Why we really really really like repetition in music

It slays all day.
In episode #5 of Vox Pop's Earworm, producer Estelle Caswell, comes to appreciate the art of repetition with the help of Colin Morris and Elizabeth Margulis. Colin is a computer scientist who created two really amazing ways to visualize repetition in song lyrics and how they've increased over the last 50 or so years. Elizabeth Margulis has dedicated her career to music research and runs the music cognition lab at the University of Arkansas. Her book "On Repeat: How music plays the mind" delves deep into the science behind musical repetition and explores the many ways our brains react to it.
Spotify playlist: open.spotify.com/user/estelle...
The Pudding interactive "Are Pop Songs Getting More Repetitive?": pudding.cool/2017/05/song-rep...
SongSim: colinmorris.github.io/SongSim...
Elizabeth Margulis: www.elizabethmargulis.com/
Some songs don't just stick in your head, they change the music world forever. Join Estelle Caswell on a musical journey to discover the stories behind your favorite songs.
Check out the entire Vox Earworm playlist here: bit.ly/2QCwhMH
And follow Vox Earworm on Facebook for more: / voxearworm
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com
Check out our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H
Or on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o
Subscribe to our channel! goo.gl/0bsAjO

[@Beknown107]

Music isn't just about repetition. What people don't enjoy is repetition. What we do enjoy is noticing patterns. Even in their example by beyonce, the background beat and foreground music are not dead repeats, they are patterned verses. The tonality of the background changing while it's rhythm stays the same, the lyrics alterations of the same phrase with different timed echos in the back.

[@kevinmunguia7381]

Mike Honcho u clearly didn't understand his comment... "It isn't just about repitition..." There are so many songs that are constantly repeating, but like he said there's more to it... But thanks for your opinion though

[@samy6833]

Here's the Answer kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYewdpKiaa6qf6s

[@janetownley]

Joseph Loporto Patterns ARE repetition!

[@user-pp3bf3he1c]

agree bro! Moreover people need that balance between predictability and surprise. Thesis of people liking just repeating is easy to disapprove by an experiment.

[@gon9684]

@@janetownley Repetition forms patterns, BUT, there are 100000 ways to repeat, and to variate... What I mean is that, when you repeat in music, you don't just take a part and do it again, patterns can be formed through repetition of tiny elements for example... Of course it's also true that repetition is important, but it is not everything, most people wouldn't have an eargasm by listening to Philip Glass for hours... Repetition has, most of the time, the most potential when used in moderation, and when applied in a not too basic way... I hope I got my point across lol

[@mserranocz]

The SongSim visual representation of “Bohemian Rhapsody” must be gorgeous.

[@Spiffier]

Miguel Serrano or sicko mode

[@anrylstudios]

It's basically one lie except for the galileo and bismillah part.

[@donovanmuse5715]

oh so you’re white white

[@johni-m8944]

Donovan Muse top comment god

[@abstractrussian5562]

No. The more pop song is, the more repetition there is. So the more boring the song, the less boring are images. Bohemian rhapsody looks like a single line. As well as the music that was influential for me personally.

[@durucollins8929]

Who ever is in charge of Vox's motion graphics design is a genius!

[@CrysisVN]

+1

[@daamazingpotatogod]

Their graphics are amazing

[@OfficialPrettyLittleLiars]

The animation and pace of this video was incredible. Regardless of what their agenda is, Vox makes great videos

[@zynel413]

I mean is agenda really relevant in a video about music? Maybe if the video was about current politics agenda would be relevant tho

[@edipadpro8301]

What’s their agenda?

[@god5535]

@@edipadpro8301 Eating raw babies...

[@jaketaylor5686]

@@god5535 fun time

[@nate4912]

@@god5535 what?

[@quackistan]

In the words of the poet Lil Pump: D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose, D Rose 80 on my wrist, 100 on my wrist 80 on my wrist, 100 on my wrist 80 on my wrist, 100 on my wrist 80 on my wrist, 100 on my wrist D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose D Rose, D Rose, D Rose, D Rose

[@SirMikeProvolone]

Wft is that?

[@paulos9376]

Mr Mike Provolone professor pumps beautiful teachings

[@User-xw6kd]

Harvard Graduate who saved the rap game. Obama Obama trapper of the century.

[@teragiga967]

Fool. His real name is Liliam Pumpernickle.

[@stella-vu8vh]

How much xanax and lean do i need before this slaps?

[@kaitlynl7458]

*cough cough* Chainsmokers *cough cough*

[@jeramieshoe5386]

swimmer girl the police are way worse about repetition

[@alexplom5958]

they took it to the next level where all their songs repeat the same pattern.

[@9999garv]

and the world cant decide if its smart or stupid. heck, they even got a grammy :I

[@silverlinings8240]

Cough Cough is what you do when you chain smoke.

[@9999garv]

swimmer girl 😁

[@SoundBlackRecordings]

Wonder why you wouldn't dig below the surface of pop music down to underground techno, house and other electronic dance music where repetition is king?

