IF YOU think pop music ain't what it used to be, you're probably right.
An analysis of the lyrics of 20,000 top 100 English-language songs in the United States between 1973 and 2023 has revealed that, in general, the lyrics of popular songs have become simpler and more negative over time, and contain more stress-related words.
The trend has coincided with increasing rates of depression and anxiety in the population, and also with increases in the negativity of news media and fiction books identified in previously published research.
On the important question of whether life imitates art, or vice versa, the authors have hedged their bets, saying the findings highlight the role of music in both shaping and reflecting moods over time.
Interestingly, there were some associations with major stressful events, such as the September 11 attacks and the onset of the COVID pandemic, with lyrics becoming more complex and more positive, containing fewer stress-related words.
The authors suggest that this could be due to more positive and complex music being used as a form of escapism during stressful periods.
Which doesn't fully explain the success of Justin Bieber's 2020 COVID-era hit, Yummy: "Yeah, you got that yummy-yum, that yummy-yum, that yummy-yummy... yeah, babe, yeah, babe, yeah, babe..."
Positive? Kind of. But complex?
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Dec 25
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