A Retromatic History of Music (or Love)

A Retromatic History of Music (or Love) playlist

1950

»adult standards

»memphis blues

»chicago blues

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»louisiana blues

»cante flamenco

»easy listening

»electric blues

»vintage chanson

»country blues

»new orleans blues

»boogie-woogie

»cowboy western

1951

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»memphis blues

1952

»adult standards

»memphis blues

»chicago blues

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»country blues

»cowboy western

»louisiana blues

»contemporary post-bop

»new orleans blues

»western swing

»nashville sound

»easy listening

»piedmont blues

»electric blues

»deep adult standards

»harmonica blues

1953

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»memphis blues

»chicago blues

»easy listening

»traditional blues

»classical piano

»deep adult standards

»louisiana blues

»new orleans blues

»acoustic blues

»classical performance

»country blues

»electric blues

»cowboy western

»new orleans jazz

1954

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»easy listening

»new orleans jazz

»deep adult standards

»memphis blues

»traditional blues

»chicago blues

»cowboy western

»acoustic blues

»electric blues

1955

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»new orleans jazz

»easy listening

»memphis blues

»deep adult standards

»chicago blues

»rock-and-roll

»traditional blues

1956

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»rock-and-roll

»easy listening

»memphis blues

»chicago blues

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»deep adult standards

1957

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»rock-and-roll

»easy listening

»brill building pop

»deep adult standards

»memphis blues

»acoustic blues

»traditional blues

1958

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»rock-and-roll

»easy listening

»deep adult standards

»brill building pop

»nashville sound

»cowboy western

»vintage chanson

1959

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»rock-and-roll

»brill building pop

»easy listening

»deep adult standards

»memphis blues

»nashville sound

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»chicago blues

»cowboy western

»country blues

»western swing

1960

»contemporary post-bop

»adult standards

»rock-and-roll

»brill building pop

»memphis blues

»easy listening

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»chicago blues

»new orleans blues

»country blues

»deep adult standards

»southern soul

»louisiana blues

»electric blues

»nashville sound

»piedmont blues

1961

»contemporary post-bop

»adult standards

»brill building pop

»rock-and-roll

»easy listening

»southern soul

»acoustic blues

»memphis blues

»traditional blues

»chicago blues

»nashville sound

»country blues

»british invasion

»cowboy western

»piedmont blues

»deep adult standards

1962

»adult standards

»brill building pop

»contemporary post-bop

»rock-and-roll

»southern soul

»easy listening

»british invasion

»memphis blues

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»chicago blues

»traditional folk

»country blues

1963

»adult standards

»brill building pop

»contemporary post-bop

»rock-and-roll

»easy listening

»british invasion

»southern soul

»nashville sound

»traditional folk

»memphis blues

»cowboy western

»chicago blues

»traditional blues

»bubblegum pop

»country blues

»acoustic blues

1964

»adult standards

»brill building pop

»contemporary post-bop

»british invasion

»rock-and-roll

»southern soul

»easy listening

»bubblegum pop

»traditional folk

»british blues

»nashville sound

»cowboy western

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»memphis blues

»northern soul

1965

»british invasion

»adult standards

»brill building pop

»southern soul

»contemporary post-bop

»bubblegum pop

»british blues

»rock-and-roll

»traditional folk

»northern soul

»traditional blues

»memphis blues

»easy listening

»psychedelic rock

»acoustic blues

»chicago blues

»country blues

»electric blues

»nashville sound

»singer-songwriter

1966

»british invasion

»southern soul

»adult standards

»brill building pop

»british blues

»bubblegum pop

»contemporary post-bop

»psychedelic rock

»traditional folk

