♥

📖

The trend is not as bad as it sounds

这一趋势并不像听起来那么糟糕

Photograph: Getty Images

Jun 2nd 2025

来源：经济学人

WHAT IS the “song of the summer”? For more than a century, music fans and critics have considered which anthems capture the season of barbecues and suntans. In 1910 the New York Tribune wondered whether the year’s “summer song” would be “sentimental” or “humorous”, “unmitigated trash” or “at least bearable”.

The songs that will define summer in the northern hemisphere this year will probably be bearable, for they will probably be short. Consider two albums that were loved last summer. “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter, an American pop star (pictured), lived up to its name. “Brat” by Charli XCX, a British musician, was full of two-minute tunes.

Of the songs that Spotify, a streaming service, reckons will “take over the summer”, half are under three minutes. Yet The Economist’s analysis of almost 1,200 number-one hits suggests brevity is not season-specific. The average length of songs that top the Billboard Hot 100 has decreased by around 18%, from four minutes and 22 seconds in 1990 to three minutes and 34 seconds in 2024 (see chart). Songs are the shortest they have been since the 1960s. The mentality, summed up by Jennie, a South Korean artist, is: “Don’t bore us, take it to the chorus.” (Her song, “Like Jennie”, lasts two minutes and three seconds.)

Song lengths are influenced by technology. For much of the 20th century tracks were short because shellac and vinyl records could hold only three to five minutes of music on each side. The introduction of cassettes in the 1960s and CDs in the 1980s allowed artists to croon for longer; hits such as “Hotel California” (1977) and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988) were six or seven minutes long. Runtimes remained lengthy for much of the 1990s. But in the digital age they have shrunk again.

The economics of streaming is one driver of the trend. Artists are paid each time their song is streamed, so long as the listener tunes in for at least 30 seconds. That has encouraged music-makers to get snappy, with brief introductions and early choruses. In general “The shorter the song is, the more streams it’s going to get,” says Bart Schoudel, a producer and engineer who worked on Ms XCX’s “Brat”.

Another oft-cited explanation is TikTok. By one count more than 75% of the tracks in Britain’s top 40 singles chart have gone viral on the short-form video app. On social media, disgruntled listeners have complained that “embarrassingly short pop songs” are an attempt “to appease the TikTok generation”. Yet, as Adam Read, TikTok’s music editorial lead in Britain, points out, the app boosts “songs of every length”. A recent viral song, “Messy” by Lola Young, runs for nearly five minutes.

Short songs are often seen to represent the erosion of taste. Some of them are indeed firmly in the unmitigated trash category, such as “Steve’s Lava Chicken”, a 34-second song from “A Minecraft Movie” that recently broke the record for the shortest song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. But plenty are good. “Hit The Road Jack” (1961) lasts just two toe-tapping minutes.

Making a song shorter is similar to editing a book—it is the musical equivalent of killing your darlings. That is particularly important for new artists, notes Mr Schoudel, as talent scouts tend to skip songs that do not get “to the point”. Musicians hoping to make the next summer hit may wish to follow Ms Carpenter’s example and keep things short and sweet.

原文：

WHAT IS the “song of the summer”? For more than a century, music fans and critics have considered which anthems capture the season of barbecues and suntans. In 1910 the New York Tribune wondered whether the year’s “summer song” would be “sentimental” or “humorous”, “unmitigated trash” or “at least bearable”.

中文大意：

什么才算是真正的 "夏日神曲"？一个多世纪以来，音乐爱好者与评论家们始终在探寻：哪首歌最能诠释烧烤与骄阳交织的夏日气息？早在 1910 年，《纽约论坛报》便抛出过这样的追问 —— 当年的 "夏日之歌" 该是带着感伤情调，还是洋溢幽默气质？它会是彻头彻尾的粗劣之作，还是至少尚可入耳的旋律？

句式语法结构分析:

1. WHAT IS the “song of the summer”?

• WHAT IS...：以大写形式呈现的疑问句，具有标题感或强调效果；

• the “song of the summer”：带引号的短语，作为新闻报道、流行文化中的术语，指的是每年夏天风靡的代表性歌曲。

【写作技巧】：

• 疑问句作开头：是吸引读者注意的经典手法，设置悬念、激发好奇；

• 例如：What makes a nation great?