[@ZacharyAghaizu]

yes that is so true but at the same time, that's why it's so underground. It takes repetition too far for the masses

[@abishekraju8787]

thats actually one of the reasons i came to this video ; But it disappointed me with pop Crap !

[@acidDJclay]

I asked myself this almost twenty years ago and the only thing I could come up with is that genres like techno and house use repetition for the sole use of making it easier to dance to and for an almost hypnotising effect on the listener when they're on the dance floor. It's a lot easier to dance to Deep Dish than let's say....something a lot less repetitive like Metallica.

[@WOLFMAN1469]

It be interesting to see biological rythym matching and brain wave data for sure. Keep the blood pumping and surf them feels.

[@moadot720]

DID SOMEONE SAY EDM?!?! I LOVE EDM!!!!

[@Ki12B]

I'm sad you didn't talk about Queen in this episode. They played a lot with both repetition and with breaking repetition. They had a philosophy that there should never be an exact repetition in one of their songs - with very few exceptions like "We will rock you" of course.

[@kattenelvis1778]

Would "Around the world" by Daft Punk just be one big square?

[@adamp_]

Around the world is a house song, house music is built on repetition. You could basically put any house song there and it would be just one big square.

[@technologywontsaveus]

Then try something like "Together - So Much Love To Give". :)

[@chloejackson7703]

It is, I tried it. It crashed the website though.

[@grandsome1]

You need four walls to make a house after all! *dadum tsss*... I'll see my way out.

[@ja1207]

I tried doing the footprint in excel...it's like a checkers board but with 2 spaces in between, because it has three words... a big square will occur if only one word is repeated...just like the "NO" part of "No Limit"...

[@LuciaHerself]

Dude! Who is the video editor in Vox? Damn he/she is good as hell! I would like to see him/her in person. Such a wonderful artist.

[@LuciaHerself]

Got it: Juan Bedolla Estelle caswell Both of you are fabulous!

[@heartache5742]

Noor >he/she watch out, you might offend someone

[@silasnormann6550]

what do you mean? +Alex

[@LuciaHerself]

I didn't understand! Is that because my name is for males and females?

[@robin23200]

Noor I identify as a genderless alien, I’d prefer ‘them’ to describe me. Please edit your comment and add, “he/she/them”, thanks!

[@dannyferreira5889]

As a techno lover, I have to say that electronic music is just based on this exact phenomenon. By repeating the same kick,snare and bassline etc. , people are willing to dance through the whole night and actually enjoy it.

[@melissaalexandra9593]

I just realized the title is repeating “really” on purpose

[@GrammeStudio]

or perhaps we like repetition not because of repetition per se but because of our ability to recall them, hence enabling them to grow on us. perhaps this is why classical music is not as favorable to mainstream as modern pop and rock because not only do they have multiple movements making them hours long, there also a lot of layers to them making them hard to process.

[@BertaRS]

we like repetition not because of repetition we like repetition not because of repetition we like repetition not because of repetition we like repetition not because of repetition our ability to recall them

[@kohlinoor]

Some classical music is inherently repetitive, though. Think 21st century classical music (like pieces by Phillip Glass and others like him), but also stuff from the actual Classical period (Mozart and his contemporaries). The period itself was a shift from the super ornamented, complex virtuosity in music of the Baroque era to something much more simple and palatable to the masses. Claiming that classical music as a genre is all super complicated, which is why it's not as popular, just shows how little you know about it. Music is a form of self-expression, and classical music was composed to appeal to a certain audience (namely the aristocracy) throughout most of Western history. That changed a while ago, so contemporary music sounds very different and tells different stories. Also people's attention spans are much shorter now. Back in the 1700s life was a lot slower and there was a lot less to do (particularly if you had money), so long concerts were fun for everyone. These arguments make a lot more sense than saying that Classical music is too complicated for modern audiences.

[@dbluewh]

Pop songs are forgotten and replaced every few years, because they lack the complexity and layering. Classical has lasted for hundreds because of its intricacies. Yes, perhaps the mass population may not enjoy classical as much, but the younger generation hardly ever listens to pop songs from the previous. Yet classical music is pervasive in every generation and culture.

[@BenjerminGaye]

Wayne Huang lol Michael Jackson the king of pop will never be forgotten.

[@brobusanagi1481]

But that's the beauty of classical music: the layers and the unpredictable music

[@Boborbot]

But you didn't answer *why* we find it interesting! You just showed a couple of charts and quoted a couple of scholars saying that repetition is more common than it used to be. What's the point of the video? Could have been a single frame of that first chart and it'd be just as informative.

[@PR2k9]

That's what I was left wondering as well after the video. Why do we really really really like repetition in music? Why do we really really really like repetition in music? No really... Why do we really really really like repetition in music?

[@savegalkissy]

I thought the answer was this "Repetition grabs ahold of our brains in ways we can't control" But from what I know? It might have to do with that completion sensation we need in our brains, it makes the work feel whole, and means we can make some assumptions and guesses. It seems on purpose when a song repeats part of itself, and you can recognize then it's a form of communication (and then you'll be blown away more when it breaks a pattern)

[@PR2k9]

@savegalkissy "Repetition grabs ahold of our brains in ways we can't control" is just another way of saying repetition grabs our attention. But why? Your thoughts on completion sensation gives more insight than the entire video on this topic. Im not saying the video is bad, in fact I found it intriguing especially where it showed computer generated images of songs. The video brings up other interesting points as well. However, it is severely lacking when answering the topic of the title of the video.

