Hard one but I'm gonna go with a slight leaning towards 2011.

Honestly, this one is really hard because both years feel distant from 2014. Although, some songs from 2014 do have a 2011-ish sound while some songs from 2017 had some 2014-ish songs

It's a tough one but I went with 2017. The shift of 2013 is what separates the early 10's from the mid.

It's a tough one but I went with 2017. The shift of 2013 is what separates the early 10's from the mid.


I do feel like there was a bit of a shift in 2013 but nothing as substantial as 2016-2017. In 2011-2013 you still had artists like Drake, Lil Wayne, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, etc rapping and singing music like their prev. Albums. I feel as tho 2013 was more edm/electro infused/influenced where as 2016/2017 was more trap inspired.

Ugh, this is kinda hard to say  ;D

Obviously in 2011, you had artists like Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jason Derulo, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus, but they were able to make it to 2014, and I can say that they were changing their styles since 2013. In 2011, the hip hop/R&B artists still had their classic sounds, and Electropop artists, you know what's up. But in 2014, they started getting more on the Trap side of things, Miley Cyrus has left her classic Electropop phase and moved on to a more twerk style genre, and Katy Perry, you can already tell shes out of her Electropop phase with Roar and Dark Horse, a pop-trap song. I also forgot to mention that Taylor Swift was completely out of her Country phase with Shake it off, released In Mid/Late 2014. Jason Derulo is completely different from 2009-2011, you had Solo, an R&B song with Electropop elements back then, and in 2014, he changed with Wiggle and Trumpets, and kept his style up until 2017 with Swalla.

You also had newcomers in 2013/14! You got Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor, Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, and Sam Smith. Whilst Ariana Grande continued the Electropop sound with Break Free, you can tell we were in a new era with Problem, and Meghan Trainor's all about that bass further amplified it, starting the Mid 2010s bubblegum sound which lasted up until 2019 with the Jonas Brothers' Sucker. Ed Sheeran, while he made a few songs in 2011, wasnt influential until 2014, and became a ballad/R&B artist that is still ongoing, same could be said for Sam Smith. Lorde, forgot to mention her, started the minimalist pop sound in 2013, which influenced a lot of songs in 2014-2017.

Hip Hop was also going into a different direction, while there were some Trap music in 2011-2012 with Chief Keef, Future, or Migos, it wasnt completely solidified until late 2014. By then, Trap became mainstream with Rae Sremmurd, Future, Fetty Wap, OT Genasis, and more. While Trap in 2014-2016 sounds different compared to 2017 to the Present, it is still Trap music, and is quite a change from the Early 2010s hip hop sound, so Trap music is closer to 2017 here. The DJ Mustard sound, first popularized in 2012/2013, was huge in 2014-Early 2016, and has recently made a comeback with acts like Roddy Rich. Still, the DJ Mustard sound is closer to 2011, even though it made a comeback.

EDM Wise, it is 60% Early 2010s and 40% Mid 2010s. Calvin Harris's songs like Summer sounds identical to Close To You, released in 2011. The only exception is Outside, which was very popular in 2015. Martin Garrix's song Virus is closer to 2011, sounds very similar to Sexy and I know it by LMFAO, and even Zedd's Break Free with Ariana Grande is a no-brainer (Not the 2018 Justin Bieber song). Dubstep was still somewhat popular, although it was clearly dying as Skrillex was changing his style for a more Beat-drops style with Recess. The Chainsmokers Selfie song is Early 2010s sounding as well, completely different from their 2015 hit Roses. However, there were starting to be some changes during this time, DJ Snake first became popular in 2013/14 with Turn Down for what, and Get low. Trap EDM was starting to a little popular, with Iggy Azalea's Work song, but wasnt completely solidified until 2016 with Dont let me down. Sky Full of stars is a Mid 2010s song, more watered down and minimalistic than the Heavy synths used.

I'd say 2017 for the most part, but still not without 2011 elements.

NOTE: Some of the things I say could be wrong, so just take my opinions with a grain of salt.

Ugh, this is kinda hard to say  ;D

Obviously in 2011, you had artists like Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jason Derulo, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus, but they were able to make it to 2014, and I can say that they were changing their styles since 2013. In 2011, the hip hop/R&B artists still had their classic sounds, and Electropop artists, you know what's up. But in 2014, they started getting more on the Trap side of things, Miley Cyrus has left her classic Electropop phase and moved on to a more twerk style genre, and Katy Perry, you can already tell shes out of her Electropop phase with Roar and Dark Horse, a pop-trap song. I also forgot to mention that Taylor Swift was completely out of her Country phase with Shake it off, released In Mid/Late 2014. Jason Derulo is completely different from 2009-2011, you had Solo, an R&B song with Electropop elements back then, and in 2014, he changed with Wiggle and Trumpets, and kept his style up until 2017 with Swalla.

