| Recession pop | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Late 2000s to early 2010s, United States and United Kingdom |
| Other topics | |
Recession pop is a loosely defined style of music predominantly associated withdance-pop andelectropop that emerged duringthe Great Recession in the United States in the late 2000s to early 2010s.
The term was originally coined to describe a wave of uptempo, catchy, repetitive, feel-good pop music characterized by fastBPMs, high-energy production and catchy melodies, that was produced in the wake of the2008 global financial crisis, with lyrics centered around embracinghedonism, youthfulness, freedom, and constant partying in the midst of aneconomic recession.[2][3] It often blendsdance-pop with elements ofelectronic dance music,synth-pop, andelectropop. The genre is seen as reflective of a broader cultural trend during economic downturns, where art serves both as a critique of the times and a coping mechanism.[4]
Notable artists in the genre during its initial peak during the early 2010s includeLady Gaga,Britney Spears,Kesha,Beyoncé,Katy Perry,Madonna,Miley Cyrus,Black Eyed Peas,LMFAO,Jessie J,Pitbull,David Guetta,Flo Rida,Taio Cruz,will.i.am andNicki Minaj.[citation needed]
The term "recession pop" first gained prominence during the Great Recession and2008 financial crash, a global financial crisis that significantly impacted economies worldwide. As individuals and communities grappled with unemployment, housing instability, and financial insecurity, popular music began to reflect these changes. Artists crafted songs characterized by a danceable sound and an emphasis on nightlife and partying, providing a sense of escapism, while others focused on themes of survival, frustration, sadness, and hope, often wrapped in an optimistic message.[5]
Music journalists noted the popularity of dance tracks, particularly those with narratives about clubbing and feeling positive during hard times, in pop music in the early 2010s being seen as a response to the2007–2008 financial crisis or2012 phenomenon, with the colloquial term "recession pop" used to define the popular songs of this decade.[6]
The Guardian stated that times of economic downturn or global recessions were categorized by an influx of upbeat, fun and happydance-pop music:[7]
"[...] whenPitbull andKesha were massive – whenever there’s a recession, people party way more. If anyone wants to play a fun song, it’s usually from 2008."
Additionally,Vice described recession pop songs as "meant to be screamed along to, danced to, used as a soundtrack to a chaotic night out. To be a recession banger means to offer your listeners a place of escape within your music, turning every party into an extravagant, maximalist club experience even if you’re broke."[8]
Some music critics argue that the genre reflects popular culture, music, and art during times of economic downturns drawing parallels between theGreat Depression and the rise ofswing andbig band music in the 1920s-30s.[9]
Recession pop is characterized by its upbeat, infectious melodies as well as a party-laden, anthemic danceable sound. Features such as the use of the "millennial whoop", a vocal pattern that became popular in 2010s pop music, are also prominent.[10] The genre frequently mixes elements ofelectronic dance music withsynth-pop andelectropop's heavy reliance on shimmering synthesizers, danceable beats, and lush production reminiscent of 1980s pop aesthetics. The genre is also primarily led by female artists and celebrates empowerment, optimism, and resilience.[11]
Artists such asSam Smith andChappell Roan explored queer identity, with writers illustrating the parallels between queer pop and recession pop stating that "recession pop tended to be adopted by queer communities in hindsight."[12] Other central themes of the genre include consumerism, drinking, sexuality, materialism, escapism, partying, and hedonism.[12]
Additionally, the music often reflects the economic and emotional instability of its time, with introspective, socially conscious, or melancholic lyrics as seen in the music ofAdele andLana Del Rey, reflecting the tension capturing the cultural zeitgeist of financial crises and social uncertainty, while maintaining a polished, accessible sound that appeals to mainstream audiences.[13]
Notable examples of recession pop songs include "I Gotta Feeling" (2009) bythe Black Eyed Peas and "Teenage Dream" (2010) byKaty Perry.[14][15][16] The rise of recession pop is argued to be the response of the musical industry to the decreased state of generalconsumer spending wrought by the Great Recession. Record labels translated parallelly to cable networks in this era, with music channels such asMTV branding this new sound directly to consumers inflicted by economic hardship. This hence gave rise to a new generation of performers typified with high energy compositions and showmanship. Through this phenomenon, prominent artists during this era grew to stardom through chart-topping anthems considered as major contributors to recession pop such asLady Gaga,Kesha, and Katy Perry.[17][3]
There is a name for this new critical paradigm, "popism"—or, more evocatively (and goofily), "poptimism"—and it sets the old assumptions on their ear: pop (and, especially,hip-hop) producers are as important as rock auteurs,Beyoncé is as worthy of serious consideration asBruce Springsteen, and ascribing shame to pop pleasure is itself a shameful act.