[@Nohndl]

Do you think that it is because as humans, we seem to want to know the answer before it is revealed, calculated, or observed? We watch a suspenseful movie and it intrigues us but what do we do? We try to assume the ending. If it was an obvious ending that details how the events transpired, many people call the film predictable and boring. Is it possible that we like these repetitious songs because there is nothing to catch us off guard and we can relax and simply enjoy the song because it is so..... Simple?

[@2drealms196]

Our brains are designed for pattern recognition.

[@conorreedR2C]

"Repetition legitimizes." -Adam Neely, 2017

[@oresthopiak8609]

I was looking for this comment😂😂

[@kosinusify]

Repetition legitimizes.

[@Kat-nd5fq]

"Repetition legitimizes." -Adam Neely, 2017

[@hcguyz]

Repetition legitimizes.

[@TikoVerhelst]

I'm happy I wasn't the only one with that thought!

[@coralreefer4602]

You didn't answer the question of "WHY we really really really like repetition in music"

[@s_ame1135]

The answer is obvious if you know how to read between the lines. No need to feed you with the spoon.

[@soha786sajju]

@@s_ame1135 you preach

[@kosinusify]

@@s_ame1135 But that's not the point of science, so if you talk about science you should at least make a clear statement.

[@s_ame1135]

@@kosinusify The video is just a social experiment and not a scientific study. If you want true science, you should read journals and not watching youtube videos or perhaps conduct your own study with hypothesis and conclusion.

[@kosinusify]

@@s_ame1135 I am aware that Vox is not "science" per se. But it doesn't change the fact that the entire video is kind of pointless.

[@happysaffa8871]

Repetition to a certain degree is necessary in music, but the stuff being released today is too much. Radio loves it because it gets stuck in peoples heads but I find it lacks creativity. Just because millions of people like it doesnt make it quality. Ive realised that the majority isnt always right. But, thats my opinion and music is about taste, different strokes for different folks. :)

[@BAlexThompson]

I stopped in to make a similar comment. Repetition in music is needed, but restraint is key. A lot of the current examples go overboard with it and use repetition to make up the majority of the song. It makes a difference between a well orchestrated earworm to just sloppily saying the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. @_@

[@skylerknight850]

Agreed

[@Vaskak12]

Listening to à rap station one day and they played thé same 5 songs more than nine times in one day.

[@tiawilliams5690]

I really don’t think this is knew. I can remember songs from the 80s that only had one or two lyrics. The issue with music today, IMO, goes deeper. Music is rarely taught in schools anymore. Add to that, for the last few decades, there’s been an ever increasing reliance in on sampling. Pop artists usually take inspiration from music they grew up with. That works if the people you grew up with played original music but what happens if most of the music you listened to is merely a poor copy of earlier, better artist. The overall quality continues to degrade. Several years ago on Idol, this girl sang “‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ by Beyoncé”. That’s where we are now.

[@jimbertido7762]

Tia Williams if you watch american idol you are part of the problem.

[@louisgeradtsvetter]

There's of course an optimum in between two bad things. Seemingly random atonal music might need some structure, but overly repetitive pop music definitely needs more variation.

[@iainmackenzieUK]

Children DO like repetition. And so do we (obviously). It is also hypnotic. And please note that 'loudness' has also increased over the time frame mentioned here. I am just not sure that our fondness for repetition and a louder sound is anything more complex than our fixation on sweet , salty and processed food.

[@tigerburn81]

Why isn't Daft Punk's "Around The World" more well know.

[@rubengoyma2597]

vox's music analysis vids are the best

[@adamhunter1848]

Ruben Goyma you should check out Noisy Images, he makes amazing video essays on music

[@JimCullen]

Honestly, as a musician myself, I find them some of the worst videos on the channel. They consistently take to good musical theory and misinterpret it to try and apply it to completely unrelated situations. There's a ignorance difference between motivic repetition in music within the structure of a carefully considered musical form, and just saying the same word over and over again.

[@bradwindysucks]

Jim Cullen Agreed. They're also super choppy, fragmented videos that jump all over the place and draw no real conclusion. Kinda pointless

[@coolhellu]

completely agree

[@johns9940]

Because it isn’t liberal propaganda bs

[@michaelellis4943]

Almost click bait :(( 1) This is discussing repetition in songwriting, not music. (I was hoping for a physiological explanation of why we enjoy steady repetitive beats) 2) There wasn't even an attempt to explain WHY repetitive phrases in songwriting is so effective and popular. How do they affect us compared to songs with less repetition. 3) What about other genres? How do they compare according to those cool looking charts? This video basically telling us "mainstream pop songwriting uses a lot of repeated phrases." I can't really disagree but i didn't need 7 min. to find that out. Anyway those graphs are def cool though.

