I've been re-listening to a few songs from the 2000s in recent weeks and as I have been doing so, I am starting to get the impression that the 2000s were a time when society had achieved everything it had wanted to in popular culture and it wasn't clear which direction pop culture should head in. Although I believe this was mostly the case during the Early and Mid 2000s, I feel like this mindset lasted through the entire decade. What is your opinion on it?

I think there was an ongoing struggle to find a genre which truly represented the decade, much like how disco was to the '70s and new-wave was to the '80s. The garage-rock revivial was probably intended to become the next big, defining 'thing', but it never filled the void. While bands such as The Strokes and Jet achieved great success, they were never able to replicate the same widespread significance and influence on pop culture as bands before them did. The Strokes never became the "next" Nirvana.

Because of the confusion over the direction popular culture should head in, I think the quality massively suffered as a result. The aftermath of this was the birth of genres such as "ringtone rap" and "crunk", which were founded purely as a method for the record companies to make a profit from an industry which was gradually dying. I think a lot of the genres which were popular in the Y2K era (such as Latin Pop, Nu-Metal) were serious attempts to find the next new "defining" sound. It just never happened, unfortunately. That's why I personally think that the 2000s don't have as strong of an identity as the Mid-Late 20th Century decades. There's just nothing that truly represents the overall popular culture of the 2000s, in my opinion.

Also, the theme of a "lack of a direction" is present in some successful singles of the 2000s as well. The Red Hot Chili Pepper's music video for "Dani California" reflects on the history and progress of rock music since the emergence of rock 'n roll in the Mid 1950s. Matchbox 20's song "How Far We've Come" is about the significant historical events of the Mid-Late 20th Century and how far society has truly come. There's probably a few others as well which address the same theme.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of an idea of the direction pop culture culture should head in and other circumstances, we're now stuck in a soulless and commercialism era where natural talent and creativity is completely forsaken for the almighty dollar. The Mid-Late 20th Century truly was a golden age and I believe it will be a very long time (if ever) for the same level of quality and progress to ever be achieved again.

Previous decades had their trash just like the 2000s did.  It just doesn't get remembered.  When people think of the Vietnam era, they think of the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan, etc.  They don't think of 1910 Fruitgum Company, also popular during that era and largely forgotten.  They were your "lowest common denominator" commercial pop. 

I would say hip-hop was the defining genre of the 2000s, especially the glam rap that was distinct from '90s gangsta rap.  Pop culture also progressed through the '00s as well.  The decade started with Britney and NSync and ended with Gaga and Kesha. 

I think this is just perspective. I don't think anyone ever loves the pop culture going on in the present moment even in the 20th century. I believe pop culture is still progressing as it always does, it's just going in different directions now and adapting to the huge transformation in technology. Culture is just presenting itself differently now and it's not necessarily better or worse than it was before from an objective standpoint.

I've been re-listening to a few songs from the 2000s in recent weeks and as I have been doing so, I am starting to get the impression that the 2000s were a time when society had achieved everything it had wanted to in popular culture and it wasn't clear which direction pop culture should head in. Although I believe this was mostly the case during the Early and Mid 2000s, I feel like this mindset lasted through the entire decade. What is your opinion on it?

I think there was an ongoing struggle to find a genre which truly represented the decade, much like how disco was to the '70s and new-wave was to the '80s. The garage-rock revivial was probably intended to become the next big, defining 'thing', but it never filled the void. While bands such as The Strokes and Jet achieved great success, they were never able to replicate the same widespread significance and influence on pop culture as bands before them did. The Strokes never became the "next" Nirvana.

Because of the confusion over the direction popular culture should head in, I think the quality massively suffered as a result. The aftermath of this was the birth of genres such as "ringtone rap" and "crunk", which were founded purely as a method for the record companies to make a profit from an industry which was gradually dying. I think a lot of the genres which were popular in the Y2K era (such as Latin Pop, Nu-Metal) were serious attempts to find the next new "defining" sound. It just never happened, unfortunately. That's why I personally think that the 2000s don't have as strong of an identity as the Mid-Late 20th Century decades. There's just nothing that truly represents the overall popular culture of the 2000s, in my opinion.

