To wonder what 'classics' my generation has to offer?

[OrangeLavenders]

Music wise. Just listened to yet another new release that's a pile of shit. 'Joel Corey. - Head and Heart'. Sounds the same as the last however many mainstream club music.

I'm a club classic 80's and 90's fan. I also like a lot of other stuff like Pet shop boys etc. Nothing like that has been made again. It's all completely unremarkable.

Even if my music taste doesn't suit you, surely you can agree the current generation is rubbish for music?

The only name I think I'll remember when I'm 50 odd is Adele, maybe.

AIBU?

Whilst Little Mix may not ever be a classic, wheb they come on the radio in 10 years time you will belt it out and still know every word.

As I did to East 17 and Gabrielle's "If you ever" the other day. Then had it in my head for a fortnight.

This clip surprised me as Tik Tok felt like it only came out a few years ago but when you see the audience of 30 something celebs to them this is a classic!!!

Same OP. I saw the Pet Shop Boys live and they were bloody marvellous! I love all the electro bands - Erasure, Depeche Mode, New Order. I have a fab electro 80’s playlist in my spotify full of 12”s and the like. I have playlists for every ten years, but I struggled with 2010-20.

I have always had the ability to hear a song once and say that will be a smash and can tell right away if it will have staying power. Last song I remember recently was Portugal The Man’s Feel it Still, heard it first time and was like ‘that is great!’ My teen daughter was like “oooooh what’s that song?” Then pinched it so I know there is still music that has universal appeal.

The difference I have told my kids between our days and now is this - if I made a tape up when I was young (when we used to tape off the charts and hit pause 😁) I would put it in the car stereo on family journeys and my very serious music loving parents (who have seen all the greats) would let me play it. No fucking way will I let my kids put Tyler The Creator and bloody Cardi B on my stereo. Headphones in the back for them 😎

Many that have been mentioned.
Rihanna is not even that "ancient" Umbrella was 2008, love the way you lie 2010 , diamonds 2012.

I know not a lot of people like her, but I'm hoping Billie Eilish becomes a classic.

OP, there are some really good songs in your list, and I get where you're coming from. But I do think there are still good songs being made, but maybe they are not always big hits? I don't actually listen to pop but hear good tunes through TV and sometimes even adverts!

I think Happy by Pharrell Williams is an excellent, timeless tune.

Michael Kiwanuka's Cold Little Heart should be a classic!

Have you heard Anna Of The North? Her 'Dream Girl' is an incredibly catchy, retro-sounding song that I think is also good.

A great song or band will transcend generations surely? Life on Mars, Material Girl, Don't Look Back in Anger, Mr Brightside, all still sounding great. Time will tell if Stormzy, Capaldi and Ezra are still enjoyed in equal measures in future. Rick Astley was ridiculed initially but his most famous song endures! I do see Dave Grohl as an elderly statesman of rock these days though . Green Day too. Credited by lots of young bands as influences.

I can't believe someone had said Little Mix Guilty!
I'm over 60 and Shout out to my ex is one of the few songs I recognise now. It's got a banging tune.
www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Little+Mix+Shout+Out+to+My+Ex&docid=608023530725967560&mid=5139FD7495A78739549E5139FD7495A78739549E&view=detail&FORM=VRAASM&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dshout%2520out%2520to%2520my%2520ex%2520youtube%26qs%3Dn%26form%3DQBVR%26sp%3D-1%26pq%3Dshout%2520out%2520to%2520my%2520ex%2520youtube%26sc%3D5-26%26sk%3D%26cvid%3D73B83A49033341A6A607779B017D2E6E

Arcade fire
First aid kit
LCD sound system (daft punk playing at my house)
Jay z
Drake
Beyonce
Lady Gaga
Coldplay
War on drugs
Dr dre

Taylor swift is brilliant- so talented and a proper 'album' artist - I have about five of her cds for in the car as my car is old and won't link with phone and she's a fantastic singer songwriter . I was so looking forward to her being at Glastonbury this summer.
Also Haim, vampire weekend, bastille, Lana del ray

In a lot of cases I feel the song is what becomes a classic, and not the band/musician.

