By DEBRA FLINT – As we move farther into time, our tastes seem to be moving backward. Our clothing styles, hairdos, and music taste have been left back in the previous generation. The music taste of our generation is either the current hits, or hits of the 80’s, 90’s, and 00’s.
With our ever-changing world, some things tend to stay the same. While we have our new music like Justin Bieber or Cardi B, the older songs always stay close to hearts.
Freshman Rebecca Fries comments on her usually unusual playlist, “My playlist is a mix of alternative hip-hop and R&B. The top artists on my playlist include Frank Ocean, Blackbear, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! At the Disco.” Fries continued with, “Nowadays it’s hard to say you only like one genre of music because they are all mixed.”
Sophomore Grace Wadding stated, “I really like Billie Eilish and Marina and The Diamonds right now, but I also really like the older stuff like Nat King Cole and Marvin Gaye. Wadding also said, “I usually use my phone to listen to my music. Apps like Apple Music are my main go to.”
Music apps like Spotify and Pandora are also getting a lot of popularity as opposed to listening to the radio. Junior Brandon Gunsallus stated, “I listen to most of my music from the radio because of the unexpectedness.” Gunsallus went on to say, “No two mixes of music are the same because everyone is different and into different things, like radio versus YouTube.”
Even in the 70’s, music with the most controversy tends to be the most listened to. Songs like Despacito sung by Justin Bieber which has more than 4 billion views, was heavily debated when it was first released in 2017. Thriller by Michael Jackson also sparked a lot of talk when it first came out in 1983. Music with the most talk on social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter also gain a lot of views.
Artists like Nirvana and Pearl Jam helped shape an entirely new genre of music: Grunge. Over the years as new bands appear, side genres come with them, widening our musical achievement.
One hit wonders also continue to fill the airwaves. Back in the day, songs like Viva La Vida by Ricky Martin or Happy by Pharrell Williams ensured the artists’ popularity. Actors in the music industry also became big in the late 80’s. Actors like Will Smith with Gettin’ Jiggy With It, or Wild Wild West.
Nowadays actors usually begin their singing career after their acting career, especially Disney stars. Selena Gomez starred in many Disney movies and shows, but then began her singing career after her show ended.
As our generation gears up for the future, we can always fall back onto one thing: music. Our musical taste has changed with us, but there is always something stable about music. The different eras, genres, and artists make a very good musical community.
[Photo by Debra Flint]
Photo Caption: “Freshman Dustin Miller relaxes as he listens to his playlist during Study Hall.”
