This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Erin Galioto. Find her on Instagram at @eringalioto. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Let’s face it, prices of basic necessities are rapidly rising while our working wages remain steady. As much as your boomer uncle tries to insist that the economy is alive and well, the echoes from 2008’s economic crisis are hard to ignore. Recession is creeping its way back into the culture and while it may spell financial trouble, it’s hard to deny the accompanying aesthetic and vibes are unbeatable. Rather than dwelling on the inevitable downturn, it’s time to put on your Rio de Janeiro tinted glasses and remember when life gets hard, the beats go harder!
The Pop Girlies are Working Overtime
The likes of Charli xcx, Kesha, Sabrina Carpenter and Addison Rae are spearheading the return of dancy, smutty, and sleazy pop music to provide much-needed escapism from the chaos that surrounds us:
Brat Summer
Charli xcx’s latest album brat is a cemented icon of summer 2024, single-handedly carrying indie sleaze culture back from the grave. Corporate girl boss is OUT and 365 party girl is in. What does it mean to be so Julia? Simply put, it’s provocative, it gets the people going.
Playlist must-haves:
- Guess featuring Billie Eilish
- 360
- Apple
- Von Dutch a.g. cook remix featuring Addison Rae
- Sympathy is a knife
- 365
The Midwest Princess
While Chappell Roan is arguably in a league and genre of her own, I would be remiss not to mention contributions to recession-core summer. Her hypnotizing 80s synth beats, angelic, yet powerful voice, and queened-out aesthetic have undeniably captivated the hearts and conquered the playlists of girls and gays across the country.
Playlist must-haves:
- Pink Pony Club
- My Kink is Karma
- Femininomenon
- Naked in Manhattan
- Red Wine Supernova
- HOT TO GO!
JOYRIDE
With unprecedented instrumentals and sexy, assertive lyrics, Kesha’s newest song JOYRIDE is the fresh and exciting banger we didn’t know we needed. The song, described endearingly as hot-girl clowncore, has the same energy as Kesha’s iconic albums from the 2000s, Animal and Cannibal. JOYRIDE also earned the highest Zillennial stamp of approval, its own viral TikTok dance.
Short n Sweet
The adorable aesthetic of the 4’11”, rosy-cheeked, blonde-banged Sabrina Carpenter is hard to resist and her chart-topping hits are hard to escape. Her sixth studio album “Short n’ Sweet” just debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and that’s just a taste of her recent success. Do it up-down, left-right, oh! Catchy nonsense is the poetry of our generation.
Playlist must-haves:
- Espresso
- Please Please Please
- Good Graces
- Taste
- Sharpest Tool
Diet Pepsi
From ultimate cringe to ultimate cool girl, Addison Rae has truly won over her haters this summer. While some claim she has masterminded the perfect rebrand, it’s more likely that being your authentic fun, weird, hot self has become cool again, and Rae never stopped. And sure, a brat feature didn’t hurt either. Addison’s breathy vocals on her new hit single “Diet Pepsi” sing of losing her innocence in the back seat of her boyfriend’s car and give young Britney Spears realness.
Ayesha Erotica
All hail the First Lady of Juicy Couture! Ayesha Erotic has all the Y2K sass and flavor you crave. Her c*nty delivery and irreverent lyrics bring back all the energy that 2000s icons like LiLo and Nicole Richie used to serve. Every time I hear a clip of her songs I feel the sudden urge to chain smoke out the window of a pink convertible wearing big bedazzled sunglasses with fuzzy dice hanging over the dash. Need I say more?
Playlist must-haves:
- Yummy
- THE BADDEST (BADDER) (Joey Valence & Brae, feat. Ayesha Erotica)
- Hollaback Girl (Remix)
2008 Recession Nostalgia
For those relishing in the resurgence of this commercial pop ear candy, here are some more bangers from the last global crisis worth revisiting:
Bulletproof by La Roux
“BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, MESSED AROUND!” When I first heard this song as a preteen, it was a spiritual experience. I knew nothing about clubs, but I knew I would give anything to dance in one to this song and this song only. The crack injected into the beat of this song is enough to outweigh any amount of rising debt or inflation and transport you back to all the nostalgia of your youth, at least for the 3-minute runtime.
Telephone by Lady Gaga, Beyoncé
Honestly, every Gaga hit from this era should be included here, but this collab deserved a special shoutout. Two of the greatest pop legends of our generation joined forces to encourage us to turn off our brains and phones, and lose our minds on the dance floor—a sentiment that hits home for 2024.
I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
I just know if someone can manage to get will.i.am and Fergie back in the studio we will all get through these troubling times. And while they’re at it, a new edition of Just Dance for the Nintendo Wii with a choreographed dance to match wouldn’t hurt either.
Down by Jay Sean, Lil Wayne
Jay Sean and Lil Wayne’s 2008 hit “Down” is the epitome of recession pop with many lyrics describing escapism to outer space, running away, and private getaways. And who could forget the iconic line “I’m down like the economy.”
Time of Our Lives by Pitbull, Ne-Yo
“I know my rent was going to be late about a week ago, I worked my ass off, but I still can’t pay it though. But I got just enough to get up in this club, have me a good time before my time is up.” Period.
The Way I Are by Timbaland, Keri Hilson, D.O.E.
With an infectious beat and seductive vocals, this song follows a man whose opening pickup line is “I ain’t got no money,” and a girl who’s instantly turned on. He can’t even buy her flowers, but Timbaland must get his flowers for giving us this bop and others like “Give It To Me” and “If We Ever Meet Again.”
Which of your recession pop favorites did we miss? Let us know in the comment section below!
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