♻️ Introduction: Heard It Before, Haven’t I?
For an old bloke, listening to new music from newer artists doesn’t come easy. I’m still recovering from subjecting the new Taylor Swift album to my ears last week.
Everything seems to be recycled. Then again, it’s been like this for a long time. New ideas are thin on the ground and hard to come by.
Welcome to pop music in 2025 — where nostalgia is the new innovation, and every synth line sounds like it was stolen from a 2010 club remix. The radio (sorry, Spotify algorithm) is awash with familiar hooks, soft-focus vocals, and lyrics that make you wonder whether we’ve just looped back to the early 2010’s.
We’ve gone full circle — and this time, we’re paying a subscription for it.
💫 Back to the Future (of Pop)
There’s a name for this shiny déjà vu.. “Recession Pop.”
A new one on me!
The genre first appeared when the economy tanked in 2008 — bright, upbeat pop to distract us from doom. And guess what? It’s back. Again. When times get tough, the synths come out.
All shiny electronics and wailing vocals. Give me a break!
Everyone’s raiding the archives because there is nowhere else to go.
And if you believe what many people of my age (56) and beyond think… 1985 was a good year musically. As I remember things were mostly shit. I do miss the arrogance of youth where I would slag Dire Straits off to anyone who’d listen. And nobody cared.
Simpler times yes. Was music better? Yes and no. A heck of a lot of stuff from back then has dated badly. On the other hand, bands such as The Smiths have stood the test of time.
🪩 The Comfort of Familiar Choruses
It’s easy to mock, but there’s something comforting about it too. We’ve lived through pandemics, politics, and the death of the DVD — sometimes you just want a catchy chorus that reminds you of simpler, hangover-ridden years.
The major labels know it as well. They’re not chasing innovation anymore — they’re chasing recognition. A half-remembered melody equals a hit. Nostalgia sells faster than new ideas ever did. It’s like musical comfort food — processed, predictable, and occasionally delicious.
Play a synth hook that sounds vaguely like a Calvin Harris remix from 2011 and everyone’s instantly happy again. It’s not art, but it works — the aural equivalent of beige comfort food served on a disco plate.
🎧 The Playlist Generation
Streaming changed everything. Albums? Optional. Now it’s all about playlists with names like Throwback Energy or Main Character Vibes. The algorithm doesn’t care whether the song’s new — it just wants you to keep tapping that heart icon.
Thanks to streaming services, playlists are out of control. Open up Spotify and I get all manner of playlists tailored to my taste.
Playlists are the new mix tapes.
Don’t get me wrong, playlists have their uses. My almost 4000 song Alcohol Mix playlist, which I’ve been compiling since 2017 is a joy to behold… for me. An expect the unexpected mish mash of music from over five decades of living.
So the artists give the machine what it wants: short intros, quick hooks, and “vintage vibes.” The result? Every pop song sounds slightly familiar, because it’s meant to. We’ve trained our ears to crave the echo of the past.
Even the visuals match: grainy VHS filters, chunky fonts, and retro dance routines straight from TRL. Pop has become a perfectly engineered déjà vu — one we apparently can’t get enough of.
💋 When Nostalgia Becomes Parody
Of course, there’s a fine line between homage and recycling. Some artists wink at the past; others just copy it wholesale and give it a label like “retro aesthetic.”
There’s creativity in nostalgia, sure — but there’s also a lot of laziness. The more we reward familiarity, the less incentive there is to experiment. And in a world run by algorithms and marketing teams, laziness tends to win.
Pop might be predictable, but it sure knows how to hit the dopamine button.
Having given the new Swift album the once over, I see no difference in what she’s doing than what the likes of Lady GaGa and Jessie J were doing 15 years ago.
🎤 Verdict: Meet the New Pop, Same as the Old Pop
So, is this a golden age of pop — or just a glorified rerun? Probably a bit of both. But honestly, I don’t mind the recycling because we have gone as far as we can go. There doesn’t seem to be anything around that is not sounding like a rehash.
Back in the 80’s, Stock, Aitken and Waterman were the enemy. Churning out formulaic hit after hit.
Now, people look back at those hits and call them classics.
Suppose I’m lucky having lived through a time when there were scenes and movements as opposed to streaming and playlists.
Sometimes, I feel we have too much disposable items at our disposal! Choosing what to watch or listen to can be a real headache.
At least this time around, I can enjoy it without pretending to like nightclubs. And who knows — maybe in 2040 we’ll be nostalgic for this wave of nostalgia.
That’s how the cycle goes: pop eats itself, then sells you the leftovers.
Written for The Listening Log — where nostalgia, noise, and nonsense live happily ever after.
The Listening Log 
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