As modern hits dominate streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and TikTok, many college students say today’s popular songs have lost their resonance and lyricism compared to the past.
The algorithms on social media and streaming platforms have transformed music consumption into short, catchy clips. Several students at Northern Essex Community College have expressed their opinions on the decline in lyrical depth in artists creating viral hits that are known today.
“I think modern music is less meaningful because most of the artists creating it are making songs they think will be top hits instead of writing something unique to them,” said Allora Ramos, a chemistry major. “Crystal by Fleetwood Mac is a good example of a meaningful song. It’s a song about finding clarity and love in a relationship and having a deep understanding of one another, using metaphors like the ocean to represent how natural the connection is,” Ramos said. “Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars was a song that got popular right away, but I feel like although it’s a good song, it doesn’t really have a deep meaning to it.”
Eva Carias, a medical assisting major, said, “the majority of the time a lot of music is just random words put together.” “Nokia by Drake is a good song because it’s catchy and it has a good beat, but it’s not really meaningful when it’s just talking about girls hitting up his phone.”
“An old song that everyone loves is Stand By Me by Ben E. King, and it has to do with love, but also talks about loyalty and companionship for others you leave when they are going through difficult times.”
“Songs were more meaningful back then with the lyrics, but now songs just don’t have that same vibe to them, especially with the lyrics,” said Observer Campus Life Editor Pheonix German, a business transfer major. “24k Magic by Bruno Mars is a song that doesn’t make sense, and the lyrics just don’t make sense.” “Heroes by Alesso and Tove Lo has been a meaningful song to me throughout my childhood, and the lyrics are significant to me.”
“Nowadays people only talk about crimes, intimacy and substance use when before there was more variety in the music industry,” said Dariellys Medina Duran, an education major.
Medina Duran said music can be meaningful if artists use their platform to spread a positive message: “It can be used to express kind and honest feelings or even as a form of protest for what you believe is right instead of using it to demonstrate an idea that is harmful.”
“Michael Jackson used to make meaningful songs to show how Black people were treated and still are being treated. None of Ice Spice’s songs are that meaningful because most of her songs are just her saying random things and talking about very provocative themes. I think the songs that have more meaning are the ones you have to really look at the lyrics for,” Ramos said. “That’s what makes music meaningful.”
