Why is 90s Pop so Bizarre?

Why is 90s Pop so Bizarre?

Up next

The power of singing together (ft. Tiny Habits)

Throughout pop history, groups from The Ink Spots to the Beach Boys to Fleetwood Mac all forged their sound in the alchemy of vocal harmonies, harnessing the magic that happens when different voices join as one. Then suddenly, right around the 1980s, vocal harmonies started to wa ...  Show more

Questionably Country

For the first time in history, five country songs were at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and Stella Lefty all have songs that range from two-stepping hits to borderline Americana: what do these songs say about the state of country musi ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

The ’90s Summer Jams No One Should Ever Get Over
Not Over It

Every summer comes with a soundtrack, usually made up of the latest and greatest pop songs that keep us blowing out our speakers from the car to the beach all season long. But there's something about the summer jams of the '90s that will always hold a special place in hearts. On ...  Show more

When Great Artists Make Terrible Songs
Rolling Stone All Access

You can blame bad Eighties production or a certain white powder, but even the giants of rock and pop sometimes hit a bad note; we delve into the most ridiculously entertaining examples, from musical heroes like Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and more. Plus: new music from Wilco and the P ...  Show more

100 gecs and the Mystery of Hyperpop
The Pitchfork Review

What is hyperpop? A movement? A meaningless label? A Spotify playlist? Whatever the answer, it surely has something to do with 100 gecs, the duo of Laura Les and Dylan Brady, whose songs sometimes sound like the last three decades of popular music happening all at once. On this e ...  Show more

Justin Bieber’s Experimental ‘Swag’ Resurgence
Popcast

Discussing the era-defining pop singer’s most idiosyncratic and musically adventurous release to date. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio ...  Show more