Spotlight: Fun.

Every time I turn on the radio, within 15 minutes of searching station to station, I’m almost guaranteed to hear it. I go into stores and I hear it. I turn on the TV or log onto Facebook, and I stand a good chance of seeing something about it. This song is literally everywhere, but I’m not tired of it. I always smile when I hear it, and just thinking about it now makes me want to listen to it.

Did you guess what song I’m talking about, or are you just bad at riddles?

The answer is “We Are Young,” and the band is Fun. Apart from dominating the radio waves, it can also be heard by TV fans. The song has been featured on shows like Glee, Harry’s Law, andGossip Girl. If those don’t ring a bell, then maybe you heard it during the Super Bowl, when it was used during a Chevrolet commercial. Regardless of how it happened, the fact is this is a song that has achieved some well-deserved airtime across multiple media.

Now, if you’re still not convinced of this Fun. epidemic (which may be the most uplifting title I’ve ever seen for an epidemic), take a look at the charts. When “We Are Young” topped the Billboard 100 in March, it was the first rock/alternative song to do so since Coldplay released “Viva la Vida” back in 2008. The song has also topped charts in the UK, Canada, Australia, and many other countries.

So, is it safe to say that poplar music is changing? Maybe not just yet, but it’s certainly refreshing to see.

I won’t go on a rant about how pop artists today couldn’t hold a candle to bands and alternative artists, as it would be ignorant to take that route; every artist has talent in their own regard. However, I will say that the variety of mainstream music could stand to be a little more… varied. After all, who ever said that change was a bad thing? To be against change is to be against all genres of music. Jazz fans watched their music change to Rock ‘n Roll, and those fans watched it change to Metal, Grunge, Hip Hop, Rap, and Pop. The cycle of music is never-ending, and the evolution of music is inevitable.

There is no reversing the flow of musical genre, and so it would be pointless to complain about it. If your musical preference doesn’t match the mainstream, it doesn't mean that your music isn’t out there. It just means it might take a little more effort to find. Does it still feel great when your brand of music is the mainstream? Absolutely. It’s every music lover’s dream.

When I hear “We Are Young” on the radio, in TV shows, and in the mall, it is more than the simple song that makes me glad to hear it. True, it is a spectacular song from an equally spectacular album, but it represents something that I don’t think the band members had in mind when writing it. It is a reminder to all music fans that there is no limit to what can be played on the radio or become popular. Maybe one day soon we’ll start hearing a little less Ke$ha and a little more Fun.But then again, maybe we won’t. Either way, someone, somewhere, will be listening to the radio, rocking out to his or her favorite song.