Whether it’s Justin Bieber, One Direction, Katy Perry or one of the many dreadful others, music is not what it used to be. The generation I grew up in was arguably the last generation of great music.
Instead of using their music to send a positive message and educate their fans, today we have artists singing about going to the club, drinking and sleeping around. It’s hard for me to see any different when every top 40 song reaffirms this– and it is a shame.
I try to avoid this new music as much as I can, and 90s music provides a great escape from the everyday imitation of club-pop music. Back then, more bands and artists created their own sound and style.
For example, look at No Doubt and Spice Girls. No Doubt introduced us to the idea of a female lead singer and how awesome punk rock was. The Spice Girls taught us about girl power, along with their crazy British jargon.
During the season of boy bands and female pop artists, Destiny’s Child mixed the idea of hip-hop with a female super group. They were fun, sexy and sang from the heart.
Rock bands like Third Eye Blind, Blink 182 and Goo Goo Dolls created timeless songs, which I bet if you heard one right now you’d be able to sing every word. They make me want a semi-charmed life with all the small things, while no one would know my name.
Metal band Rage Against the Machine took a political, and inevitably influential, approach to their lyrics. Linkin Park mixed rap and rock together and broke the mold using keyboards, two lead singers and their drive to explore new ways to create great music.
Rappers Tupac and Notorious BIG had songs about racism, violence and the hardship they witnessed growing up. Both artists are remembered for their great contributions to rap music, but I think their true influence has been neglected in these recent years.
In the short time that Nirvana was around, grunge thrived with “Smells Like Teen Spirit” launching them to stardom. They set the tone with their unique style of rock, loud dynamic chorus and guitar riffs.
TLC was an amazing group of ladies that went too soon. They were hip-hop with a feminine twist, reminiscent of Salt N Pepa. Listening to them, it’s pretty obvious why “No Scrubs” was my favorite song in the fourth grade.
There were so many incredible artists to listen to back in the 90s; it’s hard to look back and choose just one as my favorite. But there aren’t nearly enough artists to choose from this era, as we’re bombarded with the same people and the same type of music.
The 90s generation of music is a time capsule of all the creativity from these artists. Each genre is just as good as the next and I don’t have to pick and choose which one I want to listen to like I have to today.
I wish today’s music was just as unique and innovative, but maybe that’s what makes 90s music more appreciated. Today’s artists should look up to this generation because they have much to learn.
Collette • Jan 30, 2013 at 1:00 pm
While I agree with you that most of today’s top 40 is absolute trash, I can’t agree that the 90’s was this wholesome decade. Girl bands like Salt N’ Peppa came out with “Push It” and “Lets Talk about Sex,” Destiny’s Child sang “Ladies leave your man at home, the club is full ballers and their pocket’s full grown.” Music with negative messages have been trademarked by some of the most incredible musicians of all time. The great Eric Clapton sang “Cocoaine, ” and “Layla,” a song about his best friends wife. Talent and positive messages don’t coincide, I’m afraid. Not that I’m calling the Beibs all that lyrically talented. But you can’t argue that they go hand in hand, or that pop culture today is all bad. In the top five Billboard hits right now is Swedish House Mafia, “Heaven’s Got a Plan for You.”
And while most of the rap music that makes it to the radio doesn’t have a political message to it, if you listen to the top rap artists full EP’s, they are full of political thought and output.
More importantly, within the last five years, Indie has become cool. This brings into play indie rock. You now have Bands like The Black Keys and Kings of Leon, who are incredibly talented musicians and lyricists and are making it big.
My point is, while the 90’s were and incredible decade for music, don’t rule out the fact that fame is always centered around sexuality, money and drugs (whether its the 70’s or now) and that good music is still making it big out there.