2009 was such a weird year
The year kicked off with Obama at the helm, and at the same time stores we all grew up with were no more.
KB Toy Store, Sharper Image, Walden Books, Circuit City, Blockbuster, were no longer a common place in the world
of the 2000's. Many malls were empty and had NOW CLOSING with big grey gate in front of the stores that were no more.
On top of this the ICONIC Virgin Megastore in times square was closing as well, Countless artists would go there to sign albums on release day, when  megastore left it made void in times square.

The whole vibe of malls felt really empty and deserted at this time. The economy was in the sheeshter as well. However oddly music was tuning into the wave of electropop. The music that was coming out from the likes of Lady Gaga, Kesha, Katy Perry was more of an escape rather than matching the mood of what was going on. Micheal Jackson had died this year as well. It just felt very very weird.

Tv at the time was not matching what was going on, MTV had Paris Hilton my BFF and CRIBS, shows that were not matching the mood or vibe that was currently happening in the United States.


Does anyone else feel this way?

2009 felt like something that not even 2007 and 2008 had. Although with early 2009, it did have some 2008 vibes but they weren't there anymore by the end of the year. To me though, they were the start of the electropop era. Within 2009-2011/2012, we mostly had electropop hits that swarmed the world. People either liked it or hated it.

2009 felt like something that not even 2007 and 2008 had. Although with early 2009, it did have some 2008 vibes but they weren't there anymore by the end of the year. To me though, they were the start of the electropop era. Within 2009-2011/2012, we mostly had electropop hits that swarmed the world. People either liked it or hated it.


2009 felt very dry and empty despite the electropop, I have always  viewed summer 2008 of when electropop started, as soon as Just Dance came out I noticed alot of other pop songs from rappers had a dance pop feel to it. 2009 had this like almost boring vibe to it with all of the stores being taken away.

2009 felt very dry and empty despite the electropop, I have always  viewed summer 2008 of when electropop started, as soon as Just Dance came out I noticed alot of other pop songs from rappers had a dance pop feel to it. 2009 had this like almost boring vibe to it with all of the stores being taken away.


Most of the music from 2009 was electropop, so that could be obvious. Music from 2003-mid 2008 seem to be different with terms of style and such.

Yeah, I remember a lot of the local stores being hollowed out. My mall was doing well (still is), but the retailers on the street got zapped. It was really sad to be honest. It was a really dark time, along with late 2008. I lost my job in spring 2009, that was the most depressing periods of my life. I rebounded quickly though, because the severance was great and I had a lot more free time. ;D

2009 had its ups and downs for me but overall it was one of the most memorable and exciting years of my life.  The music was better than any other year I can remember.  I moved away from my small hometown to a big city (I would later move back home in 2012).  I was constantly experiencing new things I had never experienced before.  Obama was in and despite the recession there was a sense of optimism that better days were ahead.  All-in-all I look back on 2009 pretty fondly.  It was also by far the most defining year of my adult life (with 2012 coming in second).  2009 was a major positive upheaval in my personal life and 2012 was a major negative one.  Unfortunately due to anxieties regarding the recession and fights with my parents, I couldn't enjoy '09 to the extent I otherwise could have.  I honestly don't know if I will ever experience the kind of excitement and freedom in my life again that I had then.

2009 was also the big year of Lady Gaga.  Many will point out she debuted in 2008, but '09 was her year.  One dance anthem after another, all year long.  '09 was the year that really pushed out '00s hip-hop and r&b and brought in electropop.  Yes, I know these trends began in '08, but '09 is when it all exploded.  You also can't forget Ke$ha, the Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, 3oh3, etc that were all popular that year.  Hip-hop was also still pretty good, with the synth focus that dominated 2008 still in vogue, prior to the eventual transition to trap rap.

https://www.popdust.com/15-reasons-2009-was-the-year-that-everything-changed-in-pop-music-1889654572.html

In terms of the bigger picture, I would say 2009 was the first year that was more '10s than '00s.  By Fall 2009, there really wasn't much of an '00s feel left.

