The mainstream music in 1984.

[The Lukewarm]

In several passages of the book, Orwell reffers to the trendy songs in Oceania as simpleton and rubbish. The intentionally simple verses were made to pervade everyone's mind and stick to it for a long time.

"It was only an 'opeless fancy.
It passed like an Ipril dye,
But a look an' a word an' the dreams they stirred!
They 'ave stolen my 'eart awye!"


The tune had been haunting London for weeks past. It was one of countless similar songs published for the benefit of the proles by a sub−section of the Music Department. The words of these songs were composed without any human intervention whatever on an instrument known as a versificator. But the woman sang so tunefully as to turn the dreadful rubbish into an almost pleasant sound.

The driveling song seemed to have kept its popularity. You still heard it all over the place. It had outlived the
Hate Song. Julia woke at the sound, stretched herself luxuriously, and got out of bed.

Considering today's hit songs, with plain and meaningless verses everywhere, could that be another correct orwellian foresight?

[The Atheist]

Considering today's hit songs, with plain and meaningless verses everywhere, could that be another correct orwellian foresight?

Nope, today's music just proves that people are sheep.

Many people don't listen to "mainstream" music - in Oceania, there is only that music.

Me included. I haven't listened to a radio station since radios had valves.

[The Lukewarm]

but if the radiostations and music channels spread exclusively the foolish mainstream stuff, there's no much choice.

and judging by your avatar, I guess you're well aware that not everybody has access to internet, ipods and things of that sort.