As we look back on the previous year in music, all eyes are on pop. Charli XCX and Chappell Roan ruled the summer 2024 airwaves, as their dance pop tracks took over the charts and the public’s mind. Upbeat, dance pop tracks have exponentially grown in popularity over the last few years, reminiscent of the Lady-Gaga-Katy-Perry-Ke$ha (to name a few) pop era. However, these eras aren’t similar just because of their sound and danceability. Surprisingly enough, in times of dance music prosperity, the economy is in a state of misfortune. Although the term “recession pop” was coined during the Great Recession in the late 2000s, this phenomenon of spectacular dance music popularity dates back to the Great Depression. So let’s take a look and see how people have been dancing through the pain for the last 100 years.
Picture from The Arbiter "Outrageous loans and Chappell Roan: Recession pop is back" by Ella Van Leuven
To take it back to the Great Depression, we need to take another step back to the 1920s. As you may have heard, the 20s in America were roaring. America, in the wake of World War 1, cemented itself as a powerful player in international affairs. The United States went through a second industrial revolution (mainly the electrification of industry and American homes), completely transforming what American life looked like. Simultaneously, a cultural revolution was occurring, as the “New Woman” emerged with voting rights, more economic and personal independence, more job opportunities, and maybe even a flapper dress cut at the knee. All in all, from a 1920s perspective, life in America had never been better. But as you know, this period of prosperity was abruptly ended by the Great Depression, the worst financial crisis in recent history. Americans were left in a state of economic turmoil, many without jobs and unable to provide for themselves and their families. Yet, the people still wanted to dance. Jazz became hugely popular in the 1930s, as swinging eighth notes and walking bass lines, which were perfect for dancing, took over the music scene. These upbeat and light-hearted tracks were cathartic to listen to, and provided a necessary outlet for suffering Americans. However, the United States placed a high tax on dancing nightclubs during World War II, leading to the creation of the infamous “No Dancing Allowed” signs. This only enticed Americans more, and as radio became more accessible to the average person, dance took over the American household. During this crucial time in US history, the iconic dances like the “jitterbug” and the “Lindy Hop” enlightened Americans at home and abroad fighting in the war.
Picture from NPR article "Fred And Ginger Cheered Us Up During The Depression. Might They Do It Again?" by Bob Mondello
Flash forward to the 1970s, you’ve got disco - big hair and flare pants combined with heavy synthesizers and drum beats created an era we truly cannot forget. Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Gloria Gaynor, and so many more legends were born in this era, and it would seem like this would be a time for true bliss. But, if we look at the US economy in the 1970s, you would see an era of “stagflation”: an economic stagnation along with high inflation rates. Through military expenses from the Vietnam War, the US was faced with increasing federal budget deficits. Simultaneously, the US was seeing its highest unemployment rate in two decades. And to put the cherry on top, the OEPAC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil embargo threw an ax into the US governments’ reliance on foreign oil. This caused extreme price hikes for the barrel and at the pump, high inflation, and rough international relations. Yet, the disco ball kept spinning and everyone kept on dancing.
Picture from Vogue article "These $35 Pants Make Me Feel Like I’m in Saturday Night Fever" by Christian Allaire
Now let’s talk about the era that the term “recession pop” was created in. If you’re
reading this, you probably lived through the Great Recession of 2008. Simultaneously, the GDP in the US fell by 4.3% and house prices doubled from 1998 to 2006. These factors, among many others, led to a broader economic downturn. Yet, we saw a peak in pop music, with artists like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kesha, and came out swinging with their wildly addictive dance pop tracks. With themes of using parties, alcohol, drugs, and other potentially harmful coping mechanisms, they tried to distract themselves from the troubles that our country was plagued with at the time.
Picture from Vogue article "Best 2000s Era Dance Songs for Weddings & Events"
Let’s take a look at the data. I have circled the peaks and valleys on each graph in corresponding colors. Although the peaks and valleys in each graph don’t always align with each other perfectly, there is certainly a close year gap between each of them. The peak in the red circle is around the late 1950s, the valley in the orange circle is the late 1960s and early 1970s, the yellow circle is the early to mid 1970s, the light blue circle is the early 1980s, the dark blue circle is the early 1990s, the purple circle is the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the dark purple circle is the late 2000s. The unemployment graph also indicates when the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) declared a recession with the shaded gray regions.
Graph created by the National Bureau of Economic Research
Graph created by Sean Miller
It is important to note that the US was not in a recession in the summer of 2024. Despite high inflation rates and high interest rates, the stock market is performing well and unemployment has remained below 5% (which is generally used as an indicator of a recession). However, Americans, especially younger Americans, are feeling the heat when it comes to finances. This resurgence in recession pop, as well as all the other peaks in the past, reflects the struggles, fears, and distrust that young people have in the economy and their wealth. But despite this, we can put these fears away from time to time, put our headphones on, and dance the night away.
Written By Lauren DiGiovanni
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.