Recession pop is an informal term used to define a type of dance-pop music that emerged during the Great Recession and remained popular until the early 2010s.
Characteristics
Recession pop is often described as "feel-good" pop music, characterized by fast BPMs, high-energy production, catchy melodies and lyrics centered around partying, being young and living it up. During a time of economic recession, when many people were losing their jobs and livelihoods, this kind of music provided a sense of optimism and escapism, encouraging people to embrace fun and momentarily forget their problems.[1][2] Notable examples of recession pop songs include Just Dance by Lady Gaga, I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas and Teenage Dream by Katy Perry.[3]
History
The first recorded mention of the term "recession pop" seems to have appeared in a 2009 Irish Independent article featuring an interview with Lady Gaga.[4] However, the term only gained widespread recognition in 2024 after going viral on TikTok. In July 2024, interest in "recession pop" peaked, with Google searches reaching an all-time high.[1]
Recession pop in the 2020s
The term recession pop is sometimes used to describe modern music influenced by the style of its original era. Artists such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli XCX have been associated with this revival.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b Dickler, Jessica; Solá, Ana Teresa (2024-07-21). "'Recession pop' is in: Why so many listeners are returning to music from darker economic times". CNBC.
- ^ Miyashita, Nina (2024-09-11). "What exactly is "recession pop"?". Vogue Australia.
- ^ Lee, Ryanna (2025). "Recession Pop is Back: Three Recession Pop Songs to Check Out in 2025". Her Campus.
- ^ "Recession pop". Irish Independent. 2009-03-05.
- ^ Bennett, Olivia J. (2024-07-16). "Recession pop is making a comeback". Dazed.
- ^ LLoyd, Kitty (2024-08-23). "Why is recession pop so damn good?". Ensemble Magazine.
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