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 for 2016:
CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND MAJOR EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN 2016
2016 was a year marked by significant cultural, societal, and major events that had a profound impact on the world. Here’s a look at some of the most notable events that shaped the year:
Cultural Events:
Hamilton Takes Broadway by Storm: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical “Hamilton” took Broadway by storm, garnering critical acclaim and numerous awards, including 11 Tony Awards. The show’s innovative blend of hip-hop, rap, and traditional Broadway music, along with its diverse cast and compelling narrative about the life of Alexander Hamilton, transformed the Broadway landscape and resonated with audiences worldwide.
Pokémon Go Takes the World by Storm: The mobile augmented reality game Pokémon Go became a global phenomenon, captivating millions of players who ventured out into the real world to capture virtual Pokémon characters. The game’s popularity sparked discussions about technology’s impact on society and its ability to blur the lines between the physical and digital worlds.
David Bowie and Prince Pass Away: The music world mourned the loss of two iconic figures: David Bowie and Prince. Bowie, a pioneer of glam rock and a true musical chameleon, passed away on January 10, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking music and influential performances. Prince, a multi-talented musician and enigmatic performer, died on April 21, shocking the world and leaving a void in the music industry.
Beyoncé’s Lemonade Album Sparks Conversation: Beyoncé’s powerful and personal visual album “Lemonade” ignited discussions about race, gender, and female empowerment. The album’s exploration of themes such as betrayal, forgiveness, and black identity resonated with audiences worldwide and cemented Beyoncé’s status as a cultural icon.
Societal Events:
The Black Lives Matter Movement Continues to Gain Momentum: The Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged in response to the police shootings of unarmed Black individuals, continued to gain momentum in 2016. Protests against police brutality and racial injustice took place across the United States, drawing attention to systemic racism and demanding social change.
The Rise of Populism and Anti-Establishment Sentiment: Populist and anti-establishment movements gained strength around the world, reflecting a growing dissatisfaction with traditional political systems and a desire for change. This trend was evident in the United States with the rise of Donald Trump, who won the presidential election on a platform of nationalism and economic protectionism.
The Refugee Crisis in Europe: The refugee crisis in Europe reached a peak in 2016, as millions of people fled war and violence in Syria, Iraq, and other countries. The influx of refugees presented significant challenges for European countries, sparking debates about immigration policies and humanitarian aid.
The Zika Virus Outbreak: The Zika virus outbreak, which was linked to birth defects in babies, caused widespread concern and prompted public health warnings. The virus spread rapidly through Latin America and the Caribbean, leading to travel restrictions and increased research efforts to develop a vaccine.
Major Events:
The Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games: The 2016 Summer Olympic Games, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were marked by a number of challenges, including financial constraints, political instability, and concerns about the Zika virus. Despite these challenges, the Games proceeded, showcasing athletic excellence and bringing together athletes from around the world.
The United States Presidential Election: The 2016 United States presidential election was one of the most divisive and unpredictable in recent history. Republican nominee Donald Trump, a businessman and political outsider, defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, a former Secretary of State and First Lady. Trump’s victory sent shockwaves through the world and signaled a shift in American politics.
The United Kingdom Votes to Leave the European Union: The United Kingdom held a referendum on whether to remain a member of the European Union. The result was a narrow victory for the “Leave” campaign, marking a significant turning point in British politics and setting the stage for complex negotiations with the EU over the terms of the UK’s exit.
The Syrian Civil War Continues to Rages: The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, continued to devastate the country and its people in 2016. The war, involving numerous factions and foreign powers, resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
These are just a few of the many cultural, societal, and major events that shaped 2016. These events highlighted ongoing challenges and emerging trends that continue to influence the world today.
