With the youth getting dumber and the music being released catering to those dummies, the most popular hits of the current decade (so far) have been simplified as well as many on the tail end of last decade. The beat takes up about ¾ of the song and you get one small verse if you're lucky. Producers and DJs are getting more popular in mainstream music every year and now they are even requiring that they get credited on the track across the board. I aimed this discussion specifically at pop music because I don't think other genres could survive without lyrics. People who listen to Rock, Soul, Alternative, Country or R&B are very much lyric obsessed and tend to like those songs for that reason to begin with versus pop listeners who on average are more into the beat of the song.

While pop legends like Beyoncé are taking lyrics to the next level in their music, starting discussions and debates on what certain verses or words mean (boof boof), other mainstream pop singers are barely even singing lyrics anymore. LMFAO's latest No.1 single features only 10 lines of actual lyricism, the rest is a repeated chorus and hook, and the chorus isn't even a deep or thoughtful chorus.

Other pop performers like Lady Gaga and Jessie J have made it their mission to write their own lyrics and make sure people know they are more than a forgettable dance song. Jessie J is currently one of the United Kingdoms top pop artists, but she isn't the only one. Calvin Harris is rising fast in the world of music with his collaborations featuring some of pops most visible artists. His last three singles have all risen to the top 5 in the UK, and with his sound becoming very popular around the world, you can be sure the collaborations with come to a blazing rise in the next few years. His collaborations with Rihanna and Kelis have been huge hits around the world, with the former becoming the biggest hit of Rihannas entire career and her longest running #1 singles in the US.

The issue is, the song, "We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)" only has 4 lines of lyricism, yes you read that correctly FOUR LINES. The rest of the song is taken over by the hook, chorus, and the production. The same can be said for his other hit "Bounce (feat. Kelis)" which only has 7 lines of lyricism. Rihanna however isn't totally guilty here as she has songs that have actual lyricism on her past and current albums. But, with the success of We Found Love, you surely wouldn't lose a beat if you thought we were gonna hear this sound again from her in the future.
So I ask you, with the sound of dance beats taking over music (sans Adele) and collaborations with DJ on a crazy rise, will lyrics find themselves obsolete in pop music before the decade ends? Their actions reflect positively on the singles chart but show gigantic negatives on the albums sales chart. Not a single pop artist featured in the current top 20 positions on iTunes has ever had an album sell +6 million or more worldwide in their entire career except Rihanna (and all her of hers were before her current loss of lyricism). This says a lot when these artists are dominating single sales and topping year ends charts worldwide. Is it over or will the creativity and word play of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Jessie J and the decent crooners of pop music keep hope alive?

In some genres lyrics have never been key but they are still instrumental in other genres.

Some people care more about the music than the lyrics but for most people it takes a balance. Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift etc are all strong lyrically and hugely successful so I's say no not really.

The lyrics in pop songs have become pretty dumb, but don't make me post the lyrics from 4

Ok

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Love on Top



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1+1



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Party



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Run The World



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I care



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I think that's enough.


So before you make a post trying to degrade the lyrics of pop songs, while glorifying your fave numerous times, maybe you should take a look at the lyrics from your own fave first.

No hard feelings, just don't drag others while glorifying your fave when there's no reason to.

Do it.

Lyrics in todays pop songs are fantastic.

Some songs from 4 have fun lyrics and some are beautiful and sophisticated. You have listened to I Was Here right?

The US still supports a good song with good lyrics, the UK and most of Europe very rarely do. They're into their beats and dance songs.

Like rly?

Back to topic; it's truth, music nowadays is more based in the music/beat itself than in the lyrics but I suppose that it's just like an era/season, it could change anytime since music is evolving constantly.

Nope.

There have always been dumb songs with hardly any lyrics, and deep songs with great lyrics. Sure there's been a shift to the dumber side in recent years, but I think it's more likely that there will be a shift back to the lyrical side than that lyrics become irrelevant altogether. Especially in English speaking countries where music in other languages is automatically dismissed.

You sure can, especially since the album was praised specifically for it's lyrics.

If you feel froggy than jump.

Exactly. Bey's lyrics aren't anything original either. The op acts as if she is doing something so Progressive. anyway 4 is more r&b than pop.

Lyrics are not that important to me as long as the melody is good. The song's subject matters most than the lyrics for me actually.

But it is good to have a balance.

Taylor Swift is a lyricist first, so it's expected of her. She rides a balance of genres anyway, I specifically speak of her (pop) songs, or 100% pop artists. You're still right though, but you get my point.

Yeah they have. Nowadays with Dance Music on top, people just want to dance or hear catchy music and not look into something deep like meaningful lyrics.

I think you'll find I'm actually from the UK Yes while we support indie artists, they aren't as successful as dance songs. I think the main reason for this is the club scene. Don't get me wrong, I prefer a song to a record with beats on it, but Europe is far more supportive of the dance scene, and this is largely due to the younger generations taste.

But aren't you arguing that the ones getting sucess easy now are the ones who are using crap lyrics? Then you bring up the charts to prove his point that 4's Lyrics are nothing out of the ordinary. Just let it go, you don't like what pop music has become blah blah blah, move to Urban.

I'd actually say there has been a revival of lyricism in pop music recently rather than a nose dive. Yes some artists are taking party music to the next level but lyrically we have been having a good time with music recently.