Recession Pop is back– Here are 12 hilarious music memes to kickstart the trend

Kesha just released a new single with T-Pain titled Yippee-Ki-Yay, and it's recapturing that recession pop vibe. You know, those upbeat, dancey bops from the late 2000s and early 2010s when everything was low-key crazy.

The song dropped on March 27, and in the video, they're chillin' by the bonfire, singing "yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-ya-ya."

So, why is recession pop making a comeback? Well, when President Donald Trump announced the tariffs, the likelihood of recession increased from 40% to 60%, as per JP Morgan.

It just so happens that pop culture and a nation's economy are actually quite linked.

Pop culture reporter Eilish Gilligan was cited by Newsweek describing in a January 2024 video that when the economy turns bad, pop music becomes "brighter, lighter, more optimistic, and dancier."

Some of the top artists who contributed to this phenomenon are Lady Gaga with singles such as Just Dance and Poker Face, Kesha, who's renowned for Tik Tok and We R Who We R, Katy Perry with songs like Teenage Dream and Firework, and Black Eyed Peas with I Gotta Feeling.

With recession pop all over the place right now, it's only natural that the memes catch up as well. Let's get on with some traditional 2000s music memes and bring on this trend like a blast of nostalgia.

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12 music memes to welcome the return of Recession Pop

When your music taste is older than your birth certificate

When the playlist predates me, I'm here feigning to know the cultural relevance of cassette tapes.

(Image via Pinterest/ em63738393)

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The Britney education your kids didn’t ask for

I’m not saying I’ll be a cool parent, but my kids better know who Britney is by the time they can talk.

(Image via Pinterest/ August)

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The 2000s era was chef’s kiss

That cringeworthy moment when you were absent from all the 2000s trends because you were literally... a cell.

(Image via Pinterest/ Leena)

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This is what peak music was

When your mom's playlist hits harder than yours, and you can't help but fake that you aren't shook.

(Image via Pinterest/ 3R1C4)

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The OG playlist

Spotify Wrapped 1999: Mandy Moore and Jennifer Lopez are telling me to live my best life, but I’m still too busy playing Sega Genesis.

(Image via Pinterest/ Jenna Barclay)

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The Queen of Pop

Britney's emotional rollercoaster is essentially the pop counterpart of Lana Del Rey's sad girl vibes.

(Image via Pinterest/ d4w4nn4)

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Not even a guilty pleasure, just pure talent

When Poker Face comes on, I'm suddenly auditioning for America's Got Talent.

(Image via Pinterest/ Xo)

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When your emotional maturity is on a solid 3/10

When you vibe to Kesha's Love Is a Drug at 13 and you feel like you're in a movie, but really it's just the drama of your social studies class.

(Image via Pinterest/ Bri)

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Crying over fictional heartbreak

Crying in my room to I Know It's Over by The Smiths as if I'm the star of a heart-wrenching indie movie when the only thing I'm truly crying over is my last meal.

(Image via Pinterest/ Prashant)

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Me, pretending to have a “vintage” playlist

I act like I was born in the wrong time and only listen to recession pop songs, but I've got today's top hits on repeat when nobody's watching.

(Image via Pinterest/ April Addington)

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The battle for real music is on

My recession pop music and I go against the world as if we're the only ones that understand the true nature of real music and the rest of the world is blinded by whatever is trending.

(Image via Pinterest/ rena)

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You didn’t hear it from me

2003 Britney heard about you, and yeah… you're exactly what she was singing about.

(Image via Pinterest/

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During past recessions, unemployment and inflation skyrocketed, making people turn to pop culture for an escape.

While things aren’t as bad as the Great Recession, the internet is already vibing with the same energy.

Where this whole recession pop wave will go, no one knows—but at least we’ve got memes ready. Just in case.