Is music from the past influencing today’s music market?

The 1980s was a decade that left a remarkable effect on the music industry, characterized by its different mix of genres, innovative production techniques, and iconic fashion. Fast forward to the present day and we find a fascinating and ongoing comeback of trends from the 80s in modern music. From synthesizers to nostalgic aesthetics, artists are taking inspiration from this vibrant and extraordinary era to create an original combination of old and new.

Let's dive into the similarities of Dua Lipa's song "Physical" (2020) and Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" (1981). Both songs share the same title and the same theme of physical activity but in quite different ways. In the contemporary version, people are dancing and simply having a splendid time with each other, while in the older version, individuals are focused on performing exercises at the gym.  The music video for Dua Lipa's "Physical" embraces vibrant and retro aesthetics, which are memorable for the 1980s, featuring bold colors, geometric shapes, and a workout theme.  Worth mentioning is the fact that Dua Lipa used a direct sample from Olivia Newton’s 1981 song, but mixed it with modern sounds, synthesizers and new production techniques, which caused the song to become a blend of freshness and nostalgia. This may be the direct cause of why it has become so popular in the mainstream media – it is both suitable for the youth and the mature.

A song whose music genre strongly differs from the previously mentioned one is “Little Dark Age” (2017) by MGMT. The band itself has been quite known for using the fusion of retro and synth-pop that can be directly connected to the 80s decade. The track consists of MGMT’s psychedelic touch and a blend of rock, synth, and electronic music which, in a way gave a tribute to the New Wave genre. The music video’s dark, surrealistic and edgy ambience reminds us of The Cure - which had a very similar gothic vibe that made them stand out from other music artists. Even the lead singer – Andrew VanWyngarden highly resembles Robert Smith (The Cure vocalist and founder) having the same black, messy styled, backcombed hair, dark make-up and red lipstick. That shows us that the figure of Smith was one of  VanWyngarden’s main inspirations while filming and discussing the concept of the video.

“Bulletproof” (2009) by the British duet La Roux is another example of a reflection of the 80s in current music. This piece is characterized by electronic instrumentation, electronic beats and a very visual usage of synthesizers which were a defining element of the synth-pop genre. It consists of a catchy melody and a memorable chorus which was a very popular procedure in most 80s hits such as: “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, “Take on Me” by a-ha, “Africa” by Toto and “Wake Me Up Before you Go-Go” by Wham. The music video for La Roux's song evokes memories of the 80s style by involving colorful lighting, futuristic visual elements and most importantly – dynamic camera movements which are visually engaging for a potential viewer.

The Eighties were an expressive decade that left a determined mark on the music industry, which we can perceive in much of today’s music if we look closely and precisely enough. It is definitely plainly clear that the spirit of those times still lives in our hearts and memories, which is the cause of many musical artists tending to revive musical aspects, fashion trends, and references in their work. The mix of newness and suits the people who grew up in those times very well.