A recent study by researchers from Queen Mary University of London has revealed that the complexity of melodies in popular music has decreased significantly over the past seven decades. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, analyzed the most prominent melodies of songs that reached the top five positions on the US Billboard year-end singles charts between 1950 and 2022.
The research identified two major declines in melodic complexity:
- 1975: Possibly due to the rise of genres like new wave, disco, and stadium rock.
- 2000: Potentially influenced by the increased popularity of hip-hop and the widespread adoption of digital audio workstations.
A smaller decrease was also noted in 1996. The evolution of popular music is evident when comparing top songs from different eras:
- 1964: “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles
- 1980: “Call Me” by Blondie
- 1996: “Macarena” by Los del Rio
- 2003: “In Da Club” by 50 Cent
- 2011: “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
- 2021: “Levitating” by Dua Lipa
While melodic complexity decreased, researchers observed an increase in the number of notes played per second. This shift may be attributed to the rise of digital instruments, which have allowed musicians to express complexity through sound quality rather than melody alone.
The study’s authors noted: “The overriding pattern emerging from these analyses shows decreasing complexity and increasing note density in popular melodies over time, especially since 2000.”
They also highlighted the stark contrast between music production in the 1950s and today:
- 1950s: Limited to sounds produced by physical instruments and accessories.
- Present day: Access to digital music production software and vast libraries of samples and loops, enabling anyone with a laptop and internet connection to create virtually any sound imaginable.
This research suggests that while our parents may insist that “old songs are the best,” there might be some scientific backing to their claims, at least in terms of melodic complexity. However, it’s important to note that complexity doesn’t necessarily equate to quality, and modern music production techniques have opened up new avenues for creativity and expression in popular music.
