Researchers analyzed thousands of English-language songs released between 1970 and 2020. After examining a data set of 353,320 songs, they concluded that lyrics have become more personal, straightforward, and charged with negative emotions. One cultural psychologist posits that the simplification of lyrics may be down to the excess of choice provided by apps and streaming platforms. “When people are faced with lots and lots of choices, they tend to prefer things that are easier to process and more straightforward,” Michael Varnum told Scientific American. Here's more, from Smithsonian Magazine.
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