You also had newcomers in 2013/14! You got Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor, Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, and Sam Smith. Whilst Ariana Grande continued the Electropop sound with Break Free, you can tell we were in a new era with Problem, and Meghan Trainor's all about that bass further amplified it, starting the Mid 2010s bubblegum sound which lasted up until 2019 with the Jonas Brothers' Sucker. Ed Sheeran, while he made a few songs in 2011, wasnt influential until 2014, and became a ballad/R&B artist that is still ongoing, same could be said for Sam Smith. Lorde, forgot to mention her, started the minimalist pop sound in 2013, which influenced a lot of songs in 2014-2017.

Hip Hop was also going into a different direction, while there were some Trap music in 2011-2012 with Chief Keef, Future, or Migos, it wasnt completely solidified until late 2014. By then, Trap became mainstream with Rae Sremmurd, Future, Fetty Wap, OT Genasis, and more. While Trap in 2014-2016 sounds different compared to 2017 to the Present, it is still Trap music, and is quite a change from the Early 2010s hip hop sound, so Trap music is closer to 2017 here. The DJ Mustard sound, first popularized in 2012/2013, was huge in 2014-Early 2016, and has recently made a comeback with acts like Roddy Rich. Still, the DJ Mustard sound is closer to 2011, even though it made a comeback.

EDM Wise, it is 60% Early 2010s and 40% Mid 2010s. Calvin Harris's songs like Summer sounds identical to Close To You, released in 2011. The only exception is Outside, which was very popular in 2015. Martin Garrix's song Virus is closer to 2011, sounds very similar to Sexy and I know it by LMFAO, and even Zedd's Break Free with Ariana Grande is a no-brainer (Not the 2018 Justin Bieber song). Dubstep was still somewhat popular, although it was clearly dying as Skrillex was changing his style for a more Beat-drops style with Recess. The Chainsmokers Selfie song is Early 2010s sounding as well, completely different from their 2015 hit Roses. However, there were starting to be some changes during this time, DJ Snake first became popular in 2013/14 with Turn Down for what, and Get low. Trap EDM was starting to a little popular, with Iggy Azalea's Work song, but wasnt completely solidified until 2016 with Dont let me down. Sky Full of stars is a Mid 2010s song, more watered down and minimalistic than the Heavy synths used.

I'd say 2017 for the most part, but still not without 2011 elements.

Wow, good explanation! I would say 2014 has something in common with both years. The 2011 elements haven’t fully disappeared in 2014 like Selfie, Summer, Break Free, and Timber. Some songs from 2017 still sound 2014-ish like Strip That Down and Swalla. Even Bailando sounds similar to Despacito.

Tough one. But I went with 2011.

Wow, good explanation! I would say 2014 has something in common with both years. The 2011 elements haven’t fully disappeared in 2014 like Selfie, Summer, Break Free, and Timber. Some songs from 2017 still sound 2014-ish like Strip That Down and Swalla. Even Bailando sounds similar to Despacito.


Oh yeah! I forgot about Strip That Down, sounds virtually similar to Twerking Like Miley from 2015. I forgot about 2014 Latin Pop, while not as big as in 2017-2018, it was there putting a light post to what's gonna happen then!

Oh yeah! I forgot about Strip That Down, sounds virtually similar to Twerking Like Miley from 2015. I forgot about 2014 Latin Pop, while not as big as in 2017-2018, it was there putting a light post to what's gonna happen then!

I would also say Timber is more like 2011 than 2017. I think you meant to say “Animals” by Martin Garrix instead of “Virus”.

This is honestly a tough one, because 2014 seems well removed from both 2011 and 2017, musically speaking.

2014 is neither close to 2016 nor 2017. But in terms of whether it's closer to 2017 than 2014 is difficult because 2011 also had a very distinct sound as well. You could make an argument for both sides. It's really right smack in the middle.

That's really difficult because 2014 is quite a unique year for mainstream music. However, I do remember hearing more EDM songs back in 2014 than 2017.

There were hits I remembered like #Selfie, Break Free, A Sky Full of Stars and Hey Mama.

But trap was also starting to emerge on the charts in 2014 amongst the likes of Fetty Wap (Trap Queen), Bobby Shmurda (Hot N*gga), and OG Maco (U Guessed It).

Since 2011 never really had a trap presence on the charts, I guess 2014 music is leaning towards 2017 for me.

That's really diificult because 2014 is quite a unique year for mainstream music. However, I do remember hearing more EDM songs back in 2014 than 2017.

There were hits I remembered like #Selfie, Break Free, A Sky Full of Stars and Hey Mama.

But trap was also starting to emerge on the charts in 2014 amongst the likes of Fetty Wap (Trap Queen), Bobby Shmurda (Hot N*gga), and OG Maco (U Guessed It).

