Lately, economic recession has been a prominent concern.
When questioned about a potential U.S. recession in March, then President Donald Trump neither confirmed nor denied it, but hinted at an economic transition. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated on March 11 that Trump’s economic strategy was “worth it,” even if it caused a recession. On April 9, Goldman Sachs increased the likelihood of a recession to 65% due to Trump’s tariff plan, but later withdrew this prediction after Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, excluding China. This economic uncertainty has led to growing anxiety about the global economy.
As economic conditions evoke memories of 2008, cultural parallels are also emerging: “recession indicators” are now common parlance; some experts view as harbingers of economic downturn; and, notably, is resurfacing, exemplified by Kesha and T-Pain’s “Yikkee Ki-Yay” and Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, both hailed as recession pop successors.
The pop music of the 2008 recession provided solace during a difficult period. Upbeat, chart-topping songs served as an “auditory balm” for a struggling nation. Examples include Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feeling,” Timbaland’s “The Way I Are,” Far East Movement’s “Like A G6”, and Pitbull and Ne-Yo’s “Time Of Our Lives.” These anthems encouraged embracing life amidst hardship—or escaping reality—reflecting the feelings of a generation grappling with .
Now, facing renewed economic instability, we’re drawn to these same lighthearted sounds, now tinged with nostalgia. While nostalgia can romanticize the past, it raises questions about its current relevance, including its potential for escapism and delusion.
Gen Z and millennials aren’t the first to use music to express societal unease. gave rise to blues and swing. Disco offered an escape from the Vietnam War. expressed themselves through music as marginalized Black and Brown youth facing economic hardship. Young people have historically used music to capture their reality and voice the frustrations of being marginalized by those in power.
Despite generational differences, Gen Z and millennials share common ground. Both generations have faced due to global crises: the 2008 recession for older millennials and the COVID-19 pandemic for Gen Z. Both events affected their . Both also struggle with “,” where debts exceed assets. to find stability and control in a volatile world.
Unsurprisingly, our music reflects this uncertainty, or at least attempts to provide an escape. The music of the 2008 recession exemplified this. As journalist Olivia Bennett noted in DAZED, with discretionary spending limited, aimed to encourage consumers to party regardless of financial consequences.
Over a decade later, a new generation experiences similar economic frustrations. Last year’s series of —Chappell Roan’s synth-pop, Charli XCX’s hyperpop, and Sabrina Carpenter’s bubblegum pop—demonstrated a desire to escape reality on the dance floor. Finding comfort in nostalgic sounds, whether in a gay bar, a rave, or the California sun, is preferable to financial struggles.
However, nostalgia is complex, blending happiness, gratitude, loss, and longing. It also creates a in culture. Overreliance on the past hinders progress, reducing cultural output to distorted imitations of previous generations. Yet, young artists have successfully used nostalgia. For example, Doechii’s “”—which samples Gotye and Kimbra’s 2011 post-recession hit “Somebody I Used to Know”—became a viral TikTok dance trend. The song captured feelings of anxiety, fear, depression, and trauma prevalent among young people (according to a Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report, Gen Z has the). Doechii created a for fans to access mental health resources. Roan, after her Grammy speech, donated to Backline, a mental health resource for music professionals. , among others, matched Roan’s donation. Universal Music Group later partnered with the Music Health Alliance to launch the .
The difference between past recession pop and today’s cultural shift is that current pop music uses music not just to highlight issues caused by instability, but also to inspire action—while providing an enjoyable beat. This is crucial as we try to acknowledge our reality while also dancing and enjoying ourselves.
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