DJ Earworm's 2009 Mashup 'Blame It on the Pop' as a Recession-Era Artifact

The article reflects on DJ Earworm's 2009 mega-mashup, 'United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It on the Pop),' highlighting how it captured the hopeful spirit of the recession era. This mashup, which fuses the Top 25 Billboard hits of 2009 into a seamless dance track centered around the Black Eyed Peas' 'I Gotta Feeling,' has garnered 55 million views on YouTube. Notably, 'I Gotta Feeling,' composed in G major, sidesteps its dominant chord, generating a sense of anticipation that will.i.am described to Rolling Stone as joy emerging from pain. The article contrasts the collective optimism of 2009, marked by events like Obama's election and Captain Sullenberger's Hudson River landing, with the disjointed musical scene of 2025, where DJ Earworm's latest mix includes artists such as Morgan Wallen and Bruno Mars, lacking a cohesive theme. Ultimately, 'Blame It on the Pop' endures as a striking artifact, illuminating the void of the late aughts.