The Official "Music Was So Much Better in the Glorious Days of Yore" Thread

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by MusicNewb1981

OK, you don't agree with the methodology and you have a valid concern about sampling bias. I'll post right away another study that shows that no.1 singles written recently are written at the third grade level. I can't post links yet but there are a few sources discussing that the average lyrics for hits are at third grade level. I would post a link, but I can't yet. A google search of

Study lyrics at third grade level

Will find them.

This is nothing new and doesn't say anything about the quality of the music or lyrics. The Old Man and the Sea and The Giver are two novels that use very simple language and style while still being brilliant, for example.

To me, both studies combine show an accurate picture of current music. Now, I don't think it's because people are dumber but, but, but it seems the record company is marketing to children--not fickle teens, or curmudgeon young adults, but children. Children are probably the most reliable income stream out there and, and they are not as picky as adults. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of avid listeners are in or about the third grade with their parents listening along.

Just the other day a neighbor of mine was blasting Taylor Swifts, "Shake it off." The thought occurred to me, "wait, this is a children's song." Everything about it sounded like some motivational song for kids. The music is catchy, it sounds nice, but it is in fact a children's song...

But, but, but my neighbor didn't pay for the song, he had his Spotify account attached to his speakers through his Ipad. Were this the eighties and music wasn't essentially free, I'm not certain how many adults would plop down $12.00 - $14.00 for the tape or CD.

Again, out here in Southern California where I live, I don't meet too many Pop or mainstream music listeners. They exist for sure, in America and abroad (where they probably don't know what the lyrics are saying anyway). But it's kind of like trying to find Kardashian fans, I've never met one and they seem to get quite a bit of hate on Facebook...so, whoever these people are they are just the easy money (kids, parents of kids...etc...)

And then you realize that your own opinion isn't the same as the casual music listener, which makes up the majority of people. Here's a popular kid's song from the 70s.

[MusicNewb1981]

Originally Posted by Frownland

This is nothing new and doesn't say anything about the quality of the music or lyrics. The Old Man and the Sea and The Giver are two novels that use very simple language and style while still being brilliant, for example.

Well, The Old Man and the Sea is not written at a third grade level. I am not familiar with the Giver. Using Steinbeck is a bad example, I minored in English lit. The appeal of Steinbeck is that he was one of the few modern writers who was appealing to different publics.

If you look at most of Steinbeck's works (the Grapes of Wrath, of Mice and Men, Tortilla Flats) the works can be read in multiple ways and appreciated by multiple audiences. For example, the general public with a low reading comprehension could just read for the story much like a film. But, but, but for college level readers and English enthusiasts Steinbeck is a genius in his rhetorical, metaphorical, symbolic use and, and, and his works largely allude to previous Western Classics. The deeper meaning is the true draw and power of Steinbeck, not the story plot.

And then you realize that your own opinion isn't the same as the casual music listener, which makes up the majority of people. Here's a popular kid's song from the 70s.

Well, no, that is not a children's song. Here are the lyrics. Do you need me to explain it to you. Like a lot of Funk and R&B it is social criticism and that is very profound. I can explain the lyrics to you if you like. Also, look up the creative voices behind Funk and R&B there were quite a few brilliant minds behind it. If you haven't heard Bobby Blue Bland's Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City, a lot of brilliant creative minds behind it. :

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I'm a woman's man: no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I've been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it's all right, it's OK
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive

Well now, I get low and I get high
And if I can't get either, I really try
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
I'm a dancin' man and I just can't lose
You know it's all right, it's ok
I'll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive

Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I'm a woman's man: no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I've been kicked around since I was born
And now it's all right, it's ok
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive

Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive


The above is poetry and probably best understood at a college level. Do you want me to compare it Taylor Swifts song to see the difference?

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by MusicNewb1981

The above is poetry

Taylor Swift's lyrics are poetry as well, no matter how ****ty they might be. Saying it's not is like looking at a poorly made chair and saying "well that's not a chair, look at this, THAT's a chair."