2009 was also the big year of Lady Gaga.  Many will point out she debuted in 2008, but '09 was her year.  One dance anthem after another, all year long.  '09 was the year that really pushed out '00s hip-hop and r&b and brought in electropop.  Yes, I know these trends began in '08, but '09 is when it all exploded.  You also can't forget Ke$ha, the Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, 3oh3, etc that were all popular that year.  Hip-hop was also still pretty good, with the synth focus that dominated 2008 still in vogue, prior to the eventual transition to trap rap.

https://www.popdust.com/15-reasons-2009-was-the-year-that-everything-changed-in-pop-music-1889654572.html

In terms of the bigger picture, I would say 2009 was the first year that was more '10s than '00s.  By Fall 2009, there really wasn't much of an '00s feel left.


2009 & 2010 were probably the best years for hip hop and R&B as long as I've been alive to know music. Those years can definitely compete with early 2000's hip hop.

2009 & 2010 were probably the best years for hip hop and R&B as long as I've been alive to know music. That includes being better than early 2000's hip hop too.


I agree.  To me, it started not being as good around the time of Dance (A$$) in 2011.  Still, I think hip-hop has been a bright spot in the mid '00s, when much of pop music was pretty awful.

Yeah, I remember a lot of the local stores being hollowed out. My mall was doing well (still is), but the retailers on the street got zapped. It was really sad to be honest. It was a really dark time, along with late 2008. I lost my job in spring 2009, that was the most depressing periods of my life. I rebounded quickly though, because the severance was great and I had a lot more free time. ;D

I was really Sad when Blockbuster left, I used to go there all the time to rent dvds and Ps2 games. It is not even just that but like
Blockbuster was an experience.

It felt like the 10's began early. It didn't feel like the 00's anymore. I'd say 2008 felt pretty 10's in a way too.

2008 to 2016 is the 2010's Part I.

2017+ is the 2010's Part II.

It felt like the 10's began early. It didn't feel like the 00's anymore. I'd say 2008 felt pretty 10's in a way too.

2008 to 2016 is the 2010's Part I.

2017+ is the 2010's Part II.

I think 2014/2015 is when 2010s Part II began, personally. I think we've been stuck in the same miserable, hateful, dull, identity politics-filled era since about 2014.

It felt like the 10's began early. It didn't feel like the 00's anymore. I'd say 2008 felt pretty 10's in a way too.

2008 to 2016 is the 2010's Part I.

2017+ is the 2010's Part II.


Late 2008 to 2012 is the 2010s Part I.

2013+ is the 2010s Part II.

I think 2014/2015 is when 2010s Part II began, personally. I think we've been stuck in the same miserable, hateful, dull, identity politics-filled era since about 2014.


I think I'm going by economics more. From 2008 to 2016/2017, people were like "The economy's going to crash, the economy's going to crash!"

Then suddenly by late 2016/early 2017, everyone's like "Things are fine."

Late 2008 to 2012 is the 2010s Part I.

2013+ is the 2010s Part II.


Is that the mid-10's?  ???

I think I'm going by economics more. From 2008 to 2016/2017, people were like "The economy's going to crash, the economy's going to crash!"

Then suddenly by late 2016/early 2017, everyone's like "Things are fine."


Except everyone's worried with the economy, since Trump's our president. The only people who aren't worried about anything are those who completely agree with Trump's beliefs. The economy wasn't really that great since the mid 2000s.


Is that the mid-10's?  ???


Well to me, it's the start of the core 2010s (starting with 2013). Ever since then, people have been miserable with politics and crap. Although, it's debatable to believe that 2014 was the start of today's misery.

2009 didn't feel weird to me. Just generally a lack of specific feel.

2009 didn't feel weird to me. Just generally a lack of specific feel.


Generally, I would say the same thing. My thoughts about 2009 seem rather mixed. For one thing, it looks like a late 2000s year to me, but the culture was changing by the time we had the summer of 2009. Although most 2009 songs were recorded in 2007/2008, the songs that were released by September-December of that year were recorded by 2009. So my belief is that late 2009 (specifically September) was when early 2010s culture was in gear.

