I know we technically still have a few years left but the fact we're already in 2026 is making me ill..

Looking back though, I really do think pop had these random little revival years...

2020 was very much Future Nostalgia / Chromatica / Hot Pink... disco, 80s synthpop, big glossy escapism suddenly came back.

Then 2024 was probably THE pop year of the decade so far. Sabrina, Chappell, Charli, Ariana, Billie… it genuinely felt like new pop stars and actual pop eras mattered again instead of everything just being playlist sludge...

And lowkey 2026 is starting to give me another mini revival? Adéla actually breaking through, Kim Petras making listenable music, Madonna being Madonna, etc. Even the whole idea of what a "pop star" looks/sounds like feels less dead than it did a few years ago.

Were 2020 & 2024 (and maybe 2026) basically the holy trinity of 2020s pop or am I rewriting history already?

Also ... mark my words but I have a sneaky feeling 2028 is going to be the best year yet.

For me 2024 at least for Kpop since that was the year I got into it.

And 2020 was pretty decent too since everyone was locked away at home making bops

But this decade outside of Kpop has been the worse for me however. I wanna go back to the 2000s

Just now, HyuneSuga said:

For me 2024 at least for Kpop since that was the year I got into it.

And 2020 was pretty decent too since everyone was locked away at home making bops

But this decade outside of Kpop has been the worse for me however. I wanna go back to the 2000s

I miss the 2000s-2010s aswell.. a lot more camp in those years.

2021 idky

2020-2021 during the pandemic

Then 2023-2024 with all the post pandemic tours and 2024 summer

It's kind of contingent on personal experiences, I feel.

2024-2025 for me. Just bought my house and met a lot of new people from the area, the beginning of getting back into great shape, a lot of great music.

This year has been a lot tougher because of my mom's struggles with addiction and health.

2020: I think the pandemic actually inspired people to make some good songs - folklore being a good example. Ariana and Miley released good albums and it was also the last era where Katy had decent songs. The Weeknd's best pop era as well. Little Mix had bops. Selena's last decent project too. Also a good album from Halsey and a decent-ish one from Kesha.

2024: As you said, a lot of good eras. Madison Beer also released some of her best songs that year and I personally enjoyed The Tortured Poets Department.

That said - I feel like the other years had other interesting things to note too:

2022: Avril Lavigne's strongest era in 15 years. A solid album by Carly Rae Jepsen and Midnights. Outside of pop we also had a good album by Bad Omens.

2025: Tate McRae's strongest era, a solid album from Gaga, a good B-side to Ariana's eternal sunshine, and I personally had fun with Sabrina and Taylor's albums. Outside of mainstream pop, Grant Knoche also released a great pop album. And outside of pop, Sleep Token's Even in Arcadia is also really good.

I don't really revisit 2021 in retrospect outside of a few select tracks. 2026 had a good album release from Madison Beer and decent ones from Olivia and Ariana, but this has otherwise been a very dry year. Tiffany Day's electroclash album was nice though.

2023 because Taylor had everyone on chokehold with Eras Tour and TIME Person of The Year cover.

Like OTH were very pressed at that time

1 hour ago, chicbitch said:

I miss the 2000s-2010s aswell.. a lot more camp in those years.

Yess even the 2010s were so good. Honestly I probably listen to more music from those two decades

Girl this whole decade has been a dumpster fire

2022 i guess

2022-2024 probably. Things felt more normal than before but also uncertain. 2025 wrecked all that

From a music standpoint: 2020 & 2024

This year has been my favorite year in music in a while.

2021 cause Olivia Rodrigo

None

To me 2022 and 2023
And my favorite trend from this decade was the barbie thing So cute

Edited September 2Sep 2 by AvadaKedavra

2024 was a cool year, pop culture wise. It felt exciting

2026 been dead tbh - even with the big releases it's felt meh

2020-2021 was a vibe musically