»classic garage rock

»rock-and-roll

»memphis blues

»singer-songwriter

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»chicago blues

»country blues

»northern soul

»easy listening

»electric blues

1967

»psychedelic rock

»british invasion

»british blues

»southern soul

»bubblegum pop

»brill building pop

»adult standards

»classic garage rock

»contemporary post-bop

»traditional folk

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»rock-and-roll

»chicago blues

»traditional blues

»easy listening

»electric blues

»memphis blues

»northern soul

»acoustic blues

»brazilian pop music

»country blues

»nashville sound

1968

»psychedelic rock

»british blues

»british invasion

»bubblegum pop

»southern soul

»traditional folk

»brill building pop

»singer-songwriter

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»traditional blues

»electric blues

»classic funk rock

»chicago blues

»memphis blues

»nashville sound

»country blues

»acoustic blues

»classic garage rock

»easy listening

»rock-and-roll

»brazilian pop music

»northern soul

»outlaw country

»symphonic rock

1969

»psychedelic rock

»british blues

»southern soul

»singer-songwriter

»british invasion

»traditional folk

»classic funk rock

»electric blues

»bubblegum pop

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»brill building pop

»skinhead reggae

»traditional blues

»chicago blues

»country blues

»memphis blues

»southern rock

»acoustic blues

»louisiana blues

»symphonic rock

»nashville sound

»progressive rock

1970

»psychedelic rock

»british blues

»singer-songwriter

»traditional folk

»southern soul

»british invasion

»bubblegum pop

»classic funk rock

»adult standards

»brill building pop

»symphonic rock

»progressive rock

»electric blues

»southern rock

»nashville sound

»canterbury scene

»contemporary post-bop

»psychedelic blues-rock

»country blues

»rock-and-roll

»traditional blues

»acoustic blues

»brazilian pop music

»memphis blues

»skinhead reggae

1971

»singer-songwriter

»traditional folk

»psychedelic rock

»british blues

»classic funk rock

»southern soul

»southern rock

»symphonic rock

»progressive rock

»bubblegum pop

»british invasion

»electric blues

»brill building pop

»nashville sound

»canterbury scene

»contemporary post-bop

»adult standards

»country blues

»traditional blues

»chicago blues

»psychedelic blues-rock

»brazilian pop music

»memphis blues

»cowboy western

»outlaw country

1972

»singer-songwriter

»psychedelic rock

»southern soul

»classic funk rock

»traditional folk

»british blues

»southern rock

»adult standards

»symphonic rock

»progressive rock

»electric blues

»nashville sound

»canterbury scene

»contemporary post-bop

»bubblegum pop

»british invasion

»chicago blues

»memphis blues

»traditional blues

»country blues

»outlaw country

»brazilian pop music

»cowboy western

»acoustic blues

»brill building pop

1973

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»southern soul

»psychedelic rock

»traditional folk

»british blues

»southern rock

»symphonic rock

»progressive rock

»electric blues

»canterbury scene

»adult standards

»contemporary post-bop

»traditional blues

»chicago blues

»brazilian pop music

»country blues

»bubblegum pop

»memphis blues

»acoustic blues

»nashville sound

1974

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»southern soul

»traditional folk

»british blues

»southern rock

»symphonic rock

»progressive rock

»psychedelic rock

»contemporary post-bop

»electric blues

»adult standards

»nashville sound

»brazilian pop music

»canterbury scene

»chicago blues

»country blues

»traditional blues

»memphis blues

1975

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»symphonic rock

»traditional folk

»progressive rock

»southern rock

»southern soul

»nashville sound

»contemporary post-bop

»adult standards

»canterbury scene

»british blues

»psychedelic rock

»brazilian pop music

»brill building pop

»electric blues

»outlaw country

»cowboy western

»british invasion

»western swing

1976

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»nashville sound

»traditional folk

»southern soul

»southern rock

»progressive rock

»symphonic rock

»cowboy western

»bubblegum pop

»contemporary post-bop

»psychedelic rock

»adult standards

