The classic, popular songs that we all know and love were created decades ago. Those same tunes that once played on our radios represent a bygone era. Now, many fans crave the music that once captivated us.
Today, people criticize most mainstream music. Many compare modern hits to classics from the “old days,” claiming that music is no longer fresh. But has today’s mainstream music truly lost its touch?
Homage or Clone?
One of the major flaws that people say they see in mainstream music is its “lack of originality.” Many modern artists interpolate or sample songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s to craft their music.
While some may call this “paying homage,” others accuse today’s artists of lacking the creativity to create their own sound, instead resorting to being “copies” of other decades’ popular artists.
Music from the ‘90s and early 2000s blossomed with fresh ideas, creating the blueprint for most of the mainstream music that we hear today. It’s easy to feel like artists have already used every unique melody and song topic. However, just because artists use samples from other songs doesn’t mean that they aren’t creative.
Tyla’s Innovative Approach to Pop
Take Tyla, a GRAMMY-winning South-African artist who infuses Amapiano and Afrobeats into her pop music. In 2023, at age 21, Tyla rose to popularity with her hit song “Water,” which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.
However, her presence in the mainstream music world sparks some debate. Some critics claim that her aesthetics, sound, and branding mimic Rihanna’s.
Tyla has stated that Rihanna is one her biggest inspirations, along with artists like Tems, Aaliyah, and Britney Spears. Rihanna’s rise to fame showed Tyla that you can achieve stardom even if you aren’t American. Tyla’s cultural upbringing and creativity has helped her pave her own way in the music industry. Inspiration fuels creativity. Just because a new artist sounds like a more established one doesn’t make their music “unoriginal.”
Tyla breaks the pop genre’s boundaries in a way that’s authentic to her and her sound. The singer has even helped popularize “Afropop,” with fans crowning her “The Queen of Afropop.” Tyla’s desire to infuse Afrobeats into mainstream pop is revolutionary. Her infusion of Afropop captivates mainstream audiences and breaks the expectation that African artists stick to only one genre.
Nostalgia Among Music Fans
Music fans who disapprove of mainstream music today often feel nostalgic for older songs. They long for times that felt carefree and fun, so they crave music from those eras.
While it’s understandable to miss old music, people who trap themselves in this “nostalgia trance” often refuse to give new music a fair chance. They resent modern artists who try to fuse old music with new sounds, believing that today’s stars “ripped off” older artists.
For instance, many older rap fans see modern rap as “repetitive” or “lacking substance.” They claim that today’s rap music can never live up to the rap that dominated the ‘90s.
However, many mainstream rappers have their own distinct sounds that separate them from their peers. All in all, dismissing modern artists as “untalented” stems from unfair comparisons to older artists.
To enjoy today’s music, we must recognize that constantly comparing older music to today’s hits undermines that music evolves. Many of the artists we listen to today grew up on artists from decades ago, making their music a melting pot of original ideas and nostalgic vibes. We need to remember that “drawing inspiration” isn’t the same as “copying.” Inspiration breeds creativity, which is how today’s artists create fresh music that both new audiences and old will love.
Featured Photo via YouTube.
