Melodies of popular songs have become simpler since the 1950s, according to scientists. An analysis of hundreds of chart hits from the past 70 years has shown “a significant decline” in the complexity of rhythm and pitch in song melodies, UK researchers said. They said the biggest transitions – or “bursts of change” – occurred in the years 1975 and 2000 – when music genres such as new wave, disco and stadium rock started gaining popularity in the mid-1970s, and hip-hop became more prominent in the early Noughties.
The team also found “moderate evidence” of a “melodic revolution” in the year 1996, around a time when major music studios began to adopt new technologies such as software applications to record, edit and produce music. The researchers said the findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggest complexity and creative expression in popular music is shifting away from melody and towards other elements such as quality of the sound. Madeline Hamilton, a PhD student in computer science at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said: “The complexity of melodies in the most popular songs has shown a significant decline since 1950.
“This implies that what people enjoy about music is shifting. “When it comes to extremely popular music, we no longer listen for complex vocal melodies, but perhaps for something else – maybe interesting chord progressions, lyrics, or sound textures.” She said the vocal melody of “Walking Behind You.
