Venkatesh Rao

Is the sea shanty stuff is just a passing fancy or a marker of a deeper mood, definitely comfort food type vibes in a stormy zeitgeist. Domestic cozy in a gale Have there been other musical memes?

Sure BUT clear objective (though difficult) clear 'enemy', clear friends all of whom can be trusted to help overcome the enemy. The opposite of the miasma of disinformation/misinformation of the culture wars plus invisible threat of the virus.

On the musical nature of shanties/folk/work songs: participation is possible at any level. Sing along with a simple-ish melody or many types of harmony. Join in on the odd shouted lines. Thump time in a heart beat rhythm or add a more complex beat. Belonging is comforting.

Ok, I clearly have a lot of thoughts about this. I personally believe the dissonant music of the "good" times is on some level an attempt to process the trauma of the bad times, once it's safe to do so.