When comparing today’s hit tunes with the top 40 of past decades, strong opinions are never in short supply. Every generation seems to lament its successor’s musical tastes and listening habits.

From ‘80s new wave to ‘90s grunge to the latest pop single, music has changed a lot over the decades. Those changes have come not only in terms of sound, though; lyrics have also evolved as time has ...

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American Yesterday I asked: what is the best pop ...