2. For more than a century, music fans and critics have considered which anthems capture the season of barbecues and suntans.

• For more than a century：时间状语，表示一个长期延续的现象；常见于说明文化现象或社会趋势；

• music fans and critics：并列主语，指出“关注者”的群体；

• have considered：现在完成时，强调从过去持续到现在的动作或关注；

• which anthems capture the season of barbecues and suntans：宾语从句作 considered 的宾语；

- which anthems capture... 是一个疑问从句；

- capture 用于比喻义，意为“充分表现、体现”；

- the season of barbecues and suntans 是指夏天的典型特征，用作夏季氛围的代指。

【语法亮点】：

• 现在完成时 + 宾语从句结构：用于介绍长期趋势或研究；

• capture the season 是写作中很地道的“拟人化”表达，用以表示音乐或艺术作品“呈现某种感觉”。

【迁移结构】：

• Historians have long debated which events best capture the spirit of the 20th century.

3. In 1910 the New York Tribune wondered whether the year’s “summer song” would be “sentimental” or “humorous”, “unmitigated trash” or “at least bearable”.

• In 1910：具体时间状语，标记历史引用；

• the New York Tribune wondered：主句结构，wondered 表示“提出疑问”；

• whether...：宾语从句，表示“是否”，引出不确定的内容；

• the year’s “summer song” would be...：虚拟语气，表达对当年流行歌曲的猜测；

• “sentimental” or “humorous”, “unmitigated trash” or “at least bearable”：两个并列的对照组，运用了排比对照修辞，增强表达张力；

- sentimental / humorous：感性或幽默；

- unmitigated trash / at least bearable：表达不同的主观评价。

【修辞技巧】：

• 对立式排比：情绪色彩强烈，形成鲜明对比，引发读者思考；

• 媒体语气中的夸张与评价术语（如 unmitigated trash）增强了文风的批评感与调侃味。

【写作迁移表达】：

• Scholars still debate whether the policy was visionary or utterly misguided.

语言与术语解析：

1. song of the summer

• 短语，指每年夏季最流行、广为传唱、代表性最强的歌曲；

• 例句：Every year, music charts try to crown the song of the summer.

•中文：每年，音乐榜单都试图评选出年度“夏日神曲”。

2. capture (v.)

• 此处为比喻义，意为“体现，展现某种氛围或特质”；

• 例句：This painting captures the peaceful mood of countryside life.

•中文：这幅画展现了乡村生活的宁静氛围。

3. anthem (n.)

• 原意为“颂歌”，在流行语境中泛指“代表一类人或情感的歌曲”；

• 例句：That protest song became an anthem for a generation.

•中文：那首抗议歌曲成为一代人的代表之作。

4. unmitigated trash

• 夸张表达，意为“完全无救的垃圾作品”，多见于批评性语境；

• 例句：The movie was nothing but unmitigated trash.

•中文：这部电影简直就是彻头彻尾的烂片。

5. bearable (adj.)

• 表示“尚可忍受的，不至于太糟”；用于委婉地表达批评；

• 例句：The performance was not great, but it was bearable.

•中文：这场表演虽不精彩，但还过得去。

6. wonder (v.)

• 此处意为“思考、质疑”，常用于引出间接疑问句；

• 例句：I wonder whether he will accept the offer.

• 中文：我在想他是否会接受这个提议。

原文：

The songs that will define summer in the northern hemisphere this year will probably be bearable, for they will probably be short. Consider two albums that were loved last summer. “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter, an American pop star (pictured), lived up to its name. “Brat” by Charli XCX, a British musician, was full of two-minute tunes.

中文大意：

今年盛夏席卷北半球的热单或许将以 "短小精悍" 的特质赢得听众青睐。回溯去年暑期备受追捧的两张代表作：美国流行歌手萨布丽娜・卡彭特的《Short n’ Sweet》（见配图）恰如其名，以玲珑篇幅捕获听觉记忆；而英国音乐人 Charli XCX 的专辑《Brat》更将 "两分钟定律" 发挥到极致，几乎每首作品都在极短时长内完成情绪爆破。

句式语法结构分析:

1. The songs that will define summer in the northern hemisphere this year will probably be bearable, for they will probably be short.

