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 2020
- The COVID-19 pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic was the defining event of 2020. The virus spread rapidly around the world, causing widespread illness and death. Governments implemented lockdowns and other restrictions in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The pandemic had a devastating impact on the global economy, causing widespread unemployment and poverty.
- The Black Lives Matter protests: The Black Lives Matter protests were a global movement against racial injustice and police brutality. The protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The protests brought attention to the systemic racism that exists in many countries around the world.
- The US presidential election: The US presidential election was one of the most contentious in recent history. The election was ultimately won by Joe Biden, but the results were disputed by President Donald Trump and his supporters. The election also saw a record number of voters cast their ballots by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Australian bushfires: The Australian bushfires were a series of wildfires that occurred in Australia in 2020. The fires were the most destructive in Australian history, burning over 18 million acres of land and destroying over 3,000 homes. The fires also caused widespread environmental damage, killing millions of animals and displacing thousands of people.
- The Beirut explosion: The Beirut explosion was a massive explosion that occurred in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 4, 2020. The explosion was caused by the improper storage of ammonium nitrate at a warehouse in the city. The explosion killed over 200 people, injured over 6,000 people, and caused widespread damage to the city.
These are just a few of the many major societal, cultural, and political events that took place in 2020. It was a year of great upheaval and change, and the effects of these events will be felt for years to come.
TOP 40 SONGS OF 2020
- “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
- “Circles” – Post Malone
- “The Box” – Roddy Ricch
- “Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
- “Rockstar” – DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch
- “Adore You” – Harry Styles
- “Life Is Good” – Future ft. Drake
- “Memories” – Maroon 5
- “Someone You Loved” – Lewis Capaldi
- “Say So” – Doja Cat
- “Savage” – Megan Thee Stallion
- “Intentions” – Justin Bieber ft. Quavo
- “Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
- “Roxanne” – Arizona Zervas
- “Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish
- “Falling” – Trevor Daniel
- “Truth Hurts” – Lizzo
- “Dance Monkey” – Tones and I
- “Sicko Mode” – Travis Scott
- “Goodbyes” – Post Malone ft. Young Thug
- “Senorita” – Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
- “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
- “If The World Was Ending” – JP Saxe ft. Julia Michaels
- “RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)” – Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin
- “Sucker” – Jonas Brothers
- “My Oh My” – Camila Cabello ft. DaBaby
- “Lucid Dreams” – Juice WRLD
- “Don’t Rush” – Young T & Bugsey ft. Headie One
- “Highest in the Room” – Travis Scott
- “Blueberry Faygo” – Lil Mosey
- “Ballin'” – Mustard ft. Roddy Ricch
- “Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
- “WAP” – Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion
- “Suge” – DaBaby
- “ROCKSTAR” – DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch
- “Good News” – Mac Miller
- “Come & Go” – Juice WRLD & Marshmello
- “Before You Go” – Lewis Capaldi
- “The Bones” – Maren Morris
- “ROXANNE” – Arizona Zervas
TOP ALTERNATIVE AIRPLAY SONGS OF 2020
- Orphans by Coldplay
- Dissolve by Absofacto
- Running Up That Hill by Meg Myers
- Might Be Right by White Reaper
- Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish
- Novocaine by The Unlikely Candidates
- Cradles by Sub Urban
- Oh Yeah! by Green Day
- Caution by The Killers
- Level of Concern by Twenty One Pilots
- Honeybee by The Head and the Heart
- Hero by Weezer
- Hallucinogenics by Matt Maeson
- Monsters by All Time Low featuring Blackbear
- Leave Me Alone by I Dont Know How But They Found Me
- Fire for You by Cannons
- Therefore I Am by Billie Eilish
- Skin and Bones by Cage the Elephant
- My Ex’s Best Friend by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Blackbear
- Heat Waves by Glass Animals
TOP ROCK AND ROLL SONGS OF 2020
- “Level of Concern” – Twenty One Pilots
- “Shame Shame” – Foo Fighters
- “Ohms” – Deftones
- “Hero” – Weezer
- “My Own Soul’s Warning” – The Killers
- “Black Madonna” – Cage the Elephant
- “Caution” – The Killers
- “Inside Out” – Five Finger Death Punch
- “The Adults Are Talking” – The Strokes
- “Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish (this song had a rock influence)
Please note that the definition of “rock and roll” has broadened over the years, and some of these songs may have elements of alternative rock, indie rock, or other rock subgenres. Additionally, the popularity of songs can vary depending on different charts and regions.