»british blues

»brill building pop

»british invasion

»outlaw country

»electric blues

»canterbury scene

»western swing

1977

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»traditional folk

»progressive rock

»southern rock

»southern soul

»symphonic rock

»nashville sound

»british blues

»adult standards

»psychedelic rock

»canterbury scene

»brazilian pop music

»electric blues

»contemporary post-bop

»bubblegum pop

»cowboy western

»british invasion

1978

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»traditional folk

»progressive rock

»southern rock

»symphonic rock

»adult standards

»nashville sound

»british blues

»electric blues

»southern soul

»brazilian pop music

»canterbury scene

»contemporary post-bop

»outlaw country

»psychedelic rock

»traditional blues

1979

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»traditional folk

»nashville sound

»southern rock

»southern soul

»brazilian pop music

»progressive rock

»adult standards

»experimental rock

»contemporary post-bop

»symphonic rock

»british blues

»electric blues

1980

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»nashville sound

»southern rock

»traditional folk

»progressive rock

»symphonic rock

»adult standards

»permanent wave

»british blues

»experimental rock

»southern soul

»electric blues

1981

»classic funk rock

»experimental rock

»nashville sound

»southern rock

»singer-songwriter

»british blues

»progressive rock

»adult standards

»brazilian pop music

»hardcore punk

»symphonic rock

»electric blues

»permanent wave

»traditional folk

»outlaw country

»psychedelic rock

»contemporary post-bop

1982

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»nashville sound

»hardcore punk

»traditional folk

»southern rock

»outlaw country

»adult standards

»experimental rock

»british blues

»oi

»permanent wave

»progressive rock

1983

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»nashville sound

»permanent wave

»hardcore punk

»progressive rock

»traditional folk

»british blues

»experimental rock

»brazilian pop music

»southern rock

»symphonic rock

1984

»singer-songwriter

»classic funk rock

»nashville sound

»traditional folk

»permanent wave

»brazilian pop music

»hardcore punk

»experimental rock

»outlaw country

»adult standards

»urban contemporary

1985

»classic funk rock

»singer-songwriter

»nashville sound

»permanent wave

»alternative rock

»traditional folk

»brazilian pop music

»experimental rock

»hardcore punk

»contemporary post-bop

»british blues

»progressive rock

»urban contemporary

1986

»singer-songwriter

»permanent wave

»classic funk rock

»experimental rock

»nashville sound

»traditional folk

»alternative rock

»british blues

»new jack swing

»hardcore punk

»urban contemporary

»adult standards

»electric blues

»brazilian pop music

1987

»singer-songwriter

»alternative rock

»nashville sound

»permanent wave

»traditional folk

»adult standards

»crossover thrash

»brazilian pop music

»electric blues

»new jack swing

»british blues

»classic funk rock

»outlaw country

»experimental rock

1988

»singer-songwriter

»alternative rock

»old school hip hop

»permanent wave

»traditional folk

»adult standards

»nashville sound

»urban contemporary

»new jack swing

»electric blues

»british blues

»crossover thrash

»classic funk rock

»southern rock

»brazilian pop music

1989

»singer-songwriter

»alternative rock

»permanent wave

»adult standards

»traditional folk

»urban contemporary

»nashville sound

»old school hip hop

»brazilian pop music

»hardcore punk

»new jack swing

»crossover thrash

»outlaw country

»electric blues

»classic funk rock

»country blues

»contemporary country

»contemporary post-bop

1990

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»permanent wave

»nashville sound

»old school hip hop

»adult standards

»new jack swing

»urban contemporary

»classic funk rock

»traditional folk

»british blues

»hardcore hip hop

»electric blues

1991

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»nashville sound

»old school hip hop

»adult standards

»permanent wave

»urban contemporary

»outlaw country

»traditional folk

»new jack swing

»contemporary country

»experimental rock

»hardcore hip hop

»cowboy western

»british blues

»electric blues

»rock en espanol

