modern songs that sound like 80s songs?
February 21, 2011 7:53 AM Subscribe
Help me assemble a mixtape of contemporary songs that sound like 80s songs, won't you?
I told a friend of mine I would make her an 80s mixtape for her birthday. That was a month ago, and I have yet to begin. I was raised in the 80s, and can't bring myself to listen to--much less record--Duran Duran one more time.
So! I've decided to instead make a tape of contemporary songs that sound as if they could have been recorded in the 80's. For example: And so forth.
Any other recommendations? A few modern covers of 80s songs (e.g., Flunk - Blue Monday) would also be cool.
Thanks!
I told a friend of mine I would make her an 80s mixtape for her birthday. That was a month ago, and I have yet to begin. I was raised in the 80s, and can't bring myself to listen to--much less record--Duran Duran one more time.
So! I've decided to instead make a tape of contemporary songs that sound as if they could have been recorded in the 80's. For example: And so forth.
Any other recommendations? A few modern covers of 80s songs (e.g., Flunk - Blue Monday) would also be cool.
Thanks!
A lot of La Roux sounds like 80s Prince.
posted by TrarNoir at 8:02 AM on February 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by TrarNoir at 8:02 AM on February 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Robyn. 'Tell your girlfriend' sounds very 80's to me.
posted by pearlybob at 8:07 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by pearlybob at 8:07 AM on February 21, 2011
Sebastien Tellier - Look (NSFW)
Thieves Like Us - Never Known Love
posted by Dr-Baa at 8:07 AM on February 21, 2011
Thieves Like Us - Never Known Love
posted by Dr-Baa at 8:07 AM on February 21, 2011
Crystal Castles and Robert Smith cover Platinum Blonde's Not In Love.
posted by rabbitsnake at 8:08 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by rabbitsnake at 8:08 AM on February 21, 2011
Flight of the Conchords - Inner City Pressure
posted by Xalf at 8:09 AM on February 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Xalf at 8:09 AM on February 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: (That was meant for "Inner City Pressure" but, really, applies to all the responses so far ...)
posted by Shadowkeeper at 8:10 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by Shadowkeeper at 8:10 AM on February 21, 2011
Btw, as someone who has made a LOT of mixtapes, I would recommend mixing obscure 80s songs that have 'held up', along with similar sounding new songs, and new remixes/covers of 80s songs. I'd go for like 60% 'actual 80s music' -- just don't use the cliche tracks that everyone knows.
Like, for example -- did you know that Underworld released a single in the 80s?
One thing that can make the process of making a mix like this is more interesting is finding elements in 80s songs that have been used or sampled in newer songs, and put them next to each other.
posted by empath at 8:15 AM on February 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Like, for example -- did you know that Underworld released a single in the 80s?
One thing that can make the process of making a mix like this is more interesting is finding elements in 80s songs that have been used or sampled in newer songs, and put them next to each other.
posted by empath at 8:15 AM on February 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Magnetic Fields - Long-forgotten Fairytale. Also my cover of an 80s song suggestion would be The Futureheads - Hounds of Love (Kate Bush originally).
posted by burnmp3s at 8:19 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by burnmp3s at 8:19 AM on February 21, 2011
Cut copy - when I first heard Far Away, I thought it was an 80's band I hadn't heard before.
I also find The Killers to be very 80's sounding.
posted by needled at 8:20 AM on February 21, 2011
I also find The Killers to be very 80's sounding.
posted by needled at 8:20 AM on February 21, 2011
Tiga - Sunglasses at Night
John B - American Girls
Ladytron - Seventeen
Golden Boy and Miss Kitten - Rippin Kittin
posted by empath at 8:21 AM on February 21, 2011
John B - American Girls
Ladytron - Seventeen
Golden Boy and Miss Kitten - Rippin Kittin
posted by empath at 8:21 AM on February 21, 2011
Oh also Crystal Castles - Not in Love (featuring Robert Smith)
posted by burnmp3s at 8:24 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by burnmp3s at 8:24 AM on February 21, 2011
Stuart Price, the dude who produced Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor, has a bunch of stuff out as Les Rhythmes Digitales/Jacques Lu Cont that is very 80s-influenced. His Paper Faces/Thin White Duke remixes are also very awesome indeed.
posted by elizardbits at 8:28 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by elizardbits at 8:28 AM on February 21, 2011
Stuart Price, the dude who produced Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor, has a bunch of stuff out as Les Rhythmes Digitales/Jacques Lu Cont that is very 80s-influenced. His Paper Faces/Thin White Duke remixes are also very awesome indeed.
