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Does it seem like pop music from the 80s and 90s was happier and more upbeat than music of today?

Pop music from the 80s and 90s, for the most part, seems a lot more happy, cheerful and upbeat than the music of today. (of course there were exceptions - grunge, new wave, etc...sometimes a bit more tense) But why does pop music today seem more edgy and cynical? What happened?

Public Comments

1. There's still lots of sugary, happy stuff out now (eg: Hannah, JBros, etc) but it's possible that edgier music reflects on edgier times. (Post 9/11)
2. More is known so I think that's why music is more edgy and cynical. There is a lot more bad news now. What do people have to look forward to?? A lot of people are fighting for just basic survival. It doesn't make you want to listen to happy songs. Music is very corporate so it's all about what will sell.
3. 80's and 90's music SUCK big time, gay music
4. as time goes by der are lots of genre floats dats why d music nowadays are so mix n match & full of experimental thing for d purpose of being "unique" & to d extent dat the essence of making music is already forgetten because every artists wants to stand out among d rest.. too sad..
5. yeah i always thought so. when i was a kid (in the 80s) i always thought music seemed so happy. Just a complete guess.. i think it was a sign of the times. Wasn't the economy in ok shape under reagan (I have no idea, i was a little kid)? No clue. Anyway, times change and so does music, and I think it must have something to do with the general mood of the prevailing generation (gen x, gen y, etc)
6. i think that, in the 80's and 90's, i feel that they had a lot more happier topics to sing about than today's pop and rock that look at this world and see it falling apart at it's very foundations. so today's music is, naturally more sad
7. Music in general (in my opinion) was much better in the 80s and 90s. There was just great music across the board, in all genres. Now we're inundated with Fall Out Boy and Jordin Sparks.