How Has Music Evolved Over the Years?

By Ally Chan

In the 1950s, everybody was rocking and rolling out to the one, the only Elvis Presley. But they also rocked and rolled out to some other dudes too: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Frank Sinatra. You may know them from songs like Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, or It's Now or Never by Elvis Presely. Perhaps Chuck Berry's most famous songs, like Johnny B. Goode, Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven, Rock and Roll Music, and Sweet Little Sixteen. 

In the 1960s, people enjoyed pop girl groups such as the Supremes, the Ronettes, the Shirelles, and the Crystals. But midway through the decade, they decided to change their taste and swap over to the Beatles. For those of you who live under a rock, the Beatles were a very popular rock band from the 1960s who are still quite popular today. Their most popular songs are "Hey Jude", "A Day In The Life", "Strawberry Fields Forever", and "In My Life”. Songs also included "Like a Rolling Stone", and "The Times They Are A-Changin” by Bob Dylan. 

In the 1970s & 80s, it was rock, classic, disco and a slow descent into pop in the 70s. The most popular artists were Elton John, Billy Joel, the Carpenters, ABBA and Bees Gees. In the 80s, it was a pop, rock and hip hop era. The most popular artists were Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince.

In the 90s, it shifted to alternative rock, grunge, and hip-hop. Trends were mainly the angst-driven grunge of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, British pop-rock. It was the golden age of hiphop, and there were iconic boy bands and pop stars such as the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.

In the 2000s it was a blend of  pop, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. High energy dance tracks, emo, and rock are definitely opposing sides of a spectrum. Popular artists include Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake for pop. For rock: Linkin Park, Coldplay, The White Stripes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, My Chemical Romance. And for hip hop: Eminem, 50 Cent, Kanye West, Outkast, Jay-Z were popular.

In the 2010s, pop ended up dominating. This involved famous people such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Justin Bieber. It was the rise of Latin pop and K-pop. Indie folk, art pop, and bedroom pop gained more popularity and streaming services launched and became popular.

Currently, with the rise of TikTok trends, there is a growth of nostalgic blends from the 1980s synth-pop with 90s R&B influences. Top artists leading this era include Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, and Bad Bunny.