Some say cultural or societal events affect music, so we will go through the years and see what is going on, the music that was popular and see what you think regarding this.
CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND MAJOR EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN 2014
Culture:
Ice Bucket Challenge: The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral, raising awareness and millions of dollars for research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Frozen Phenomenon: The Disney animated film “Frozen” became a global pop culture phenomenon, with its iconic anthem “Let It Go” topping charts and influencing fashion and merchandise.
Rise of Streaming Services: Netflix continued its dominance in streaming, while services like Hulu and Amazon Prime Video gained traction, offering new original content and challenging traditional television models.
Society:
Ebola Outbreak: The deadliest Ebola virus epidemic to date swept through West Africa, claiming thousands of lives and raising concerns about global health preparedness.
Hong Kong Protests: Pro-democracy protests erupted in Hong Kong, demanding greater political autonomy from China.
Rise of ISIS: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) established itself as a major threat, capturing territory in Iraq and Syria and committing brutal acts of violence.
Major Events:
Malaysian Airlines Disappearances: Flight MH370 vanished mysteriously on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, remaining one of aviation’s biggest unsolved mysteries. Later in the year, MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all passengers and crew.
Scotland Independence Referendum: Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom in a historic referendum.
U.S.-Cuba Détente: After decades of Cold War animosity, the US and Cuba announced a historic rapprochement, restoring diplomatic relations and easing travel restrictions.
These are just some of the significant events that marked 2014. It was a year of challenges and triumphs, cultural shifts, and political turmoil, with many of its impacts still felt today.
TOP 40 SONGS OF 2014
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Dark Horse – Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
- All of Me – John Legend
- Fancy – Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
- Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
- Rude – MAGIC!
- Problem – Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
- Blank Space – Taylor Swift
- Stay With Me – Sam Smith
- Black Widow – Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora
- Anaconda – Nicki Minaj
- Timber – Pitbull feat. Ke$ha
- Chandelier – Sia
- Royals – Lorde
- A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
- Sugar – Maroon 5
- Pompeii – Bastille
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- Counting Stars – OneRepublic
- Turn Down for What – DJ Snake & Lil Jon
- Animals – Maroon 5
- Jealous – Nick Jonas
- Boom Boom Boom – Vengaboys
- We Are Done – The Wanted
- Hey Mama – David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj & Afrojack
- Say Something – A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
- Maps – Maroon 5
- Mr. Know It All – Kelly Clarkson
- Cake by the Ocean – DNCE
- Burn – Ellie Goulding
- Bailando – Enrique Iglesias feat. Sean Paul
- Problem (The Monster Remix) – Eminem feat. Rihanna
- Anaconda (Remix) – Nicki Minaj feat. Drake
- All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
- Thong Song – Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
- I’m Not Okay – Crooked Colours
- Dear Mama – Tupac Shakur
- Best Day of My Life – American Authors
- Happy (Remix) – Pharrell Williams feat. Miley Cyrus
TOP ALTERNATIVE AIRPLAY SONGS OF 2014
- Riptide – Vance Joy
- Ho Hey – The Lumineers
- Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
- Pompeii – Bastille
- Stay With Me – Sam Smith
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- Royals – Lorde
- Mr. Know It All – Kelly Clarkson
- I’m Not Okay – Crooked Colours
- Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye feat. Kimbra
- Come As You Are – Nirvana
- Burn – Ellie Goulding
- Maps – Maroon 5
- A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
- Counting Stars – OneRepublic
- Riptide (Remix) – Vance Joy feat. Boy & Bear
- Say Something – A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
- Chandelier – Sia
- Jealous – Nick Jonas
- I Bet My Life – Imagine Dragons
- Talking Body – Tove Lo
- Blue Jeans – St. Vincent
- Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
- Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
- Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake feat. Majid Jordan
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Centuries – Fall Out Boy
- Problem – Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
- Black Widow – Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora
- Blank Space – Taylor Swift
- Animal – LP
- The Bones – Maren Morris
- Sugar – Maroon 5
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
- Jealous (Remix) – Nick Jonas feat. Tinashe
- Habits (Stay High) – Tove Lo
