2000 - 2009: Part 3

iPod

If you ask anyone you run into on the street if they have an iPod, chances are they will. Even if they don't own one, they'll know what it is. The iPod was introduced in late 2001, and since then has become the most popular portable media device. Sure, others have competed, but none of them stand a chance against the iPod. The machine, which started as a basic white mp3 player, now comes in a rainbow of colors and even includes a video camera. The iPod line also expanded with the iPhone in 2007, taking the sensation to an entirely different level.

Examples: iPod, iPhone, Apple's Business Empire

Auto-Tune

Oh, T-Pain, what have you done. This last decade, one of the biggest and probably worst trends of music started. Auto-Tune became "The Sound" for mainstream pop and hip-hop music. The once minimized and shameful tool is now in almost every current radio hit, and it's noticeable too. Once Auto-Tune is used, the singer can screech and moan all they want. They'll still sound either good or like a robot. But, this is perfectly acceptable apparently. Using devices to manipulate or duplicate your voice can be extremely creative and suitable. For example, Imogen Heap's "Hide And Seek" is great. It's just become overused and abused recently.

Examples: T-Pain, Ke$ha, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne

2000 - 2009: Part 2

American Idol

This. Is. American Idol. These words are announced at the beginning of Americas' favorite TV show. The phenomenon started in 2002, and since then has become the No. 1 television show in the US. The reality singing competition has jump started the careers of countless artists. The most successful would be Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Recent artists such as Adam Lambert were first seen on this show. Next year the program will return with its ninth season. The show is best known its grumpy judge, Simon Cowell, who started as a judge on Pop Idol. Pop Idol then became The X Factor, and currently Cowell still appears on both shows. Will this show ever end? Who knows...

Example: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert.

Indie Music

This is mostly about the music labeled "indie rock" or "indie pop". This word, which actually means being signed to an independent record label, became commonly used in this decade. When you think of indie you might think "underground"or "not mainstream". In this decade indie bands were exposed to the world through various media outlets. Websites such as "Pitchfork.com" focused on this genre. Along with "emo", this genre is extremely hard to define. Really, just as "emo" has, "indie" has become a term to describe a bands overall style, image, or sound.

Examples: Arcade Fire, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Feist, Passion Pit

2000 - 2009: Part 1

It's less than three weeks until 2010. It may seem weird, but it's coming. Once we enter this new decade, how will we look back upon the last decade? Music has changed so much since 1999. The nineties were the peak of "boy-bands" and grunge. Both of these trends disappeared in the next decade, or they were disguised as something new. In a series of posts, I'm going to recap the best and worst trends in music of 2000-2009.

Emo/Pop-Punk

Before I start, I want to say that these are actually two different genres. I put them together because during this decade they were commonly used together and almost became one. These genres can have various meanings, so I'll focus on "emo". There is a common definition that this genre is made up of angry, or mostly depressing, lyrics set to punk-like music. Some music in the genre is often merged with "screamo" style vocals. Although that's what the genre is today, the technical definition is "melodic music with deep emotional lyrics"; or emotional-hardcore. This genre is one of the hardest to define, and will probably never have a "true" definition. Often, the term is just used to describe the style or "look" of the band. Many acts labeled "emo" and "pop-punk" became immensely popular in this decade.

Examples: Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Paramore, My Chemical Romance

Disney Pop Stars

If you haven't noticed this trend, then you've been living under a rock. In the last decade, the Disney Channel has created numerous artists who took over the entire tween population. This probably started with Miley Cyrus, or "Hannah Montana". The "still child star" became a hit off of her Disney Channel television series. She has had several hits on the radio, including her most recent, "Party In The USA". This caused a chain reaction and many more followed her. Some of them even became nominated for Grammys.

Examples: Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, High School Musical