[@SZebS]

I wonder what the dance of eternity looks like **stares at a blank piece of paper for 5 minutes** like that

[@SZebS]

But really, i want to put something like yes, pink floyd, dream theater or other progresive band

[@itisdevonly]

+

[@njk9091]

Is there even any videos on why there's so much repetition in beats? Cause I'd like to know...

[@bonappetit7522]

There's a Ted-ex video about it U can go there

[@jonmarkluckett]

The rise of digital recording and editing is the enabler of increased lyrical and rhythmic repetition, particularly in pop music. The final mixes we hear are rarely a singer's or composer's organic vision of a music creation, but rather a producer's translation. With all the parts and pieces available to arrange and rearrange once the recording is done, the guys behind the console can craft all the repetition they want. Typically these are the same people who make their living selling the songs, and they have long been aware of our musical mind's tendency to sync with repetition, given the opportunity.

[@Parallax3599]

But I don't like repetition :/ The feeling I get from listening to repetitive songs is similar to how Id feel listening to someone drone on and on saying the same thing and wasting my time. I'd much rather be fed different material for my ears to chew on throughout the song

[@itisdevonly]

I know. This video didn't address why some people (like me) hate lots of repetition in music.

[@RobertLoves]

I totally agree. Some repetition in a song should be deemed as part of it, but it should not be the thrust of the song.

[@joshua9032]

Yet you will here this song one more time.even if its not repetitive... so in a way you're still repeting? . if you think about it you still like repetition..so are you contradicting yourself???

[@IsThisRain]

Almost every single genre of music uses some form of repetition. Otherwise, it's not music.

[@loganmohler737]

That's why i listen to bands like tool, rush, Dave Matthews band, phish, meshuggah, and trout mask replica so much. So much diversity and way less than half the repetition. Although, I do enjoy repetition sometimes.

[@Quarksi]

I think we like repetition because it reinforces a point. It's especially addicting when the tone changes so what's being repeated takes on new meaning. I've also noticed that songs that have repetitive melodies or lyrics start to give you a familiar feeling by the time you've finished the song. You feel like you "know" this song after the first half of hearing it, like it's an old familiar friend, even if it's the first time you've heard it. A lot of people like that feeling, for the same reason movies are formulaic and use the same actors over and over. We love new twists to the familiar, not something completely new altogether.

[@Inrxz]

Repetition is what makes noise sound like music, we're conditioned to understand what is musical from hearing songs since were born. Its how different scales from different areas of the world can sound atonal to western ears

[@cristinab3980]

Inrxz on the opposite side of the western musical aesthetic spectrum, it helps to explain why many non musicians become easily bored or sleepy when listening to music composed more than a hundred years ago. Our ears are so accustomed to the sounds that make up the foundation of today’s music, that it no longer holds any surprises or emotional weight. I don’t personally feel that way, some of Beethoven’s work still gives me goose bumps.

[@wsky9646]

Vox's graphic assets are always topnotch! Can you some of your designers portfolio?

[@DynamicUnreal]

Repetition makes it easier for a song to be catchy right away but I would argue that it takes away from the longevity. Pop music has become formulaic, and has lost true creativity and the desire to push boundaries in order to produce a "low-risk" product that will most likely move numbers. The general quality of music has been in a steady decline for about 30 years IMO.

[@astodone9022]

DynamicUnreal - Pop music used to be the only music out there because the internet didn’t exist and you could only access listeners by mass production/marketing your cassettes/CD’s and hence the importance of recod labels. Nowadays people can upload their own music to the internet without this limitation. The widely marketed music you see on the surface such as pop isn’t even the tip of the iceberg

[@ouroborosnagyok9306]

pop music has been dead since fleetwood mac

[@guilhemarroseres3092]

This channel has some of the best content on KZbin

[@NessieAndrew]

So are you doing that video on Filthy Frank lore?

[@ArnoldsKtm]

Fill me in, I'm intrigued

[@NessieAndrew]

They said they would do whatever the top comment on their last video said. It said the people wanted a video on the Filthy Frank show. They didn't like it so they deleted it. They deleted the top comment.

[@pauloricardo-wn6ps]

what a bunch of counts

[@xevieunderscore]

but merio, mushrooms is good for your helth, merio.

[@kuhataparunks]

Nessie Andrew W

[@nabru_]

Man, Vox videos are so well produced. I really love this channel

[@oboecoe]

Going back to "Classical" music, if you look at Ravel's Bolero, it's 15 minutes of the same couple bars of music bounced between the whole orchestra and it's absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing to listen to.

[@arkosYT1]

does it work with rhymes ? cause it could be cool to visualise rhymes in a rap song just like this

[@AL-hk3oo]

Especially rap god

[@edinbhop]

good idea. MF dooms chart would be a ton of pixels lmao

[@BenjerminGaye]

it's on KZbin if you really wanna see it.

[@GhostSamaritan]

edin DOOM mad overhyped, man. Big Pun and André 3000 got some way iller verses (at least rhyme scheme-wise).