»alternative metal

»brutal death metal

»classic funk rock

»southern rock

1992

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»permanent wave

»urban contemporary

»contemporary country

»new jack swing

»alternative metal

»adult standards

»old school hip hop

»british blues

»classic funk rock

»traditional folk

»electric blues

»hardcore hip hop

»nashville sound

»outlaw country

»experimental rock

»southern soul

»east coast hip hop

»rock en espanol

»brutal death metal

»industrial rock

1993

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»permanent wave

»contemporary country

»old school hip hop

»urban contemporary

»classic funk rock

»hardcore hip hop

»adult standards

»nashville sound

»new jack swing

»traditional folk

»alternative metal

»alternative pop

»east coast hip hop

»regional mexican

»southern soul

»brazilian pop music

»outlaw country

1994

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»permanent wave

»contemporary country

»old school hip hop

»urban contemporary

»alternative metal

»hardcore hip hop

»east coast hip hop

»nashville sound

»new jack swing

»british blues

»classic funk rock

»adult standards

»southern soul

»neo-psychedelic

»rock en espanol

»electric blues

»traditional folk

»christian music

»regional mexican

»brazilian pop music

»experimental rock

»alternative pop

»post-hardcore

»melodic hardcore

»outlaw country

1995

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»permanent wave

»regional mexican

»urban contemporary

»hardcore hip hop

»alternative metal

»nashville sound

»old school hip hop

»outlaw country

»adult standards

»classic funk rock

»contemporary country

»east coast hip hop

»new jack swing

»traditional folk

»alternative country

»alternative pop

»progressive metal

»west coast rap

»electric blues

»industrial rock

»cowboy western

»melodic hardcore

»southern soul

1996

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»urban contemporary

»new jack swing

»contemporary country

»regional mexican

»permanent wave

»alternative metal

»hardcore hip hop

»melodic hardcore

»brazilian pop music

»east coast hip hop

»neo-psychedelic

»old school hip hop

»progressive metal

»traditional folk

»rock en espanol

»classic funk rock

»nashville sound

»west coast rap

»hardcore punk

»outlaw country

»adult standards

»alternative country

»pagan black metal

1997

»alternative rock

»regional mexican

»urban contemporary

»singer-songwriter

»alternative metal

»permanent wave

»melodic hardcore

»new jack swing

»adult standards

»contemporary country

»electric blues

»hardcore hip hop

»neo-psychedelic

»rock en espanol

»industrial metal

»latin alternative

»nashville sound

»brazilian pop music

»cumbia sonidera

»hardcore punk

»outlaw country

»post-hardcore

»traditional blues

1998

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»regional mexican

»urban contemporary

»alternative metal

»contemporary country

»permanent wave

»melodic hardcore

»new jack swing

»progressive metal

»rock en espanol

»hardcore hip hop

»latin alternative

»industrial metal

»southern soul

»alternative country

»classic funk rock

»dirty south rap

»east coast hip hop

»electric blues

»melodic death metal

»industrial rock

»neo classical metal

»neo-psychedelic

1999

»alternative rock

»alternative metal

»singer-songwriter

»regional mexican

»urban contemporary

»industrial metal

»rock en espanol

»new jack swing

»hardcore hip hop

»permanent wave

»melodic hardcore

»contemporary country

»underground hip hop

»latin alternative

»neo-psychedelic

»progressive metal

»east coast hip hop

»industrial rock

»outlaw country

»brazilian pop music

»christian music

»classic funk rock

»traditional folk

»alternative hip hop

»nashville sound

»old school hip hop

»pagan black metal

»adult standards

»christian alternative rock

»christian rock

»dirty south rap

2000

»alternative rock

»urban contemporary

»alternative metal

»regional mexican

»industrial metal

»singer-songwriter

»melodic hardcore

»new jack swing

»rock en espanol

»permanent wave

»industrial rock

»progressive metal

»alternative country

»latin alternative

»contemporary country

»dirty south rap

»hardcore hip hop

»outlaw country

»christian alternative rock

»christian music

»underground hip hop