- All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor
- Shut Up and Dance with Me (2014) – Walk the Moon
- Rather Be – Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne
- Budapest – Alt-J
TOP ROCK AND ROLL SONGS 2014 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Mainstream Rock:
- “The Otherside” – Red Sun Rising
- “Hail to the King” – Avenged Sevenfold
- “Ghost” – Shinedown
- “Hope of the Future” – Breaking Benjamin
- “Another Heart” – Tremonti
Alternative Rock:
- “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon
- “Riptide” – Vance Joy
- “Talking Body” – Tove Lo
- “Up We Go” – LCD Soundsystem
- “Centuries” – Fall Out Boy
Hard Rock/Metal:
- “Painkiller” – Judas Priest
- “Emperor’s New Clothes” – Mastodon
- “Dead Inside” – Deftones
- “The Last Goodbye” – Volbeat
- “Death Whistle” – Iron Maiden
TOP CHRISTIAN ROCK SONGS OF 2014 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Hope Unscarred – Tenth Avenue North
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) – Hillsong United
In Our Midst – Kari Jobe
How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin
Come Alive – Newsboys
We Won’t Be Shaken – Building 429
Hold Fast – Danny Gokey
Rise Up – We Are Messengers
Even Here – Kari Jobe
Broken Together – Francesca Battistelli
SOME COMMON THEMES IN SONGS OF THE 2014 BILLBOARD HOT 100
Empowerment and Self-Love:
“Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift: Anthemic resilience against negativity.
“Fancy” by Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX: Sassy celebration of female ambition.
“All of Me” by John Legend: Embracing vulnerability and self-acceptance in love.
Positivity and Upliftment:
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams: Infectious joy and summery optimism.
“Counting Stars” by OneRepublic: Finding hope and beauty in the simple things.
“Problem” by Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea: Upbeat resilience in the face of betrayal.
Heartbreak and Loss:
“Stay With Me” by Sam Smith: Raw emotions of longing and vulnerability in a fading relationship.
“Blank Space” by Taylor Swift: Anxiety and insecurity under public scrutiny and romantic disappointments.
“Say Something” by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera: Pain of unspoken words and missed opportunities in love.
Party and Celebration:
“Turn Down for What” by DJ Snake & Lil Jon: Energetic party anthem fueling dance floors.
“Boom Boom Boom” by Vengaboys: 90s eurodance revival for pure fun and high energy.
“Black Widow” by Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora: Fierce independence and self-possession to let loose and enjoy.
Social Commentary and Awareness:
“A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay: Melancholic hope and call for a better future in the face of environmental concerns.
“Royals” by Lorde: Challenging societal expectations and championing individuality for young listeners.
“We Are Done” by The Wanted: Disillusionment with fame and celebrity culture woven into a breakup anthem.
Remember, these are just some of the prominent themes, and the beauty of music lies in its ability to connect with each listener on a personal level. Explore the songs of 2014 and beyond to discover your own journey through time, emotions, and the world around you!
MOST POPULAR MUSIC GENRES OF 2014
Based on various data sources and trends, here are some of the most popular music genres in 2014:
Globally:
Pop: Pop music dominated the charts in 2014, with artists like Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, and OneRepublic topping the Billboard Hot 100 and gaining worldwide popularity.
Rock: Classic rock and alternative rock still held strong, with bands like AC/DC, Imagine Dragons, and Bastille finding success. Rock anthems like “Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold and “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons resonated with listeners.
Hip-Hop/Rap: Hip-hop and rap continued to grow in popularity, with artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, and Iggy Azalea making waves on the charts and influencing global music trends.
Dance/Electronic: Electronic dance music (EDM) remained a major force, with artists like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and DJ Snake pushing the boundaries of the genre and generating massive party anthems.
Country: Country music maintained its strong presence in the United States, with artists like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Carrie Underwood dominating the country charts and achieving mainstream success.
Additional notes:
K-pop (Korean pop) began to gain significant international attention in 2014, with groups like EXO, BTS, and Girls’ Generation building loyal fanbases outside of Korea.
Latin music also saw increasing popularity, with artists like Enrique Iglesias, Romeo Santos, and J Balvin gaining international recognition.
Indie rock and alternative pop continued to thrive, with bands like Vampire Weekend, Alt-J, and St. Vincent finding critical acclaim and loyal audiences.
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