The TikTok-ification of Pop: Why Brevity Reigns in the Age of Short Attention Spans

Remember when songs used to sprawl? Like, actually sprawl? I’m talking about the seven-minute epics, the guitar solos that felt like journeys, the kind of music that demanded your undivided attention. Think Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” even Prince’s “Purple Rain.” These were songs that unfolded like chapters in a novel, each section revealing new layers of emotion and musicianship.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those people who thinks everything was better “back in the day.” But there’s something to be said for the way those older songs commanded your attention, how they forced you to slow down and really listen.

Today, it feels like everything is vying for our attention. Phones buzz with notifications, social media feeds endlessly refresh, and our brains are constantly bombarded with information. It’s exhausting, frankly. And in this landscape of digital overload, it’s no surprise that even our music has gotten shorter, snappier, more… TikTok-ified.

Think about some of the biggest pop hits of the past few years. Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License,” Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” even Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” – they all clock in under the four-minute mark. And it’s not just the length; it’s the structure. These songs are built for instant gratification, with catchy hooks hitting you in the first few seconds and choruses designed to lodge themselves in your brain after a single listen.

It’s a far cry from the days when you’d have to flip a vinyl record over to hear the rest of a song. Now, it’s all about immediacy. And while I can appreciate a good earworm as much as the next person, I can’t help but wonder: what does this obsession with brevity mean for the future of pop music? Are we losing something in our quest for the next viral soundbite?

The truth is, it’s complicated. On the one hand, you could argue that this new wave of pop is simply a reflection of our times. Our attention spans are shorter, our lives are more fragmented, and music is adapting to fit into the cracks. Plus, let’s not forget that TikTok has also given rise to a whole new generation of incredibly talented musicians and producers, many of whom are pushing creative boundaries within the confines of the platform.

I remember attending a music festival a few years ago, surrounded by teenagers glued to their phones, filming snippets of their favorite songs for their Instagram stories. It felt strange at first, like they were experiencing the music through a filter. But then I realized, they were still connecting with the music, just in a different way. Maybe it’s not about clinging to the past, but about understanding how technology is shaping our relationship with art.

Still, there’s a part of me that misses the days when music felt like an escape, a chance to disconnect from the world and get lost in a song. Maybe that’s why I find myself drawn to artists like Lorde and Frank Ocean, musicians who aren’t afraid to take their time, to build atmosphere, to let a song breathe. They remind me that even in the age of TikTok, there’s still a place for music that challenges, that surprises, that dares to be more than just a fleeting moment on a screen.

So, the next time you find yourself scrolling through TikTok, bombarded by a barrage of 15-second clips, take a moment to seek out something different. Listen to a song that makes you feel something, a song that stays with you long after the music stops. You might be surprised by what you discover.

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