[@edinbhop]

ur right, doom does have a mediocre punch in a lot of songs. he is still one of my favorites, but i do think andre has a lot of verses with better delivery and way more interesting and crazy complex rhyme schemes overall. anyone have any crazy rappers they know of rhyme scheme wise?

[@jimparba]

Now make a Bohemian Rhapsody version of that Songsim

[@_yellow]

Jim Bryan Parba I see what you did there ;)

[@twatfaggotson]

David Don't get it, care to explain?

[@alexisbudzisz]

My thought exactly

[@geargrinder69]

Hahahahaha, nice one

[@anonymousgazelle]

check it out here. colinmorris.github.io/SongSim/#/custom just paste the lyrics.

[@Swift016]

You should try actually answering your thesis question, lmfao.

[@Disconformative]

Swift016 um are you talking about the title of the video because it's supposed to be a joke lmao

[@samy6833]

Here's the Answer kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYewdpKiaa6qf6s

[@Anewevisual]

Swift016 r/iamverysmart , lmfao.

[@junglefett]

@@Swift016 r/chilloutbroyoushouldprobablynotbesoverballyaggressivewithotherpeopleontheinternetthatsnofunandthisisnotactuallyasubredditbutyouthatmaybethewholepointofthiscomment

[@onoshedidnt10203]

Grochowicz r/twentycharacterlimit

[@SuperSparrow45]

As usual, Vox poses a question and then spends several minutes talking without actually answering the damn question.

[@ferniecanto3329]

Vox is the Nigel Tufnel of KZbin "video essays". Q: Wouldn't it be better to just make the 11 into the 10 and make that a little louder? Vox: ... ... ... These go to 11.

[@floobus]

all about that watch time ad revenue

[@slurpii4142]

the more long a video is the more money you get from monetization

[@jestermorales03]

It answered it by saying : repetition grabs hold of our brain beyond our control or something to that effect. brief one, though.

[@tinyhotopicbitch]

ribs by lorde was mentioned so i'm here

[@beautifulrainbow470]

Brett Werner same

[@prathmeshx8968]

Brett Werner thank god...I don't know wht would I have done without you!... Lol

[@tinyhotopicbitch]

THAT DRINK, YOU, SPILLED ALL OVER ME

[@MegaSupernova888]

LOVER'S SPIT LEFT ON REPEAT

[@tinyhotopicbitch]

MY MOM, AND, DAD LET ME STAY HOOooOOooMEeee

[@BramNaus]

I'm done with the 'I love how Vox makes an uninteresting topic interesting' comments... These topics have always been interesting!! Just the fact that Vox makes a video about it, doesn't mean that the topics were uninteresting at first. People actually study those 'boring' topics!

[@fatima_hussein]

You're so right!! Those are already very interesting, but I guess they are making such topics more common.. Considering they have a decent amount of views and subscribers..

[@PinchiExivion]

Oh man these Earworm videos are just beastly in their quality, I have to watch them again every once in a while. Thanks for work that heals and pushes the world.

[@yomamasofat553]

2:01 what's that song in the backround with that badass base line?

[@Machiji]

One of the songs from the end credit 7:26

[@SeeSeeSound]

Bo Burnham - Repeat stuff

[@SZebS]

Canyentay repeat stuff

[@iamtheonewhoknox]

Repeat stuff

[@user-hh1ki8xb2i]

repeat stuff

[@shayan4284]

I clicked for Michael Jackson and you almost didn’t say anything about him

[@matti2882]

Jerr Junior fr

[@tarag7292]

I agree. They used Lady Gaga and Beyonce as the main examples. I feel cheated.

[@Glittergasm]

Sneaker I’m glad I saw these comments 😭 Because I only clicked for Michael

[@Kaidiak123]

But how about the rest of the song that isn't the lyrics. They are just as important as the lyrics.

[@natejt]

I think the lyrics hold more weight

[@daveowens]

Aside from my philosophical studies, this may very well be my favorite KZbin channel right now. You are rocking it!

[@iksena]

The ting goes skrrrahh! Pap, pap, ka-ka-ka! Skidiki-pap-pap! And a pu-pu-drrrr-boom! Skya! Du-du-ku-ku-pun-pun! Poom, poom

[@NIGHTWULF]

you dun know

[@cristopheracevedo4254]

You got the sauce

[@andreidanilov9925]

Raw sauce, No ketchup!

[@bas3386]

Not even notified, just addicted

[@jeffryschmidt635]

Hey vox, i just wanted to tell yall that i really appreciate the use of the amen break throughout your videos

[@dannyr1951]

I like that you put a link to a Spotify playlist in the description, I always discover new music this way. Thanks!

[@Daniel-sf6pl]

Vox always got these videos about these themes that you never questioned about

[@wheatleycore4838]

Our house, in the middle of our house, our house in the middle of our house, Our house, in the middle of our house, our house in the middle of our house, Our house, in the middle of our house, our house in the middle of our house, Our house, in the middle of our house, our house in the middle of our house, Our house, in the middle of our house, our house in the middle of our house, Our house, in the middle of our house, our house in the middle of our house, Our house, in the middle of our house, our house in the middle of our house,

[@AspenEmrys]

lovely...

