Headlines across the internet state, “Research shows: lyrics have become simpler, more repetitive, and more angry.” However, consumers of modern music may disagree.

Lyricism has become an increasingly popular means of expression and communication in pop culture. The rise of singer-songwriters and the need for relatability has developed into an emphasis on lyrics in music as well. In a time where we have moved past choosing what influences us and into an age of overwhelming digital exposure, music has adapted. People no longer crave only catchy beats and sometimes nonsensical lyrics, but a fulfilling experience that satiates their emotional experiences. 

A case in point is Taylor Swift. Alongside being known for her re-releases, large-scale fanbase, and overwhelming popularity, she is known as a songwriter. 

Many pop music haters or casual radio listeners may meet the initial viewpoint. Her reputation precedes her, and “she writes about her ex-boyfriends and romantic affairs.” An analysis of many of her title tracks and older songs, that could be considered an accurate picture. Looking deeper into her recent works and fan favorites, a fuller understanding of the importance of lyrics develops. 

Swift is often applauded for her eloquence and complexity in two of her albums, namely Folklore, and Evermore. Released in 2020, they include songs about everything from a fictional love triangle of made-up characters to remembering her deceased grandmother among other losses. Since then, in Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department, she has upheld her dedication to emotionally charged and expressive wording in her songs. 

Specifically, her career highlights the change over time presented by her development as an artist. Many artists have been popular at any given era, any point in time. But from “Teardrops On My Guitar” in 2006 to “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” in 2024, her ever-growing relevance and popularity speak volumes about the music that fits the times. Therefore, her growth is also able to speak to the interests of modern audiences belonging more strongly to prose and poetic expression over having a catchy chorus. 

Not only have those who have been popular gained the public’s attention for artistry in pop music, but the new generation of pop stars is on the rise, and many of them also employ their own original emotions to fuel their careers. 

To name one example, Olivia Rodrigo. An ex-Disney Channel star turned singer-songwriter, now in the top 100 artists on Spotify at just barely 22 years old. Her breakout hit in 2020 was not a catchy, repetitive, upbeat single, but rather a breakup song expressing her grief and reflecting on what the relationship had meant to her.

Since then, her debut and sophomore albums, SOUR and GUTS, respectively, have been overwhelmingly candid, emotional, and personal. On GUTS, the writing credits for the whole album are nearly solely belonging to Rodrigo herself and her producer Dan Nigro. There were only two sources of outside reference: Amy Allen for “pretty isn’t pretty” and Julia Michaels for  “logical.” 

From “brutal” to “making the bed,” her repertoire is expansive in emotion and energy, reflected by her own words. And that has not gone unappreciated, with the GUTS World Tour, beginning in February of 2024 and set to end in July of 2025, selling over one million tickets and grossing almost $200 million. Thus, it has been awarded the title of highest-grossing tour by an artist born in the 21st century.

Her success is obvious, and the basis of her popularity being not in adults but in young adults and those in their late teenage years goes to show that popular culture is leaning towards meaning over catchy hooks and repetitive verses.

Some may argue that even five years is enough time to curate an audience. That may not be wrong, though an even more recent case of success lies in Gracie Abrams. 

Gracie Abrams is a 25-year-old pop singer-songwriter quickly rising in popularity. Abrams is by far not new to the scene, releasing her debut EP minor in 2020 and many since then, but her recent popularity is undeniably a change. Her rise began with opening for Taylor Swift in the first leg of her sensational Eras Tour. After that initial exposure to larger audiences, with the release of her album The Secret of Us (Deluxe), she got her first hit with ‘That’s So True’ reaching top 10 on Billboard charts.

Her history in the music industry expands far past her recent popularity and demonstrates the growth of emotional lyricism. Her earlier albums, This Is What It Feels Like and Good Riddance, are expressive of Abrams’ emotional depth, and are recognized by her longtime fans as placing an emphasis on lyrics and theme. This is corroborated by the slower, sadder sound alongside the solemn black-and-white visuals of Good Riddance, much of which is ballad-adjacent. Although her most recent album shifted away from the mournful tone of the last, the album is still dictated by themes of loss in ‘Felt Good About You,’ ‘Gave You I Gave You I,’ and ‘I Love You, I’m Sorry.’

The slow rise of Gracie Abrams presents a contrast to both Rodrigo and Swift, demonstrating a rise in both popularity of her new music leading to greater interest in her old music; this growth addresses the adjacently growing market for music with more complex lyrical themes.

In the 2020s, many of us may have acclimated to this idea of lyricism playing a large part in success. All of the aforementioned cases were successful. Nevertheless, there are cases of large names in pop music seeing less success following the same format they did a decade prior. The most prevalent example of this is Katy Perry. 

