Since Lady Gaga released “Abracadabra” on February 3rd, 2025, it has been all over my TikTok For You Page and in mine and so many others heads since. The upbeat sound and the funky beats keeps listeners hooked from start to finish. The release of this song– and the upcoming release of her new album, MAYHEM, leaves music lovers left to question: is recession music making a comeback? Last year, Charli XCX’s album Brat shocked the internet, while up-and-coming artists like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter seem to be “blending danceable rhythms with themes of resilience and escapism”. As we look back on the impact of recession-era music, it raises the question: Could we be entering a new era of pop music that echoes the sounds of the past?

Throughout humanity music and art has been in important part in demonstrating our humanity. One of the most influential art forms is pop music. The genre took off in the 1950s with artists such as Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. The genre has been heavily influenced by African American Jazz and has never been specific to one sound, This has given us a wide range of artist, from Madonna and Michael Jackson in the 1980s, Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys in the 1990s, Rihanna and Beyonce in the early 2000s, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift in the 2010s to current artists like Chappell Roan and Kendrick Lamar. In the last 50 years, pop music has given the world a wide range of sounds. 

During the 2007 to 2009 Great Recession, the stock market was the lowest it had been since the Great Depression and the housing market was at its lowest, but music was at an all time high. Recession Music had a carefree feel, with a “get-your-life-together” vibe. This is the music that today’s teenagers and young adults grew up on. Songs like “TiK ToK”, “We R Who We R” and “Die Young” by Kesha, “Timber” by Pitbull and Kesha, “Glad You Came” by The Wanted, “Circus” by Britney Spears, “Breaking Dishes” by Rihanna, “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz and so many others were constants on the radio. These songs are not something that one can put on as background music; they helped shaped an entire generation. Like many, I grew up blasting this music in the car, and that has not changed. Getting ready for prom or driving home from school, everything else is paused to sing along. 

And, of course, one can’t talk about recession music with out talking about Lady Gaga, who has been coined the “Queen of Recession Music”. Gaga had many hits during this time, like “Poker Face”, “Just Dance”, “Bad Romance”, “Paparazzi”, and “Judas”, which all topped the charts when they were released. Her music was some of the most influential at the time of her first two albums: The Fame (2008) and Born This Way (2011). With the resurgence of her music, the release of “Abracadabra” and her upcoming album release, fans are eager to see what’s next in her musical evolution, specifically if she can bring back recession music. 

The lyrical landscape from 2008 to today has certainly evolved, but the big question remains: So could a recession be in the future for our country? According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, in Iowa, one needs to earn $24.36 per hour to live comfortably in a family of 4. Keep in mind, the minimum wage in Iowa still sits at the national minimum at $7.25 an hour. While many Iowans have fought for an up of the minimum wage, our law makers have stayed adamant.

There are many more things than just the living wage that economist use to determine a recession. According to Morningstar, the tops indicators are inflation, Stock Market Decline, decrease in GDP (gross domestic power), high unemployment, and housing prices. 

With the rising cost of living, the falling stock market, and the housing bubble, it’s easy to see how the spirit of recession music could make its return as people seek an escape through upbeat, danceable anthems. 

So, yes, our economy is struggling, but does the music of today resemble the music of the mid 2000s? Let’s break it down. Like stated earlier, recession pop is categorized as “feel-good” pop music, characterized by fast BPMs, high-energy production, catchy melodies and lyrics centered around partying, being young, and living it up. Many artists today have tried to hit all the boxes, but many fail to fully qualify. Today’s music is tapping into the same euphoric escapism that defined the last major economic downturn. But does this signal a full-fledged return of recession pop? Let’s dive into the artists leading this revival:

