Changes in pop music 流行音樂的變遷

蔣建平

半個世紀(jì)以來流行音樂在節(jié)奏和音調(diào)方面的變化，揭示了當(dāng)代美國人情緒和情感的走向。

難詞探意

1. blast /blɑ?st/ v. 發(fā)出刺耳的高音

2. upbeat /??pbi?t/ adj. 樂觀的;快樂的

3. intertwine /??nt??twa?n/ v. 糾纏;纏繞

4. ambiguous /?m?b?ɡju?s/ adj. 不明確的

We blast the upbeat tunes for parties and workouts at the gym， and we save the low?key ballads for romantic or pensive moments. Its hardly a new idea that music is intertwined with our emotions. But how have our favorites changed over the decades， and what do these changes say about Americas shifting emotional landscape？

Music is a form of naturalistic data that， much like popular television， literature， and sales of consumer goods， scientists can sample for insight into our minds and values. Researchers E. Glenn Schellenberg and Christian von Scheve set out to examine songs popular in America during the last five decades， using a selection selected from Billboard Hot 100 charts. Schellenberg and von Scheve wanted to learn how emotional signals in music， such as tempo （slow or fast） and mode （major or minor key）， have changed since 1960.

The most striking finding is the change in key. Songs written in a major key tend to sound warm and high?spirited， while songs in a minor key can sound darker and more sad. Over the last few decades， popular songs have switched from major keys to minor keys. Broadly speaking， the sound has shifted from bright and happy to something more complex. The study also finds Americas popular songs have become slower and longer. Even more interesting， our current favorites are more likely to be emotionally ambiguous， such as sad?sounding songs being fast or happy?sounding songs being slow.

Another possible explanation for the changes in popular music is that contemporary music reflects the hardships and tragedies that our society has endured. However， Schellenberg and von Scheve believe that the steady increase in duration and decrease in tempo doesnt support the idea of growing difficulties fully because it would mean our problems have increased steadily over the last fifty years. Perhaps popular songs have become more complex over time because Americans are becoming more diverse and individualized in their musical tastes.

Though we can only guess about the specific causes of this evolution in music， Schellenbergs initial observations have helped to open the door to research on the link between emotions and music consumption. Perhaps someday well learn more of the secrets behind the music we love and the times we live in.

Reading?Check

1. Why did Schellenberg start the study？

A. To select Americas favorite music. B. To examine the creation of music.

C. To explore changes in music. D. To change music styles.

2. What can we learn from the findings？

A. Older songs are often more sad?sounding.

B. Popular songs have become warmer and shorter.

C. Current favorites tend to be composed in a major key.

D. Recent hits are likely to be longer and more complex.

3. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about？

A. The influences of the study. B. The diversity of musical tastes.

C. The features of Americas society. D. The causes of the music changes.

4. What is the authors attitude to the study？

A. Positive. B. Doubtful. C. Ambiguous. D. Disapproving.

Language?Study

Useful expressions

set out to do 開始做;著手做

switch from...to... 從……轉(zhuǎn)換到……

tend to do sth 傾向于……

broadly speaking 大致地說

Cultural?Background

美 國 音 樂

美國音樂起源于印第安人的音樂。美國音樂經(jīng)過長期發(fā)展，到20世紀(jì)初才具備獨特的美國風(fēng)格，并取得了與西方各國音樂文化同樣重要的地位。在此之前，美國境內(nèi)存在著生活在這塊土地上的各個民族或種族的音樂，也存在著歐洲音樂家從歐洲各國帶來的音樂。