You can't beat the oldies

Evo još jedna iz 1966. dobra rokačina... inače prvi hit koji je imao tekst u fazonu protiv droge...

Paul Revere and the Raiders - Kicks

Srpski folklor i danas zvuči savremeno, veselo, živahno i ljudski.

Kolo - Igre iz Binacke Morave

Barbra Streisand - Woman in Love

The Knack - My Sharona

Madonna - Express Yourself

George Michael - Freedom! ’90

Lutajuca Srca - Brod za srecu

Leo Martin - Ja te volim

Radmila Karaklajic - Andjelina zumba zumba

Djordje Marjanovic - Nikad nije kasno

Lepa Lukić - Ne pitaj me

Korni grupa - Kuda ides svete moj

Dubrovački Trubaduri – Jedan dan

Time - Za koji život treba da se rodim

Josipa Lisac - Make up

ĐORĐE BALAŠEVIĆ - MENUET

Riblja Čorba - Kad ti se na glavu sruši čitav svet

Hell Is Living Without You · Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper - Love's A Loaded Gun

Bombaj Štampa - Često poželim da sve zaboravim (1987)

Svi volimo one koji žive to što pevaju – Toma, Bili Holidej – ali su nam potrebni i oni koji stoje kod zavese na pozornici i kao vanjski, svevideći narator umesto autorefleksije daju čitavu sliku, odnosno što više moguće od nje. Pogotovo kad je reč o svetu koji smo znali samo kao daleki eho. Vasilija Radojčić je bila takva pevačica
https://www.vreme.com/kultura/glas-cist-kao-suza/

Splet najlepsih pevanja Vasilije Radojcic;

Jos jedna iz iste godine

AI se slaže. U značajnoj mjeri.

This is one of the most debated topics among music lovers, and the fascinating answer is that it's both true and false, depending on how you measure it.

Let's break down the arguments, from objective data to subjective experience.

---

### The Argument That "Yes, Music Is Getting Worse" (The Data-Driven Case)

Several scientific studies have analyzed popular music over the decades and found measurable changes that many people would interpret as a decline in quality.

The Loudness War:Starting in the 1990s and peaking in the mid-2000s, producers began mastering songs to be as loud as possible to stand out on the radio and on CDs. This was achieved by compressing thedynamic range*—the difference between the quietest and loudest parts of a song. The result is music that feels sonically flat, less nuanced, and more fatiguing to the ear. While streaming services have started to curb this trend by normalizing volume, its effects on production linger.
Harmonic and Melodic Simplicity:A 2012 study published inScientific Reports* analyzed nearly half a million songs from 1955 to 2010. They found a clear trend towards harmonic simplification. In other words, songs today tend to use fewer and more repetitive chord progressions than songs from the 60s and 70s. The four-chord loop (I-V-vi-IV), which has always been popular, is now overwhelmingly dominant.
Timbral Homogeneity:* The same study found that the variety of instruments and sounds (the "timbral palette") has decreased. While the 60s and 70s saw a rich mix of brass, strings, varied percussion, and unique guitar tones, much of today's pop is dominated by a smaller set of synthesized sounds, drum machines (like the 808), and processed vocals.
Lyrical Simplification:* Research on song lyrics has shown a trend towards more repetitive words, simpler vocabulary, and a greater focus on self-centered or narcissistic themes compared to previous decades.

#### If So, Since When?

Based on this data, the major shift seems to begin in the late 1990s and accelerates significantly through the 2000s. This timeline corresponds with the rise of digital production software (DAWs), the peak of the Loudness War, and the shift in the music industry caused by file-sharing and later, streaming.

---

### The Argument That "No, Music Is Just Different" (The Counter-Argument)

This side argues that the metrics above don't capture the whole story and are biased toward an older definition of "good music."

Nostalgia is a Powerful Drug:This is the biggest factor. Psychologists have identified the"reminiscence bump,"a phenomenon where we have the strongest emotional connection to the music we discovered during our teens and early twenties. For you, the music of your youth is tied to memories of friendship, first loves, and self-discovery. It's not that music was objectively better then; it's that it wasyour* music. Every generation believes the music of their youth was the best.
Innovation Has Shifted:While melodic and harmonic complexity may have decreased in the pop charts, innovation hasn't stopped—it has just moved. Today's producers are masters ofrhythm, texture, and sound design*. The intricate drum programming in hip-hop, the atmospheric soundscapes of electronic music, and the creative use of vocal processing (like Auto-Tune) are all areas of immense creativity that weren't as central to music in the 70s.
Unprecedented Diversity and Access:The Top 40 is more homogenous, but music as a whole has never been more diverse. Thanks to the internet and streaming, you can listen to Mongolian folk-metal, Brazilian funk, experimental jazz, or hyper-niche electronic subgenres with a single click. In the 1970s, you were largely limited to what the radio played and the record store stocked. The "average" quality of music might feel lower because the barrier to entry is gone—anyone can upload a song—but the sheer volume ofexcellent* niche music is greater than ever.

---

### When Was the Peak in Quality of Popular Music?

This is the most subjective question of all, as the "peak" depends entirely on your values. However, music critics and historians often point to a few key eras as being particularly innovative and culturally significant.

Here are the most common candidates for the "peak":

The Late 1960s (approx. 1966-1971):* Often cited as the ultimate "golden age." This period saw The Beatles revolutionize studio recording, the creative explosion of Motown, the birth of psychedelic rock (Jimi Hendrix), and the rise of seminal singer-songwriters (Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell). The speed of musical evolution was breathtaking.
The 1970s:* This decade saw the maturation of rock into distinct subgenres like progressive rock, arena rock, and punk. It was also the golden age of funk, soul, and disco, producing some of the most intricate and brilliantly produced music ever made.
The Early 1990s (approx. 1991-1996):* This era is championed by many Gen X'ers as a peak. It featured the raw authenticity of grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam) as a reaction to 80s excess, the "golden age" of hip-hop with artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Nas creating lyrically and sonically complex work, and the rise of alternative and indie rock.

### Conclusion: So, Is It Getting Worse?

Pop music on the charts is measurably simpler, louder, and less diverse in its instrumentation than it was in past decades.

However, music as a whole is more diverse, accessible, and innovative in different ways (rhythm, production) than ever before.

The feeling that music is "getting worse" is a combination of real, data-supported changes in pop music and the powerful psychological effect of nostalgia. The "peak" of music was likely whenever you were 17. But if you look beyond the charts, you'll find that there is more incredible music being made today than at any other time in history—you just have to go find it.