[@evavalles4974]

Wheatley Core , that's a sad song.talks about homelessness.

[@elwood2960]

You trying to quote talking heads

[@brok3nboy]

slurmp sent me

[@brok3nboy]

Wheatley Core is obviously a Zognoid, and not a HYOOMAN.

[@samcook363]

love how this episode just summarizes an old radiolab episode. good job Vox.

[@paneesh]

The animations in your videos are so satisfying to watch!

[@jimmyjimmy5574]

You can we get a thumbs up for data visualization! HELL YEAH!

[@jasonbrn8541]

I read "HELL YEAH" in Jenna Marbles' voice

[@YHChiu-jy2yi]

Friday! Friday! Getting down on Friday Friday FridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFridayFriday

[@Alexander-is9jo]

Stanley Chiu I can't believe I just sing that

[@YHChiu-jy2yi]

Alexander Bustamante Believe it or not, it sing it every Friday 😉

[@mfiorentino]

Our brains are wired for pattern recognition. Therefore it is intriguing for a brain to encounter them. But also as soon as the pattern shifts, curiosity is kicking in trying to find new patterns or connections to the previous ones. So a mix of repetition and clever changes are great in music. Also, that’s why rhythms are so deeply understood by everyone.

[@moshesakal]

Gotta say Estelle you’re videos are really cool. Didn’t realize that music is sooooo complicated and simple at the same time. The paradox of sound! Thanks for creating these videos.

[@mmozi-cc6bg]

Isn't 30 students a small number to use as a sample?

[@FlySpleen]

Not always, It's a great number to start at because it's the minimal assumption for some very useful statistical tests

[@doa_form]

Psychology is a joke

[@FlySpleen]

Psychology is simply the science of behavior and mind. Advances in psychology, similar (but not equal) to many other sciences, have been extremely crucial and important in propelling ourselves to a better understanding of the world around us, and the world within us. Even today psychology is a very relevant field of research and findings that come from this science are still improving our quality of life in many aspects. I don't study psychology and I don't really care for it, but saying "Psychology is a joke" is extremely ridiculous

[@AspenEmrys]

without psychology I would have been lobotomized or worse... but instead I was diagnosed, and given medication to bring me down from acute psychosis before any permanent damage was done. *woot* just got my dosage reduced today. hopefully I don't get anymore "moments". haven't had one in months now

[@Gardz]

I thought this was a meme from «I really really like this image» lmao

[@farooq8fox]

I like it too

[@Gardz]

farooq shaik thanks lori

[@sabrinabayonet]

what i love about this series is that a get new music to listen to! thanks for the playlist!!!

[@jacobscardino4330]

Repetitions is not the problem, you're absolutely right. It's what's being repeated which can be uncreative or boring.

[@andybrinegar8861]

I absolutely love this Earworm series! I’ve been curious about music production for a long time and learning new things is always helpful :)

[@gmo3277]

This like the younger successful brother from BuzzFeed

[@noahreese9469]

Its Someone except it’s not trash like buzzfeed

[@Sushigabby]

...the younger, more successful brother of BuzzFeed, that makes you relook at BuzzFeed and notice he's actually a piece of trash.*

[@EmceeLamaj]

I'm loving your videos and ways you break down music. You gave me a deeper meaning to my own understanding and appreciation of music.

[@palestinian0zak]

You make the most unique videos on Vox, and I love everything Vox makes.

[@jdog45ify]

I hate repetative songs yet Around The World by Daft Punk is one of my favorite songs

[@TLRPhotographe]

Because it's not exactly repetitive :)

[@davidfabella1]

I dislike modern pop music in general because of repetitive songs but Daft Punk is kinda addicting even though it loops more or less

[@acido44]

Then you don't hate repetitive songs.

[@MsSmurffit]

That song drives me crazy. They used to play it at my work and it was the worst part of my day

[@Ildskalli]

I love repetition in House and EDM, but don't really enjoy it much in other genres. When I want repetitive music to work, it's electronica. Otherwise I get bored.

[@DrPumpkinz]

America says we love a chorus, but don't get complicated and bore us. While meaning might be missing, we need to know the words after just one sitting.

[@carolynbaird5171]

DrPumpkinz bo burnham?

[@DrPumpkinz]

Carolyn Baird Yup.

[@PopeSalty1]

DrPumplinz, is your comment meant to come off as musical lyrics? If so, props to you, mate. I'm not sure "missing" and "sitting" exactly rhyme the way "chorus" and "bore us" do, but still...

[@grnd_ctrl8387]

His Holiness Pope Salty I Slant rhymes have really changed the game

[@benjamingeiger]

His Holiness Pope Salty I That's because it's "listen", not "sitting".

[@sjaakspaak]

This video gave me tingels all over at the end when all the pieces fitted together. A beautiful video!!

[@jamesmalia4522]

Your entire music series is very fascinating, educational, eye opening and nutritional. I appreciate music even more because of you, and that is priceless! Thank You very much!!! Really! Thank You!

[@_pulyx]

These are awesome. Keep the series going!

[@jaykay6249]

In repetitive songs I feel I can sing with them.