Katy Perry, a prominent figure in pop music since the 2010s, released her album 143 in late 2024. Despite her previous success, 143 did not provide the catchy radio staples people expected. With the title track ‘Woman’s World’ following her usual track of empowering songs with less complex themes and simpler lyrics, it seemed to be her regularly programmed chart-topper. However, this time, people found an issue with that expression.

Nick Levine at BBC writes, “But even so, the lyrics of Woman’s World feel reductive, particularly given the huge issues of womanhood and gender equality she is writing about.” The catchiness and general positive vibe that she had banked on for success failed this time. This may have been corroborated by her collaboration with producer Lukasz Gottwald (aka Dr. Luke), who had been entangled in a legal battle with Kesha not long before. Even putting aside the controversy, many music critics and journalists agreed that the overly straightforward “It’s a woman’s world / And you’re lucky to be living in it” messaging felt like a superficial advertising campaign rather than the empowering anthem Perry intended.

Though some may argue that it is a public shift away from empowering feminism, or fun music, the rest of the world states otherwise. Two recent stars support that strongly.

Chappell Roan, a stage persona played by Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, is a pop sensation in 2025. A fan favorite, a pop culture staple, she is making the most of her fame. The viral fame of her song ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ brought her into the spotlight in 2024. The playful nature of her over-the-top drag queen looks and generally upbeat sounds on top of her lyrical storytelling make her compelling to the public. Her other hits ‘Pink Pony Club,’ ‘HOT TO GO!,’ and more recently, ‘The Giver,’ have cemented her status as one of the top stars of the music scene. 

Alternatively to Katy Perry, Chappell Roan’s public attitude is much harder to face for most people. She has a strong sense of privacy, a lack of media training, and an assertiveness that has brought her both fans and controversy. However, her music continues to be a success, fighting against the argument that fun, empowering music is no longer the market’s interest. 

Another pop music sensation seconds this, that is Sabrina Carpenter. Another actress turned singer who found her popularity throughout the early to mid 2020s. Originally, she went mostly under the radar, producing four studio albums under Disney’s Hollywood Records. However, in 2020 she received online hate due to drama with other actors (at the time), Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett. After the hate dispersed throughout the pandemic, she began her online growth during her promotion of Emails I Can’t Send in 2022. The album originally gained attention due to its connections to drama with Olivia Rodrigo in 2020. However, much of the acclaim around her music now is unrelated. As her first album under Island Records, many say the tone of her music changed due to the freedom she had to express herself in her music, contributing greatly to her growth. Tracks ‘Nonsense’ and ‘Feather’ gained attention for their fun innuendos, and female empowerment themes, respectively. 

However, her fame truly rose with the release of her set of singles, ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please.’ These songs, trailing into her album Short n’ Sweet, would feature creative lyrics with a tone of female empowerment and a change in perspective from the traditional concept of women writing songs about men. In a teasing, satirical, and slightly raunchy manner, she takes on a slightly condescending tone towards men, mirroring the rhetoric on women. 

Altogether, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter amongst others prove that the determining factor of success is not with feminism, empowerment, or upbeat music, but rather the way it is worded and presented to the audience. If the audience can’t find authenticity in, or connect with, their music they are less compelled to listen.

However, the reasoning behind the shift overall cannot be ignored. As society has opened itself to individuality and mental health, the expression of those struggles in media and music has grown. 

This shift toward individuality has also encouraged artists to be more experimental in their approach to lyrics. With listeners able to skip songs easily and access entire catalogs instantly, artists are realizing that they need to offer something deeper and more meaningful to maintain a loyal fan base. Lyricism, therefore, becomes not just a way to communicate emotions, but also a way to build a lasting connection with the audience.

Furthermore, the emphasis on emotional lyricism has transcended genres. While it initially started gaining traction in pop, other genres like hip-hop, R&B, and even country have embraced this focus on personal storytelling. The success of these artists has also paved the way for up-and-coming musicians to adopt this more vulnerable style of songwriting. In the digital age, where authenticity is more valued than ever before, it seems that the power of lyricism will continue to be a defining force in the evolution of pop music for years to come. 

Ultimately, the resurgence of lyricism in pop music is more than just a trend. It reflects a broader shift in how people engage with art, culture, and their own emotions. The demand for depth and authenticity in music is not just about a reaction to superficiality, it is a desire for connection, understanding, and a sense of shared experience in a world that increasingly feels fragmented. As this wave of emotionally charged, introspective music continues to rise, it’s clear that pop music is entering a new era, one that values words as much as beats.

With listeners able to skip songs easily and access entire catalogs instantly, artists are realizing that they need to offer something deeper and more meaningful to maintain a loyal fan base. Lyricism, therefore, becomes not just a way to communicate emotions, but also a way to build a lasting connection with the audience.