If you are somehow finding that you have more time on your hands than usual, you are probably in search of ways to keep yourself busy. Whether you choose to make a new playlist, discover new artists, have a dance party, or find comfort in a melody that drowns out the voices of desperation in your subconscious, there is one common denominator: music.
In this state of pandemonium, it almost seems like we have resorted to simpler times of reading for pleasure, enjoying outdoor walks and spending more time with family. It’s a coincidence that this comes at a time where the music industry has mirrored a shift in popular music. Songs that are at the top of the Billboard 100 right now seem to be trending with songs that skew retro ’80s music.
Two big-time, highly anticipated albums, The Weeknd’s After Hours and Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, came out within a week of each other, both boast a heavily ’80s influence that brings a breath of fresh air to modern pop music. We have seen in the past touches of the ’80s in music like the ever-popular album 1989 by Taylor Swift to Bruno Mars, who can touch any piece of music and make it sound like a synth dream come to life in the digital age.
If you listen to the title track of Future Nostalgia, you can hear hints of a similar sound to the Ghostbusters theme song, released in 1984, by Ray Parker Jr. Similarly, The Weeknd’s most popular song off the album, Blinding Lights, carries a familiar sound akin to that of Take On Me, also released in 1984, by Norwegian pop trio a-ha.
’80s influence goes further than that, though. Lady Gaga’s relatively new, hit single off of her new album, Chromatica, seems to play with an upbeat electro-dance ’80s vibe, much like some of her songs in the past like Just Dance and Born This Way. Doja Cat, a newcomer to the mainstream music scene, has been revisiting earlier times as well. Her song, Say So, from her sophomore album Hot Pink, currently at its peak on the Hot 100 at number nine. It’s music video draws more from a more mellow ’70s vibe, but exhibits retro beats nonetheless.
Each of these aforementioned songs and albums has met great success. If nothing else, this is a cry for help from pop music. Pop is in great need of variety and the need to further develop a new sound. I’m not completely distraught over the current state of pop, but I do understand that there is a need to discover a defining sound of a new decade, hence why we revisit old themes, instruments, sounds, etc. People are getting bored and we need new artists sparking new inspiration.