A lot of people had a horrible year in 2009. I remember the boards back then, and other forums.  :-\\

A lot of people had a horrible year in 2009. I remember the boards back then, and other forums.  :-\\


To me, I thought 2009 was another year where most of the older members complained about the decade.

To me, I thought 2009 was another year where most of the older members complained about the decade.


Were you a lurker then?  :(

Were you a lurker then?  :(


I was only 9-10 when 2009 happened, so not really. Plus, I haven't heard about this site until I searched it up in July of 2015. At the time, I just wanted another forum to talk about my childhood nostalgia, because I keep proclaiming it as the 2000s in other ones.

Well, I wouldn't say 2009 was the weirdest year of the 2000s (any year from 2000-2002 can be considered weirdest year from the 2000s). I would say that 2009 was the full transformation year for the 2000s, 2009 set up the early 2010s because it was Obama's first year, smartphones were becoming more common (but wouldn't become widely common until 2010/2011), 2009 pop music stayed in style until 2012, in 2009 rap music wasn't crunk, Southern, nor mafioso but more auto tuned and anthem like. Emo music had already died out in MAINSTREAM popularity by 2009 and rock music in general was fazed out of the mainstream. Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga all exploded in popularity in 2009 (I know that Katy Perry and Lady Gaga had "debut" hits in 2008 but 2009 was when they affirmed that they would be stars for the next 3-5 years). So 2009, a trans formative year. Also, the year I turned 10.

Now that I think of it, there were still some core '00s holdovers in '09.  While emo was gone from mainstream popularity, post-grunge was still hanging on by a thread.  One of the most popular songs that year that wasn't either electropop or hip-hop was "No Surprise" by Daughtry.  Windows XP was still the dominant operating system and if you got a new computer with Vista, you usually wiped it and installed XP.  That changed in late 2009 when Windows 7 came out.

Generally, I would say the same thing. My thoughts about 2009 seem rather mixed. For one thing, it looks like a late 2000s year to me, but the culture was changing by the time we had the summer of 2009. Although most 2009 songs were recorded in 2007/2008, the songs that were released by September-December of that year were recorded by 2009. So my belief is that late 2009 (specifically September) was when early 2010s culture was in gear.


I would disagree.  Maybe its because 2009 was such a pivotal time in my personal life but that year for me has a specific feel that neither 2008 or 2010 had.  It was a little more wild and edge than the true early '10s and more "fresh" than 2007 and 2008 if that makes sense.  I do agree that late 2009 was when early '10s culture had arrived.

Thinking about 2009...what I would give to go back and relive it, providing I could make a few changes.

I think I'm going by economics more. From 2008 to 2016/2017, people were like "The economy's going to crash, the economy's going to crash!"

Then suddenly by late 2016/early 2017, everyone's like "Things are fine."


Lol that's true. The economy has been doing pretty well the past few months. Thank you Keynes!

I think I'm going by economics more. From 2008 to 2016/2017, people were like "The economy's going to crash, the economy's going to crash!"

Then suddenly by late 2016/early 2017, everyone's like "Things are fine."


Funny how true this is. People complaining about the economy. Now in 2017 only the most paranoid people are worried about an economic crash. I keep seeing articles about potential economic growths/booms by the time we reach 2021/2022.

Now that I think of it, there were still some core '00s holdovers in '09.  While emo was gone from mainstream popularity, post-grunge was still hanging on by a thread.  One of the most popular songs that year that wasn't either electropop or hip-hop was "No Surprise" by Daughtry.  Windows XP was still the dominant operating system and if you got a new computer with Vista, you usually wiped it and installed XP.  That changed in late 2009 when Windows 7 came out.


When Vista came out, people would still buy computers with Windows XP since it wasn't as buggy as Vista. Even if that didn't help, some of them switched to iMac computers. Although, Windows 7 wasn't really #1 with Microsoft's operating systems until late 2011.

http://archive.gogadgetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/os-popularity.png

It felt like the 10's began early. It didn't feel like the 00's anymore. I'd say 2008 felt pretty 10's in a way too.