Since 2011 never really had a trap presence on the charts, I guess 2014 music is leaning towards 2017 for me.

There were not more EDM hits in 2014... EDM was not popular in the mainstream. Teen pop and adult pop ballads were.

People on here make out the Selfie song as if it is like Michael Jackson's Thriller or something with how much they talk about it as if it was significant. It was super low in the charts it didn't even reach the top 10 in the year end charts. It was nothing more than a meme... The Chainsmomers said themselves they made it as a joke. And besides that style of EDM sounded nothing like the constant EDM sound you heard on the radio in 2016 and 2017. Everyone thought they were a one hit wonder until they actually did come into the mainstream in 2016 when the whole EDM trend exploded in the mainstream. Justin Bieber also had significance in popularizing EDM with the production he has on his late 2015 album. When you hear that album, you know it sounds NOTHING like 2013 or 2014. It had more futuristic EDM late 2010s style production to it and that familiar sound we know about in the late 2010s.

EDM isn't even fully dead yet. You can still hear it around in some popular songs. It only started declining recently. Its decline means we are moving from late 2010s culture to early 2020s culture (not mid to late). It feels like I'm an era ahead from many of you.  ;D Maybe that explains why so many disagree with me over the 2000s and 2010s starting early in 1998 and 2008 respectively.

To put it simply this is in general what pop music sounded like throughout the eras on the radio:

Early 2010s - Electropop
Mid 2010s - Teen Pop
Late 2010s - EDM pop
Early 2020s - Gloomy heavy-bass pop / pop-rock (Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Harry Styles, etc.)

There were not more EDM hits in 2014... EDM was not popular in the mainstream. Teen pop and adult pop ballads were.

People on here make out the Selfie song as if it is like Michael Jackson's Thriller or something with how much they talk about it as if it was significant. It was super low in the charts it didn't even reach the top 10 in the year end charts. It was nothing more than a meme... The Chainsmomers said themselves they made it as a joke. And besides that style of EDM sounded nothing like the constant EDM sound you heard on the radio in 2016 and 2017. Everyone thought they were a one hit wonder until they actually did come into the mainstream in 2016.

Here is a list of EDM hits throuhout 2014:

Summer
Rather Be
Hideaway
Waves
Turn Down For What
Break Free
A Sky Full of Stars
Latch
Timber
Dark Horse
Blame
Hey Brother

EDM was popular in 2014. The EDM in the late 2010s was just vocal chopping with minimalist EDM production. The songs I listed are more representative of EDM.

Here is a list of EDM hits throuhout 2014:

Summer
Rather Be
Hideaway
Waves
Turn Down For What
Break Free
A Sky Full of Stars
Latch
Timber
Dark Horse
Blame
Hey Brother

EDM was popular in 2014. The EDM in the late 2010s was just vocal chopping with minimalist EDM production. The songs I listed are more representative of EDM.

Like I said, the style of those songs has nothing to do with the style of late 2010s EDM and the fact that it only started exploding in 2016. Those songs you listed are just enhancements of electropop of the early 2010s and not the same style I'm talking about from 2016 and 2017 which is part of the late 2010s. Latch, Dark Horse, and Hideaway especially sound nothing like 2016's music....

Like I said, the style of those songs has nothing to do with the style of late 2010s EDM and the fact that it only started exploding in 2016. Those songs you listed are just enhancements of electropop of the early 2010s and not the same style I'm talking about from 2016 and 2017 which is part of the late 2010s. Latch, Dark Horse, and Hideaway especially sound nothing like 2016's music....

Ok but the EDM songs from the late 2010s to now are very minimal compared to 2010-2015 EDM. When I think of EDM, I think of bombast and something that makes people jump on the floor with intense drops, that's why songs like Titanium, Don't You Worry Child, We Found Love, Clarity, Summer are what 2010s EDM truly is.

I would actually change my vote for 2014 being slightly closer to 2017 actually for the simple reason in late 2014 you had trap come to the mainstream (even though it was still different from 2017's trap). But yeah this one is a tough one.

Dubstep was a bad word in 2014 so it's obviously closer to 2017.

Dubstep was a bad word in 2014 so it's obviously closer to 2017.

Don't even remind me of dubstep. The corniest genre ever and just one of the few reasons I despise the early 2010s.

Don't even remind me of dubstep. The corniest genre ever and just one of the few reasons I despise the early 2010s.


Edit your post. It was a fun trend, the corniness was the point.  8)

Edit your post. It was a fun trend, the corniness was the point.  8)

IMO, most of the drops in dubstep were annoyingly invasive ("Bangarang", for example), and that's why I didn't like the genre that much.

Don't even remind me of dubstep. The corniest genre ever and just one of the few reasons I despise the early 2010s.
I get motivated by that genre  :\'(

I get motivated by that genre  :\'(


Got me through university.

TFjLMrI5hZI