Screenshot from Spotify.com
“They were feel-good songs to get us out of a difficult time and they were the medicine we needed,” Bennett said.
Since the Great Depression in the 1930s, consumers have shown a preference for happier songs during periods of economic uncertainty, according to Diane Negra, professor of film studies and screen culture at University College Dublin.
“There’s that cliché that music is faster and more upbeat and consoling in difficult times,” she said.
Music can mimic and respond to major trends, and a great example is the 1980s, according to Harding. The period of high inflation and economic downturn was also a time when subgenres like house and techno emerged,” (Dickler and Solà, 2024).
You’ve heard recession pop, I’ve heard recession pop: “Superbass” by Nicki Minaj, “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry, “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz. It’s a phenomenon across the United States at college parties, on the radio, on Top 100s billboards and it’s identifiable by catchy guitar chords, heavy bass, and upbeat choruses. The popularity of recession pop is attributed to its carefree, hedonistic attitude which allows listeners to escape the realities of life during economic depression.
The phenomenon of “recession pop” demonstrates the need for relief in times of struggle. It provides, if even just for a night, the opportunity for people to imagine better, richer, happier versions of themselves where they have the resources for success.
Unfortunately, sustainability and success are often set in opposition, making it hard to imagine a world where both humans and other parts of the environment thrive. Our culture tends to put blame for pollution and consumption on individuals, instead of recognizing the importance of our collective efforts. In my collaboration with ODNR, I think it will be worthwhile to explore sustainability efforts that could be used to rewrite this notion of people as a plague to the environment. I would like to explore different worldviews that recognize humans as part of the environment and inspire action through the demonstration of sustainable success.
References
Dickler, J., & Solà, A. T. (2024, July 21). ‘Recession pop’ is in: Why so many
listeners are returning to music from darker economic times. CNBC News.
Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/21/
recession-pop-explained-how-music-collides-with-economic-trends.html
