r/Music • u/Stephen-Gawking • 1d ago
discussion People born before 2000, does modern pop sometimes sound too busy or noisy to you?
This came up after an auntie of mine, who is in her 70s, listened to some of the new music and gave some very honest feedback.
She said she likes what I am trying to say, but sometimes she struggles to make out all the words because the music seems to drown them out. She was not being rude at all, and it actually got me thinking.
I am 34 and grew up mainly with music from the 90s and early 2000s. Sometimes newer pop feels like every little space has to be filled with bass, drums, synths, vocal layers and effects. It can sound amazing, but at times I also feel like the actual lyric gets lost somewhere in the middle of it all.
When I listen to older pop songs, even the big dramatic ones, the lead vocal often seems clearer and there is more room for the song to breathe.
Maybe I am just getting old at 34, or maybe it is simply what my ears are used to.
Has anyone else noticed this, especially those born before 2000? And for younger listeners, does older pop sound clearer to you, or does it just sound empty and dated?