• The songs that will define summer...：主语部分为名词短语，“the songs” 被定语从句 that will define summer in the northern hemisphere this year 限定说明；

- define summer：意为“定义夏天”，指某些歌曲会成为代表性符号；

- in the northern hemisphere this year：多个状语嵌套，限定时间与地区。

• will probably be bearable：主句谓语部分，will probably be 表示可能性预测，bearable 意为“可忍受的/不会让人烦的”，语气轻松；

• for they will probably be short：for 引导原因状语从句，语气比 because 更正式，用于书面语中。

【语法知识点】：

• 定语从句 + 多重状语 构建复合主语结构；

• for + 从句：经典因果连接方式，适合替换常用的 because，增强文体多样性。

【写作技巧迁移】：

• 可迁移结构：The [X] that will [do sth.] will probably [be adj.], for they will probably [do sth.]

•例如：The trends that will shape 2025 will likely be unpredictable, for they depend on volatile global factors.

2. Consider two albums that were loved last summer.

• Consider...：祈使句，动词直接起句，表示“让我们来看”或“请考虑”；常见于说明文、评论文或导入例子时；

• two albums that were loved last summer：宾语部分，名词短语 two albums 被定语从句 that were loved last summer 限定说明，过去时 were loved 表示时间限定在去年。

【语法结构】：

• 祈使句 + 宾语 + 定语从句：常用于导入典型案例，是学术类或杂志文风中的常用结构；

- 类似表达：Take, for example, the cities that introduced free public transport last year.

3. “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter, an American pop star (pictured), lived up to its name.

• “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter：句子主语，“短小而甜美”是专辑名称，by Sabrina Carpenter 表明其创作者；

• an American pop star (pictured)：非限定性同位语，进一步说明 Sabrina Carpenter 的身份；

- pictured 在括号中表示“见图”，是媒体报道中常用插入用法；

• lived up to its name：谓语部分，live up to 是动词短语，意为“名副其实、不负…之名”。

【固定搭配与写作技巧】：

• live up to one’s name/reputation/promise：用于评价事物是否达到了预期、名声或标准；

- 例句：The hotel lived up to its five-star rating.

•中文：这家酒店确实名副其实的五星级。

4. “Brat” by Charli XCX, a British musician, was full of two-minute tunes.

• “Brat” by Charli XCX：专辑主语结构；

• a British musician：非限定性同位语补充歌手背景；

• was full of two-minute tunes：谓语结构，full of 为固定短语，形容“充满”；two-minute tunes 意为“两分钟的歌曲”，为复合形容词 + 名词结构。

【结构与表达】：

• full of + n.：表示数量多、特征明显，广泛用于形容感情、内容、特质；

• two-minute tunes：复合形容词 two-minute 修饰复数名词 tunes，写作中需注意连字符连接。

【写作可迁移表达】：

• The report was full of outdated data.

•中文：这份报告充满过时数据。

语言与术语解析：

1. bearable

• 形容词，意为“可忍受的，不让人烦的”；

• 例句：The summer heat was intense but still bearable.

•中文：夏天虽然炎热，但还能忍受。

2. define (v.)

• 在此意为“塑造、代表”，常用于文化、趋势、事件语境中；

• 例句：This song defined the 90s generation.

•中文：这首歌定义了整个 90 年代的一代人。

3. for (conjunction)

• 连词，表原因，比 because 更正式、更书面化；

• 例句：She stayed silent, for she was unsure of what to say.

•中文：她保持沉默，因为她不知道说什么好。

4. live up to (sth.)

• 动词短语，意为“不负…之名，达到预期”；

• 例句：The performance lived up to everyone’s expectations.

•中文：这场表演不负众望。

5. full of (sth.)

• 表“充满……”，用于内容、特征、情绪等；

• 例句：The movie is full of suspense and action.

•中文：这部电影充满悬念与动作场面。

6. tune (n.)