Also, the theme of a "lack of a direction" is present in some successful singles of the 2000s as well. The Red Hot Chili Pepper's music video for "Dani California" reflects on the history and progress of rock music since the emergence of rock 'n roll in the Mid 1950s. Matchbox 20's song "How Far We've Come" is about the significant historical events of the Mid-Late 20th Century and how far society has truly come. There's probably a few others as well which address the same theme.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of an idea of the direction pop culture culture should head in and other circumstances, we're now stuck in a soulless and commercialism era where natural talent and creativity is completely forsaken for the almighty dollar. The Mid-Late 20th Century truly was a golden age and I believe it will be a very long time (if ever) for the same level of quality and progress to ever be achieved again.


I think that, pop culture was great from the 1950's to the 1990's was because most things were still new at that point; TV, movies, the music industry, etc, etc. There was a lot to explore so everything was fresh, and it was also easier to make new and innovative things in culture, because most things haven't been done yet. Things haven't reached a saturation point yet.

Personally, I believe that TV got stale by 2008. Music, 1999. Movies, to me, are slowly reaching their saturation point.

As time goes on, people aren't as easily shocked, or amazed, at things, because we acclimatize to things as we are exposed to them!

I do agree with you, overall. The period of the 1950's to 1990's is hard to beat, and you were lucky if you were a teenager, or young person, during those years/decades.

I think there was an ongoing struggle to find a genre which truly represented the decade, much like how disco was to the '70s


I know the point you're trying to make, but saying disco "truly represented" the 70s is a generalization at best. It was only around during a segment of the decade (76-79) and there were other things happening at that time as well.

I think this is just perspective. I don't think anyone ever loves the pop culture going on in the present moment even in the 20th century.


Oh yes we did love the pop culture happening in the 60s and early 70s. Fantastic music was pouring forth on a daily basis and we knew it. You think we didn't know the Beatles were good? You think we didn't know Bob Dylan was doing fantastic, innovative things? You think we didn't know Woodstock was an exceptional moment in time? I bought albums as fast as I could and as much as I could afford. (And an album was $3.29 in those days!). And when the good stuff started to slip away in the early 80s we noticed. Trust me.

I think that, pop culture was great from the 1950's to the 1990's was because most things were still new at that point; TV, movies, the music industry, etc, etc. There was a lot to explore so everything was fresh, and it was also easier to make new and innovative things in culture, because most things haven't been done yet. Things haven't reached a saturation point yet.

Personally, I believe that TV got stale by 2008. Music, 1999. Movies, to me, are slowly reaching their saturation point.

As time goes on, people aren't as easily shocked, or amazed, at things, because we acclimatize to things as we are exposed to them!

I do agree with you, overall. The period of the 1950's to 1990's is hard to beat, and you were lucky if you were a teenager, or young person, during those years/decades.

Yeah there were new and fresh things but there will also be new stuff in the 21st century as well. Before the 1950s there was still pop culture and stuff and it was exciting, it was just a different form because of the lack of television and other modern technology. For example pop culture in the 1800s was probably focused around art and theatre. When we truly do reach a saturation point, there will always be new inventions to get pop culture back on track. So that's why I don't think the mid to late 20th century is superior in pop culture even if it may look that way.

Oh yes we did love the pop culture happening in the 60s and early 70s. Fantastic music was pouring forth on a daily basis and we knew it. You think we didn't know the Beatles were good? You think we didn't know Bob Dylan was doing fantastic, innovative things? You think we didn't know Woodstock was an exceptional moment in time? I bought albums as fast as I could and as much as I could afford. (And an album was $3.29 in those days!). And when the good stuff started to slip away in the early 80s we noticed. Trust me.

Well that's the same way I feel about the 2000s because I was growing up then. It doesn't mean it was actually superior. Same goes as all other decades so it's just perspective.

I think this is just perspective. I don't think anyone ever loves the pop culture going on in the present moment even in the 20th century.