Oh, of course, how could i forget:
Silver Screen Shower Scene
posted by empath at 8:32 AM on February 21, 2011
Oh, of course, how could i forget:
Silver Screen Shower Scene
posted by empath at 8:32 AM on February 21, 2011
I think FotC's "Fashion" is a better 80s song than "Inner City Pressure", with its occasional ejaculations of "Thather!" and "Jazzercise!"
Every time I hear The Killers, I'm struck by their 80sness.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:35 AM on February 21, 2011
Every time I hear The Killers, I'm struck by their 80sness.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:35 AM on February 21, 2011
2 Recent-ish takes on early 80s Giorgio Morodor
Umek - Chase the Morodor
Plump DJs - I Feel Love
posted by empath at 8:40 AM on February 21, 2011
Umek - Chase the Morodor
Plump DJs - I Feel Love
posted by empath at 8:40 AM on February 21, 2011
Destroyer's Kaputt (that's the title track, but really the entire album—read any review.)
Pretty much anything from Cut Copy, their newest album is called Zonoscope.
And that's all I'm giving you because NOT FAIR this was my mix theme idea! (Eagerly watching for more... =^)
posted by carsonb at 8:42 AM on February 21, 2011
Pretty much anything from Cut Copy, their newest album is called Zonoscope.
And that's all I'm giving you because NOT FAIR this was my mix theme idea! (Eagerly watching for more... =^)
posted by carsonb at 8:42 AM on February 21, 2011
Response by poster: Carsonb: Hearing Destroyer's "Kaputt" yesterday is what gave me this idea.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 8:47 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by Shadowkeeper at 8:47 AM on February 21, 2011
Whoa! Someone else in the world knows "Doot Doot"! My day is made.
I am a total 80s head, so I suspect a lot of recent stuff I like has some 80s influence (or maybe not). :P
My current favorite song is Missed the Boat by Modest Mouse.
posted by Glinn at 8:58 AM on February 21, 2011
I am a total 80s head, so I suspect a lot of recent stuff I like has some 80s influence (or maybe not). :P
My current favorite song is Missed the Boat by Modest Mouse.
posted by Glinn at 8:58 AM on February 21, 2011
We are Scientists -After Hours
Annie - Chewing Gum
Ladyhawke - Back of the Van
The Knife - Heartbeats
posted by Gilbert at 8:59 AM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Annie - Chewing Gum
Ladyhawke - Back of the Van
The Knife - Heartbeats
posted by Gilbert at 8:59 AM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Peter Gabriel - Down to Earth
Air France - No Excuses
Devo - Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)
posted by Es ist Zeit, dass es Zeit wird! at 9:06 AM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Air France - No Excuses
Devo - Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)
posted by Es ist Zeit, dass es Zeit wird! at 9:06 AM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Chromatics cover of Running Up that Hill (also Kate Bush) is pretty good too.
posted by activitystory at 9:07 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by activitystory at 9:07 AM on February 21, 2011
I actually thought that the Enrique Iglesias song "I like it" was Prince until I looked it up.
posted by frecklefaerie at 9:15 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by frecklefaerie at 9:15 AM on February 21, 2011
Spymob - German Test Drive
It's the specification of "digital watch" that does it for me.
posted by Jorus at 10:04 AM on February 21, 2011
It's the specification of "digital watch" that does it for me.
posted by Jorus at 10:04 AM on February 21, 2011
The album Ritual by White Lies sounds like it came from 1986.
posted by seanyboy at 10:39 AM on February 21, 2011
posted by seanyboy at 10:39 AM on February 21, 2011
Phoenix - Lisztomania sounds to me like it should have charted sometime around 1986.
