreover, lyrics have become significantly more self-centered, with words like “me” or “mine” gaining popularity.
– ‘Easier to memorise’ –
Zangerle noted that the number of repeated lines increased most notably in rap over the years, as it naturally had the most lines to start with.
“Rap music has become more angry compared to the other genres,” she added.
The researchers also examined the songs that fans of various genres searched for on the lyrics website Genius.
In contrast to other genres, rock enthusiasts tended to search for lyrics from older songs rather than new ones.
Rock has declined in popularity in recent decades, possibly indicating that fans are increasingly nostalgic for the genre's heyday rather than its current state.
Zangerle highlighted another change in music, stating, “The first 10-15 seconds are highly decisive in determining whether we skip the song or not.”
She added that prior research also suggested that people tend to listen to music more passively nowadays.
In simple terms, songs with more repetitive choruses and basic lyrics seem to be more well-liked.
“Lyrics nowadays are designed to be easily memorable, hence their simplicity,” remarked Zangerle.
“This is also a feeling I have when I listen to the radio.”
AFP
