Generational Trends in Pop Culture: Music

Each generation consists of diverse experiences, especially in pop culture. Pop culture throughout the different generations such as the Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z can range from music to fashion and many more. The pop-cultural trends within the past decades of each generation definitely depict how distinct each generation is but may also show how there are some similarities across the generations. All of this defines the generations before us and especially the ones now.

Music has been one of the most significant aspects of trends for each generation thus far. The Baby Boomer generation incorporated music in many other pop culture elements such as fashion, films, and sometimes even politics. Rock ‘n’ roll is composed of various genres including rock, soul, pop, country, and blues. It has impacted the lives of Baby Boomers in numerous ways. Since rock ‘n’ roll music rose during the time when this generation were teenagers, this music became a fundamental part of their experiences growing up ever since the end of World War II. As teenagers, rock ‘n’ roll music mostly reflected their experiences, such as lack of responsibilities and youthful recklessness. The Baby Boomer generation especially enjoyed rock ‘n’ roll music from artists like Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

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Gen X music includes various genres, ranging from punk and glam rock to rap and pop music. However, one notable genre that defined Gen X the most is grunge, one of the examples of alternative rock. Grunge emerged in the early 1990s out of Seattle. One of the most famous bands during this time for Gen X was Nirvana and the release of their album Nevermind. This album quickly reached the top of the Billboard 200 Album Chart at No. 1. Additionally, the single Smells Like Teen Spirit peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Both the album and the single were considered the Gen X anthem as they were very prevalent among this generation. Gangsta rap is also another one that defined Gen X, which emerged from the inner-city X’ers. This subgenre mainly documented street life of these X’ers, typically producing violent lyrics.

Unlike the Baby Boomers who associate themselves the most with rock ‘n’ roll, Millennials largely have a much broader range of music genres. This includes genres like hip-hop, country, R&B, and metal rock. Millennials may like artists such as Beyoncé, Eminem, and Kanye West. Similar to Gen Z, many Millennials also enjoy music from Taylor Swift, especially genres in which she has created music, such as going from country to pop music. Additionally, other than Taylor Swift, many of the artists and music that are commonly listened and enjoyed by Millennials, notably pop and rap, are enjoyed by Gen Z as well. Aside from Millennials’ similar music interests to Gen Z, they also still enjoy rock ‘n’ roll music like the Baby Boomer generation, which includes different types of rock music such as pop rock, punk rock, alternative rock, and blues rock.

A photo of Billie Eillish.

Just like the generations preceding Gen Z, music defines this generation the most as well. Members of Gen Z are often very open when it comes to music options by exploring new, different music artists, songs, and genres. This is especially because the use of streaming platforms in this generation has grown. Some of the most listened to artists for a while among Gen Z include but are not limited to BTS, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Drake, and Taylor Swift. Furthermore, music artists who are a part of Gen Z themselves just like a large number of their fan base have grown even more popular nowadays, with the most notable being Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X.

As the generations have passed on, each generation has developed their own interests and trends in pop culture, all of which make up each individual generation’s identity. Of course, this is definitely the case when it comes to different and similar music tastes among every generation.

IMAGES:

1. Billie Eilish at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles California on March 14, 2019 [Wikimedia Commons - Glenn Francis]