Why are pop songs getting sadder than they used to be?

Aeon ^ | February 4, 2020 | Alberto Acerbi, and Charlotte Brand

[C19fan]

Are popular songs today happier or sadder than they were 50 years ago? In recent years, the availability of large digital datasets online and the relative ease of processing them means that we can now give precise and informed answers to questions such as this. A straightforward way to measure the emotional content of a text is just to count how many emotion words are present. How many times are negative-emotion words – ‘pain’, ‘hate’ or ‘sorrow’ – used? How many times are words associated with positive emotions – ‘love’, ‘joy’ or ‘happy’ – used? As simple as it sounds, this method works pretty well, given certain conditions (eg, the longer the available text is, the better the estimate of mood). This is a possible technique for what is called ‘sentiment analysis’. Sentiment analysis is often applied to social media posts, or contemporary political messages, but it can also be applied to longer timescales, such as decades of newspaper articles or centuries of literary works.

[Dr. Sivana]

or did they eat the ship’s dog?

They were miners (not sailors), and the record company tried to spin the song as being about the mule. The Buoys themselves said, "Nope. Timothy was a miner."

[Vermont Lt]

They are just noticing that now?

Songs have been dreadful (for the most part) in the past ten years or so.

Every once in a while I turn on “new music” mix on Apple Music. I want to slash my wrists after the first two or three songs.

[dfwgator]

“You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille (You bitch! You slut! You whore!)”

[Buckeye McFrog]

Timothy (the Buoys)

It doesn't get any sadder than being trapped in a mine cave-in and then eating your co-worker.

[dp0622]

And Horrible pop songs by female singerand boy groups.

They say sometimes it’s good to listen to sad songs.

Especially when you’re sad. It helps get the sadness out all at once.

That and a bottle of Jack Daniels :)

[dp0622]

Brutally sad Great song!!

Man is that guy missing his girlfriend!

Ah, he was better off in the end I’m sure.

[olesigh]

plenty of sad songs and happy ones too. Most dance hits are up n and joyful.

[olesigh]

https://www.upvenue.com/article/1469-top-40-songs-that-will-make-you-cry.html

[mjp]

“We can fly” by the Cowsills was the happiest song ever written, was a hit in 1968

[olesigh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRkbhTmB-ao

[higgmeister]

yes, just the same

[dp0622]

Disco! :) I missed the disco era but it seems like it was fun :)

[dp0622]

:)

Appropriate!

[Skooz]

Haven’t heard that one, but “Into the Music” by Van Morrison is almost certainly the most joyful album ever.

[higgmeister]

Redirect:

This from "Kay Kyser the Ol' Professor of Swing"

THREE LITTLE FISHIES by Kay Kyser 1939

[Texas Eagle]

What about that song called At Seventeen? Heavens to Betsy what a depressing song. I wonder how many girls committed suicide to that song.

[slorunner]

I don’t know if they are sadder, but they sure are sorrier.

[higgmeister]

lemme do it again.

SPIKE JONES & CITY SLICKERS - COCKTAILS FOR TWO - 1945

[dp0622]

You think I’d forget that one?

It’s third in my list on that post :)

What a Devastating song to listen to if you’re a depressed teenage girl that doesn’t fit in.

[higgmeister]

Three's a charm and I rest my case.

MAIRZY DOATS by The Pied Pipers 1944