• 意为“歌曲、旋律”，口语中常用词，尤指轻快流行音乐；

• 例句：That’s a catchy tune!

•中文：那是首朗朗上口的歌！

原文：

Of the songs that Spotify, a streaming service, reckons will “take over the summer”, half are under three minutes. Yet The Economist’s analysis of almost 1,200 number-one hits suggests brevity is not season-specific. The average length of songs that top the Billboard Hot 100 has decreased by around 18%, from four minutes and 22 seconds in 1990 to three minutes and 34 seconds in 2024 (see chart). Songs are the shortest they have been since the 1960s. The mentality, summed up by Jennie, a South Korean artist, is: “Don’t bore us, take it to the chorus.” (Her song, “Like Jennie”, lasts two minutes and three seconds.)

中文大意：

在 Spotify 预测的夏日热单中，半数歌曲时长未及三分钟。但《经济学人》对近 1200 首冠军单曲的分析揭示：歌曲趋短并非夏季专属现象。公告牌百强单曲的平均时长已从 1990 年的 4 分 22 秒缩减至 2024 年的 3 分 34 秒，降幅约 18%，创下 20 世纪 60 年代以来的最短纪录。韩国歌手 Jennie 的创作理念恰是这种趋势的生动注脚："别拖沓，直接切入副歌"—— 她的代表作《Like Jennie》全长仅 2 分 03 秒，用极致精简的时长完成听觉冲击。

句式语法结构分析:

1. Of the songs that Spotify, a streaming service, reckons will “take over the summer”, half are under three minutes.

• Of the songs that...：介词短语作状语，置于句首用于强调范围。“Of the songs that...” 等于“Among the songs that...”

• that Spotify... reckons will...：定语从句，修饰 songs，嵌套插入 a streaming service 为 Spotify 提供同位语补充说明。

• reckons will “take over the summer”：动词 reckon（认为、预测）后接宾语从句，take over 为动词短语，意为“主导，占据主导地位”。

• half are under three minutes：主句，主语 half 指上述歌曲中的一半，谓语为 are，后接表语 under three minutes。

【语法亮点】：

• 嵌套定语从句 + 同位语 + 宾语从句，句子结构层次清晰。

• 可迁移结构：Of the + 先行词 + 定语从句，主语 + 谓语，适合数据分析与现象描述。

2. Yet The Economist’s analysis of almost 1,200 number-one hits suggests brevity is not season-specific.

• Yet：转折副词，表示与前句构成对比。

• The Economist’s analysis of...：主语为名词短语，analysis of 后接限定内容，说明分析对象。

• suggests brevity is not season-specific：谓语动词 suggests 后接宾语从句 brevity is not season-specific，陈述分析结果。

• season-specific：复合形容词，修饰名词 brevity，表示“是否与季节有关”。

【句式亮点】：

• 使用 suggests + 宾语从句 为学术性写作常见表达。

• 可用于科技、社会、数据类写作中：e.g. The data suggest the effect is negligible.

3. The average length of songs that top the Billboard Hot 100 has decreased by around 18%, from four minutes and 22 seconds in 1990 to three minutes and 34 seconds in 2024.

• The average length of songs that top...：主语结构为“某类歌曲的平均时长”，其中 that top... 为限制性定语从句，修饰 songs。

• has decreased by around 18%：主句谓语，现在完成时 用于表示从过去至今的变化趋势；by 表示“减少的幅度”。

• from... to...：双重介词短语，表达“从何时的什么值到何时的什么值”的趋势变化。

【固定表达与写作技巧】：

• has decreased by X% from A to B 是趋势性描述的经典表达式；

• 可替换动词：increased, dropped, rose, fell, climbed 等。

4. Songs are the shortest they have been since the 1960s.

• Songs are the shortest：主系表结构，the shortest 为形容词最高级，用于表示“有史以来最短”；

• they have been since the 1960s：时间状语从句省略 that，现在完成时 表示从过去某时点一直到现在的趋势。

【结构模板】：

• Sth is the + 最高级 + it has been since + 时间：用于表示“某指标创下新低/新高”，写作中极具表现力。

5. The mentality, summed up by Jennie, a South Korean artist, is: “Don’t bore us, take it to the chorus.”

• The mentality：主语，意为“思维方式、理念”；

• summed up by Jennie, a South Korean artist：过去分词短语作非限定性插入结构，补充说明主语。

• is: “...”：主句部分，“be + 引号内容”是引用式用法，常用于媒体报道中强调代表性话语。

• “Don’t bore us, take it to the chorus.”：祈使句，简洁有力；bore 作动词“使厌烦”，take it to the chorus 为比喻表达，意指“快速进入高潮”。

