Comments on: Pop Music & Blogs as Indicators of Gross National Happiness

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:20:43 +0000

Do they consider that “sick” among teenagers is a *good* thing these days? What about the word “bad” in the 80’s. Context means a lot. Scanning for words doesn’t give you that benefit.

By: mike ferrell

mike ferrell — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:00:06 +0000

Wow. Some people can get grants for anything. It makes me happy to reject such pseudo-science – “happiness research”? Why not “pissed-off” research? Or “insert whatever emotion you want here” research? Putting the word “happiness” into it is pure hype.

By: YouRang

YouRang — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:52:22 +0000

How about perceptions of the past? I got into trouble this Sunday by telling someone who said we had more peace before 1960 (the supposed date of removing God from public life by the courts) that her perception of the past was bullshit. (Of course it isn’t her perception, but the propaganda line of the conservatively religious movement; which is why she could parrot the insult to all blacks, indians, murdered union workers, most immigrants etc. without thinking.)

By: martin g

martin g — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:03:12 +0000

Readers might also be interested in a new study which looks at the lyrics of number-one songs ( over the last 50 years or so ) and correlates them with the GHTM (General Hard Times Measure ).

Finding that when times are hard, people prefer songs with a focus on the future, and with a greater mention of social processes – more romantic too.

And also preferably sung by someone with a large chin.

No, really, they do . . . ( say the researchers )

details here :

http://www.reallymagazine.com/month_archive_68.htm#31JUL09

By: David

David — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:31:20 +0000

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By: Carter

Carter — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:08:22 +0000

Robot: I know. That is why I expressly wrote about their findings in lyrics, while only relating the music and not using the music as a subject. Though, perhaps, I am an outlier. It is statistically possible.

By: robot makes music

robot makes music — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:06:20 +0000

They analyzed lyrics, not music.

By: Carter

Carter — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:44:41 +0000

It irks me somewhat that the study would typify heavy metal as a “negative” type of music. I love classic heavy metal, like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest. I don’t consider myself a metalhead, nor would any who know me, but this remains my favorite genre of music. And I am most certainly not a negative person. For my age, I might rank as one of the happiest out there! This inconsistency makes me wonder how accurate using music to figure global happiness may be. Artists who write so-called “negative” music may simply be doing so to add lyrics that add excitement to an already fun music, and to (of course) sell it, not necessarily to portray sad and negative feelings of them or their listeners.