[@kynanverwimp847]

Degenerate lacks the capability to remember song lyrics

[@nathanshlap]

Kynan Verwimp You can remember lyrics you've heard 10 times, or phrases you've heard 12 times. Same goes for lyrics you've heard once?

[@foeshizzel]

Simplicity...

[@LostMyMojo100]

Listen to some old Neil Young...

[@cristinab3980]

Kynan Verwimp believing that a person can easily remember the lyrics to a 3-4minute song, w/o the use of repetition is like believing one can easily memorize two or three pages out of a novel after only one read through. So either you have an eidetic memory yet too stupid too realize that most people do not have this ability, OR you are just a mean internet troll exhibiting how an actual degenerate operates.

[@andrewsummersgill6863]

Every Chainsmokers song is the same

[@thienanle]

You are fantastic. Hope these vids will never end

[@user-xi6lx5nm2j]

i only clicked on this video bc i saw michael

[@vintage_hart6392]

Most mainstream music today is repititive and mostly sound the same. That's the problem. Repititions are fine bcuz they're the basis of music but repitition today are mostly all the same.

[@vintage_hart6392]

James No, that's not what I meant. Every song needs to have repetition whether it be words, melody, lyrics, beat. What I mean is that for ex: Lyrics and Hook in todays rap/pop almost sound the same, they're almost all identical.

[@digotron2000]

mainstream music from most decades sound the same

[@digotron2000]

Eddie The Head all of those decades had some pretty horrible music too. Think about all the boy bands in the 90s. You're just remember the good stuff because that's all you want to remember. There's also plenty of good music now.

[@silentthunder3729]

humans are not original very simple creatures

[@digotron2000]

Eddie The Head dude chill lol listen to the music you know you like and have a good time. Or if you want something new you got the entire internet at your disposal. You can check out different genres than you normally listen to. I used to not like rap or electronic music and now I listen that all the time. but there's nothing wrong with listening to the music you like whether it's Justin Bieber of def leppard. :)

[@johnmondrosch4401]

One of the most enjoyable set of videos I can think of on KZbin

[@johannaperez80]

im always amazed by voxs content

[@MalcolmRandall]

IF people really liked repetition in music, then Techno would've been the most popular music in the world; a Techno album would've won Album of the Year.

[@user-qo4ym5ew8t]

If people really liked hamburgers, Everyone would be overweight, moderation is key

[@cosmicwarriorx1]

No body in the world could have stopped popping of "Valar morghulis" in my head... @ 3:04 😂😂😂😂

[@daoz.13]

*KZbin Kolay Video Indirme * youtubem.video/r/

[@someonetookmynametony9862]

mrigendra kumar prajapati so you are saying that you agree with this plus.google.com/107326775512998627352/posts/HVVwkBYDWJr

[@MrAadityaParanjape]

🤣

[@x3mdevboy]

Thank you so much for making these videos! I found one of my favorite things and info i enjoy) you help me to rise to a level to make big changes in this world

[@StarOnCheek]

2:38 yeah, they would. Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumia.

[@lunaurtic]

This explains the lyrical genius of Lil Pump 😤

[@yorkieforever4379]

Bruh gucci gang still stuck in my head like a virus 🤧

[@TinyBlurryMan]

2:09 Did anyone else get unusually happy when the “Funky Drummer” beat dropped?

[@jimhomeijer1554]

I got really happy from the bassline but I can't seem to find it anywhere in this way on the interwebs, would you happen to know what or where it is?

[@TinyBlurryMan]

Nah I don’t know the actual name of the song/beat, only the famous drum track. If you want the drum track there’s a song called “Funky Drummer - Bonus Beat Reprise”

[@cnl1213]

the data visualization + motion graphics on top of the music + the commentary is a trip!

[@arwencantonwine617]

I wrote a short story (~5 pages) and the last paragraph is almost an exact replica of the first paragraph, and people really liked that. Just shows how much a “bad decision” can improve our experience drastically

[@nakenmil]

This is probably for some of the same reasons we like repetition in visual patterns (well, there kind of has to be repetition for it to BE a pattern to begin with, one might say). We are, it seems, genetically predisposed to search for patterns in all aspects. It probably stems from when we needed to understand those patterns (in animals sounds, in landscape, in annual climate rythms, etc., in interpersonal behaviour) to survive. As our brains expanded, we sort of got a surplus of cognitive processing power which we use for not-strictly-necessary-for-survival pattern searching, like music, visual art and so on. And we get that little shot of endorphines and other rewarding substances in our brain when we do manage to see those patterns. That's as far as I understand, anyway.

[@yazcheese]

I think that's a great way to make sense of it. So what do you think the increase in the repetitiveness of modern music says about society, from an evolutionary perspective?

[@nakenmil]

Probably not an awful lot, genetical changes don't happen in just a few centuries. Religious music has been using endless repetition for millennia. If anything, it just shows that we are getting better at giving ourselves instant rewards, like with video games and social media.

