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The Evolution of Song Lyrics: A 40-Year Journey

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Chapter 1: The Changing Landscape of Music

Music has been an integral part of human culture for ages. Recent archaeological discoveries suggest that even Neanderthals engaged with musical instruments, hinting at the timeless connection between humans and music.

Neanderthals engaging with music

Section 1.1: Simplification of Lyrics Over Time

A recent study conducted by researchers from Germany and Austria investigated how English-language song lyrics have evolved over the last four decades. Analyzing a total of 12,000 songs across genres such as rap, country, pop, R&B, and rock (with 2,400 songs per genre) from 1980 to 2020, the findings were published in the journal “Scientific Reports.”

Lyrics analysis study

Subsection 1.1.1: Key Findings

The results showed a notable trend towards simpler and more repetitive lyrics. Particularly in rap and rock, the variety of vocabulary has diminished. Interestingly, while the number of multisyllabic words in rap has increased, overall repetition has led to a general simplification of song lyrics.

Simplified song lyrics

Section 1.2: Emotional Resonance in Modern Music

Despite the simplification of lyrics, researchers found that the emotional tone of songs has evolved. The inclusion of emotionally charged language has risen, especially in rap, while genres like R&B, pop, and country have seen an uptick in negative emotional expressions. Furthermore, there has been a marked increase in words associated with anger across all genres.

Emotional content in lyrics

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