Featured photo: (Pacer Graphic / Chloe Kent)
“Divorced Dad Rock” is a term that was coined originally by critic Rob Mitchum in 2007 to describe music under the umbrella of post grunge, alternative rock, nu metal and other subgenres that were popular in the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Gen Z mostly grew up with parents who were raised listening to what is now considered “divorced dad rock.” From jamming out in the back of dad’s car, to overhearing your parents’ blaring custody battle when you were small, the term makes a lot more sense the older you get.
Many joint experiences from Gen Z individuals describe feeling as if they are in the midst of a nasty divorce when listening to their beloved music. Others say that it reminds them of the hardship that came with growing up with split parents.
The style of the music typically follows a more grunge feel with deeper vocals, raunchy lyrics and a heavy guitar presence. Every hit from the guitar in the forefront of the song brings that feeling of wanting to headbang without judgement.
It sounds like the guitar is trying to tell a story without words while the drums are a nice, heavy presence that set every song apart well. Using Nickelback as an example for vocals, the lead singer typically has this grit to his voice that carries feelings of frustration and an overall sex appeal.
Themes within the songs are typically rage filled, regretful or sexual in nature and provide a multitude of feelings on which listeners may cling. Some are high energy to get you through the day, while others delve into heartbreak and pleading and some are flat-out angry.
No matter the mood, there will be a song to fit you.
Regretful and missing a partner? “Lips of an Angel” by Hinder.
Angry at an ex? “The Bitch Came Back” by Theory of a Deadman.
Want something hype to get you through the day? “Last Resort” by Papa Roach.
Graduating this spring and want to reminisce? “Photograph” by Nickelback.
Gen Z and millennial listeners like the music because of the nostalgic appeal and the feeling it brings back from childhood. These gravelly voices transport them back to times of sitting in their father’s backseat or to their garage.
Young people who never had access to this genre of rock in their childhood are discovering and grabbing onto it now to develop their music tastes. It’s something that they can personally jam out to, but also relate to their older siblings and parents over who grew up with it.
TikTok and other social media are also bringing the genre back from the grave over the last ten years. Popular songs and artists from the ’80s to the early 2000s resurface every year through social media and occasionally movies, tv shows and other media. One big boom as an example was when the new season of “Stranger Things” came out and “Purple Rain” by Prince saw a surge in listens.
Though it doesn’t relate to the topic of “divorced dad rock,” events like this bring about the resurgence of this old music for people to fall in love with either all over again or for the first time.
Nostalgia is a big hitter in the popularity of “divorced dad rock” and has raised up a generation to bring it back to the spotlight.
