Commentary: Musician for our Generation
January 1st, 2010 • Commentary, Folk, Hip Hop, Op-Ed, Rock
Looking back in time, every generation has a small handful of bands and singers with which they are culturally linked, such as the Beatles and Bob Dylan for my parents’ generation and Bruce Springsteen, who gave a voice to the subsequent generation. Up until the present because it was extremely expensive and difficult to record and distribute music, it took real talent just to get an LP pressed, but digital technology has really changed the playing field. Popular music now transcends the confines of a single genre.
So as I sit at home watching the various New Years countdown specials, I started to think about who is the musician or band that defines my generation in music as many of the performers put in front of me I had never even heard of. So I wondered, in 2050, when I will be 63, who will the kids talk about as being emblematic of music of the late 1990s and early 2000s?
Despite the fact that “Pop” music is not exactly my favorite idiom (it’s not a genre, people), here are some candidates for the coveted position of “Musician that Everyone Likes” with some data and analysis.
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Death Cab for Cutie
Data: Last.fm Plays: 94,439,705 — MySpace Plays: 50,778,605 — Facebook Fans: 326,274
They turned independent music into popular music. They turned folk into emo. They made Seattle’s music scene into something worth considering years after Nirvana ended. Death Cab for Cutie is often cited by up-in-coming indie folk bands as a major influence, and despite big recording contracts, DCfC has not forgotten their indie roots.
Eminem
Data: Last.fm Plays: 45,346,016 — MySpace Plays: 174,846,626 — Facebook Fans: 2,460,001
Who would have thought that a white rapper from Detroit could have been the top selling artist of the last 10 years? He is in some sense the Elvis of our generation, and his success has extended beyond music to include, among other things, an Academy Award winning film.
Jay-Z
Data: Last.fm Plays: 26,728,336 — MySpace Plays: 135,793,418 — Facebook Fans: 1,122,568
Jay-Z is one of the biggest names in all entertainment. His multimillion dollar empire stretches from fashion, to record production, and, of course, his own music. Everything he touches seems to turn to gold. His music is about partying, about his upbringing, and about life in general. It is the universality of his rhymes that makes him so undeniably popular.
Kanye West
Data: Last.fm Plays: 52,588,380 — MySpace Plays: 295,920,596 — Facebook Fans: 1,624,893
Despite the now infamous Taylor Swift interruption incident, Kanye West’s numbers speak for themselves. His albums sell extremely well and his concerts sell out faster than just about anything. His has managed to produce a brand of hip hop that has particularly broad appeal and a flair for social consciousness that one can dance to.
Lil’ Wayne
Data: Last.fm Plays: 24,542,521 — MySpace Plays: 477,308,043 — Facebook Fans: 2,760,892
He has declared himself to be the best rapper alive and claims to control hip hop, Lil’ Wayne is so popular even my aunt likes him. His brilliance is transcendent, and it was Lil’ Wayne who was able to package southern rap and make it truly mainstream. His lyrics are about everything from Space Shuttles to Pepto Bismol; who else can say that?
MGMT
Data: Last.fm Plays: 30,362,031 — MySpace Plays: 79,917,828 — Facebook Fans: 440,629
One of the many musical trends of my generation was the explosion of the Brooklyn music scene, which is closely tied with so-called Hipster culture. MGMT, a duo of Wesleyan University grads, took the world by storm with their 2007 release Oracular Spectacular. Many of their songs have served as generational anthems, and there is no sign of their popularity fading.
Radiohead
Data: Last.fm Plays: 203,035,457 — MySpace Plays: 29,119,194 — Facebook Fans: 1,310,543
Hugely popular British rockers Radiohead have been able to successfully turn artistic innovation into something that moves records, a feat that seems harder and to achieve in the modern music industry. Their albums have achieved critical and commercial success, and many consider their live shows among the best in the history of rock and roll.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Data: Last.fm Plays: 122,991,601 — MySpace Plays: 39,563,804 — Facebook Fans: 1,583,511
Their seventh album, 1999′s Californication, was probably one of the best named albums ever. This band has, in their terminology Californicated the entire country and the whole world with their unique blend of alternative, funk, and a bit of rap. Their bassist, Flea, is considered one of the greatest to have ever played.
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Only time will tell if any of the musicians will be ultimately emblematic of our generation or if they will just fade away and be forgotten. The question is whether even this system of having a sort of musician that everyone likes makes sense in the digital era.
-Doug Ray
Doug Ray is the co-host of Saltimbocca & Escargot, Sundays at 8-10 PM Eastern Time on WRBC.