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Are pop songs dumb? Study offers evidence

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Pop tunes are for teenagers. Of course they are dumb. Watch Wagner if you want something mentally challenging.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

So, you have to write a college level exam paper to have a good "song". Hey, I listen to music while I work, I don't need to think about every line I hear, I just bounce back and forth and sing along while working to take away the tediousness.

This is a bit ridiculous. Am I reading this wrong, you should be writing songs that kids (that shouldn't even be listening to the song) don't understand to be a good writer? Am I missing the point here?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

...most songs I listen to don't even have words (Classical/Jazz and a bit of modern electronic music).

..so music requires lyrics to be "smart"?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

IMO, if you listen to cats like Morrissey & Robert Smith- well now, it kinda' opens your mind to lots of philosophical thinking and appreciation for how 4 or 5 guys can really jamm with their basic instruments and stray from the mainstream of the music mentioned in this here article-

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But it's not about what genre of music you listen to, it's what makes you "feel". So no scientific study or philosophical one can determine what's dumb or not...

waste of time and money.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is it truly at a kid's reading level if they don't understand the meaning of the string of words? Particularly the hidden meanings? I am sure most of the sexual innuendo is over their heads, as well as many a fine point.

I think we also need to be a bit more clear with classifications here. What you might call pop music today is one world of difference between pop music of the 80s. We had a lot of intelligent stuff to listen to back then.

But anyway, making songs with "big" words is an extremely difficult task for any genre. its also hard in poetry. Try making a suitable rhyme with meaning using the word "lycanthropy". I know a song that pulled it off and I thought, hey, well done!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Living Memory

Which song rhymed the lyrics with "lycanthropy"?

And "philanthropy" or "vivacity" don't count. I want a proper rhyme....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'd love to see the results for anything written by Donald Fagen.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

moo zic

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Modern music adapts to modern trends: single use songs about nothing, because people always want something new. Catchy tunes are a lot more important than lyrics. Especially when it comes to global hits - people often don't know English so they have no idea what the song is about.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pop music through the years has almost always been rather low-end, appealing to the masses (lowest common denominator), but it does seem to me that the level has just been dropping more and more, especially since the advent of hip-hop culture. Compare the R&B of the 60's the vulgar current variety.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I agree that pop music seems to have declined in the 90's, I like 60's, 70's, 80's and some 90's music.

There are also seem to be more covers of older songs now, Rap was great when it started but now .....

Yes, lots of those songs were dumb and cheezy, but than many have some memories attached.

Or it could be just my age.????

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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