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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsThe lyrics of recent No. 1 singles average at a third grade reading level
http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/05/the-lyrics-of-recent-no-1-singles-average-at-a-third-grade-reading-level/Powell-Morse analyzed the reading levels for 225 songs that spent three or more weeks atop Billboards Pop, Country, Rock, and Hip-Hop song charts.
Whereas chart-toppers in 2005 read between a third and fourth grade level, a decade later that average is declining, and fast. In 2014, the reading level of a Billboard No. 1 single averaged between a second and third grade reading level, with the bar trending downward in five of the last 10 years....
At an individual level, the data is even more fascinating. The average reading level of Eminem is a grade-and-a-half higher than Beyoncé, while Nickelback (!) tops Foo Fighters by nearly a number letter grade. In the world of pop music, superstars like Mariah Carey and Adele rank a full number grade higher than the likes of Lady Gaga and Ke$ha.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I remember the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, Dylan, Springsteen...
arcane1
(38,613 posts)The difference is astonishing, and you can really tell the difference between campaigning back then, and the marketing that replaced campagining today.
And very sad.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)managed to work Pagliacci into Tears of a Clown!
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Remember Diana Ross' "Love Child"?
That had actual lyrics. That album was my very first album.
Initech
(100,027 posts)Jethro Tull, Steven Wilson, Pink Floyd, Tool, King Crimson.... it's intelligent music written by intelligent people. And they rock!
dawg
(10,621 posts)I've never understood all the critical hatred for the genre.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Steven Wilson is a demigod. Love Porcupine Tree, especially the early, druggy, er, really spacy prog stuff.
Initech
(100,027 posts)It's pretty strong - it's up there with some of Porcupine Tree's best stuff. I'm going to see him live on June 12th.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Todd Rundgren, and many many more
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Yes featured chess: 'For the queen to lose..." Tull highlighted homelessness: 'Aqualung, my friend...", and so on.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)Wow, long time ago.
hay rick
(7,583 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)KG
(28,751 posts)DFW
(54,268 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, Judy Collins......
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)Tom Ripley
(4,945 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)How about a study of chart-toppers for Europe?
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)about Nickelback. They are a product of the Alberta school system after all (weirdly, Alberta has a tougher curriculum than BC by far).
dawg
(10,621 posts)I still think they kinda suck.
I just don't think they suck nearly as bad as most people who post on the internet think they do.
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)since their first hit. That's because my ex grew up with the original drummer and my ex's best friend (the guy who married us, lol) grew up with the rest of the band, so we knew about them before they became big.
I think there is a certain element to their music that you just don't get unless you grew up in rural Alberta in the 80's and 90's.
olddots
(10,237 posts)our problem now is where to find the art because the dreck is so over powering .
Avalux
(35,015 posts)Flesch-Kinkaid readability = 26. Have a listen:
I tend to pay a lot of attention to lyrics, maybe that's why I can't stand popular radio.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)Surprising. That is kind of sad.