Were songs from the 80s/90s catchier than today?

RJDG14 · 09-25-2015, 04:51 PM

Being 15, I ask others my age this question and they all say that they prefer music released now. However, I was listening to a compilation of early REM earlier, and found a number of tracks very catchy (including Cuyahoga and Radio Free Europe). The same goes for Husker Du (Games or Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely), Primal Scream (Gentle Tuesday) and U2 (Pride). Then I look at the current mainstream chart, very little seems quite as memorable, and even virtually all rock/alternative feels like there is no interesting melody, not to mention that almost every singer (including those of older groups) now uses pitch correction. Others my age seem to claim the opposite though, saying that they find what I like more forgettable.

Is it that tunes were more memorable in the 1980s and 1990s (meaning that new ideas are harder to create), or that I have a dated taste for what I find catchy? Have all the catchy melodies run out, or simply that I perceive catchy as different to most now? Two examples of tracks with melodies that I dislike and others like are Hold Back the River by James Bay and Photograph by Ed Sheeran.

Black Francis · 09-25-2015, 05:32 PM

My subjective answer is Yes but my objective answer is i don't know.

If you are talking about specifically about alternative it depends. The last bands i recall making good alternative music are Interpol, Arcade Fire, Artic monkeys, those kinda bands.

I wouldn't say they are better than 80's alternative bands though, i would say they're on par.

ElvisMan · 09-25-2015, 06:47 PM

I don't even believe in "alternative" music as a genre. That stuff is just rock music. Same thing with "alternative" comedy. There's no such thing, it's just comedy.

And music has always been catchier than it is today. That's not to say there's no catchy songs today, there are plenty but not nearly as much as in the past. Music doesn't rely as heavily on hooks anymore, and it's definitely hurting the art form.

PopDroid · 10-20-2015, 01:17 AM

Tame Impala - 'The less i know the better'
And a couple more....

The problem is that charts are no longer relevant, number of sales is ridiculously low. My guess is that major labels just buy their top 10-positions to get airplay.

It's definately more generic because marketing teams create the songs in stead of musicians very often. Worse soundquality which makes the music sound fatiguing and harsh.

ReadyMadeFour64 · 10-20-2015, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJDG14

Being 15, I ask others my age this question and they all say that they prefer music released now. However, I was listening to a compilation of early REM earlier, and found a number of tracks very catchy (including Cuyahoga and Radio Free Europe). The same goes for Husker Du (Games or Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely), Primal Scream (Gentle Tuesday) and U2 (Pride). Then I look at the current mainstream chart, very little seems quite as memorable, and even virtually all rock/alternative feels like there is no interesting melody, not to mention that almost every singer (including those of older groups) now uses pitch correction. Others my age seem to claim the opposite though, saying that they find what I like more forgettable.

Is it that tunes were more memorable in the 1980s and 1990s (meaning that new ideas are harder to create), or that I have a dated taste for what I find catchy? Have all the catchy melodies run out, or simply that I perceive catchy as different to most now? Two examples of tracks with melodies that I dislike and others like are Hold Back the River by James Bay and Photograph by Ed Sheeran.

Today is just booming bass and horrible synths. Yes the 80s and 90s had it too, but it is everywhere nowadays. I would say the 80s/90s were better.

ateiso · 10-22-2015, 03:17 AM

Simple answer is 100% yes. No offense, but in between twittering, keeping abreast of of the coolest of the latest and greatest in gaming, phones, music , tv and the likes, when do other teens apart from, apparently, yourself find time to listen seriously to music from another generation?

The reason that you found very little memorable current music is because there is very little being made. A friend recently asked me the name of a song I was listening to because he liked it when he heard it in a movie or tv show he watched. He was visibly shocked to hear it was from the 1970s. Point being that catchy tunes remain catchy even if no one listens to them, and no one can have a proper frame of reference without listening to all the music.

Nowadays, there seems to be more emphasis put on the quantity of music produced as opposed to originality with musicians going back to the studio weeks after promoting a new album and depending on the fast-growing gossip industry to remain relevant. Other businessmen like Cowell are also big beneficiaries.

One thing I loved about the 80s was that you could identify the big acts just by their voice while these days they are not that distinguishable.

DeadChannel · 10-22-2015, 08:59 AM

Boooring. Music today is as good as it's ever been, because pretty much no matter what you're into, you can find someone making it. Plus, it's not as if there's not been a certain amount of vapidity in the pop charts in the past.

grindy · 10-22-2015, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadChannel

Boooring. Music today is as good as it's ever been, because pretty much no matter what you're into, you can find someone making it. Plus, it's not as if there's not been a certain amount of vapidity in the pop charts in the past.

