The lyrics of recent No. 1 singles average at a third grade reading level

[KamaAina]

http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/05/the-lyrics-of-recent-no-1-singles-average-at-a-third-grade-reading-level/

No one would ever dare to compare the writing prowess of artists like Macklemore, Nicki Minaj, and Katy Perry to Chaucer and Ginsberg, but a new study from Andrew Powell-Morse reveals just how dumbed down the lyrics are for songs currently dominating the Billboard charts.

Powell-Morse analyzed the reading levels for 225 songs that spent three or more weeks atop Billboard’s 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]

1. This doesn't surprise me in the least.

I remember the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, Dylan, Springsteen...

[arcane1]

2. Watch some old political speeches from back then, compared to today!

The difference is astonishing, and you can really tell the difference between campaigning back then, and the marketing that replaced campagining today.

[cwydro]

3. So true.

And very sad.

[KamaAina]

4. Smokey Robinson

managed to work Pagliacci into Tears of a Clown!

[cwydro]

5. I actually thought of Smokey as I sent my post.

Remember Diana Ross' "Love Child"?

That had actual lyrics. That album was my very first album.

[Initech]

6. This is why I listen to progressive rock music.

Jethro Tull, Steven Wilson, Pink Floyd, Tool, King Crimson.... it's intelligent music written by intelligent people. And they rock!

[dawg]

20. That's the good stuff for me.

I've never understood all the critical hatred for the genre.

[hifiguy]

24. Right on, dude.

Steven Wilson is a demigod. Love Porcupine Tree, especially the early, druggy, er, really spacy prog stuff.

[Initech]

27. Have you heard his new album yet "Hand. Cannot. Erase."?

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]

16. Me too.

[Dont call me Shirley]

7. The new generations heads would explode over lyrics from yes, moody blues, elp, elo, jethro tull,

Todd Rundgren, and many many more

[KamaAina]

13. You got it!

Yes featured chess: 'For the queen to lose..." Tull highlighted homelessness: 'Aqualung, my friend...", and so on.

[Dont call me Shirley]

17. Now you've done it, time for some Yes...

https://m.

[cwydro]

22. That brings back memories.

Wow, long time ago.

[hay rick]

8. Papa-oom-mow-mow

[panader0]

10. The Bird is the Word!

[hifiguy]

25. Featuring Popeye's old man, Poopdeck Pappy!

[KG]

9. pop music's always been brain dead.

[DFW]

18. Frank Zappa's ghost begs to differ

[hifiguy]

26. And Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, John Lennon,

Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, Judy Collins......

[seveneyes]

11. What we have here is a failure to communicate

[Tom Ripley]

12. It's rather foolish to expect literary merit in song lyrics. Read a book, you lazy fucks.

[kentauros]

14. Well, that's for the U.S., which isn't surprising.

How about a study of chart-toppers for Europe?

[laundry_queen]

15. Interesting

about Nickelback. They are a product of the Alberta school system after all (weirdly, Alberta has a tougher curriculum than BC by far).

[dawg]

19. The most underrated band of the 21st century.

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]

28. I've always liked them

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]

21. there is always art and always dreck

our problem now is where to find the art because the dreck is so over powering .

[Avalux]

23. I just tested the lyrics to "I'm Bored You're Amorous" by Dear and the Headlights.

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]

29. That high?

Surprising. That is kind of sad.