»nashville sound

»brazilian pop music

»christian rock

»melodic metalcore

»southern hip hop

2001

»alternative rock

»alternative metal

»urban contemporary

»singer-songwriter

»industrial metal

»permanent wave

»regional mexican

»neo-psychedelic

»contemporary country

»new jack swing

»hardcore hip hop

»melodic hardcore

»melodic metalcore

»industrial rock

»rock en espanol

»outlaw country

»brazilian pop music

»classic funk rock

»east coast hip hop

»progressive metal

»alternative country

»alternative dance

»christian alternative rock

»christian music

»melodic death metal

»nashville sound

»post-hardcore

2002

»alternative rock

»alternative metal

»urban contemporary

»singer-songwriter

»regional mexican

»industrial metal

»rock en espanol

»latin alternative

»melodic hardcore

»permanent wave

»new jack swing

»progressive metal

»post-hardcore

»christian alternative rock

»contemporary country

»hardcore hip hop

»melodic metalcore

»underground hip hop

»neo-psychedelic

»adult standards

»neo classical metal

»southern soul

»brazilian pop music

»christian rock

»dirty south rap

»nashville sound

»stomp and holler

»alternative country

»industrial rock

»southern hip hop

»british blues

»christian music

»melodic death metal

2003

»alternative rock

»alternative metal

»singer-songwriter

»urban contemporary

»industrial metal

»christian alternative rock

»melodic metalcore

»dirty south rap

»christian rock

»southern hip hop

»alternative hip hop

»christian music

»neo-psychedelic

»regional mexican

»underground hip hop

»permanent wave

»post-hardcore

»rock en espanol

»alternative dance

»industrial rock

»melodic death metal

»stomp and holler

»latin alternative

»melodic hardcore

»progressive metal

»brazilian pop music

»hardcore hip hop

»new jack swing

»alternative country

»contemporary country

»east coast hip hop

2004

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»alternative metal

»urban contemporary

»melodic metalcore

»regional mexican

»christian alternative rock

»neo-psychedelic

»industrial metal

»melodic death metal

»dirty south rap

»christian music

»rock en espanol

»southern hip hop

»stomp and holler

»underground hip hop

»christian rock

»permanent wave

»post-hardcore

»progressive metal

»alternative hip hop

»alternative dance

»contemporary country

»hardcore hip hop

»latin alternative

»east coast hip hop

»symphonic metal

»alternative country

»brazilian pop music

»experimental rock

»industrial rock

»melodic hardcore

»outlaw country

»swedish indie rock

2005

»alternative metal

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»urban contemporary

»regional mexican

»melodic metalcore

»alternative dance

»christian alternative rock

»contemporary country

»christian music

»industrial metal

»stomp and holler

»christian rock

»neo-psychedelic

»underground hip hop

»alternative hip hop

»dirty south rap

»melodic death metal

»southern hip hop

»permanent wave

»rock en espanol

»progressive metal

»outlaw country

»post-hardcore

»brazilian pop music

»latin alternative

»brill building pop

2006

»alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»alternative metal

»melodic metalcore

»urban contemporary

»neo-psychedelic

»regional mexican

»alternative dance

»christian alternative rock

»stomp and holler

»dirty south rap

»southern hip hop

»melodic death metal

»post-hardcore

»alternative hip hop

»christian music

»christian rock

»contemporary country

»industrial metal

»rock en espanol

»permanent wave

»electro house

»progressive metal

»latin alternative

»brill building pop

»underground hip hop

»british indie rock

»latin hip hop

»melodic hardcore

»classic funk rock

»neo classical metal

»symphonic metal

2007

»alternative dance

»alternative metal

»stomp and holler

»melodic metalcore

»singer-songwriter

»alternative rock

»urban contemporary

»regional mexican

»neo-psychedelic

»industrial metal

»christian alternative rock

»electro house

»contemporary country

»southern hip hop

»progressive metal

»permanent wave

»christian rock

»melodic death metal

»post-hardcore

»rock en espanol

»dirty south rap

»new weird america

»christian music

»latin alternative

»new americana

»southern soul

»industrial rock

»alternative hip hop

»british indie rock

