‘90s and 2000’s: Musical Encompassment

People often refer to the decade of the nineties as the “decade of information” and when applied to the concept of music, I consider the nineties the most opportunistic decade which aided the success of music on the 2000’s. With the advances in technology and the popularity of the internet expanding, people were able to strategically use new forms of mass media to promote or advance not only political initiatives, but social ones as well such as new and exciting genres of music. The nineties included a major rise of grunge-rock, alternative rock, hip-hop/rap, and country. Bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were making an impact and Rap artists like Tupac and Biggie were being commercialized mainly because of their on-going West Coast vs. East Coast conflict. In addition to these emerging genres, young children of the nineties (like me) were greatly introduced to dance-pop and boy bands. I vividly remember owning albums by the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and N’Sync. Like musical artists before them, all of these new artists mainly sang about real-life situations that people go through or that they went through. Either way, children of the nineties and 2000’s were able to relate to the music because it reflected the world that was revolving around them both generally and individually. Music during this time was influenced by the somewhat chaotic political climate and the progressing social climate but it was a combination of both that affected what I listened to and what I listen to today.

The political climate of the nineties was chaotic because of the military conflicts with Eastern countries (like the Gulf War), and the economic recession of the late 80’s. In the year 2000, George W. Bush became the President a...

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...ng why they were popular. I always went with the flow and listened to what other people listened to. Looking back, I do not regret that at all because I am able to appreciate different styles by the different characteristics they have.

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"The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You (HD) + Lyrics." YouTube. YouTube, 06 Feb. 2010. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.