ULusófona study reveals song lyrics have become more negative

The lyrics of popular music in the United States have become progressively simpler, more negative and more stress-laden over the past five decades. This is the conclusion of a study carried out by researchers from Lusófona University, through CICANT – Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture and New Technologies, which analysed more than 20,000 songs from the Billboard Top 100 since 1973.

According to the research, there has been a significant decline in the linguistic complexity of lyrics, accompanied by an increase in words associated with negative emotions such as sadness, anger and indicators of psychological tension. In contrast, terms linked to positive feelings, such as joy or love, appear less frequently over time.

The researchers emphasise that these trends are not directly related to economic variations, such as average population income. However, moments of major social and global crisis, such as the attacks of 11 September 2001 or the COVID-19 pandemic, coincide with periods in which lyrics temporarily become more positive and complex.

According to the study, this phenomenon suggests that music plays a dual role in society: on the one hand, it reflects the collective emotional state and, on the other, it functions as a form of escape during periods of greater uncertainty and social stress.

CICANT’s research has been highlighted by several international media outlets, reinforcing the relevance of Lusófona University’s scientific contribution to understanding the relationship between popular culture, mental health and social context.