Sorry, but I disagree with you on this one. Back in the '90s, my parents really liked (and still do) the grunge/alternative rock music that was popular, so much so that Collective Soul are actually my Mum's favourite band. If anything, I think most people liked the then current popular culture of the 20th Century to various degrees, depending on their age and perspective. My grandparents were teenagers in the '60s and they loved the music that was popular at the time. Generally speaking, people don't seem to have the same admiration for the popular culture of the 2000s and 2010s. I know that it may be because it is still recent, but this wasn't the case during the Mid-Late 20th Century.

Sorry, but I disagree with you on this one. Back in the '90s, my parents really liked (and still do) the grunge/alternative rock music that was popular, so much so that Collective Soul are actually my Mum's favourite band. If anything, I think most people liked the then current popular culture of the 20th Century to various degrees, depending on their age and perspective. My grandparents were teenagers in the '60s and they loved the music that was popular at the time. Generally speaking, people don't seem to have the same admiration for the popular culture of the 2000s and 2010s. I know that it may be because it is still recent, but this wasn't the case during the Mid-Late 20th Century.

Back in the 2000s I loved the culture then... But if I was the age I am now back then I would not love it. That's what I'm saying, pop culture looks better because you want to go back to those days but in reality it is not. All about perspective. Of course it's fun complaining and hating the culture of today and I do it sometimes too. But there were people who did this in previous decades as well.

Sorry, but I disagree with you on this one. Back in the '90s, my parents really liked (and still do) the grunge/alternative rock music that was popular, so much so that Collective Soul are actually my Mum's favourite band. If anything, I think most people liked the then current popular culture of the 20th Century to various degrees, depending on their age and perspective. My grandparents were teenagers in the '60s and they loved the music that was popular at the time. Generally speaking, people don't seem to have the same admiration for the popular culture of the 2000s and 2010s. I know that it may be because it is still recent, but this wasn't the case during the Mid-Late 20th Century.


Sorry, but I don't agree. I heard sooooo much b*tching about the state of pop culture during the 90s. I don't think I've ever so much b*tching about pop culture since then outside this message board.

Sorry, but I don't agree. I heard sooooo much b*tching about the state of pop culture during the 90s. I don't think I've ever so much b*tching about pop culture since then outside this message board.


Well that's too be expected, because people naturally have different opinions. The point was that Slim95 stated that no one ever loves the popular culture of the present time, which isn't true.

I think this is just perspective. I don't think anyone ever loves the pop culture going on in the present moment even in the 20th century.


WRONG!! I like the pop culture of the 2010s :D :D :D

Well that's too be expected, because people naturally have different opinions. The point was that Slim95 stated that no one ever loves the popular culture of the present time, which isn't true.

It is true... But I need to fix my wording. I meant every decade there are people who love and hate the era they are in. I didn't mean everybody hates it, I meant there will always be people who hate it (or love it) although most people will hate it. This has never changed, that is my point and that is true.

Sorry, but I don't agree. I heard sooooo much b*tching about the state of pop culture during the 90s. I don't think I've ever so much b*tching about pop culture since then outside this message board.

Yeah and the 2000s there was a lot of b*tching too. The 2010s people seem to be a little more quiet about it probably because the internet allows people to escape the current pop culture and send them back to any era they want.

Sorry, but I don't agree. I heard sooooo much b*tching about the state of pop culture during the 90s. I don't think I've ever so much b*tching about pop culture since then outside this message board.

That's true. It happened in the 50s with parents bitching about rock 'n' roll. The 70s with disco.ect It happens every decade.

That's true. It happened in the 50s with parents bitching about rock 'n' roll. The 70s with disco.ect It happens every decade.



It's going to be expected with every demographic.

