Shifting Tides: How Music Lyrics have Evolved Over the Past Four Decades and What it Means for the Future of Pop Culture.

A study published on Thursday revealed that music lyrics have undergone significant changes over the past four decades. The research, published in Scientific Reports, highlights how lyrics can serve as a reflection of society, showing how values, emotions, and concerns evolve over time.

Lead author Eva Zangerle emphasized that there has been a dramatic change in the music landscape over the last 40 years, influenced by factors such as the internet and streaming. The study analyzed over 12,000 songs in English from various genres from 1990 to 2020, including rap, country, pop, R&B, and rock.

Across genres, lyrics were found to be simpler and more repetitive compared to previous decades. There was also a decrease in positive and happy content. In particular, rap music has become more angry and repetitive compared to other genres. This could be due to the need for songs to engage listeners within the first 10-15 seconds to avoid being skipped in the streaming era.

Overall, there has been a shift towards simpler and more repetitive lyrics in music over the past four decades. As technology continues to influence the music industry, it will be interesting to see how lyrics continue to evolve in the future.