[@wjpmitchell3]

It's certainly evolutionary, but I think, considering the direction that the research is going, the need to find patterns occurred early on in evolution as a necessary action rather than a leisure. Recognizing and understanding patterns is essentially the learning process in a nutshell. Living beings, not just humans, are cognitive misers; we naturally try to accomplish or complete the most using the absolute least amount of processing power possible. Therefore, prejudice in choice based on past or shared experience is an incredibly useful means of determining the best course of action in the future. Of course, the human brain also has a tendency to overvalue or overestimate it's abilities, which results in the negative aspects of pattern recognition (i.e., people developing prejudicial ideologies towards other people, over stating their own abilities, etc.), but, nonetheless, it's at the heart of mammalian evolution, if not reptilian as well.

[@andydavis3075]

Thoughty 2 did a video on modern music and said it's actually scientifically worse.

[@Helaw0lf]

Truth to him.

[@OblivionZXZ]

He's a smart guy

[@ghostcrew3482]

it is worse

[@NIGHTWULF]

lol he likes classical music, of course he would say that

[@SZebS]

2vain4u you don't have to like clasical music to realize repetition is bad, i like prog rock, metall, some alt pop stuff, and i can tell that repetition is bad, it dumbs the song down, and if the music is repetitive i can't take it, it shows how hollow it is, if there is the same chord progression and melody i get bored, now if every song on the radio has the same chord progression and melody... Then i get pissed of

[@chiefindisguise]

The EARWORM series is just fascinating, excellent work!

[@jezzakanezza]

this was fantastic thanks so much guys. as a lifelong music fan i love learning things like this about how it works :D

[@azul4504]

this is why people like lil pump

[@c4dtuterials]

wait they do?

[@Zayvoxk]

RealGamer I like lil pump, my opinion

[@IvanSabo]

They actually like the producers of the songs, his contribution is minimal. He is just a confdent frontman that sells it all very well.

[@GarageStudio7]

I *really really really really really really* like you 🎶

[@MrChill263]

Just finished watching this video and the rapping deconstructed, time went by so fast. I couldn't get enough of it. Keep it up. Just saw these two videos and was enough fro me to follow you and watch the rest of your work. Keep up your awesome work, look forward to your next works. X)

[@Indawoodsvt]

This is honestly one of my favorite segments in VOX

[@IggyFunk]

I think we should question whether our perceived enjoyment of repetition in music is down to nurture or nature. Could it not be argued that we've become conditioned to enjoy repetition because of it's vast presence in modern music thus supporting the nurture option? This is somewhat supported by the graph Vox presents at 5:09 which does suggest this is more of a recent trend rather than a consistent musical phenomenon; by nurture and thus positive feedback for this specific aspect, its use has increased in a relatively short period. If it was a natural requirement for music to incorporate repetition, would it not be a more stable and consistent feature? The brain does enjoy hearing elements that it's familiar with as well as the novelty of those that are unexpected. Therefore, the presence of repetition is almost expected in music today which may not have been as much of a case say 200 years ago. If Margulis' test was carried out before the advent of what we now know as pop music, would the results be the same? Who knows! Personally I'd argue that some form of repetition is inherently musical by (human) nature, not nurture, but it's interesting to think about nonetheless. I would even argue some form of repetition has always been incorporated in most forms of music across all periods and cultures, maybe not in a way that's as simplistic and obvious as in the songs demonstrated in this video. Food for thought!

[@Beknown107]

IggyFunk I agree to a certain extent. What would drive any man mad is Absolute repetition. What makes good music is a followable pattern, like a loop changing in timing that is still recognizable as itself, or a background filler changing in tonality or varying in one sound. All this "We really really like repetition" bullcrap seems borderline propoganda. If vox actually had a case to support Repetition being the Crux of music they wouldn't choose a title a first grader would write. And if you lined up the amount of repetition in music with average IQ of the demographic I'd bet a tenner on there being a correlation. I can't even listen to most radio music today as it just makes me feel dumb.

[@IggyFunk]

To me the draw to watch this video came from the word "why" as it implied there would be an in-depth analysis of the subject. Needless to say, i thought that was lacking. I think the title was just click bait.

[@fbihere2]

then how about D E A T H G R I P S ???

[@99nattes03672]

Getgegegege gotgogogo blud rushin my head they poppin off the top (cue crazy electronic music)

[@nathanshlap]

Getgetgetget gotgotgotgotgot....

[@ainsleyfan6926]

They use use repetition a lot especially in albums like the money store and bottomless pit. Their hooks are golden

[@ainsleyfan6926]

GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP

[@cbtenthusiast4152]

AAAAAAAHH OOOOOOHH AAAAAAAHH OOOOOOHH AAAAAAAHH OOOOOOHH

[@leekyuhui]

ive watched like 10 of these music videos from Vox in a row i cant stop please help

[@giacomo.1574]

I said it before and i'll say it again, the Earworm series is the best one on Vox, i love it please keep on making these videos forever

[@Jacrispy52]

Nothing intrigues me more than Wii music

[@matti2882]

I only clicked cuz Michael Jackson was in the thumbnail

[@andrewgray4212]

This is an AWESOME video - I love it! Estelle your work is excellent!

[@joshuadoliveiro]

wow this is changing my whole perspective on pop music