Yep (or should I say yuppie?), we aren‘t over the 80's comeback yet

Yep (or should I say yuppie?), we aren’t over the 80’s comeback yet

From Strangers Things, Black Mirror's episode Bandersnatchand and Sex Education, to fashion, 80's movies and series gaining sequels such as Top Gun and Glow and pop 80's revival, the excessive aesthetics and sounds of that decade are still being rediscovered and recycled.

In the Eighties we live the collapse of traditional communism and the ending of the Cold War. In the U.S., these are known as the decade of corporate greed, excessive materialism, and economic inequality, such as pictured in American Psycho.

In music it wasn't that much different.

One thing we might all agree is that the 80's were fun and extravagant years in pop culture. In fact, one of the most eclectic. And maybe this is the reason there’s a vibrant nostalgic aura around it and it explains why we haven't moved away from it yet.

It was in 1981 that MTV was launched with the first ever music video, ''Video Killed The Radio Star' by the Buggles'', changing not only popular music, but culture in general for once, with artists being more connected and concerned with the visuals and the pressure to go on cameras and make creative videos. 

Music (and videoclips) captured the brightness and exorbitances of those years, but also the uncertainties and discomfort. 

On one hand, we have the synths and remix culture in electronic, power pop, the new wave, the disco in the dance floors and glam metal, with lively colors and exuberant makeup and hairstyles, well represented by Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Prince, Michael Jackson, Mötley Crüe and Twisted Sisters.

On the other hand, the 80's were also the golden age of rap and hip-hop, with artists such as Public Enemy releasing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, expressing the frustrations and concerns of the African American community. 

In rock, we also see the rise of gothic rock with The Cure and trash metal with Metallica, the last ones focusing on instruments and lyrics rather than the visuals, inspired by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motörhead, just to name a few that were gaining more popularity in these years.

Today´s flirtation with the 80’s is no big news for reasons seen above, but the return of 80’s eccentric sonic and imagery seems to be here to stay. From Bruno Mars 2016 album 24k Magic with funky bass lines and synths usage that resemble the groove of that decade to The 1975 and The Weeknd latest works, we can also add Lizzo, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga to the long list.

Since 2015 we have also had great and unexpected new releases by some major bands of the eighties, such as New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen and Depeche Mode.

Following the lead, this year, Goldenvoice - one of the biggest concerts companies -  has also announced their new festival: Cruel World, with the lineup taking us back straight to the early 80’s, full of new wave, post-punk, goth, and alt-rock bands from that time.

It was also this year that Dua Lipa released two new songs with productions heavily inspired by that decade according to musicologist Nate Sloan. Funky bass lines, the piano House sound, latin percussion, filled with I Will Survive and new disco references. The artist herself said in a recent interview to NME that she has been listening to a lot of Prince lately and he has been an inspiration for the new album.

More recently, Lady Gaga released Stupid Love, a pop song with that 80’s synth perfect for the dance floor, alongside with the colorful video that also captures the eccentricity of the decade.

The revival of previous decades has been a common thing in our culture, but the 80’s and the wide-ranging in sound and aesthetics leaves us many elements yet to explore and reinvigorate and we're still not over this revival fever. 

Will rock also follow this path?

Well, bands like Blossoms, Bad Suns and Sundara Karma certainly are.

                                                                                     

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