A great tune is a great tune and will always stand the test of time. A few from my younger days ....

The Bee Gees

Taylor Swift, The 1975, The Killers, Kanye West, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles

@Bassettgirl

Whilst Little Mix may not ever be a classic, wheb they come on the radio in 10 years time you will belt it out and still know every word.

As I did to East 17 and Gabrielle's "If you ever" the other day. Then had it in my head for a fortnight.

That’s a cover I like better than the original

Define 'our generation'?

90's were brill for music. Europop and the whole Blur vs Oasis.

Late 90s and early 00's I remember for mainstream r&b and hiphop. And the introduction of Eminem 😍

I agree OP. There's been nothing original since the 90s, there's been some great music since then but nothing original or legendary. Certainly nothing which comes with its own subculture. Some of the 'good' examples here are really terrible, just bland pop. The best examples on this thread are decent pop, but nothing original.

I think it's something to do with only good looking people getting deals. They don't come in any many different shapes and sizes anymore.

As a Radio 2 listener with musical tastes veering towards older than my not-so-tender years, artists I can mention from the last 10 years... (not necessarily my taste but are sucessful)

Pharell Williams
Bruno Mars
Dua Lipa
George Ezra
Ed Sheran
Justin Timberlake (although his vintage may be pushing it)
Stormzy
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande (I like her voice, but not her musical style)
Rita Ora
Little Mix

There seems to be a few early 00s groups making come backs, Keane, Travis, but that's pushing back towards a generation.

I must be getting older because I can't even understand half the lengthy and jumbled names and colaborations of many current artists getting airplay and find them very difficult to remember.

I hated dance music in the 90s, and it surprises me the way that nostalgia makes things grow on you. Maybe modern music might do the same...

I do find that a lot of current pop isn't that distinctive as a style from 20 odd years ago, or some of the post-Mariah vocal leaping. Urban music has probably developed more, but that's really not my scene.

George Ezra is great, forgot about him.

Thank goodness nobody has mentioned that Scottish one

Catchy tunes, pretty much. That you will still sing along to when they pop up on the radio in 20 years' time.

From the last 10 years
yes to George Ezra: definitely Shotgun, prob Budapest
Katy Perry- Roar and maybe a couple of others
Taylor Swift- Shake It Off is pretty catchy but I think Blank Space might have more radio-ability 20 years hence. And various others
G.R.L. Ugly Heart

Looking at some of the UK #1s from the past 10 years
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
Adele- a few of them.
Olly Murs- Dance With Me Tonight will be played at cheesy wedding discos in 20 years time, definitely
Robin Thicke- Blurred Lines. Annoyingly

Distinctive and/or powerful voices are another way of being memorable years later-
Adele
Rag n Bone Man
George Ezra
who else?

I was born mid 90s. I completely agree with you.

I do like some current music but not the sort of thing you'd hear in the charts. The kind of music with actual instruments and songwriters.

I'm quite passionate about music. It's not just a song to me. I love clever lyrics and hearing different instruments and thinking how talented the artists are. I want to be able to feel something when I listen to music.

Lewis Capaldi is an exception for me, his voice is outstanding!

Amy Winehouse died nine years ago and her biggest hits were fifteen years ago. That is a eon in pop history.

Can you imagine it being 1990 and people were still talking about Slade and Led Zeppelin?

You are officially old. You sound like my dad and a million other old gits banging on about the Beatles or Pink Floyd or Nirvana or Oasis or whatever.

Every generation claims the music their children like is shittier than the shit they liked when they were the same age. Pop music is ephemeral. That’s the whole point of it.

Occasionally, an artist will have more staying power and our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren will listen to it and like it. Then it can be regarded as classic.

I don’t think the Pet Shop Boys will make the cut!

People did still talk about Led Z now especially Stairway to Heaven.