»melodic hardcore

2008

»alternative dance

»urban contemporary

»stomp and holler

»melodic metalcore

»neo-psychedelic

»singer-songwriter

»alternative rock

»alternative metal

»regional mexican

»southern hip hop

»contemporary country

»alternative hip hop

»christian alternative rock

»dirty south rap

»electro house

»melodic death metal

»christian music

»new americana

»christian rock

»rock en espanol

»progressive metal

»symphonic metal

»industrial metal

»neo classical metal

»latin alternative

»classic funk rock

»permanent wave

»southern soul

»new weird america

»underground hip hop

»hardcore hip hop

»melodic hardcore

»new jack swing

2009

»alternative dance

»stomp and holler

»regional mexican

»melodic metalcore

»alternative metal

»urban contemporary

»alternative rock

»alternative hip hop

»christian alternative rock

»neo-psychedelic

»contemporary country

»electro house

»christian rock

»christian music

»singer-songwriter

»southern hip hop

»permanent wave

»dirty south rap

»new americana

»new weird america

»industrial metal

»progressive metal

»rock en espanol

»latin alternative

»symphonic metal

»gothic symphonic metal

»post-hardcore

»underground hip hop

2010

»alternative dance

»stomp and holler

»urban contemporary

»melodic metalcore

»alternative metal

»neo-psychedelic

»alternative rock

»electro house

»christian alternative rock

»regional mexican

»alternative hip hop

»contemporary country

»southern hip hop

»christian rock

»christian music

»singer-songwriter

»dirty south rap

»industrial metal

»new americana

»progressive metal

»melodic death metal

»rock en espanol

2011

»stomp and holler

»alternative dance

»alternative hip hop

»contemporary country

»electro house

»alternative rock

»melodic metalcore

»alternative metal

»neo-psychedelic

»urban contemporary

»singer-songwriter

»new americana

»christian alternative rock

»progressive house

»progressive metal

»christian rock

»modern country rock

»permanent wave

»christian music

»melodic death metal

»industrial metal

»regional mexican

»alternative emo

»southern hip hop

2012

»alternative hip hop

»stomp and holler

»alternative dance

»contemporary country

»electro house

»christian alternative rock

»singer-songwriter

»alternative metal

»melodic metalcore

»alternative rock

»new americana

»christian rock

»urban contemporary

»neo-psychedelic

»regional mexican

»christian music

»modern country rock

»australian alternative rock

»permanent wave

»southern hip hop

»latin alternative

»melodic death metal

»progressive house

»rock en espanol

2013

»stomp and holler

»contemporary country

»alternative dance

»alternative hip hop

»electro house

»melodic metalcore

»urban contemporary

»alternative metal

»christian alternative rock

»new americana

»christian music

»christian rock

»modern country rock

»neo-psychedelic

»permanent wave

»singer-songwriter

»regional mexican

»alternative rock

»progressive house

2014

»alternative hip hop

»stomp and holler

»electro house

»urban contemporary

»alternative metal

»contemporary country

»alternative dance

»melodic metalcore

»alternative rock

»new americana

»singer-songwriter

»progressive house

»neo-psychedelic

»christian alternative rock

»modern country rock

»southern hip hop

»dirty south rap

»industrial metal

2015

»alternative hip hop

»electro house

»alternative dance

»stomp and holler

»new americana

»urban contemporary

»alternative rock

»progressive electro house

»singer-songwriter

»progressive house

»neo-psychedelic

»contemporary country

»alternative metal

»melodic metalcore

This collation of love by glenn mcdonald · @EveryNoise · Every Noise at Once · The Echo Nest · Spotify

This is an algorithmically-generated retroactive history of popular music. It is calculated by taking the 5000 most durably popular songs from each year since 1950 (using The Echo Nest's best guesses at both popularity and year), finding the genres to which their artists correspond (sometimes in hindsight), and then ranking those genres according to the fraction of that year's artists they each represent. This process is neither wholly accurate nor wholly precise, but neither is music, yet they both often seem to work.

Click the » next to a genre to highlight its rise and fall across the years.