• Dance-Pop & Electro-Pop: Fueled by the need for escapism during economic uncertainty, dance-pop and electro-pop exploded in the late 2000s with high-energy, club-ready beats that offered a carefree, euphoric distraction from financial struggles — seen in artists like Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, and Kesha
  • My Top Pick: Charli XCX – Charli’s 2024 album Brat took the internet by a shock.  XCX isn’t new to the industry though. Her songs from Charli had already established herself as a Recession Pop icon. Each song on the Brat album are iconic as the next, but my top picks for the most reseccion-esk music are “Apple”, “Club classics”, “365”, “Guess featuring billie eilish”, and “party 4 u”. Her music is high energy, catchy, about partying, and most definitely “feel-good”. 
  • Kim Petras – During the 2008 recession, dance-pop and electro-pop blew up because people wanted fun, carefree music to escape economic anxiety—Kim Petras captures that same energy today.
  • Towa Bird – While not all of the songs on Towa Bird’s album, American Hero, check all the boxes, the song B.I.L.L.S might be one of the most recession pop songs I’ve heard. The track quite literally expresses the hatred of living in todays society. Lyrics like, “I can’t even afford the jeans I’m wearing, The shoes I’m standing in” and “I bought a banana, Cost me 20 dollars” point out the expenses of living today.
  • Troye Sivan – Troye’s music is often melancholic yet danceable. He incorporates shimmering, futuristic synths and smooth vocals with songs that capture the hedonistic, dance-floor energy. My top songs: “Rush”, “My My My!”, “Dance to This” (feat. Ariana Grande), and “Bloom”
• Y2K Nostalgia: This era embraced bright, playful, and hyper-feminine pop that contrasted economic anxiety with feel-good, radio-friendly hooks, much like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and early 2010s viral pop hits, creating a sense of optimism and rebellion against tough times.
  • My Top Pick: Chappell Roan – The Midwestern Princess, who blew up on social media last spring, has been putting out music that I would describe as one of the leading artist in modern recession music. Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, is filled with songs that are upbeat and “feel-good”. My top choices for her songs are “HOT TO GO!”, “Pink Pony Club”, “Femininomenon”, “After Midnight”, and “Good Luck Babe!”. 
  • Doja Cat – She blends pop, rap, and R&B, similar to how Fergie and Nelly Furtado did in the mid-to-late 2000s. Songs like “Say So” and “Agora Hills” have that sleek, futuristic 2008 radio pop feel. 
  • Madison Beer – Madison Beer perfectly captures the moody, emotional, and cinematic side of 2008-2010 pop music. She has been able to use Melancholic Pop, Emotional Ballads, Y2K Pop and R&B Influences. My top songs: “Reckless”, “Showed Me (How I Fell in Love with You)”, “Spinnin”, and “Selfish”
• Pop-Rock & Power Ballads: With its raw emotion, angsty lyrics, and anthemic choruses, pop-rock and power ballads captured the frustration, heartbreak, and resilience of the recession era, led by artists like Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, Avril Lavigne, and Paramore, giving voice to teen angst and economic anxiety.
  • My Top Pick: Olivia Rodrigo – Her pop-rock anthems and emotional ballads feel straight out of the mid-2000s teen angst era. Rodrigo’s music speaks to young people’s frustration, heartbreak, and the feeling of being let down. My Top Songs: “good 4 u”, “vampire”, “drivers license”, “traitor” and “Deja Vu”
  • Tate Mcrae – Mcrae’s music blends heartfelt lyrics, powerful vocals, and a mix of moody ballads and upbeat pop, making her feel like a modern version of the breakup anthems and empowering pop that defined the last recession. My top songs: “you broke me first”, “greedy”, “exes” “that way” and “Purple lace bra”
  • Sabrina Carpenter – Carpenter blends bubblegum pop with sharp, witty lyrics, much like Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream era. Carpenter is confident and dramatic. This makes her music feel straight out of the early 2000s. My top songs: “Feather”, “Espresso”, “Because I Liked a Boy”, and “Nonsense”
  • Reneé Rapp – Her voice is big and theatrical, similar to Kelly Clarkson’s ballads and P!nk’s emotional pop anthems. She mixes bold, empowering pop with deep, emotional storytelling. My top songs: “Pretty Girls”, “Tummy Hurts”, “Snow Angel”, and “My Fault”

Recession music isn’t just about the economic climate—it’s about escapism, nostalgia, emotional intensity, and rebellion. In many ways, music has always been a reflection of the times, and as we navigate economic uncertainty once again, it’s no surprise that the sounds of the late 2000s are making a resurgence. Whether it’s Charli XCX’s electrifying club anthems, Chappell Roan’s playful and theatrical energy, or Olivia Rodrigo’s angst-filled pop-rock, today’s artists are capturing the same spirit of resilience, rebellion, and escapism that defined recession-era music. Lady Gaga’s return with “Abracadabra” and the anticipation surrounding MAYHEM only reinforce the idea that we may be entering a new era of feel-good, high-energy pop. While the economy remains unpredictable, one thing is clear: people are once again turning to music for release, nostalgia, and a reason to dance through the chaos. So do you believe we could be entering a new era of pop music that echoes the sounds of the past?