--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Popular music of the last 50 years has…" description: "\"Popular music of the last 50 years has failed to keep in step with advances in musical theater, namely Stephen Sondheim. But the two have grown apart s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32f/stephin-merritt-18370_block_popular-music-of-the-last-50-years-has-f_528320.jpg" --- # Popular music of the last 50 years has failed to keep in… ![“Popular music of the last 50 years has failed to keep in step with advances in musical theater, namely Stephen Sondheim. But the two have grown apart so that popular music is based more than ever on a rhythmic grid that is irrelevant in musical theater. In popular music, words matter less and…” quote by Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32f/stephin-merritt-18370_block_popular-music-of-the-last-50-years-has-f_528320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32f/stephin-merritt-18370_block_popular-music-of-the-last-50-years-has-f_528320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32f/stephin-merritt-18370_block_popular-music-of-the-last-50-years-has-f_528320.jpg) > “Popular music of the last 50 years has failed to keep in step with advances in musical theater, namely Stephen Sondheim. But the two have grown apart so that popular music is based more than ever on a rhythmic grid that is irrelevant in musical theater. In popular music, words matter less and less. Especially now that it's so international, the fewer words the better. While theater music becomes more and more confined to a few blocks in midtown.” [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Popular music has diverged from musical theater, focusing on rhythm over lyrical depth, while theater remains confined to traditional structures. **In simple terms:** Pop music values rhythm, theater keeps classic style. Key Takeaway Recognize the different artistic goals of each genre. Themes music evolution genre divergence ly vs. theater globalization lyythm focus lyric importance Mood analytical contemplative Type observational critical When to use this quote - songwriting - theatrical composition - global music markets - live performance - music education Key Concepts cultural shift artistic intent audience expectations commercial pressures artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How does rhythm dominate modern pop? - Can theater adapt without losing its core? A Different Perspective Pop music may sacrifice storytelling for beat, limiting emotional resonance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) [Grown Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-apart/) [Irrelevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrelevant/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is/) [Music Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-words/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theater/) [Popular music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-music/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephen-sondheim/) [Theater Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-music-3264836/) [Theater Popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-popular-2225902/) [Words matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-matter/) ## Related quotes > [I attend surprisingly few shows. The type of theater that is popular today just doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-attend-surprisingly-few-shows-the-type-of-theater-that-is-popular/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I see things in hardcopy that I miss if I only see words on screen. I do get sick of the words, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myriam-gurba/i-see-things-in-hardcopy-that-i-miss-if-i-only-see-words-on-screen-i/) [Myriam Gurba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myriam-gurba/) > [I grew up doing theater and music, and in fact, I spent more time doing theater, and I'd do music when I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-grew-up-doing-theater-and-music-and-in-fact-i-spent-more-time-doing/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [I lost 100 pounds and embraced theater and music as what I was going to make for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-young/i-lost-100-pounds-and-embraced-theater-and-music-as-what-i-was-going/) [Josh Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-young/) > [Theater and music are both collaborative media, and I think they're best when they combine different people's visions and aesthetics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/theater-and-music-are-both-collaborative-media-and-i-think-they-re/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [I love the theater as much as music, and the whole idea of getting across to an audience and making them laugh, making them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-love-the-theater-as-much-as-music-and-the-whole-idea-of-getting/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Hip-hop gives you so much room to be animated. I'm a theater kid as well, so I like to create characters. I feel inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doechii/hip-hop-gives-you-so-much-room-to-be-animated-i-m-a-theater-kid-as/) [Doechii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doechii/) > [That's kind of what we have here. I think we've just grown apart, we have different philosophies, and we're going in different directions,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-burton/that-s-kind-of-what-we-have-here-i-think-we-ve-just-grown-apart-we/) [Lance Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-burton/) > [I met a girl at seventeen Thought she meant the world to me So I gave her everything She turned out to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sleeping-with-sirens/i-met-a-girl-at-seventeen-thought-she-meant-the-world-to-me-so-i-gave/) [Sleeping With Sirens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sleeping-with-sirens/) > [I have outlasted all desire, My dreams and I have grown apart; My grief alone is left entire, The gleamings of an empty heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/i-have-outlasted-all-desire-my-dreams-and-i-have-grown-apart-my-grief/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [“How did you know you loved Gramps? The way I felt when I was with him. The things he did to me when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-james/how-did-you-know-you-loved-gramps-the-way-i-felt-when-i-was-with-him/) [Brooklyn