Article origin is Agence France-Presse.
What does the AW hive mind make of this?
Is music getting dumber, angrier and more self-obsessed?
Across the board, all genres, the article claims.
I can think of reasons that this might be so.
The Guardian: Song Lyrics Study.
by 19 Comments
Own up, which one of you lot wrote this article? The giveaway was “reinforcing the opinions of cranky ageing music fans everywhere.”
The original wording was “cranky ageing music fans on the AW blog” but the editor said that civilians wouldn’t know who they were talking about.
There may be some truth in what the article says.
And for young people there is certainly a lot to be angry and upset about.
In today’s Guardian I read that Poland’s Donald Tusk says we should start thinking of ourselves not as a postwar generation but as a pre-war generation.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/29/europe-must-get-ready-for-looming-war-donald-tusk-warns
And then there was Jeremy Hunt’s recent “Marie Antoinette” moment which revealed how horribly out of touch he and his party are with. the UK electorate.
Sweden has nothing to be smug and complacent about. The murder rate here is higher than Italy.
BUT….
Instead of lamenting the decline in song lyrics, can’t we also celebrate those song-writers who still write intelligent, thoughtful songs about our times?
A few names spring to mind.
Jason Isbell. Loyle Carner. Mary Gautier. P.J. Harvey, Neill Hannon, Anais Mitchell. Loyle Carner,. James Yorkston. James Murphy (LCD Sound System),.
I’m sure there are many more that you can think of!
Ooh, let me think… Oh yes: Loyle Carner..
This isn’t news, surely?
I’m sure I’ve read, more than once, across the years, the idea that music and lyrics tend to reflect the times. Economic downturn and bad societal conditions? Hello punk.
“Put simply, songs with more choruses that repeat basic lyrics appear to be more popular.” Gosh.
“Lyrics should stick easier nowadays, simply because they are easier to memorise. This is also something that I experience when I listen to the radio.”
We needed a lengthy academic survey, headed by senior study author Eva Zangerle (“expert on recommendation systems”) at the University of Innsbruck to tell us this? No, but academia needs grants, and the Guardian needs probing, insightful journalism.
I wrote a song yesterday called Crying On Camera. The lyrics go:
Everybody, look at me
I want the world to see
I’ve got no dignity
I’m on reality TV
And I’m crying on camera (x4)
Tears come easy, under the lights
Gotta get my timing right
Leaving no dry eyes in sight
Even though my acting’s shite
So I’m crying on camera (x4)
I’m seeking sympathy
To get me where I wanna be
Got no street credibility
Only sweet fragility
So I’m crying on camera (x4)
Tears come easy when you’re me
And crave celebrity
Even though I’m talent free
Here I am, I’m on TV
And I’m crying on camera (x4)
The chords go D/C for the verses (hold the last C then pause) then D/C/G (x4) for the chorus bit. The word “camera” is sung as three syllables and there might be a girlie chorus of “ooh, ooh, ooh” after it.
I’m going to sell it to Jedward or someone.
That’s quite enough probing.
I could sell it to PJ Proby if he’s still alive. Or PJ and Duncan if they’re still going.
PJ and Duncan are called Ant and Dec now. Do keep up.
And PJ Proby reverted to his real name of Bob Carolgees
Ant and Dec are the telly presenters, you fool. I could sell my song to them though! They’re on reality tv all the time. You’re giving me loads of ideas. You could be my marketing strategist if you want. Unpaid and unthanked, but think of the thrills!
No thank you. I don’t work for nothing on principle. In fact, just to be sure, I don’t work at all.
You’re being a little vague, so I’ll take that as a “yes”. First task: contact a wide variety of pop stars and make friends with them by doing their bidding and stuff. Second task: sell them my song while they’re distracted by your peculiarities. Cash up front or no deal. Let me know how it goes.
Well of course I’ll be right onto that, the moment I’ve finished shoving your guitar sideways up your arse 👍
It’s a good thing I have a bidet.
The guitar of consequences rarely arrives lubed.
In my hospital radio days back in the late 80s I had to play a lot of popular songs from the 40s/50s due to the age of many of the patients.
There was an awful lot of dross in the early 50s in particular. “How Much is that Doggie in the Window” was not the worst by any means.
Max Bygraves, Jimmy Young, Harry Secombe, Des O’Connor…all singing shit lyrics to shit melodies. No wonder the kids grabbed Elvis by the trousers and wouldn’t let go.
Are song lyrics getting dumber and more repetitive? In the words of Lennon & McCartney: “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Actually, a few years ago when listening to Laura Marling I was struck by the dominance of the pronoun in her work – Once I was an eagle is the clearest example I can think of right now.