Don’t worry, it’s not just you feeling this way. Recent studies show that song lyrics have indeed been evolving towards simplicity and repetition. This trend is evident across various genres like rap, country, pop, R&B, and rock over the past four decades.
Furthermore, the analysis indicates a shift towards more anger and self-centered themes in lyrics, resonating with the sentiments of long-time music enthusiasts.
It is interesting to note that revered singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, known for his profound lyrics, was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature despite the current lyrical landscape.
Eva Zangerle, a leading expert on recommendation systems from the University of Innsbruck in Austria, refrained from pointing out specific contemporary artists with straightforward lyrics. However, she highlighted how lyrics serve as a reflection of societal values and evolving cultural norms.
She emphasized, “Lyrics can be a mirror of society, depicting the changing values, emotions, and concerns of a culture over time.”
Given the transformation in music consumption and production mechanisms over the past 40 years, Zangerle stresses the necessity to observe the evolving musical landscape attentively.
The study published in Scientific Reports analyzed the emotional content, vocabulary complexity, and repetition within lyrics, revealing a general trend towards simplicity and repetition across all genres.
Interestingly, the findings support earlier research indicating a decline in positive lyrics and a surge in expressing negative emotions like anger, disgust, or sadness.
Moreover, the research highlights a significant increase in self-centered lyrics, with terms like “me” and “mine” notably gaining popularity.
– Impact on Memorization –
Notably, rap music exhibited the most significant rise in repeated lines over the decades, potentially due to its inherently dense lyrical structure.
“Rap music has notably evolved towards expressing more anger compared to other genres,” added Zangerle.
Additionally, the researchers studied the lyrics sought by fans on the platform Genius across different music genres.
Surprisingly, rock enthusiasts tend to look up lyrics from older songs rather than contemporary ones, possibly indicating a nostalgic inclination towards the genre’s earlier days.
Zangerle also highlighted the crucial role of the initial seconds of a song in determining listener interest and engagement, especially in the age of instant digital skip options.
Previous studies have suggested a shift towards music consumption in the background, reinforcing the preference for songs with repetitive and straightforward choruses.
It appears that contemporary music enthusiasts favor lyrics that are easier to memorize, leading to the surge in popularity of simplified and repetitive lyrical content.
“It’s noticeable how lyrics today are crafted for easy memorization—a trend I also observe when tuning in to the radio,” commented Zangerle.
AFP