The Soundtrack of a Generation: Popular Music Among High School Students

Music is a universal language, a powerful force that shapes our emotions, connects us to others, and provides a soundtrack to our lives. This is especially true for high school students, who are navigating a period of intense personal growth and social development. Music acts as a means of self-expression, a tool for building relationships, and a source of comfort and escape. What kind of music resonates most with high schoolers? While individual tastes vary widely, certain artists and genres consistently capture the attention of this demographic.

Top Artists Resonating with High Schoolers

It's nearly impossible to declare a single "best" artist, but several musicians consistently rank high in popularity among teenagers. These artists span a variety of genres, reflecting the diverse tastes of high school students.

1. Taylor Swift

Swift’s widespread appeal to audiences has solidified her status as a global superstar. The multitalented singer and songwriter has built a dedicated following through her relatable lyrics, catchy melodies, and constant evolution as an artist. Over the years, she has released 11 original studio albums, 4 re-recorded albums, 5 extended plays (EPs), and 4 live albums.

2. Drake

Drake is a Canadian rapper who first gained recognition as an actor before transitioning to a successful and influential music career. His style incorporates a variety of genres, including R&B, hip hop, bounce, and dancehall music.

3. Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish is an American singer and songwriter signed to Interscope Records. The singer and dancer debuted her ethereal indie electro-pop sound when she was barely a teenager. The singer recently released her newest album, "Hit Me Hard and Soft," on May 17th.

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4. Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar, an American rapper and songwriter, is regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation and one of the greatest rappers of all time. He is known for his technical artistry and complex songwriting.

5. The Weeknd

Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, is known for his atmospheric, trip-hop-infused R&B and synth-driven pop music. His debut, "House of Balloons," sparked much international attention.

6. Rihanna

Rihanna, a Barbadian pop and R&B singer, became a worldwide star in the early 21st century. She is known for her distinctive voice and fashionable appearance. One of her best-selling albums of all time is "Good Girl Gone Bad."

7. Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber, a Canadian singer and former teen idol, gained popularity back in 2009 when he was only a teenager following the release of his song, “One Time.” Bieber mainly writes pop songs and has become one of the biggest pop stars of his generation.

8. Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande is an American singer and actress who burst onto the pop music scene in the early 2010s and became known for her four-octave range. She began her acting career at the age of 15.

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9. Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter whose music style includes reggaeton and trap music. His urban music style also incorporates other genres like rock, punk, and soul.

10. Eminem

Eminem is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, and actor. He is one of the most successful artists of the 21st century. He was a member of the hip hop group D12.

Graduation Anthems: A Look Back at Popular Songs

Music often becomes intertwined with significant life events, creating a powerful sense of nostalgia. For high school students, graduation is a major milestone, and the music that topped the charts during their graduation season can evoke strong memories and emotions.

To illustrate this point, let's look at the songs that held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 during May and June of each graduation year from 1960 to 2023:

1960: "Cathy's Clown" by The Everly Brothers
1961: "Runaway" by Del Shannon
1962: "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles
1963: "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto
1964: "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups
1965: "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" by Herman's Hermits
1966: "Monday, Monday" by The Mamas & the Papas
1967: "Groovin'" by The Young Rascals
1968: "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel
1969: "Get Back" by The Beatles with Billy Preston
1970: "American Woman" / "No Sugar Tonight" by The Guess Who (Tie)
1971: "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night
1972: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack / "The Candy Man" by Sammy Davis Jr. (Tie)
1973: "My Love" by Paul McCartney & Wings
1974: "The Streak" by Ray Stevens
1975: "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" by Tony Orlando and Dawn
1976: "Silly Love Songs" by Wings
1977: "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder
1978: "With a Little Luck" by Wings / "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb (Tie)
1979: "Reunited" by Peaches & Herb
1981: "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes
1982: "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
1983: "Flashdance… What a Feeling" by Irene Cara
1984: "Hello" by Lionel Richie / "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams / "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper / "The Reflex" by Duran Duran (Tie)
1985: "Everything She Wants" by Wham! / "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears / "Heaven" by Bryan Adams (Tie)
1986: "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston / "On My Own" by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald (Tie)
1987: "With or Without You" by U2
1988: "One More Try" by George Michael
1989: "Forever Your Girl" by Paula Abdul
1990: "Vogue" by Madonna
1991: "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul
1992: "Jump" by Kris Kross
1993: "That's the Way Love Goes" by Janet Jackson
1994: "I Swear" by All-4-One
1995: "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan / "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" by Bryan Adams (Tie)
1996: "Tha Crossroads" by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
1997: "Hypnotize" by The Notorious B.I.G. / "MMMBop" by Hanson / "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans feat. 112 (Tie)
1998: "Too Close" by Next / "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica (Tie)
1999: "Livin' la Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin
2000: "Maria Maria" by Santana feat. The Product G&B
2001: "Lady Marmalade" by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink
2002: "Foolish" by Ashanti
2003: "21 Questions" by 50 Cent feat. Nate Dogg
2004: "Burn" by Usher
2005: "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani / "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey (Tie)
2006: "SOS" by Rihanna
2007: "Umbrella" by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
2008: "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne feat. Static Major
2009: "Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas
2010: "OMG" by Usher feat. will.i.am
2011: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
2012: "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye feat. Kimbra
2013: "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
2014: "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
2015: "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
2016: "One Dance" by Drake feat. Wizkid and Kyla
2017: "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
2018: "Nice for What" by Drake
2019: "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
2020: "Rockstar" by DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
2021: "Butter" by BTS
2022: "As It Was" by Harry Styles
2023: "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen

