When thinking about the musical landscape of the 2020s, one thing is for certain: the tunes sound nothing of that of the songs you heard in the 2010s. With the previous decade starting just 14 years ago, it really occurred to me that what's cool on the radio and plastered in the magazines now will not be cool forever. The 2010s were a decade of mostly party anthems and pop stars polished up with fashion pieces that screamed "shock culture". I remember being a pre-teen when 2010, and my fixation at the time, Katy Perry, had hit after hit. Tonight, at the 2024 Video Music Awards, she will be honored with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award. It's interesting for me to say that, it appears many of the pop icons of my time are on a steady transition to become a legacy act- which in my opinion, is cooler than being cool during a particular time period. Being a "legacy act" doesn't have to mean that you are past your prime- it is a good thing to be associated with, that means you've made a massive impact on the music industry.
It's a fact that Perry is one of the most recognizable and iconic voices of the 2010s decade along with many other favorites of mine including P!nk, Lady Gaga, and Adele, and while I'm not 100% distanced from popular music, my listening time has slowed down a few ounces. I can't name one song from Chappell Roan and I don't know what Sabrina Carpenter looks like. Maybe I've gotten older and moved past the target demographic, or maybe I just made room to explore other genres of music. For instance, country was not my cup of tea growing up, but now that country is cool, I will admit the genre has grown on me. I enjoy what I'm hearing from Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs are doing on country radio right now, and I think Post Malone's detour into Nashville is an A+ experiment.
With the constant cycle of changes on the radio, Spotify, and beyond, this has me wondering: Who will be the leading musicians who are definitive of the 2020s? It will be interesting to see for sure as the decade progresses, and now that we are in 2024, we are close to being halfway through the decade with 2025 being just months away. Trends come and go, for sure, but I think if you can build a legacy that leaves people amazed at your music, you've done something good for this world. Based on what I hear, my best guess is that Billie Eilish, Post Malone, and Olivia Rodrigo will make many reminisce of the 2020s, ten years from today.
It is insightful to think about time, and how often it lapses. As human beings, we grow to associate our daily lives with time, and accept being on a routine that defines what we do. Even in the music realm, time moves. Sometimes, it moves too quick and you have those moments wishing that now can be forever. But, it is better to appreciate every moment we have, and to get through each day with music.
Something I have always appreciated music for is the incredible ability it has to connect us through both good and bad times in life. It is important to know that tough times will not last forever and that we are deserving of the good days we live. Only time will tell us how 2020s pop culture will be defined, and until December 31, 2029, I'm going to keep my ears open.
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