【高级写作技巧】：

• 使用非限定性插入语 + 冒号引用观点，是新闻写作常见句式。

• summed up by sb.、as described by sb. 等结构适合引用总结类陈述。

6. (Her song, “Like Jennie”, lasts two minutes and three seconds.)

• 括号内为补充句，常见于说明性或注释性补充。

• lasts two minutes and three seconds：last 作动词，表示“持续（多久）”。

【常用表达】：

• The meeting lasted two hours.

• The video only lasts 90 seconds.

这些表达适合描述时间长度、视频时长、活动持续时间等。

语言与术语解析：

1. reckon (that...)

• 动词，意为“预测、认为”，语气较口语化；

• 例句：Analysts reckon the trend will continue next year.

 •中文：分析人士认为这一趋势将在明年持续。

2. brevity

• 名词，意为“简洁；简短”；常用于语言、表达、作品时长；

• 例句：The brevity of the speech made it more impactful.

•中文：演讲的简短增强了其影响力。

3. season-specific

• 复合形容词，意为“特定季节的”；常用于形容限定时间或周期的现象；

• 例句：Season-specific allergies affect millions every spring.

•中文：季节性过敏每年春天影响数百万人

4. take over (sth.)

• 动词短语，意为“主导，控制，占据主导地位”；

• 例句：Streaming services have taken over the music industry.

•中文：流媒体服务已主导音乐产业。

5. take it to the chorus

• 俚语表达，意为“快进到高潮/重点”，源于歌曲结构；

• 例句（引申）：The audience was losing interest—he needed to take it to the chorus.

•中文（引申）：观众快失去兴趣了，他得赶紧讲重点。

6. last (v.)

• 动词，意为“持续”；可用于时间、效果、情绪等；

• 例句：The concert lasted over three hours.

•中文：音乐会持续了三个多小时。

原文：

Song lengths are influenced by technology. For much of the 20th century tracks were short because shellac and vinyl records could hold only three to five minutes of music on each side. The introduction of cassettes in the 1960s and CDs in the 1980s allowed artists to croon for longer; hits such as “Hotel California” (1977) and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988) were six or seven minutes long. Runtimes remained lengthy for much of the 1990s. But in the digital age they have shrunk again.

中文大意：

歌曲时长的演变始终与技术革新紧密交织。20 世纪的漫长岁月里，赛璐珞唱片与黑胶唱片的物理局限（单面仅能承载 3-5 分钟音频），使得短时长成为音乐创作的默认形态。直到 60 年代卡带问世、80 年代 CD 普及，技术枷锁的解除才让艺术家得以舒展创作长度 —— 如 1977 年《加州旅馆》、1988 年《甜蜜的孩子》等经典单曲，皆以 6-7 分钟的史诗篇幅刷新听觉体验，这种较长时长的创作惯性更贯穿了整个 90 年代。而数字时代的到来，却让歌曲时长迎来戏剧性的回归 —— 当流媒体算法成为新的 "格式主宰"，音乐时长再次向精简维度倾斜。

句式语法结构分析:

1. Song lengths are influenced by technology.

• Song lengths：名词短语作主语，表示“歌曲时长”；

• are influenced by：被动语态，强调“外部因素对某事的影响”；

• technology：技术，主因；在学术/说明文体中常见作为外部变量。

【句型结构】：

• 主语 + 被动语态 + by...：用于说明某种结果或现象是由...造成的；

• 适合迁移至科技、经济等分析型写作中。

2. For much of the 20th century tracks were short because shellac and vinyl records could hold only three to five minutes of music on each side.

