Why don’t we have the 2010s style pop music anymore?

Submitted by xmarcotics t3_11a98aq in Music

You know, the music that had a good uplifting vibe that was all about having fun and being in a good mood? I hate to be a cynical bastard but pop music today is just so bland, boring, and depressing. There’s always that song that went popular that we heard everywhere, on the radio, in public. Now I honestly don’t know what’s the top hit song of this week or month. Maybe it’s because of TikTok, TikTok determines what’s a popular song now.

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Notinyourbushes t1_j9qmmmq wrote

Hear me out, I've been listening to a lot of indie playlist for the past few years and I noticed a distinct trend.

The music between 2008-2014 has a lot of folk and mellow songs and a fun side to it. Lots of upbeat music.

Now, while trends tend to come in opposites (maybe music getting harder as new bands rebelling against all the folk and millennial whoops) I did notice that everything starts getting edgier around 2015.

It's almost like something happened in 2016 that got people simultaneously mad, upset, depressed and very angry. Like some event there triggered people and put them in a really bad mood. Something that made people very negative.

I also noticed that around 2021, music started getting brighter and less tense. Like everyone was getting in a better mood for some reason.

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Because_I_Cannot t1_j9qt3sf wrote

I see what you did here and I appreciate it, and completely agree. It's like right around 2016 would have been a perfect time for RATM to get back together

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Notinyourbushes t1_j9qupjv wrote

When you listen to it year by year, it's harder not to notice. Even groups that were more upbeat took a negative turn there for awhile.

I totally stumbled on it though. Had way more time to listen to music during lockdown and was doing it year by year.

2011 - this is so fun, I love this music.
2013 - this is great, I'm having fun.
2017 - This is horrible, why is everyone suddenly so pissy....oooooohhhh. Got it.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qn3lx wrote

Those are great observations, you’re definitely right!

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doctorhino t1_j9qmzhd wrote

I think you're just confusing nostalgia with things being better. You're getting older and of course music you listened to at a more impressionable age has a bigger effect on your tastes. In general every generation has a time when they start complaining everything is going to hell.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qncp2 wrote

Yeah I guess you’re kinda right, but I’m not the type to just hate something just because it’s not from my time, it’s just the music is genuinely bad.

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Clutchguy77 t1_j9qq21b wrote

Pop music has always been bad.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qqj6a wrote

My 60 year old high school teacher loved pop music and it was fun lmao he used to play it for us.

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san_serifs t1_j9tdpxn wrote

Some of it is bad-good, but most of it is bad-bad.

Rarely listen to terrestrial radio. Listened to the local pop station the other day and three new songs in a row used samples from 80’s songs that have been already heavily used before. There’s very little talent or innovation in that genre anymore.

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Gremazod t1_j9qpyea wrote

I genuinely think it’s because you’re just not looking in the right places. Now pop music that has mass radio appeal? Yeah that’s going to shift depending on the culture and you’re not always going to like it, but, if you’re looking for music that sounds similar to 2010s sonically you absolutely can still find it out there. Just like you can find Nu Metal or Ska around still.

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idunnobruh2828j t1_jaej8o1 wrote

That's were you're very wrong, the pop music back in 2010-2015 was THE BEST, the music now really sucks ass cheeks it's because of black people and tiktok for sure

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veronica_moon t1_j9qs845 wrote

I religiously make playlists for every era, every activity, every mood, and let me tell you my high school nostalgia playlist aka 09-13 sucks ASS dear God were the radio hits atrocious back then. So. Much. Pitbull.

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blowbyblowtrumpet t1_j9qp0si wrote

Pop music has always been equally shit imo. That's not to say there aren't many great pop songs but mostly it's forgettable.

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Because_I_Cannot t1_j9qspwu wrote

To say "pop music has always been shitty" is a pretty ignorant statement to make, considering the ever-changing definition of "POP" (meaning popular). Bands like The Beatles, The Cars, The Beach Boys, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, U2, Duran Duran and Tears for Fears jump immediately to mind. Bands like Blink 182, Metallica, Garbage, Radiohead, and even REM would be considered Pop. Shit, Tupac, Biggie, Jay-Z...Pop

I'm just scratching the surface here, but "pop" isn't just boy bands and Taylor Swift, LFO and LEN, it's artists who are popular in the mainstream.

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blowbyblowtrumpet t1_j9qu41o wrote

I didn't say all pop music has always been shit. Of course there are great examples of popular music that I love. In fact I specifically said that in my comment. I like many of the bands and artists that you mention actually. That doesn't change my opinion that most pop music is, and has always been, shit. We just remember the good ones. Go back and look up the top ten for any year and it's 90% shit. Often the iconic songs that become classics don't even make to the top in the year of their release.