TOP CHRISTIAN ROCK SONGS OF 2020
- Rescue by Hillsong Worship
- Graves Into Gardens by Elevation Worship
- Joy by MercyMe
- The Blessing (Live) by Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes
- This Is Your King by Phil Wickham
- God So Loved by We The Kingdom
- Way Maker by Leeland
- Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin
- Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United
- Never Give Up by MercyMe
SOME COMMON THEMES IN SONGS OF THE 2020 BILLBOARD HOT 100
Love and relationships: Many of the songs on the 2020 Billboard Hot 100 explored themes of love and relationships, including heartbreak, lust, and longing. Some examples include “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, “Circles” by Post Malone, and “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa.
Self-empowerment: A number of songs on the chart also focused on themes of self-empowerment and female empowerment. These songs often celebrated women’s independence and strength, and challenged traditional gender roles. Some examples include “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, “Say So” by Doja Cat, and “Levitating” by Dua Lipa.
Isolation and loneliness: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the music industry, and many songs on the 2020 Billboard Hot 100 reflected the isolation and loneliness that many people were feeling during this time. Some examples include “The Box” by Roddy Ricch, “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles, and “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals.
Social commentary: A few songs on the chart also addressed social and political issues, such as police brutality and racial injustice. Some examples include “Savage Remix” by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé and “WAP” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion.
Hope and optimism: Despite the challenges of 2020, there were also a number of songs on the chart that expressed hope and optimism for the future. These songs often offered messages of resilience and determination. Some examples include “I Hope” by Gabby Barrett and “Positions” by Ariana Grande.
These are just a few of the common themes in songs of the 2020 Billboard Hot 100. The chart is a reflection of the times, and the songs that topped it in 2020 provide a glimpse into the hopes, fears, and experiences of people around the world.
POPULAR MUSIC GENRES OF 2020
In 2020, several music genres remained popular, and their popularity often varied by region and demographic. Some of the most popular music genres in 2020 included:
Pop: Pop music continued to be a dominant genre, with artists like Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, and Billie Eilish achieving significant success.
Hip-Hop/Rap: Hip-hop and rap remained highly influential and had a strong presence on music charts, with artists like Lil Baby, DaBaby, and Megan Thee Stallion making waves.
R&B: R&B artists like The Weeknd, Roddy Ricch, and Doja Cat enjoyed chart-topping success in 2020.
Rock: While the rock genre has evolved over the years, bands like The Killers, Foo Fighters, and Deftones released new music and maintained their fan bases.
Latin: Latin music, including reggaeton and Latin pop, continued to grow in popularity with artists like Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Rosalía gaining international recognition.
EDM (Electronic Dance Music): EDM remained a popular genre, especially in the electronic dance and festival scene, with DJs and producers like Marshmello, The Chainsmokers, and Martin Garrix.
Country: Country music had a strong following in 2020, with artists such as Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Maren Morris achieving commercial success.
K-Pop: K-pop, originating from South Korea, continued to make waves globally, with groups like BTS and BLACKPINK achieving international stardom.
Indie/Alternative: Indie and alternative music maintained a dedicated fan base, with bands like Tame Impala and Arctic Monkeys releasing new music.
Reggae and Dancehall: Reggae and dancehall music remained influential, with artists like Popcaan and Protoje contributing to the genre’s popularity.
MUSIC GENRES THAT BECAME MORE POPULAR THAN THEY WERE BEFORE
Here are the music genres that became more popular in 2020:
- K-pop
- Latin pop
- Indie pop
- R&B
These genres became more popular for different reasons. K-pop became more popular due to the success of BTS, who became the first K-pop group to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Latin pop saw a resurgence in popularity due to the success of songs like “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, which became the first Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Indie pop became more popular among young people due to the success of artists like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. R&B saw a resurgence in popularity due to the success of artists like The Weeknd and Doja Cat.
The music industry is constantly evolving, and it will be interesting to see what new genres become popular in the years to come.
