Music’s sound, vibration, sensation, and melody have all evolved over time. From Louis Armstrong to Bad Bunny, artists have used lyrics and music to depict the world they lived in. Music has undergone significant creative changes over the previous century, resulting in some cult classics. From the 1920s to the present, music has contained some of the same characteristics as today, such as political activism, pop culture influences, and the development of everything from language to values and identity.
Louis Armstrong, one of the earliest jazz icons who still influences music to this day, rose to prominence due to his deep vocals and lyrical trumpet playing, as well as an early introduction to scat. His album “Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five and Hot Seven” is an early example of swinging and scatting, ushering forth a new level of jazz. His influence was subterranean, inspiring future genres while also providing a raw expressive opposing perspective amid the Great Depression and Jim Crow era. Politically, they represented acts of persistence and resilience.
The 1960s and 1970s were among the most musically significant decades of the last century. Bob Dylan shattered the conventions of the folk genre with “Highway 61 Revisited” introducing dense poetic lyricism and an electric rock-driven sound that shifted songwriting into an outlet for intimate and public commentary. This artistic ambition continues with The Beatles’ raw experimentation on “Abbey Road.” Dylan and The Beatles established the album as the leading platform for significant artistic expression in the 60s.
The 1980s and 1990s popularized a number of new genres and musicians, establishing a great era for music. In the world of rock and pop, icons like Michael Jackson elevated album-making to a theatrical production with “Thriller,” a pop-funk-soul record that became the best-selling album of all time and broke down racial barriers on MTV. Simultaneously, AC/DC’s “Back in Black” set the standard for hard rock resilience with its riff-driven anthems resonating throughout the decade. Prince’s multifaceted excellence reached its pinnacle with “Purple Rain,” a combination of funk, rock, pop, and R&B that defined artistic liberty and sensual expressiveness.
The 2000s were an era that continued to incorporate music from the past but with a modern twist, featuring albums such as Outkast’s “Stankonia” and “Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below.” It was a genre-defying album that combined funk, hip-hop, soul, pop, and electronica. On the other hand, Radiohead’s “Kid A” demonstrated that a prominent rock band could reject conventional norms and use the album format to explore innovative ideas while attaining tremendous cultural influence.
The decade of the 2010s was characterized by a blend of music inspired by the 1990s and 2000s. Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” was a historic turning point in hip-hop — a vast jazz-infused and funk-driven narrative that served as an exploration of black identity, structural oppression, and personal pain. In comparison, Beyoncé reimagined the pop album as a visual and thematic declaration of black excellence, feminism, and artistic freedom. Her album “Lemonade” delves into a direct and passionate confession that interweaves personal narrative with political and cultural images, delving into themes of betrayal, heritage, and survival.
The 2020s have seen unprecedented global dominance by musicians that have fundamentally transformed the core of the pop genre. Rather than simply making singles, the Puerto Rican performer Bad Bunny used his breakthrough album “Un Verano Sin Ti” to expand cultural awareness. This genre-bending record blends reggaeton, indie pop, dembow, bachata, and electronica. Bad Bunny has had a significant impact on popular music, breaking down linguistic boundaries, embracing Latin pride, and redefining chart success in the streaming era.
Over a century, the favorite album has progressed from a gathered artifact, into a purposeful masterpiece, and into a streaming-era symbol placed in a chaotic digital world. Despite the challenges posed by individualization, its ability to create shared experiences remains deep.