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Because_I_Cannot t1_j9qvw4f wrote

Alright, I took the test. I went to 1999, the year I graduated high school and, arguably one of the greatest years for movies. My opinion of "pop" at the time was non-existent as all I listened to was punk and ska from Fat Wreck Chords and RATM. Looking at the Top 10,

1 "Believe" Cher

2 "No Scrubs" TLC

3 "Angel of Mine" Monica

4 "Heartbreak Hotel" Whitney Houston featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price

5 "...Baby One More Time" Britney Spears

6 "Kiss Me" Sixpence None the Richer

7 "Genie in a Bottle" Christina Aguilera

8 "Every Morning" Sugar Ray

9 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" Deborah Cox

10 "Livin' la Vida Loca" Ricky Martin

So, this is only one year, but I have to disagree with your theory that 90% of this is shit, and that's coming from someone who STILL mainly only listens to The Ataris, The Vandals and Spring Heeled Jack USA.

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blowbyblowtrumpet t1_j9qxx91 wrote

I applaud the effort you put into that! I agree that's a pretty good list with really good songs.

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BOLIVIA_NEWTONJOHN t1_j9r28z1 wrote

That's the list you're using to support your argument that pop isn't shit??? You lost.

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Because_I_Cannot t1_j9r3wiv wrote

If you tell me that 9 out of those 10 songs are legitimately shit, I don't think we have anything to talk about.

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BOLIVIA_NEWTONJOHN t1_j9roqtt wrote

Lol, every one of those songs is shit. Manufactured music for boring people who like what they're told to like.

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Because_I_Cannot t1_j9rwmkn wrote

Like I said, we don't have anything to talk about. I know I'm not going to change your mine, so I won't try to. I can tell you I did not own a single one of the albums or singles on this list, but I am not going to deny the catchiness of No Scrubs, Kiss Me, Livin la Vida Loca, Every Morning or Believe. Straight up hooks. You may not LIKE the music or songs, but to unequivocally say they're trash is just wrong.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qpj6o wrote

Yeah, I mean even the good ones aren’t masterpieces, but they’re catchy and they get you dancing and grooving, they’re fun and get the job done I guess.

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blowbyblowtrumpet t1_j9qswyx wrote

I can't argue with that. Also what counts as "pop music" is debatable. There have been many great, popular songs.

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hcashew t1_j9qsq21 wrote

WHich songs are you talking about? I can only think of "Get Lucky" and "Blurred Lines"

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qt5l2 wrote

Oh really im talking about a whole playlist of songs.

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san_serifs t1_j9te34e wrote

How many more new pop songs are going to sample “Genius of Love”?

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san_serifs t1_j9tdawl wrote

Because its the 2020’s and it’s all about the streams now. Barrier of entry is low now because anyone can with a laptop, some recording gear and some talent can crank out tracks in their basement and upload them to Spotify or YouTube and hope that it goes viral and make $1,500 for 5 million plays.

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[deleted] t1_j9qlk4l wrote

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Ok_Function_8428 t1_j9qnsjz wrote

Oh lol you have got to be shitting me, there was tons of good pop in the 70s and 80s and the 90s were on fire. The 00s had good stuff too, this is like the most subjective thing possible

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qm18y wrote

I respect your opinion but I like 2010s pop music, basically my childhood, one thing we can both agree on though is that the music is getting shittier.

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[deleted] t1_j9qngtb wrote

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qohc5 wrote

Ok boomer.

Kidding lol but I never really listened to 60s pop music and I never said 2010s music is better than 60’s music, I’m saying It’s better than current music. I know a couple hit songs from the 60s and yeah, they’re pretty good. I’m mostly familiar with anything from the 80s till now, I know a couple from the 70s and 60s, but anything before that, no.

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[deleted] t1_j9qqhhf wrote

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qr27v wrote

“Musically illiterate” you’re the equivalent of someone bragging about eating at more restaurants.

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[deleted] t1_j9qtiwe wrote

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qvep1 wrote

The main point of my post is why don’t we have that type of music anymore, I’m entitled to dislike modern pop music just as much as someone who is entitled to like it. The main point isn’t “new music no good,” the main point is “why no music like old music.”

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Spaniardricanguy80 t1_j9qlqze wrote

The same can be said for the uplifting and pop music of the 70’s and 80’s. When I go to bars and clubs nowadays and the pop music of today is on, I’m not sure if I should dance or throw up gang signs or throw money around!

