Why 2001 Was a Really, Really Good Year for Pop Music
As far as pop music goes, we’re in a pretty good place right now. Former teen stars Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Justin Bieber are all doing good, modern stuff; hip-hop is taking its cues from Drake and Future; and the throng of celebri-DJs like Calvin Harris, Avicii, David Guetta, and Robin Schultz aren’t only changing the perception of typical dance music, but also shaping what’s on the radio right now stylistically.
Still, it’s hard to argue with the fact that it all seems overly cool. Even if you don’t like the sound, every track shares a super-produced sameness, most of which is moody, sexy, and serious. I’d even go so far as to say the state of pop in 2016 has made the simple earnestness of artists like Katy Perry seem wildly outdated.
I started thinking about this recently because, while moving apartments, I came upon a mix tape (yes, an actual tape) that I made with my friends in 2001, and was struck by the fact that every track was so diverse, while still clearly being Top 40.
The year was particularly important in pop—Britney Spears, N’Sync, Backstreet Boys ruled the radio during the tail end of the ’90s and into early 2000, but once 2001 hit, they took a step back and opened the door for a wider ranging definition of popular music.
On the radio, we were hearing former actress Jennifer Lopez, a now-solo Gwen Stefani, and R&B groups like 112 and Jagged Edge that might seem cheesy by today’s standards, but ruled every party in the early aughts. 2001 also ushered in a new phase of collaboration mania with big, big stars teaming up for hits, including Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani and Eve, Lopez and Ja Rule, and—most memorably—Aguilera, Mya, Pink, and Lil Kim slaying with their sexy “Lady Marmalade” remake.
It’s weird to think the music that ruled the world in 2001 is considered retro now; a little cheesy even, the way we think of our parents’ music. If you were too young to remember it and consider yourself a music lover, I suggest you listen to a few of these songs to hear what pop was like before everything was so serious and Skrillex-ed.
