The year was 2022 when the popular TV show “Stranger Things”, pushed Kate Bush’s 1985 hit, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” to the top of the charts, nearly forty years after its original release. Suddenly, the song was appearing everywhere, with many posting skits, edits, and dances to the catchy song, surprising even Bush herself.
“I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before!” the pop star exclaimed in an interview with Pitchfork. While Bush herself may have been surprised by the sudden resurgence of her song, this has not been an isolated incident, with 80’s music making sudden appearances throughout society in the 21st century, many raise the question, “what exactly makes music from the 80’s so prevalent in today’s world?”
For many people, the popularity and appeal of 80’s music boils down to one word: nostalgia. The story-like wordplay, synthesizers, instruments, and raw vocals commonly heard in the 80’s, are not so frequently found in today’s music, leading many people to associate 80’s music with a time period that felt almost vibrant and carefree; even for those who were born way after the 80’s.
Artists from today’s music are using this sentiment towards music from the 80’s and embracing it, incorporating some of the instruments, styles, and even clips of 80’s music, into their songs. Hits such as, “Like that” by Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar, and “Redrum” by 21 Savage all sample iconic 1980 tracks in their music, leading many to play and witness the musical experimentation from the 80’s that still carries on today.
It’s not just the influence of current musical icons that’s brought new life to 80’s music, but blockbuster movies, and TV shows, that have reintroduced many to popular 80’s tunes that were previously lost in time.
A good example of this would be the third installment of the popular Marvel trilogy, “Guardians of the Galaxy”, which features the main character (Peter Quill), as a human from earth who carries a walkman wherever he goes, blasting 80’s music while fighting creatures in space.
From Bruce Springsteen to Earth Wind & Fire, bands associated with the 80’s were catching wind in their sail due to movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy, and through the wildfire known as social media, they became more popularized by today’s teenage audience as a result.
However, in order for music from the 80’s to thrive in today’s society, people must play a part as well, which is where social media plays a big hand. PPCHS Junior Julia Cortes believes that a big part of the 80’s revival in today’s society comes from the presence of social media, and the people that are attached to it.
“I think what social media has done to this specific era of music today is amazing, as it’s introduced so many more people to the 80’s music genre, as more and more people post to certain songs that they’re listening to from that time period.”
Cortes herself has fallen victim to the wave of 80’s music around her, with prominent 80’s artists and bands like Hall & Oates, Tears for Fears, and David Bowie in her daily shuffle, which she attributes to social media, which helped her “rediscover these artists through videos online, as well as through my friends.”
So why does 80’s music truly continue to thrive today? The answer to this question isn’t definitive, rather a combination of nostalgia, innovation, and cultural appreciation that ensures the songs of the past stay relevant today. Whether it’s through movies, social media, or friends, the influence of music from the 80’s isn’t fading anytime soon, matter of fact, it’s just getting started.
