Moving to Rome has completely changed the way I think about “pop culture.” Before coming here, I mostly pictured Italy as a place of ancient history, famous art and incredible food. But living here day to day has revealed a totally different side of the country, one shaped by music, fashion, social media and the energy of its youth in a very modern way.
One of the biggest influences on Italian pop culture is music. People here don’t just listen to it, they celebrate it. The Sanremo Music Festival, for example, is a massive national event, and everyone seems to have an opinion on the artists, the outfits and the performances. At the same time, American music and festivals have a huge reach here as well. Events like Coachella, Rolling Loud and Lollapalooza are well known, especially among younger people who scroll through social media.
I’ve noticed something else interesting too: a lot of the music that still plays in clubs, cafés and on the radio feels more like what was popular in the United States around 2016 to 2018. In a way, it almost feels like certain trends arrive a little later and then stay popular longer.
