A Compare and Contrast of the Days of Future Passed

I do not tend to listen to the majority of today’s popular music (i.e. top 40).  The music from today that I listen to is predominantly indie and/or alternative, in addition to the older music that I listen to from the 60’s through the 90’s.  However, I am acquainted with the music that dominates the top 40 charts.  In my opinion, today’s popular music reflects a sense of stupidity in that musicians main concerns lie within their image and branding themselves.  There are no real subject lines besides an occasional love song.  In fact, if one would take a close examination of today’s popular music they would find that there truly is no “meaning” behind most songs.  They lack subject lines, let alone poetic expression, depth and description.  At one point in time, lyrics appeared similar to that of poetry.  However, now they do not. For example, compare two lyrics, one from the year  1967 and the other from the year 2012:

“Oh tell me where your freedom lies

The streets are fields that never die

Deliver me from reasons why

You’d rather cry, I’d rather fly.” - The Crystal Ship (The Doors, 1967)

 “Swag swag swag, on you/Chillin’ by the fire while we eatin’ fondue.” - Boyfriend (Justin Bieber, 2012)

Compare two more, one from the year 1986, and the other from the year 2012:

“We can go for a walk where it’s quiet and dry

And talk about precious things

Like love and law and poverty

Oh, these are the things that kill me..

Past the Pub who saps your body

And the church who’ll snatch your money

The Queen is dead, boys

And it’s so lonely on a limb . - The Queen Is Dead (The Smiths, 1986)

“And I’m like… ‘I just… I mean, this is exhausting, you know. Like, we are never getting back together. Like, ever.’”

–We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor Swift, 2012)

Popular music today is also made on machines, with synthetic instruments and programmed beats, unlike in the past.  Ultimately, popular music is devoid of reality, it’s human element is lost. “Musicians” merely follow a script (reflecting a sense of conformity), just as an actor does, from the clothes they wear to the music they portray as their own.  A historian from the future would likely derive from our music that we are a culture revolving around conformity, image and appealing to the masses rather than quality, meaning and talent.