We should all just collectively write a concise essay on this, sticky it and link to it every time this comes up.

ateiso · 10-22-2015, 09:29 AM

Well, it' s not as if there is not a much greater amount of vapidity these days.

DeadChannel · 10-22-2015, 09:38 AM

I'd argue that there actually isn't, but if there is it's only because there's much more music period. There's a lot more great music, too, if you take a minute or two away from using the top 40 to criticize all modern music.

Tell me what you're into and I'll post some examples.

09-25-2015, 04:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
RJDG14 Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 157	Were songs from the 80s/90s catchier than today? Being 15, I ask others my age this question and they all say that they prefer music released now. However, I was listening to a compilation of early REM earlier, and found a number of tracks very catchy (including Cuyahoga and Radio Free Europe). The same goes for Husker Du (Games or Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely), Primal Scream (Gentle Tuesday) and U2 (Pride). Then I look at the current mainstream chart, very little seems quite as memorable, and even virtually all rock/alternative feels like there is no interesting melody, not to mention that almost every singer (including those of older groups) now uses pitch correction. Others my age seem to claim the opposite though, saying that they find what I like more forgettable. Is it that tunes were more memorable in the 1980s and 1990s (meaning that new ideas are harder to create), or that I have a dated taste for what I find catchy? Have all the catchy melodies run out, or simply that I perceive catchy as different to most now? Two examples of tracks with melodies that I dislike and others like are Hold Back the River by James Bay and Photograph by Ed Sheeran.

09-25-2015, 05:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	My subjective answer is Yes but my objective answer is i don't know. If you are talking about specifically about alternative it depends. The last bands i recall making good alternative music are Interpol, Arcade Fire, Artic monkeys, those kinda bands. I wouldn't say they are better than 80's alternative bands though, i would say they're on par. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

10-20-2015, 01:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
PopDroid Groupie Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belgium, Europe Posts: 30	Tame Impala - 'The less i know the better' And a couple more.... The problem is that charts are no longer relevant, number of sales is ridiculously low. My guess is that major labels just buy their top 10-positions to get airplay. It's definately more generic because marketing teams create the songs in stead of musicians very often. Worse soundquality which makes the music sound fatiguing and harsh. Last edited by PopDroid; 10-20-2015 at 01:23 AM.

10-22-2015, 03:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
ateiso Groupie Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 7	Simple answer is 100% yes. No offense, but in between twittering, keeping abreast of of the coolest of the latest and greatest in gaming, phones, music , tv and the likes, when do other teens apart from, apparently, yourself find time to listen seriously to music from another generation? The reason that you found very little memorable current music is because there is very little being made. A friend recently asked me the name of a song I was listening to because he liked it when he heard it in a movie or tv show he watched. He was visibly shocked to hear it was from the 1970s. Point being that catchy tunes remain catchy even if no one listens to them, and no one can have a proper frame of reference without listening to all the music. Nowadays, there seems to be more emphasis put on the quantity of music produced as opposed to originality with musicians going back to the studio weeks after promoting a new album and depending on the fast-growing gossip industry to remain relevant. Other businessmen like Cowell are also big beneficiaries. One thing I loved about the 80s was that you could identify the big acts just by their voice while these days they are not that distinguishable. Last edited by ateiso; 10-22-2015 at 03:24 AM.

09-25-2015, 06:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
ElvisMan The Hillbilly Cat Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Earth Posts: 89	I don't even believe in "alternative" music as a genre. That stuff is just rock music. Same thing with "alternative" comedy. There's no such thing, it's just comedy. And music has always been catchier than it is today. That's not to say there's no catchy songs today, there are plenty but not nearly as much as in the past. Music doesn't rely as heavily on hooks anymore, and it's definitely hurting the art form.

10-22-2015, 08:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
DeadChannel Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 1,259	Boooring. Music today is as good as it's ever been, because pretty much no matter what you're into, you can find someone making it. Plus, it's not as if there's not been a certain amount of vapidity in the pop charts in the past.

10-22-2015, 09:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
ateiso Groupie Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 7	Well, it' s not as if there is not a much greater amount of vapidity these days.

10-22-2015, 09:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
DeadChannel Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 1,259	I'd argue that there actually isn't, but if there is it's only because there's much more music period. There's a lot more great music, too, if you take a minute or two away from using the top 40 to criticize all modern music. Tell me what you're into and I'll post some examples.