Scientists Have Discovered Which Words In Songs Move Listeners The Most

• 13.08.2026, 20:37

The researchers analyzed 360 unique songs.

Researchers analyzed the lyrics of hit songs spanning 35 years and found that songs about human intimacy and connections between people resonate most strongly with listeners—such themes appeared in 73% of the songs that made it onto the charts. The study was published in the journal Psychology of Music.

The researchers examined 360 unique songs from the top ten of the Australian ARIA charts between 1988 and 2023. The lyrics were analyzed using a combination of content analysis and the researchers’ proprietary AI tool, MuseAI, and evaluated through the lens of basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

It turned out that songs about the fulfillment of these needs were more common than songs about their frustration: about 47% of the songs versus 25%. The theme of connection and intimacy took the lead, while themes of autonomy appeared in 15.6% of the songs and competence in 11.4%.

Different genres emphasized different themes: hip-hop more often featured themes of achievement and competence, while more alternative selections leaned more heavily toward themes of unmet needs for closeness.

“Music resonates with billions of people, so it’s important to understand what exactly in the lyrics triggers an emotional response,” note the authors from Swinburne University of Technology and the University of Melbourne.

According to their estimates, approximately 5.7 billion people worldwide listen to music, making these patterns significant for a vast audience.