A Place To Bury Strangers - It Is Nothing sounds to me like a Disintegration-era Cure b-side.
posted by namewithoutwords at 10:52 AM on February 21, 2011
A Place To Bury Strangers - It Is Nothing sounds to me like a Disintegration-era Cure b-side.
posted by namewithoutwords at 10:52 AM on February 21, 2011
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Lady Gaga's Born This Way yet. Alejandro would work too.
posted by SisterHavana at 12:52 PM on February 21, 2011
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Lady Gaga's Born This Way yet. Alejandro would work too.
posted by SisterHavana at 12:52 PM on February 21, 2011
Almost anything by stellastarr*, especially off their Harmonies For The Haunted album. Try Sweet Troubled Soul or Lost In Time.
posted by katyggls at 1:03 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by katyggls at 1:03 PM on February 21, 2011
Seconding Cut Copy, particularly their In Ghost Colours album (Zonoscope less so). My husband and I, who have both been huge Depeche Mode fans since the 80s, refer to them as "that band that wants to grow up to be Depeche Mode".
posted by immlass at 1:34 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by immlass at 1:34 PM on February 21, 2011
Anything by White Lies, Ladytron, Interpol, stellastarr*, Of Montreal, Editors, Hurts.
posted by turkeyphant at 1:59 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by turkeyphant at 1:59 PM on February 21, 2011
If you are going as far back as Interpol's first record then there's always The Postal Service and The Faint as well (just about everything - also just about everything by Ladytron which was mentioned upthread)
posted by furiousthought at 2:00 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by furiousthought at 2:00 PM on February 21, 2011
Yeasayer's last album Odd Blood has a bunch, such as I Remember (I think some of them have Howard Jones written all over them).
posted by slo at 2:32 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by slo at 2:32 PM on February 21, 2011
Twin Shadow's album from last year was hella 80s new wave.
posted by saul wright at 4:32 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by saul wright at 4:32 PM on February 21, 2011
Though its video has many annoying parts (basically any part that isn't the fake Revolution playing), We All Wanna Be Prince by Felix Da Housecat is so spot-on I though it was a b-side I hadn't heard.
posted by elmer benson at 5:23 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by elmer benson at 5:23 PM on February 21, 2011
I think a lot of Franz Ferdinand's music sounds like it could have come out of the 80s. Whenever my mom hears them, she says she's reminded of the Talking Heads.
Bonus: Franz Ferdinand covering Blondie.
posted by dcheeno at 7:18 PM on February 21, 2011
Bonus: Franz Ferdinand covering Blondie.
posted by dcheeno at 7:18 PM on February 21, 2011
Robyn's already been mentioned, but for me her most 80s song is Stars 4 Ever.
posted by Rinku at 7:53 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by Rinku at 7:53 PM on February 21, 2011
The Lovemakers, Prepare for the Fight. The first time I heard it, I thought it was a lost Duran Duran track.
End of Fashion, O Yeah.
Ladytron, Flicking Your Switch.
posted by Georgina at 8:08 PM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
End of Fashion, O Yeah.
Ladytron, Flicking Your Switch.
posted by Georgina at 8:08 PM on February 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
The New Pornographers: Your Daddy Don't Know
posted by markjamesmurphy at 10:47 PM on February 21, 2011
posted by markjamesmurphy at 10:47 PM on February 21, 2011
Nthing Hurts.
Sia, We Are Born is very 80s in style and features a cover of Madonna's Oh Father (not a very happy clappy song mind you but just to underline the 80s-ness of it).
The last couple of Kitsune Maison compilations are very 80s inspired too (they feature some of the artists listed here).
posted by Ness at 2:49 AM on February 22, 2011
Sia, We Are Born is very 80s in style and features a cover of Madonna's Oh Father (not a very happy clappy song mind you but just to underline the 80s-ness of it).
The last couple of Kitsune Maison compilations are very 80s inspired too (they feature some of the artists listed here).
posted by Ness at 2:49 AM on February 22, 2011
Hah, hadnt spotted the mention of Memory Tapes by the OP. Definitely load up the Kitsune Maison compilations (8, 9 and 10) on Spotify and have a listen, Bicycle features on compilation 8.
posted by Ness at 3:07 AM on February 22, 2011
posted by Ness at 3:07 AM on February 22, 2011
Pretty much anything off M83's Saturdays=Youth album. A representative example: Kim and Jessie.
posted by anthom at 5:59 AM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by anthom at 5:59 AM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Anything by Grum. For example, Through The Night or Can't Shake This Feeling.
posted by chunking express at 5:54 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by chunking express at 5:54 PM on February 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Alright, I love this thread.
The Wild Beasts - The Fun Powder Plot
Future Islands -
Tin Man
M83 - We Own the Sky & Kim and Jessie
posted by AArtaud at 10:59 AM on March 14, 2011
The Wild Beasts - The Fun Powder Plot
Future Islands -
Tin Man
M83 - We Own the Sky & Kim and Jessie
posted by AArtaud at 10:59 AM on March 14, 2011
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posted by activitystory at 8:01 AM on February 21, 2011