NPR Music is reporting that editor Hazel Cills, filling in for Ann Powers, is exploring what constitutes the definitive song for the millennial generation. Cills, born in 1994, notes that a truly millennial song must be nearly universal for the cohort, yet not widely embraced by other generations. It also needs to reflect the millennial identity, shaped by events such as 9/11, the Iraq War, the 2008 financial crisis, and the rise of digital music and social media platforms. Cills describes millennial music as a blend of anxiety and ecstasy, offering an escape from a world in crisis through genres like R&B, EDM, or emo. This discussion was also featured on an episode of "All Songs Considered," where Cills joined host Robin Hilton and fellow millennial editor Sheldon Pearce to debate potential candidates.
In other music news, NPR Music said the Dallas hip-hop collective Cure for Paranoia, this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, performed at the Tiny Desk. It also noted the centennial of Miles Davis, with WRTI's Nate Chinen contributing a tribute and guide to NPR's extensive coverage of the trumpeter. The electronic duo Boards of Canada released their first new album in 13 years, titled "Inferno," which was highlighted on the latest "New Music Friday" episode. Additionally, NPR Music's Noah Caldwell reported on a 20-year-old mystery surrounding Boards of Canada for "All Things Considered."
NPR Music reported the death of influential saxophonist Sonny Rollins at age 95. Howard Mandel's obituary for NPR described Rollins as the leading figure of a generation that transformed jazz into a deeply personal and evolving art form. Finally, NPR Music said that 40 songs from Drake's recently released trio of new albums entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. This success had the side effect of pushing several long-running hits off the chart, including "Ordinary" by Alex Warren, "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift, and "Golden" by HUNTR/X.