This list demonstrates the ever-changing landscape of popular music and how different genres and artists have dominated the charts during various graduation seasons.

The Personal Connection: Music as a Reflection of Identity

Beyond the broad trends and popular artists, music holds a deeply personal significance for individual high school students. It can be a source of comfort, inspiration, and self-discovery. As one student, Kaiserman, notes, "Whenever I'm going through something, I listen to it [the song] and it helps me remember [that] everything passes." She found the song through her friend in 6th grade and still recalls her favorite lyrics to this day. “My favorite part has always been the chorus. The repetition of ‘You’ll get over it,’ or ‘I know it hurts sometimes,’ really stuck with me. It’s because it’s true.

Ryan Romero has always had a special place in his heart for music, especially as a kid, growing up and listening to Hispanic music. Throughout his high school career, his love for music wasn’t anything nobody couldn’t notice. Some days, Romero would joyfully enter school with a speaker, blasting music that was most admired by other students. On other days, he would curate mixes professionally, DJ-ing at venues as a part-time job. Outside of any authoritative bounds, Romero would drive to his friend’s house playing “El Glorioso Dim” as loud as possible. “It’s based off of my favorite soccer team [Independiente Medellín] in Colombia. It’s like my anthem,” he states. Growing up, Romero would watch all of Independiente Medellín’s matches with his grandfather. “My grandfather and I would always sing it.

Ashlyn Mathew states, “I lose a lot of energy by the end of the day, but this song picks it back up. Matthew did dance until her junior year. Through dance, the song grew in meaning, empowering her throughout her afternoons. “I literally think of the choreography in my mind whenever I listen to it,” Mathew says. According to her, she can visualize a surplus of images when she listens to music. “Unlike most who listen to the melody, I tend to listen to the bass, and from there, I can get a sort of color or vibe from the song,” Mathew claims. The senior has a vastly creative mind and utilizes it in her creative writing class and, sometimes, through acting. Above all, Mathew says, “Music is a form of self-expression.

His angelic voice and unique use of instruments are what attracts all of Caesar’s fans; including Poore. “Loose,” in particular, has allowed Poore to reflect on himself and his life. “This song helped me to cut out toxic people in my life,” Poore says. Although losing people is not ideal, Caesar’s song has motivated Poore to be happier. Poore reveals, “My favorite lyric has to be: ‘You gotta cut that girl loose.’” Each time that this lyric is played, it has allowed Poore to acknowledge that growth is important and not every relationship has to be perfect. Since knowing the song, Poore has associated Caesar with some of his high school experiences with one being his late-night car rides with his friends.

Although her current favorite artist is Drake, the song “Vienna” is what shows Lobodzinski’s high school journey. The meaning of the song is to “enjoy the moment” which has allowed Lobodzinski to try new things and to be patient with herself. “I remember this song popping up on study playlists during exam season,” Lobodzinski reminisces. During her time at Charter, Lobodzinski has always strived to do good and to be perfect. From being in rigorous classes and doing extracurriculars, “This song helped to ease the stress,” she states. “Vienna” expresses how age should not stop anyone, so Lobodzinski has used that as a reminder to not always put so much pressure on herself.

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