When things go sideways in life—money’s tight, stress is high, the news is depressing—I’ve noticed I don’t reach for chill playlists or introspective vibes.

I go straight to the bangers.
Kesha. Gaga. Britney. Early Rihanna.
That synthy, unapologetic, 120-beats-per-minute Recession Pop that defined the late 2000s and early 2010s.

And honestly?
It still slaps.

But this isn’t just a music preference.

This is survival instinct.
It’s escapism through glitter.
It’s dancing through the chaos with a can of Red Bull and a neon strobe light in your soul.

There’s something about those songs—born during the last big financial crash—that makes them feel built for emotional triage.

Why? Because they were.

Recession Pop came out swinging right when the world was economically falling apart. People were losing homes, jobs, stability—and the music industry said:

“Screw it. Let’s put on a leotard and go clubbing in space.”

It was bold. Ridiculous. Oversized. And exactly what we needed.

And now here we are again.

2025.

Inflation's high. Housing is a fantasy. Mental health is a group project.

And my answer to all of it is still:

🎧 “Blow” by Ke$ha, full volume. No apologies.

Because it helps.

Because that music doesn’t ask you to think.
It tells you to move.

Not every song has to heal you softly.

Some songs heal you by turning your brain off and flooding you with glittery serotonin until the next round of anxiety punches you in the face.

Recession Pop is that temporary armor.
It’s loud. It’s sweaty. It’s maybe a little trashy.
But it’s honest.

So if you’re going through it right now…

Try throwing on some old-school dance-pop.
Get absurdly dramatic. Dance like the rent’s already overdue.
Sing like you still have a Blackberry and a dream.

Because sometimes the best way to handle life’s mess…
is to fight it off with a strobe light and a beat drop.

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