What’s Old is New Again: The Resurrection of 2000s Music and Culture

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The boisterous and saturated trends of the early 2000s are on a comeback and they’ve wasted no time in infiltrating our 21st-century pop culture scene. 

The 2000s were some of the most transformative years in American history. As technology grew, fashion trends fluctuated, and music genres expanded beyond the classic rock typical of decades before. The early 2000s shaped how we now perceive pop culture. I mean think about it—the 2000’s basically created the digital age that we are now living in (excluding the flying cars, of course). 

Thus, it’s no surprise to me that Velour jumpsuits, low-rise jeans, and denim mini skirts have made a reappearance on my college campus. The obviously iconic denim bottoms and colorful tanks were destined to bounce back. We can thank Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Paris Hilton for making bold, cringe-worthy, fashion statements that set an early precedent for iconic celebrity style for the past two decades. 

Interestingly, this growing popularity in Y2K clothing is accompanied by an influx in Pop-Rock listeners—the mainstream combination of pop and rock music born in the early 2000s.

Although the Pop-Rock genre never fully disappeared from the top charts, its current global domination is apparent, practically taking over the modern music scene. Take Olivia Rodrigo, for example: The release of her album, GUTS, mirrors the spunky, “Sk8er Boi” vibe of 2000’s breakout artist Avril Lavigne in both sound and lyricism. Of course, Olivia is merely one of many artists who are reigniting the flame of this Rock-infused genre.

Whether it’s Gen Z’s desire to be young again or the end of a 20-year trend cycle, I have no complaints about the sudden resurrection of 2000’s culture. Nostalgia for these trends, in times when our political and social climate feels dark, reminds us that things don't always have to be so serious. 

The crazy patterns of Y2K couture and scream-able lyrics of Pop-Rock songs bring back the excitement and self-expression associated with coming of age today. We must allow ourselves to enjoy the carefree feeling of these styles before the resurfacing of the next turn of the next decade.

Strike Out,

Ruby Gagnon

Editor: Grace Maneein

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