Each year, students from all grade levels come together to form a colorful mosaic of distinct musical choices. Artists will always reflect the people who listen to them, so as the state of music and the student body evolve over time, East’s collective taste follows suit. The school community is in a constant state of change, and the soundtrack of their lives adapts accordingly.
As the end of the 2022-2023 school year approaches, I couldn’t help but wonder: What are the prevailing musical choices among this year’s students?
In an ECHO survey of 81 students across all four grade levels, one artist was clearly queen: Taylor Swift. The Grammy Award-winning pop sensation accounted for 16.7 percent of the “favorite musical artist” vote, leaving Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean at a distant second and third with 6.1 percent and 4.5 percent respectively.
“I love Taylor because she’s a very empowering female artist,” senior Linda Wang said. “It was cool being able to grow alongside her and follow her journey over the past 10 years.”
T-Swizzle’s rise to stardom started well over a decade ago, as she first won “New Female Vocalist of the Year” in 2007, before claiming “Album of the Year” for her 2009 album “Fearless.” Swift has been claiming Grammys, AMAs and Billboard hits for longer than some of the current freshmen have been alive, and is still as big as ever with four songs on this month’s Billboard Hot 100. If she is not regarded as “The Queen of Pop,” her longevity should at least earn her the title of “The LeBron James of Pop.”
Aside from Taylor, the dominant genre was not pop music, but rather a mix of neo-soul and lyrical hip-hop. As previously mentioned, Tyler and Frank Ocean were no. 2 and no. 3 in voting, with artists like Brent Faiyaz, Kendrick Lamar and Joey Badass in the top 10 as well.
“Joey Badass is my favorite artist because he tells a story with his music,” junior Sam Ashley said. “I love [his album] ‘1999’ because it’s about his troubled youth.”
Badass is an East Coast hip-hop artist, hailing from Brooklyn, New York. His lyrical rap and unique sampling are similar to the techniques of artists such as Denzel Curry, Kendrick Lamar and Vince Staples.
Junior Seb Georgallis is a superfan of Tyler the Creator and appreciates his favorite artist for more reasons than just his music.
“He obviously has W music for real, but I also love his style and think he’s perfect for summertime,” Georgallis said.
With summer less than a month out, Georgallis will be listening to his favorite album: “Call Me if You Get Lost” by the notably flamboyant and fashionable artist.
However, one name that was all but missing was an artist who, in years past, may have not only been a top artist in hip-hop, but of the entire list. Kanye West accounted for only a single anonymous vote. In light of his recent controversy, “Ye” has fallen away from the limelight, or at least caused those who are still fans of him too much shame to admit so.
Aside from Swift and hip-hop artists, a few other mainstream artists and bands had a handful of votes, including Harry Styles and Mt. Joy. Additionally, there was a profound lack of country among those surveyed, outside of a single vote for neotraditional country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan. However, a handful of classical composers from former USSR satellite states received votes, including Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Antonín Dvořák.
Freshman Ryan Liu was responsible for one of those classical composer entries.
“I voted for Dvořák because of my distaste for popular music, and instrumental composition contributes to my appreciation of the fine arts,” Liu said. “I don’t want my personal taste to come off as stuck-up or snobby, but I just don’t care for the bland repetitiveness of modern music.”
On the other hand, senior Andrew Fan branched out from classical music.
“Before high school, I only listened to classical music, because I grew up playing violin and it was the only thing my parents ever turned on,” he said. “But then my friend drove me home once, and I discovered there was more to music.”
Fan’s favorite artist is now 21 Savage.
Overall, of the 81 votes cast, there were a grand total of 46 different artists. From Megan Thee Stallion to Beedle The Bardcore, East’s taste in music is a reflection of the diversity of its constantly evolving student body.
