The musicians shaping our generation
Today’s youth have very different musical heroes than the youth of 40 years ago did, or even the youth of 10 years ago, but the principles are the same – music makes us feel and experience different emotions.
Hannah Roberts explores how music has helped shape her into the woman she is.
She writes:
Today’s young generation listens to a different sound of music altogether. Music has evolved from the sounds of The Beatles’ Hey Jude to the sounds of Drake’s God’s Plan. As the world has changed, the music we listen to has grown with us.
One of the most influential artists of our Gen Z generation is Drake. Aubrey Drake Graham is a Canadian-born rapper who has released seven studio albums, three collaborative albums, four extended plays (EP), seven mixtapes, 141 singles, five promotional singles and 84 music videos. Well-known songs by Drake that have shaped many teenagers’ music tastes include In My Feelings, Hotline Bling, One Dance featuring Wizkid and Kyla, as well as Rich Flex done in collaboration with 21 Savage.
For many young girls, listening to Taylor Swift is a rite of passage. Her music ranges from country to pop to indie/folk music. Swift is an extremely popular artist who has had many hit singles throughout her successful career. Some of her renowned songs include Blank Space, Shake it Off, You Belong with Me, Anti-Hero, and Wildest Dreams. She is an incredible storyteller, and her songs are ones that you belt out when you’re standing on a rooftop or in the middle of your bedroom.
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, has created music that has been incredibly popular among the youth since 2016 with his first notorious single, Starboy. He produces songs that have catchy melodies and lyrics that stick in your brain. His music has been a staple in many teenagers’ playlists for a few years, with infamous songs like Take My Breath, Die for You, Save Your Tears, Can’t Feel My Face, and Blinding Lights.
An admired singer and rapper born of a South African father, Doja Cat, has become popular through her hip-hop tunes and catchy words. She has produced three studio albums, one EP, and 27 music videos. She has collaborated with artists such as SZA, Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, and many more. Her top singles include Say So, Woman, Kiss Me More, Need to Know, as well as her most recent single, Paint the Town Red.
Many of these artists can be found in most of my playlists – Swift being the predominant one. They have all shaped me into the person I am today with their lyrics and melodies. Music is a way to escape one’s reality, and these artists mentioned above do exactly that – they transport you somewhere else when you need to take a break from the world around you. Music can be a way to heal people, and it helps us through the difficult times we face.
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