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qmj8h wrote

Yeah exactly, another trend I’m noticing is everything is turning into hip-hop, I have nothing against hip-hop but these days, pop, country music, metal is all turning into hip-hop. Why can’t hip-hop just stay hip-hop?

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goatAlmighty t1_j9qls4r wrote

Funny, just a day or two ago I created a post not too dissimilar, specifically regarding male singers. :-D But specifically regarding your observation, I think too many musicians have forgotten how to write happy music nowadays.

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Bluemeadey61 t1_j9qpvxv wrote

I hate the way they sing like they have a speech impediment… slurred

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goatAlmighty t1_j9qq618 wrote

Not only speech impediment, but also a serious case of depression, often times, imho.

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mjb1124 t1_jadbcba wrote

Honestly, the vocal style is what turns me off about a lot of modern pop music. Sounds like talk-singing in a "valley girl" accent. Add in autotune and trap/EDM beats, and you've got a recipe guaranteed to make me hit the skip button. I'm not against pop music in principle, but a lot of the stuff today doesn't sound good to me even on a superficial level.

But I'm clearly not the target demographic, and people have expressed similar sentiments about basically every pop music trend ever. So I'll just stick to my oldies and alt/indie stuff, and let others enjoy the modern sounds.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qmrm3 wrote

I just check out your post and I think the answer is because they wear dresses now.

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BleakSunrise t1_j9slkov wrote

Or... Maybe you're just searching for music with the depth of a bird bath and are sad that it's no longer in style.

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BOLIVIA_NEWTONJOHN t1_j9r1wl5 wrote

Pop music is always bland and boring. That's who it's made for. People who like being told what they like. Boring people.

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Thezwerl38 t1_j9r8vv3 wrote

Pop music comes in waves.

There’s a quote out there somewhere saying something along the lines of “When somebody finds something that works, everyone else scrambles to copy it”

The reason would be because someone along the way got a hit off of an uplifting song, so for a number of years, the formula was what that song was.

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PricelessLogs t1_j9rhshp wrote

I actually think that today's more emotional pop music is much better than 2010's bubblegum pop. With the exceptions of a couple tropes. I was sick to death of the "good time/party" and "confidence/empowerment" side of pop music by 2014, and I was still practically a child back then

It's not as if there aren't loads of newer songs that have that vibe now, and its not as if there wasn't loads of sad pop songs in the 2010s, but I'm sure glad that the "Roar" and "Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night" kind of pop isn't as prominent as it was 10 years ago

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Numerous-Explorer-18 t1_j9rgrz1 wrote

What is it you are missing? 2010s edm party songs? Taio Cruz, Pittbull and so on? That era is probably the worst of all time when it comes to chart pop.

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zillenialboy t1_j9rmgix wrote

There actually are songs out right now that are very happy and pop. For example: Made You Look by Meghan Trainor.

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find_another t1_j9sit26 wrote

listen to charli xcx i guess? if you like that

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porkpiery t1_j9srm0t wrote

Would you be open to Latin pop? J. Balvin and Maluma both have a lot of uplifting vibes.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9tkdms wrote

Yeah, it’s pretty cool music. I like it.

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ld20r t1_j9qnafb wrote

Cause it sucked ass.

Pop peaked in the mid 2000’s in my opinion.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qnhg5 wrote

Valid opinion but we can agree that 2010’s is definitely better then 2020’s music.

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SugarSlutsAndCumDrop t1_j9qo9vc wrote

Cuz it’s 2023 bitchesssss

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qozyj wrote

Lmao we meed the vibe of this comment in these songs, I’m tired of hearing these pop artists just cry or try to rap all the time.

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RetrotheRobot t1_j9qqfw6 wrote

It's like you're living in the 80's asking where the disco music went.

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sunta3iouxos t1_j9qtspy wrote

To be honest, disco never disappeared, just evolved

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DharmaSimmer t1_j9r7bd1 wrote

Oh god please no. That era was even worse than the 80s. Kesha, pitbull, that annoying happy song... please no

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Timstunes t1_j9qsys6 wrote

Because it’s 2023? Time moves on, styles and tastes change.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qtfcv wrote

Yeah

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Timstunes t1_j9qtq6b wrote

Like others have said, we all have a nostalgic soft spot for the music of our youth.

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xmarcotics OP t1_j9qw9qm wrote

Yeah you’re right. I realize that era is dead and I must move on.

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