Top 40 songs of 2016
- Love Yourself – Justin Bieber
- Sorry – Justin Bieber
- One Dance – Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla
- Work – Rihanna ft. Drake
- Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots
- Cheap Thrills – Sia ft. Sean Paul
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Closer – The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
- Heathens – Twenty One Pilots
- 7 Years – Lukas Graham
- This Is What You Came For – Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna & Disciples
- Panda – Desiigner
- Ride – Twenty One Pilots
- Don’t Let Me Down – Daya ft. The Chainsmokers
- Juju on That Beat (TZ Anthem) – Zay Hilfiger & Zayion McCall
- My Boo – Ghost Town DJs ft. Gnash
- Like I Would – Zayn
- Hymn for the Weekend – Coldplay ft. Beyoncé
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Pillowtalk – Zayn
- Treat You Better – Rihanna
- Let Me Love You – DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber
- Say It – Tory Lanez
- I Hate Love You – Gnash ft. Olivia O’Brien
- Location – Khalid
- Closer – The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Work From Home – Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign
- Too Good – Rihanna
- Dance – DNCE
- Wild Things – Alessia Cara
- Sorry – Charlie Puth
- Cold Water – Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØ
- Needed Me – Rihanna
- In the Night – The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
- Don’t Wanna Know – Maroon 5 ft. Kendrick Lamar
- Me and You – The Chainsmokers ft. Aloe Blacc
- Both – Logic ft. Alessia Cara
- What Lovers Do – Maroon 5
- Formation – Beyoncé
TOP ALTERNATIVE AIRPLAY SONGS OF 2016
- Bang Bang – Bleachers
- Good Grief – Bastille
- River – Leon Bridges
- Dark Necessities – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Way Down We Go – Kaleo
- Something to Believe In – Young the Giant
- All We Ever Knew – The National
- 2AM – Foals
- Soundcheck – Judah & the Lion
- Casual Party – The Dandy Warhols
- Critical Mistakes – The Neighbourhood
- That’s All I Need – The Chainsmokers
TOP ROCK AND ROLL SONGS 2016 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
- Breathing Lightning – Anthrax
- My Champion – Alter Bridge
- Feel Invincible – Skillet
- Emotionless – Red Sun Rising
- In The Dark – 3 Doors Down
- I Apologize – Five Finger Death Punch
- State Of My Head – Shinedown
- Seal The Deal – Volbeat
- My Name Is Human – Highly Suspect
- Take Me Away – The Pretty Reckless
TOP CHRISTIAN ROCK SONGS OF 2016 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
- Chain Breaker – Zach Williams
- Christ in Me – Jeremy Camp
- Come Alive (Dry Bones) – Lauren Daigle
- Dear Younger Me – MercyMe
- Eye of the Storm – Ryan Stevenson
- Fierce – Jesus Culture
- Grace Wins – Matthew West
- If We’re Honest – Francesca Battistelli
- Lifeline – Thousand Foot Krutch
- Control (Somehow You Want Me) – Tenth Avenue North
SOME COMMON THEMES IN SONGS OF THE 2016 BILLBOARD HOT 100
Some common themes in songs of the 2016 Billboard Hot 100 include:
Love and heartbreak: This is a classic theme in pop music, and it was well-represented in the 2016 Hot 100. Songs like “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber, “Sorry” by Justin Bieber, and “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots all explored the ups and downs of love and relationships.
Self-empowerment and overcoming adversity: Several songs on the 2016 Hot 100 were about overcoming challenges and believing in oneself. These songs included “Cheap Thrills” by Sia featuring Sean Paul, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake, and “Work” by Rihanna featuring Drake.
Escapism and having fun: Some of the most popular songs on the 2016 Hot 100 were about escaping from everyday life and having fun. These songs included “One Dance” by Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, “Closer” by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey, and “Dance” by DNCE.
Social commentary: A few songs on the 2016 Hot 100 addressed social and political issues. These songs included “This Is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna and Disciples, “Hymn for the Weekend” by Coldplay featuring Beyoncé, and “Don’t Wanna Know” by Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar.
Nostalgia: Several songs on the 2016 Hot 100 were influenced by nostalgia for the 1980s and 1990s. These songs included “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, “Pillowtalk” by Zayn, and “Cold Water” by Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ.
These are just a few of the many common themes that were explored in the 2016 Billboard Hot 100. The songs on this chart reflect the wide range of experiences and emotions that people were feeling in 2016.
MOST POPULAR MUSIC GENRES OF 2016
Here is a list of the top 5 most popular music genres of 2016, along with some of the top artists and songs from each genre:
Pop
Top artists: Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Drake, The Chainsmokers
Top songs: “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber, “Sorry” by Justin Bieber, “Work” by Rihanna featuring Drake
Rock
Top artists: Twenty One Pilots, Coldplay, Aerosmith
Top songs: “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots, “Hymn for the Weekend” by Coldplay featuring Beyoncé, “Dream On” by Aerosmith
Hip hop/Rap
Top artists: Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West
Top songs: “One Dance” by Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, “HUMBLE.” by Kendrick Lamar, “Famous” by Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Swizz Beatz, and Rick Ross
Country
Top artists: Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton
Top songs: “Church Bells” by Carrie Underwood, “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Minute” by Luke Bryan, “Came Here to Forget” by Blake Shelton
Dance/Electronic
Top artists: The Chainsmokers, Sia, Calvin Harris
Top songs: “Closer” by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey, “Cheap Thrills” by Sia featuring Sean Paul, “This Is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna & Disciples
Based on the data from the Billboard Hot 100, pop music was the most popular music genre of 2016. Pop songs accounted for 37% of the top 100 songs on the chart, followed by rock (22%), hip hop/rap (15%), country (14%), and dance/electronic (12%). This indicates that pop music maintained its popularity in 2016, while other genres remained relatively stable in their share of the Billboard Hot 100.
Pop music has been consistently the most popular genre on the Billboard Hot 100 for the past five years. This is likely due to its ability to appeal to a wide audience with its catchy melodies, upbeat tempo, and relatable lyrics.
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