Photo Credit: Spotify playlist "2000s HITS Y2K THROWBACKS" by Filtr US Cover Image
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Caption: “From burned mix CDs to Spotify playlists, some eras just hit different."
Desired Revival
Desired Revival
By Marissa Boblett and Natalie Stevens
Published May 7, 2026
The 2000s were heavily impactful on the world, in all aspects. However, a noticeable trend everywhere, whether it be at school or online, is how teenagers love 2000s music. Additionally, music artists are picking up on this and deciding to cater their music to match themes that could have been found in music that was trending during the 2000s. Another apparent element is how online music made now is likely to be considered "cringe" or, just terrible. Evidence is shown in a poll conducted on April 15, 2026, which demonstrated that 71% of students who attend South CTA like 2000s music more than music made now.
To first think of the idea of why teenagers appreciate music from times that they were not even alive for, a great starting point is seeing popular artists from the 2000s, and popular artists now.
Comparing Two Different Times
Some popular artists from the 2000s were Eminem, Radiohead, Linkin Park, Alicia Keys, U2, The White Stripes, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Beyoncé, and Usher. A clear trend in all these artists is that alternative/rock music was a big hit. However, in the 2020s music, popular artists are Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Laufey, Alex G, Lana Del Ray, Bad Bunny, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. For genres, music from the 2020s is more likely to feel like pop or rap music. Additionally, popular artists from the 2000s were likely to be bands. Music from now is also likely to have artists that did not make their debut in the 2020s, but instead either the 2010s or the 2000s.
This analysis helps to establish how 2000s music is more of a hit than music from now, but this raises a question: Why is this trend happening? Why do teenagers love music that is from a time that they were not alive for way more than music that is being made right now?
Voices From Us
Crestienne “Tienne” Tagudar, a 14-year-old student who attends East Career and Technical Academy, states that teens want the 2000s back due to the fact that “Aesthetics, like scene, are generally better than styles now.” This sentiment is easy to notice, as many teens nowadays vocalize how badly they wish they were a part of the 2000s. Tagudar also exclaims that “Music from the 2000s is way better than music today because artists from the 2000s actually made their own beats.” Tagudar’s belief that artists from the 2000s made their own music is also a widely agreed-upon idea. With the rise of AI in the arts, a lot of songs being made now may start to sound too similar, robotic, and overall generic. During the 2000s, AI was not as impactful as it is now, which created the beautiful uniqueness of anything that came from the 2000s.
Photo Credit: Crestienne "Tienne" Tagudar
Caption: "Attendee of East Career and Technical Academy, Tagudar poses for her phone camera."
Finale
Even though it has been 17 years since 2009, the last year of the 2000s, the effect the decade had on the world can still clearly be felt, the music being a clear example. It is to the point where teens now will strictly listen to music that came from an era that they were not even alive in. However, this is not the only era that teens want back. It has gotten to the point where some elements of the 2010s are wanted to come back, too. The reasoning for this, as mentioned earlier through Tagudar’s interview, may not be the only reason for this desperate desire for the decade to come back. It may be because of the current climate of the world. The news could cause stress to teens, and listening to music from times that were not as conflicted and tense could be a form of coping.
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