During the late 2000s, the decline of traditional genres likerock music, and the rise of electronic and pop-centric sounds, created a fertile ground for recession pop to emerge. The death of rock music's popularity[19] on theBillboard charts coincided with the enormous rise of pop artists likeTaylor Swift,[20] signaling a new era of music criticism that favoredpoptimism over previously heraldedrockism.[21]
Poptimism argues thatpop music can be as emotionally and socially significant as genres like rock orclassical music, and it sought to challenge the perceived biases andhypermasculinity of rockism, which often involved privileging male over female artists.[22] Music criticKelefa Sanneh, writing inThe New York Times in 2004, argued that rockism represented outdatedsexist,racist, andhomophobic points of view, defining rockism as "[...] idolizing the authentic old legend (or underground hero) while mocking the latest pop star; lionizingpunk while barely tolerating disco; loving thelive show and hating themusic video; extolling the growling performer while hating thelip-syncher."[23]
Around this time, publications likePitchfork,Rolling Stone, andVice began reviewing and celebrating pop music with the same rigor and seriousness traditionally reserved forindie or rock genres, with many other writers increasingly challenging the rock-centric lens of traditional music criticism.[24]
Lady Gaga released her debut albumThe Fame shortly after the2008 financial crisis, while her lead single "Just Dance" implored listeners to "just dance / it's gonna be okay."[25] Artists such asBritney Spears, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift,Katy Perry,Madonna,Kesha,Christina Aguilera,Miley Cyrus,Usher,David Guetta,Pitbull, andRihanna also began releasingdance-pop and club party anthems in the aftermath of the financial crisis.[26]
The term "recession pop" first appeared in a 2009Irish Independent article on the effects of aneconomic downturn in Ireland on popular music. The article featured an interview with singerLady Gaga, who agreed with the article's observations.[27]The Fame (2008) was credited for itssynth-pop songfulness satirizing the Great Recession,[28] citing: "Poker Face" inspired by gambling,[29] with "LoveGame" receiving sexual attention at anightclub,[30] and "Just Dance" as a joyous-themed song appealing people going through tough times in their life.[31] The term was once used again in a 2012Pitchfork article highlighting various singers and producers who left or had been dropped from their record labels, deeming them asindependent musicians who were set to enter themainstream media.[32]
A precursor to the term inhip-hop wasThe Recession (2008), an album from rapperJeezy that referenced theGreat Recession in the United States. It became a political message in support for the2008 presidential campaign for Barack Obama.[33]
The 2010s, similarly to the late 2000s, saw strongelectronic influences present withindance-pop; there was also a strong emphasis on bass-heavy drum beats. Newer recording artists such asAriana Grande,Justin Bieber,Rita Ora, andDua Lipa joined the dance-pop charts within the decade.Poptimism played a role in elevating the critical status of artists associated with recession pop. For instance,Charli XCX,Robyn, andLana Del Rey, who might once have been relegated to the realm of simply being "mainstream pop," were now being celebrated for their artistry and innovation.[34]
In the late 2010s, recession pop started to lose popularity as mainstream pop artists such asTaylor Swift began moving away from danceable club songs in favor of more laid-backfolk albums. Subsequently, artists likeHarry Styles andJustin Bieber, whose music had previously been described as "generally lively", were now releasing songs that were described byVice as "not really meant for the club," signaling a cultural shift inpop music toward a more downbeat trend.[35][36] The decline of recession pop can also be linked to the growing rise ofhip hop music in the mid-to-late 2010s, as it became the most popular genre in theUnited States.[37][38][39]
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Amidst the early 2020sCOVID-19 pandemic and global lockdowns, thedance-pop music of the recession pop era began to experience a revival.[40] The economic instability, widespreadunemployment, and social isolation caused by the pandemic created a cultural climate reminiscent of theGreat Recession. Artists such asSabrina Carpenter,Chappell Roan, andCharli XCX are credited as the main innovators in this new wave of recession pop.[41][42] Other notable artists, such asKesha with her single "Joyride" andBeyoncé, who with her albumRenaissance, have helped revive the recession pop sound.[35][43] "Recession pop" gained widespread recognition in 2024 after going viral onTikTok. In July 2024, interest in "recession pop" peaked, with Google searches reaching an all-time high.[44]
Dazed stated that Chappell Roan's debut albumThe Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess was responsible for "bringing [this] element of capitalism’s hardships and discrimination [to dance music] by discussing its depressive symptoms rather than its roots."[41]
Charli XCX, known as one of the leading artists in thehyperpop movement, contributed significantly to the recession pop revival with her 2020 albumHow I'm Feeling Now, which was written and recorded during theCOVID-19 lockdowns.[45] Sabrina Carpenter's work explored themes of self-discovery and navigating personal crises, while Chappell Roan's music infused elements ofqueer identity and empowerment into the genre's framework.[46][47][48]
The Guardian credited Charli XCX's albumBrat, with its hedonistic and party-laden sound, as contributing to popularizing the resurgence of recession pop. The "Brat summer"social media trend further helped promote the album. Subsequently, music critics have also suggested that the rise of upbeat, danceable pop music post-COVID may be signaling an impending economic downturn into the late 2020s.[49]
Vice outlined the term "recession banger" in a 2022 article by connecting viral dances and catchy lyricism fromelectronic dance music (EDM), which was derived fromdance-pop in the late 1980s, and embraceddubstep in the early 2000s. The article applied the term to the albumRenaissance (2022) by singerBeyoncé, which was inspired bythe Ballroom scene andclubbing culture during the economic downturns in the 1970s.[45] Canadian singerCarly Rae Jepsen endeavored to recreate the informal term in her 2022 song "The Loneliest Time" but was criticized by student newspaperthe Brown Daily Herald by imperfecting "to replicate the club elements of 2010s pop music" forthe album of the same name.[50]
The commercial success ofThe Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023) andBrat (2024) marked career breakthroughs for singers Chappell Roan and Charli XCX.[51] This made recession pop gain widespread recognition as retrospectivenostalgia in 2024 through the social media platformTikTok.CNBC reported how the term provided a sense ofoptimism andescapism as the Great Recession tookunemployment andinflation surging globally in 2008, notably in the United States and most Western countries.[44]Beyoncé's 2022 single "Break My Soul",Troye Sivan's 2023 single "Rush", Charli XCX's 2024 single "360",[52][15] Katy Perry's 2024 single "Woman's World",[53][54] Kesha andT-Pain's 2025 single "Yippee-Ki-Yay",[55][56] and Lady Gaga's 2025 single "Abracadabra" have been described as recession pop.[57][58]
Data found that US on-demand audio streams of Recession pop music from the late 2000s and early 2010s have increased 6.4% in 2025. It was revealed that recession pop music was outpacing the growth of the music industry at large.[59]
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