Although I was born in 2002, the 2010s were the first real decade of my life. I came of consciousness under drastically changing technology, watching the library at my school become a computer lab, and then watching the computer lab turn into a cart of laptops. I saw the rise and fall of digital cameras. I’ve been through two of the most pivotal presidential cycles in American history. I’ve watched memes and trends rise and fall. The most interesting aspect of the past ten years, though, has been the pop-cultural shifts. For example, songs on the radio in the early 2010s, like all of those borderline-pop-punky-indie-poppy songs such as *checks smudged writing on palm* “We are Young” by Fun, “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic, and that one song about Khloe Kardashian wouldn’t get a moment of radio play on today’s radio. And like I’ve said time and time again, Katy Perry stopped being relevant the moment it stopped being cool to name-drop Radiohead.
The media-emergent internet ruled the charts in the latter half of the 2010s. Stars from Shawn Mendes to Lil Nas X came into the collective pop culture consciousness through short-form video sites -- Vine and TikTok respectively. Brockhampton became a thing through forums. The Goth Boy Clique became a thing via Soundcloud. Cardi B became a thing due to her charismatic Instagram livestreams. Lizzo became a thing, once again due to the viral nature of short-form video. Pop stars were appearing basically out of nowhere -- and there wasn’t a record deal in sight. There didn’t need to be. Tierra Whack and Doja Cat went viral off music videos. Mason Ramsey yodeled at Coachella just months after a shitpost of him singing to a crowd of confused onlookers at Walmart went viral. The internet is beautiful, and it’s changing how media is produced. Think about the last time you watched an artist premiere on a late night show. I’m not an avid TV-watcher, but I’m pretty sure those things are all for dad-rock bands like The Strokes and Weezer. The YouTube algorithm is putting artists out there, and teenagers on TikTok and Instagram are telling the world which artists they want. Anyway, things are changing. And this article is just a glimpse into how they’ve changed for me over the past decade... or at least seven-ish years of it.
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About The AuthorLiah is a high school senior who plays guitar and loves the color yellow. She doesn't post much, but when she does, it's awesome. We promise.
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