What Does Your Favorite Song Say About You?
HipHopDx picked up a Rolling Stone story about how songs reflect the times and sentiments we live in:
“In a recent study done by Terry Pettijohn, II and Donald F. Sacco, Jr., entitled Psychology of Music, they looked at #1 chart topping songs and how they are interrelated to the times of that year.
“When socioeconomic conditions were more challenging, the songs that had more meaningful themes and content were most popular,” Pettijohn told Rolling Stone. Not only that, but he explained that in uncertain times people prefer slower songs to more upbeat records.”
Apparently, the joints we dig directly correlate to the issues that we’re dealing with and all those damn feelings that we have at the time. Here’s the analysis for T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”:
“Though many listeners may only scratch the surface of the song and view it as a lusty, playful approach to grabbing a lover, Pettijohn argues that the popularity of the song is based off people’s desires to have more when in reality they have less than before.”
Alrighty. In keeping with that I thought I would provide some analysis on our collective psyche based on the popularity of other tracks that are on the charts right now. Here’s what I’ve found:
1. We’re Alcoholics
In scanning the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks, two of the top five songs are about consumption of alcohol. T-Pain’s “One More Drink” and Jimmy Jones’ “Pop Champagne” are two extremely popular songs. The first step to dealing with this disease is admitting you have a problem, people.
2. We Have ADD
The vast majority of the hottest albums on the hip-hop/R&B charts are only one word: “Freedom”, “Emeritus”, “Evolver”, “Soul”. I guess our multitasking, fast-paced world has no time more long titles or concepts. Is it actually getting to the point where we can’t pay attention long enough to complete a full sentence? Long gone are the days of “It Take A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back”, apparently.
3. We Like To Be Told What To Do
If you jump over to radio playlists, the most popular songs include dictums from our favorite entertainers on what we ought to or not be doing. Some folks are telling us to “Live Your Life” or “Get Up” or go enjoy “One More Drink.” Others say we should “Let It Rock”, “Wake It Up” or “Pop Champagne.”
4. Girls Love Stocky Dudes In Top Hats
I guess everybody loves a clown, but I didn’t think that birds loooooooove them a clown. But the proof is right there: T-Pain’s is holding it down. And based on the popularity of “Can’t Believe It” chick are looking to shack up with some dude who admits to the world he masturbates on the regular. Guess there’s hope for all of us.
What remarkable insight we’ve gathered from the music charts. Apparently, we’re real messed up, shallow people. Of course, I didn’t need T.I. to tell me that.
Tags: Humor, Psychology
