I've always tried to avoid becoming one of these taste freeze people and have prided myself on not being stuck in the 90s Britpop era like some people my age. Hip-hop and R&B have definitely taken a massive turn for the worse though over the past 18 months - 2 years though. Stormzy's comeback can't come quick enough, really hope he maintains the uptempo, defiant grime (I know that's hardly a new movement in the first place) style and doesn't fill his album with plodding afro bashment.

Edited January 27, 20196 yr by Hiyaluv

I think the charts could become more interesting again when the demographic of people who uses streaming services widens.

I'm not so sure. I think there's already a wide demographic of people who use streaming, but that many older people are going to be listening to the old favourites rather than seek out new music.

And also the number of people actively listening to music is smaller in the older demographics.

 

So it's not a case of people sticking into their cds, it's a case of young demographics being dominant, as it's always been.

Dave, Fredo, Post Malone et al. begins, I am ready to dislike it.

 

Ironically I really liked Funky Friday (and to a lesser extent B.M.T.) - I could actually understand the appeal of them, but those moments are few and far between with modern London rap. Post Malone is utter trash though. The AJ Tracey song is just the latest in a long line of UK and US rap hits I just don't get at all. Yes, it's definitely the kids that are wrong!

Edited January 27, 20196 yr by Hiyaluv

Is it also to do with young people being less happy than they were 10-20 years ago? Instead of bopping around their bedrooms to Lady Gaga, McFly, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, 14 year olds now prefer to hate themselves thanks to Instagram and listen to aggressive or depressing music at the back of the school bus?

I highly doubt that myself^

Is it also to do with young people being less happy than they were 10-20 years ago? Instead of bopping around their bedrooms to Lady Gaga, McFly, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, 14 year olds now prefer to hate themselves thanks to Instagram and listen to aggressive or depressing music at the back of the school bus?

 

what on earth

Is it also to do with young people being less happy than they were 10-20 years ago? Instead of bopping around their bedrooms to Lady Gaga, McFly, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, 14 year olds now prefer to hate themselves thanks to Instagram and listen to aggressive or depressing music at the back of the school bus?

Ah yes Shotgun, that incredibly depressing song all about George's relatable struggles in life.

Edited January 27, 20196 yr by WhoOdyssey

Personally I find One Kiss by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa utterly harrowing in its raw personal revealing look at their lives, it was too much to put on record really.

Personally I find One Kiss by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa utterly harrowing in its raw personal revealing look at their lives, it was too much to put on record really.

 

Baby Shark has this effect on me.

Nu metal was so light, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park etc. Kids were very happy listening to them 15 years ago!

Nu metal was so light, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park etc. Kids were very happy listening to them 15 years ago!

Don't forget that happy chappy Eminem! Much more uplifting than those angry modern artists in the chart like Eminem.

Don't forget that happy chappy Eminem! Much more uplifting than those angry modern artists in the chart like Eminem.

 

:lol:

What I am finding is that the new tunes I am getting behind are hardly ground-breaking and involve quite familar sounds, so maybe there is something in this taste freeze thing, even if I'm not sat here lovingly building a Cast b-sides playlist. Let's take a look at some of my biggest tunes at the moment:

 

Sub Focus with Dimension: Familiar drum 'n' bass with a strong vocal melody, synth hook, great but could easily be 2012 or even much earlier

Calvin Harris and Rag 'N' Bone Man: Hardly going to scare anyone who has enjoyed the past 25-30 of dance music into running for the hills, probably why you see stuff like this on the Radio 2 Playlist

Foals: Solid enough, doesn't sound hugely unlike what they were doing 5-10 years ago

Vampire Weekend: A cooler Paul Simon as usual

Jax Jones & Years and Years: Could easily be an MJ Cole song from when I was half the age I am now. Also doing well on Radio 2. I can totally see what they are doing there - adding the bits of the R1 playlist they think someone in early middle-age would like, to the chagrin of the older listeners.

 

Oh well, fine with all that, I'm still a lot more up-to-date than many people in their mid-to-late thirties. But it's no wonder I liked Finesse so much last year, that could have easily been from 1990!

Edited January 28, 20196 yr by Hiyaluv

And also the number of people actively listening to music is smaller in the older demographics.

 

So it's not a case of people sticking into their cds, it's a case of young demographics being dominant, as it's always been.

 

Do you have any evidence to back that up?

 

My Mum's in her 60s and listens to music while doing housework, cooking and eating dinner. She also listens to the radio/CD in her car.

 

Also, I see adults out and about with headphones in so they are either listening to music or podcasts/audio books

 

Is it also to do with young people being less happy than they were 10-20 years ago? Instead of bopping around their bedrooms to Lady Gaga, McFly, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, 14 year olds now prefer to hate themselves thanks to Instagram and listen to aggressive or depressing music at the back of the school bus?

 

I really don't think this is the case. I was depressed and suicidal at 13 but I still loved pop.

Do you have any evidence to back that up?

 

My Mum's in her 60s and listens to music while doing housework, cooking and eating dinner. She also listens to the radio/CD in her car.

 

Also, I see adults out and about with headphones in so they are either listening to music or podcasts/audio books

 

But I think people, never mind the age, who really consume music have adapted streaming already? Of course there are exceptions, but the way people are into Queen, Nirvana, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac etc (those have collected hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify for example) makes me think that older demographics stream quite a lot too.