We assessed the literacy levels of the world’s most popular artists and discovered that the hits with the highest reading age are Eminem’s. Known for his complex lyrics and tongue-twisting raps, it’s no surprise that the Real Slim Shady took the top spot - especially since he currently holds the Guinness World Record for ‘largest vocabulary for a recording artist!
According to the Flesh-Kincaid calculation, which looks at factors such as word length, sentence length and number of syllables, Eminem’s top songs have an average reading age of 8-9. This might seem low, but it’s actually significantly higher than his fellow chart-toppers, including Taylor Swift whose songs scored age 7 and Ariana Grande whose lyrics scored age 6-7.
Let’s take a look at where our artists’ songs rank:
Average Reading Age and Grade Level of Popular Artists’ Lyrics
| Position | Artist | Average Grade Level of Top 3 Tracks | Average Reading Age of Top 3 Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eminem | 3.3 | 8-9 |
| 2 | Ed Sheeran | 2.8 | 8 |
| 3 | Billie Eilish | 2.8 | 8 |
| 4 | Justin Bieber | 2.3 | 7 |
| 5 | Drake | 2.2 | 7 |
| 6 | Taylor Swift | 2 | 7 |
| 7 | The Weeknd | 1.7 | 6-7 |
| 8 | Post Malone | 1.6 | 6-7 |
| 9 | Ariana Grande | 1.5 | 6-7 |
| 10 | Kanye West | 1.1 | 6 |
As well as calculating the grade level and reading age of the songs, we were also able to find the average Flesch-Kincaid reading score. This is where readability is scored on a scale from 1 to 100, with 1 being the easiest to read and 100 being the most difficult.
It should be noted that the Flesch-Kincaid method isn't perfect, but it gives us a good idea of the sort of level of literacy artists have, or more accurately, display in their music.
This is where our artists ranked:
Average Reading Age Score of Popular Artists’ Lyrics
| Position | Artist | Average Reading Ease Score of Top 3 Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kayne West | 98.7 |
| 2 | Ariana Grande | 97.8 |
| 3 | Post Malone | 97.4 |
| 4 | The Weeknd | 97.3 |
| 5 | Taylor Swift | 96.5 |
| 6 | Justin Bieber | 95.7 |
| 7 | Drake | 90.5 |
| 8 | Billie Eilish | 89 |
| 9 | Ed Sheeran | 89 |
| 10 | Eminem | 87.7 |
Kanye West’s lyrics were revealed to have the lowest reading age at 6, with an ease score of 98.7. Though many may be quick to assume that a young reading age is linked to a lower intellect, this is far from the case. Low readability actually links to universality, as these lyrics can be understood by a greater proportion of the population. So, it could be argued that Kanye’s lyrics are more engaging to a wider audience.
The general public has a reading age of 9
To appeal to the general public, written work should have an ease score of 90-100, with a reading age of 9. Mass newspapers, for example, tend to have this reading age, while best-selling novels, such as Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, often have a reading age of 8-10.
Why Literacy Levels in Songs Matter
There are many reasons why literacy levels matter, and it isn't always about having a bigger vocabulary or using decorative language in songs.
Communication. Songs are a form of communication, and their effectiveness relies on the ability of the listeners to understand the lyrics. Simple literacy levels enable a wider audience to comprehend the message conveyed through the song, fostering better communication between the artist and the listeners.
Emotional connection. Lyrics often convey emotions, experiences, and stories. When people can understand the lyrics easily, they are more likely to connect emotionally with the song and the artist's message. This connection can create a stronger bond between the audience and the music.
Artistic expression. Songwriting is an art form that relies on language and linguistic devices. Skilled songwriters use wordplay, metaphors, and poetic language to craft their songs. Higher literacy levels allow listeners to appreciate and enjoy the richness of the language used in the lyrics.
Social impact. Songs can address social issues and advocate for positive change. When lyrics tackle complex topics, such as social justice, politics, or environmental concerns, a higher level of literacy is necessary to fully grasp the intended message and foster informed discussions.
Cultural impact. Songs are often an integral part of a culture's heritage. When the lyrics are well-written and understood, they can be passed down through generations, preserving cultural identity and traditions.
Educational value. Songs can be a powerful educational tool, especially for young learners. This is why we often learn songs as kids, when watching television or at school, in religious settings, or other group settings. By presenting information through catchy and memorable lyrics, songs can facilitate learning and retention of knowledge in various subjects, from language and vocabulary to historical events and scientific concepts.
Enjoyment and appreciation. Understanding the lyrics allows listeners to appreciate the craftsmanship behind the song and the thought put into its creation. This can enhance the overall enjoyment of the music and lead to a deeper appreciation for the artists and their work.
According to songwriter Christopher Tempest, who’s contributed to songs such as Little Mix’s Heartbreak Anthem and JP Cooper’s Little Bit of Love, it’s the simple lyrics that have the greatest hook:
“The most popular songs are the most simple because I think they’re the ones that people can connect with. Sometimes, songs that have more complex lyrics and titles, with lots of metaphors, are the hardest to connect with because you have to think a lot to interpret what they’re saying. Big hits tend to be really clear about which emotion they’re trying to convey, so a listener can click with it straight away”
Usually, the most important part of a song that people connect with most is that buzz word or phrase - the main message of the song that’s usually just super simple. I find the best way to write a song is to come up with that simple phrase and work the rest of the track around that.”
Vocalists need to think about how they are making impacts, through their vocal technique and recordings but also through the choice of words they are conveying.
Singers and Their Vocabularies
There is an amazing recent study regarding singers and their vocabularies, measured based on how many unique words they used per 1,000 words in their songs.
Patti Smith was found to have the largest vocabulary in the artists they studied, and out of the modern artists, Billie Eilish had the biggest vocabulary used in her songs. Harry Styles, Lizzo, and Lorde also scored highly.
There are some more fascinating statistics in the study. Luther Vandross and modern star Trey Songz both have 66 unique words per 1,000, making them the smallest vocabulary.
Literacy levels are not the same as vocabulary levels, but they are linked, and they give us some idea of the kind of audience singers and songwriters are aiming to reach.
In 2013, Eminem set the record for the number of words used in a song. He managed 1,560 words in six minutes when singing "Rap God". This was a Guinness World Record at the time but has since been bested by a rapper called Harry Shotta.
Literacy Levels in Popular Songs
There are examples of both high literacy levels as well as more simple vocabularies and lyrics within popular songs. If we take a look at some of the top songs on Rolling Stone's list of the top 500 songs of all time, we'll see that some are very complicated and others are very simple.
Bohmian Rhapsody has a Flesch Reading Ease Score of 82.4, making it slightly less accessible in terms of easy to understand lyrics, but we all know how popular this song is. Also on the list is "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles. This has a score of 99.5, meaning it is incredibly easy to read and understand the lyrics. This has helped to make it much more accessible.
A great example of a song that is easy to read and understand is one of the all-time classics. "Imagine" by John Lennon has incredibly direct language, as it is meant to be a rallying cry and a simple message for the world to follow.
Levels of Literacy as a Songwriting Tool
Singers and songwriters need to think about a huge amount of different aspects of performance, from warming up their vocal cords (and preventing vocal fatigue) to their lyrics and the literacy levels they use for their audiences, as well as equipment they use and their recording technique.
The literacy of a song, and how easy (or difficult) to understand it is can play a part in the message it gets across. Often, singers and songwriters want to paint beautiful imagery with their words but also convey a direct message to listeners.
To find out more about songwriting, you can find a range of songwriting tutors here at Superprof, as well as a variety of other music lessons, from piano tuition to singing lessons.
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