Ringtone rap is not a genre. It's a pejorative term for a cycle of 1-hit wonders that failed to sell a sufficient number of albums to maintain an ongoing career in the mainstream rap business.
Rap music made not to sell albums, but to sell ringtones. Can be spotted by the generally stupid-as-sheesh nature of the song, which has a five-second repeating beat and about three lines of 'song' which is also endlessly repeated. Totally loved by fudgetards that have no taste in music.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ringtone%20rap

1. Hook-centric one-hit wonders who get famous off of one sheeshty, catchy, boastful song that everyone likes to listen to when they're drunk, high, or a combination of both. They sell more ringtones than albums, are proud of it, and then usually disappear within a couple of months. After that they can be seen walking around the mall hoping they'll be recognized. Parking lot pimping, indeed.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ringtone%20rapper

These were the defining rap artists of the 2000's based on first week album sales for each year(ie. popularity).
Kanye West
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOyw-SOfby1Ud-hdn3rEm4OVQVlOtKYSzBUnc3U6df6a32lbD5
G-Unit (+50 Cent/The Game/Loyd Banks when they each went solo)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81YhjssTn3L._SL1200_.jpg
Jay-Z
http://www.rap-up.com/app/uploads/2014/12/jay-z.jpg
Lupe Fiasco
http://www.bet.com/topics/l/lupe-fiasco/_jcr_content/image.heroimage.dimg/__1421717457788/2011-topic-lupe.jpg
Common
http://www.rapbasement.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Common-Sends-Love-To-Drake-Serena-Williams-.jpg
Missy Elliott
http://hiphopgoldenage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Missy-Elliott_9343.jpg
Busta Rhymes
http://hiphopgoldenage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/busta.jpg
Lil Wayne
http://s3.amazonaws.com/hiphopdx-production/2002/07/200207FLW_160x240.jpg
Eminem
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BKrArYtlFqE/Ug9X1XLHymI/AAAAAAAAqZU/eGi3v7r-iCk/s1600/Eminem+-+Simply+Samad.jpg
T.I
http://images.enstarz.com/data/images/full/8638/tip-t-i-harris.jpg
Ludacris
http://s4.evcdn.com/images/edpborder500/I0-001/004/230/967-2.jpeg_/ludacris-67.jpeg
Ghostface Killah
http://hiphopgoldenage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/09.07-Ghostface-Killah-@-Double-Door.jpg
Kid Cudi
http://www.ncatregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wpid-kid-cudi-goodbye.jpg.jpeg
Fabulous
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR0ivwEpE6eyWJ6TYVb_QKwpyPlQ-i75UsABaZwdiXGZaQ6x02J

Musically, things have been bad for at least 15 years, at least in the US!  :o

It's been bad for over 20 years.

Whaaaaaat?? The 2000s are very different than the 90s, and the 10s are very different that the 2000s. I’d say pop culture progressed faster than any other decade. Whether the culture is good or not is subjective. People always want to go back to the “good old days” and they love to b*tch about pop culture ~these days~. The only people that like the decade they’re in are younger people.

Whaaaaaat?? The 2000s are very different than the 90s, and the 10s are very different that the 2000s. I’d say pop culture progressed faster than any other decade. Whether the culture is good or not is subjective. People always want to go back to the “good old days” and they love to b*tch about pop culture ~these days~. The only people that like the decade they’re in are younger people.

This.

Whaaaaaat?? The 2000s are very different than the 90s, and the 10s are very different that the 2000s. I’d say pop culture progressed faster than any other decade. Whether the culture is good or not is subjective. People always want to go back to the “good old days” and they love to b*tch about pop culture ~these days~. The only people that like the decade they’re in are younger people.


*sigh* No, you don't get it. That wasn't the point of this thread.  ::)

Whaaaaaat?? The 2000s are very different than the 90s, and the 10s are very different that the 2000s. I’d say pop culture progressed faster than any other decade. Whether the culture is good or not is subjective. People always want to go back to the “good old days” and they love to b*tch about pop culture ~these days~. The only people that like the decade they’re in are younger people.


I think everyone's childhood decade seems the most changeful. For me it was the '90s. Older people don't seem to consider the decade as changeful as I do. 2000s kids on the other hand feel the same way about that decade as I do about the '90s.

*sigh* No, you don't get it. That wasn't the point of this thread.  ::)

Then what is the point?

You can say whatever you want about the 80s/90s/2000s/2010s, but no decade probably will ever come close to have such a hatred for its pop culture than the 70s (exemplified by the boom of the punk movement and especially freaking Disco Demolition Day).