• For much of the 20th century：时间状语，强调某一时间跨度的普遍性；

• tracks were short：主系表结构，track 在这里指单首歌曲；

• because...：原因状语从句，解释歌曲时长短的原因；

• shellac and vinyl records：并列主语，指早期两种录音载体；

• could hold only three to five minutes of music on each side：情态动词 could 表能力范围，only 用于限制性强调；on each side 表明物理限制来自媒介本身的容量。

【固定搭配】：

• hold ... minutes of music：表示物理容量，常见于音频/视频领域；

• on each side：用于描述磁带、黑胶这类双面媒介的内容容量。

3. The introduction of cassettes in the 1960s and CDs in the 1980s allowed artists to croon for longer.

• The introduction of... allowed...：常用于说明技术、制度等“新事物”所带来的可能性；

• cassettes / CDs：作为“技术媒介”的主语成分，强调时代变迁；

• allowed artists to croon for longer：allow sb. to do sth. 为常用使役结构；

- croon 原意为“低声哼唱”，在此引申为“演唱”；

- for longer 为时间状语，简洁表达“更长时间”。

【写作技巧】：

• 使用并列结构 in the 1960s and... in the 1980s 可使句式对称，信息清晰；

• allowed to... 是典型的“技术变革带来影响”的表达模式。

4. Hits such as “Hotel California” (1977) and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988) were six or seven minutes long.

• Hits such as...：such as 用于举例说明，增强说服力；

• were...minutes long：系动词 + 表语结构，six or seven minutes long 表具体数值范围。

【表达结构】：

• be + 数字 + long：用于描述时间、尺寸、距离等属性；

• hits such as...：用于新闻写作或说明中列举代表性例子。

5. Runtimes remained lengthy for much of the 1990s.

• Runtimes：名词复数，意为“持续时间”，在音乐、影视类文章中使用频繁；

• remained lengthy：remain 为系动词，表示“保持某种状态”；lengthy 为正式用语，意为“较长的”；

• for much of the 1990s：时间状语，与首句形成呼应。

【句式特点】：

• remain + 形容词 是常见结构，用于表述“某种状态的持续”；

• 时间状语 for much of... 强调持续时间的广泛性。

6. But in the digital age they have shrunk again.

• But：转折连词，引出与前文“歌曲变长”相对的趋势；

• in the digital age：时间/背景状语，特指当今互联网时代；

• they have shrunk again：主语为 they（即歌曲时长），have shrunk 为现在完成时，表示从过去到现在发生的变化；again 强调趋势的“回归”。

【语法亮点】：

• shrink 是不规则动词，其现在完成时为 have shrunk；

• 此句结构简洁，信息密度高，是科技写作中常用表达“趋势反转”的方式。

语言与术语解析：

1. be influenced by (sth.)

• 被动结构，意为“受……影响”；

• 例句：Consumer behavior is influenced by advertising.

•中文：消费者行为受到广告的影响。

2. track (n.)

• 在音乐语境中指“单曲”；

• 例句：That album includes ten tracks.

•中文：那张专辑包含十首歌曲。

3. hold (v.) + time/content

• 表示“可容纳……时间/内容”，常用于描述物理容量；

• 例句：A CD can hold up to 80 minutes of audio.

•中文：一张 CD 最多可以容纳 80 分钟音频。

4. allow sb. to do sth.

• 常用于说明技术、制度使某人能够做某事；

• 例句：New apps allow users to edit videos easily.

•中文：新应用允许用户轻松编辑视频。

5. croon (v.)

• 原意“低声柔和地唱歌”，在此引申为“唱歌”；略带文学色彩；

• 例句：He crooned a romantic tune into the microphone.

•中文：他对着麦克风轻声唱了一首情歌。

6. runtime (n.)

• 表示“运行时间；播放时长”；常用于电影、音乐、软件等领域；

• 例句：The runtime of the documentary is 90 minutes.

•中文：这部纪录片的时长为 90 分钟。

7. shrink (v.)

• 意为“缩短，减少”；常用于趋势、数据、体积变化；

• 例句：The market share of DVDs has shrunk significantly.

•中文：DVD 的市场份额大幅缩减。