Lyrics Shape The Generation

When you are presented with a wealth of choice in music channels on your flight journey, what genre would you go for most likely?

Easy listening country folks? Best hits from 60s-70s? Grooves in the 80s-90s or the latest pop? 

I tried to tune in a variety throughout the flight, but the most sticky ones would always be the 80s for me.  I belong to that era and naturally, I thought that's why I was able to find resonance in music from that era.  I then read something interesting which told me me scientifically, there could be an explanation to my preference too. 

When after a computer analysis of three decades of hit songs, some psychologists report findings that the words “I” and “me” appear more frequently in pop songs these days while there’s been a corresponding decline in “we” and “us” and the expression of positive emotions compared to those produced decades ago.

The researchers find that hit songs in the 80s were more likely to emphasise happy togetherness, like the racial harmony sought by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder in “Ebony and Ivory” and the group exuberance promoted by Kool & the Gang: “Let’s all celebrate and have a good time.” Diana Ross and Lionel Richie sang of “two hearts that beat as one,” and John Lennon’s “(Just Like) Starting Over” emphasised the preciousness of “our life together.” 

Today’s songs, according to the researchers’ linguistic analysis, are more likely be about one very special person: the singer.   “I’m bringing sexy back,” Justin Timberlake. The year before, Beyonce exulted in how hot she looked while dancing — “It’s blazin’, you watch me in amazement.” And Fergie, who boasted about her “humps” while singing with the Black Eyed Peas, subsequently released a solo album in which she told her lover that she needed quality time alone: “It’s personal, myself and I.”

Amazing findings which holds true in associating happiness and joy to the music of my choice.  

We are already in a world full of narcissism and hostility.  As much as possible, would song writers out there consider taking out their ego and try instilling a little bit more love and generosity into the lyrics?  Do not underestimate the power of your words, your effort can very much help shape the next generation.