James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-james/) > [I'm at that age where I've grown apart from all my old friends and making new friends is more trouble than it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-at-that-age-where-i-ve-grown-apart-from-all-my-old-friends-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Angels, we have grown apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/angels-we-have-grown-apart/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I'm not a divorce monger by any means, but if you're not happy in a relationship, and you've grown apart, it's not healthy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wasser/i-m-not-a-divorce-monger-by-any-means-but-if-you-re-not-happy-in-a/) [Laura Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wasser/) > [I met a girl stuck in her ways She found a boy she knew she'd change I changed my clothes, my hair, my face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-met-a-girl-stuck-in-her-ways-she-found-a-boy-she-knew-she-d-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Stephin Merritt > [The adventure is when people don't know what they're doing at all. Like, I think that the first pop band to use synthesizers as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/the-adventure-is-when-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-doing-at-all/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I gave up music criticism because of the increasingly obvious conflict of interest. I couldn't say anything bad about the records when I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-gave-up-music-criticism-because-of-the-increasingly-obvious/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Well, things hold up even if they sound dated. It can be very difficult to listen to 80s pop songs with really, really gigantic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/well-things-hold-up-even-if-they-sound-dated-it-can-be-very-difficult/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [There are only so many instruments you can layer on top of each other that aren't perfectly electronically programmed. "Long Vermont Roads" just cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/there-are-only-so-many-instruments-you-can-layer-on-top-of-each-other/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Well, hardcore is so much about the body, in that you have to play as fast as possible. I'm not sure it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/well-hardcore-is-so-much-about-the-body-in-that-you-have-to-play-as/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I write songs by sitting around in bars, so drinking songs are a little obvious. It's surprising that I don't write entirely drinking songs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-write-songs-by-sitting-around-in-bars-so-drinking-songs-are-a/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [There's a whole kind of melancholy that you can only attain with reverb. That's an example of a technology introducing a whole new meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/there-s-a-whole-kind-of-melancholy-that-you-can-only-attain-with/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [You know, most love songs are not cheesy and corny. Most love songs are complaints, I think. Or about unrequited love, coming at it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/you-know-most-love-songs-are-not-cheesy-and-corny-most-love-songs-are/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I don't think there are any clichés I try to avoid. As soon as I spot a cliché, I go for it. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-don-t-think-there-are-any-clich-s-i-try-to-avoid-as-soon-as-i-spot/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Okay, a truly great song is a song that makes its own aesthetic intentions clear and then lives up to them and exceeds them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/okay-a-truly-great-song-is-a-song-that-makes-its-own-aesthetic/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [If you want to write a love song, you need to not try to write it for a particular person in a particular situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/if-you-want-to-write-a-love-song-you-need-to-not-try-to-write-it-for/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [My mother says I have boring percussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/my-mother-says-i-have-boring-percussion/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I can imagine lyrics becoming better written by smart machines rather than stupid musicians. Songwriters generally have nothing to say. They may as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-can-imagine-lyrics-becoming-better-written-by-smart-machines-rather/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Serious music isn't listened to in a casual setting. You don't want to listen to that in headphones on the subway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/serious-music-isn-t-listened-to-in-a-casual-setting-you-don-t-want-to/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Well, there are certainly original things to say. But I'm not sure that a pop song is the appropriate format to say them in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/well-there-are-certainly-original-things-to-say-but-i-m-not-sure-that/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) [Explore all 35 Stephin Merritt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) ## More Block quotes > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [When it comes to people I love and care about, I may condense the time, but I'm giving them every ounce of my energy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-shetty/when-it-comes-to-people-i-love-and-care-about-i-may-condense-the-time/) [Jay Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-shetty/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... 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Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) [Browse all 1,755 Block quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Popular music of the last 50 years has failed to keep in step with advances in musical theater, namely Stephen Sondheim. But the two have grown apart so that popular music is based more than ever on a rhythmic grid that is irrelevant in musical theater. In popular music, words matter less and less. Especially now that it's so international, the fewer words the better. 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