Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, October 13, 2024.

I'm hesitant to poo poo on the current generation's music.

I've always thought what makes music popular is that it successfully captures the zeitgeist of the times.

Things seem to move much faster today than when I was growing up. For us, a zeitgeist spanned decades (eg. 80s vs 90s music), but today, it spans weeks, maybe a year.

I think there's a parallel between the fairly recent widespread use of memes and the recent music. Despite how unserious they seem, memes are highly condensed, super concise commentary on current issues that change in the blink of an eye. It's a highly intelligent artform that I think informs their music.

These kids are quick and clever. In my opinion, because of the unstable and fluid state of their reality, their art is more about vibe than content. I think they're powerfully communicating feelings more so than ideas. You don't need polysyllabic words to connect on that level.

For me art is something to be decoded rather than judged. Then again, I try to look for the genius in people. Maybe I'm looking too hard. What say you?