2008 to 2016 is the 2010's Part I.

2017+ is the 2010's Part II.

Yeah 2008 is when the 2010s began. I agree with this but we don't know if there will be a 2010s part 2 yet. I personally think it will stay relatively similar until the end and then the 20s is when things will really change.

Lol that's true. The economy has been doing pretty well the past few months. Thank you Keynes!

The economy is only starting to improve slightly since the crash of 2014 but we are still in very bad times, worse than the one in '09. At least where I live.  :P

The economy is only starting to improve slightly since the crash of 2014 but we are still in very bad times, worse than the one in '09. At least where I live.  :P


You're right. Some parts of the country are doing bad, some are doing better. Toronto with its overheated housing market is probably why I feel that way. My parents bought this house when it was cheap and now we're millionaires (and not alone).  :o

I'm not ready for the crash.  ;D

I remember I hated 2009 back then. Swine flu epidemic, economic crash, bad music, etc. but now when I look back I really miss it. Everything changed that year and 2007 was completely different from 2009, but I think because my personal life was really good then that's why I look back fondly at it. And technologically it was different from now, I had no cell phone and used my old desktop with Windows XP in 2009 as well. Having said that the pop culture of the entire late 00s/early 10s was garbage, but I was still in Junior High school back then and in my early teens so it was quite a different time for me.

I remember I hated 2009 back then. Swine flu epidemic, economic crash, bad music, etc. but now when I look back I really miss it.


I remember the Swine flu was somehow serious to me. Then I asked a doctor and he said that it's not that bad. It was around the same time that my dad went to a hospital for some reason.

Avatar also came out in the end of 2009. It was the last big movie to end the decade. I remember everyone was intrigued by the animation and special effects but today it just looks like an average Hollywood film. Here is a video for 2009, maybe some may get some nostalgia out of it.

yiQ9pqiD-7c

Late 2008 to 2012 is the 2010s Part I.

2013+ is the 2010s Part II.


Dying days of the 2000s (precursors to the 2010s): 2008-2010

The 2010s Part 1: 2011 - 2016

The 2010s Part 2: 2017 - 2019

The 2010s Part 1: 2011 - 2016

The 2010s Part 2: 2017 - 2019


Frankly, I agree with this. However, I think when 2011 came, the first part of the 2010s (or early 2010s) was starting to fade away.

Dying days of the 2000s (precursors to the 2010s): 2008-2010

The 2010s Part 1: 2011 - 2016

The 2010s Part 2: 2017 - 2019

I think this is very accurate.

Frankly, I agree with this. However, I think when 2011 came, the first part of the 2010s (or early 2010s) was starting to fade away.


I would say that didn't happen until 2012.  There was a lot of differences culturally between 2010 and 2011.  In 2012, things started to change but it was still an early '10s year.  2012 did have some mid-10s previews with songs like "Call Me Maybe" and "Gangnam Style" and the increased popularity of movies based on young adult dystopian future novels.  Overall, I look back at 2009-2012 as one complete era.  2008 was like another world.

2013 is when the mid '10s arrived in full force.

I would say that didn't happen until 2012.  There was a lot of differences culturally between 2010 and 2011.  In 2012, things started to change but it was still an early '10s year.  2012 did have some mid-10s previews with songs like "Call Me Maybe" and "Gangnam Style" and the increased popularity of movies based on young adult dystopian future novels.  Overall, I look back at 2009-2012 as one complete era.  2008 was like another world.

2013 is when the mid '10s arrived in full force.

No, I pretty much disagree with everything you wrote. 2013 is when things changed and mid 10s were in full force in 2014. 2013 still had early 2010s vibes. 2012 and 2011 were the same and both strictly early 2010s years. Gangnam Style sounds 100% like an early 2010s song and Call Me Maybe was released in 2011, nothing to do with the mid 10s... 2008 was not a different world, late 2008 is when things started to change and we got into 2010s culture. All of 2008 was a big transition period.