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Subject: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: #Infinity on 05/18/17 at 10:52 pm

Most of the time, people seem to point out songs from the 90s that sound like "80s holdovers," but I was curious if anybody felt there were examples of the opposite case, in which songs from the 80s seem like full-on sneak-previews for what the 90s eventually came to offer. I don't mean songs that still could've sounded relevant in the early 90s because 80s music trends didn't end overnight, I mean tracks that are much easier to associate with a significant portion of the 1990s but not so much the 80s. A lot of people treat electropop from the late 2000s as '10s previews, but I've hardly ever come across anybody calling songs from near the end of the 80s more stylistically 90s. I think personally that while there aren't nearly as many of them as there are "80s holdovers," there definitely are some truly plausible cases. Here are the main ones off the top of my own head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB54dZkzZOY
This, like I've mentioned before, is probably the oldest song that sounds 100% 90s, regardless of its release date. It still would have sounded of its time as deep into the 90s as 1996 or so (compare its beat to "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand," but even for its release year of 1989, it sticks out for its much smoother, groovier new jack swing beats in contrast to all the crashing snares and punctuated synthesizers dominating pop at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVuuatjHGnY
There may have been plenty of big new jack sing hits during the last two years of the 1980s, but it was only during the 90s that their percussion would begin to sound this much softer and more synthesized, in contrast to the classic gated snares found in "Every Little Step," "Casanova," "Tell Me Why," and the ilk. Songs like the above were pretty common in the early 90s and even the mid-90s, depending on where you looked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE2vEtsc2io
In the mid-late 1980s and even the beginning of the 90s, it was quite rare for hip hop songs to focus their samples way more heavily on musical chords and employing percussion secondarily. By the mid-90s, when gangsta rap took over, the types of beats heard above were quite common. Sure, the lyrics aren't as profane as mid-90s hardcore rap, but this song still fits in pretty decently with some of the cleaner, more radio-tailored hip hop of that era. It stands in stark contrast to late 80s rap songs like "Bring the Noise," "The Twist (Yo, Twist!)," and even "Straight Outta Compton," all of which have more 80s-esque production.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9gOQgfPW4Y
I already brought this up in the thread about songs that sounded ahead of their time. While I don't really see this fitting in with the majority of the 90s decade like the other three I listed here, it definitely sounds more squarely like something you'd hear anytime during the early 90s than even the late 80s.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: nintieskid999 on 05/18/17 at 11:22 pm

Edie Brickell

What I am
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Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: HazelBlue99 on 05/19/17 at 12:28 am

"Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes. It was released in 1983, but I think it could easily have been released in the Early-Mid 90s. It sounds like a 90s alternative song, in my opinion. Even the fashion in the video ties in more with the 90s than it does with the bright and colourful 80s fashion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rswiq4Hi-tc

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: AL-B Mk. III on 05/19/17 at 2:06 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W60dwobSvnA

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: yelimsexa on 05/19/17 at 4:15 pm


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W60dwobSvnA


This sounds more stylistically '60s than anything else (Tambourines, lots of acoustic guitars with backing vocals, the lack of synths), not to mentioned it wasn't that close to the '90s when released (1985). Almost all of the examples that will be mentioned will be 1988/89 releases.

Speaking of Soul II Soul, this came out a few months before Back to Life:

pCC0eXSAhYE

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: AL-B Mk. III on 05/19/17 at 5:08 pm


This sounds more stylistically '60s than anything else (Tambourines, lots of acoustic guitars with backing vocals, the lack of synths), not to mentioned it wasn't that close to the '90s when released (1985). Almost all of the examples that will be mentioned will be 1988/89 releases.



It always sounded like an early to mid 90s alternative song to me.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: JordanK1982 on 05/19/17 at 5:13 pm

R.E.M.'s 80's stuff sounds very 90's.

1983:
Ac0oaXhz1u8

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: NewMedalz on 06/02/17 at 2:38 am

IMO this one fits in surprisingly well with the '90s alternative sound in spite of it being a prominent New Wave band single from 1982.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JnQfKIFERU

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: JordanK1982 on 06/07/17 at 1:19 pm

This Ska Punk song came out in 1985 and still sounded current in 1997. Came out on a major label, too! (Columbia Records)

MJCaFe1yamg

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: 80sfan on 06/07/17 at 1:22 pm

Perhaps because it came out in 1989.

Lovesong, The Cure

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: JordanK1982 on 06/07/17 at 1:24 pm


Perhaps because it came out in 1989.

Lovesong, The Cure


I disagree. I'd say that song sounds pure 80's. Even songs off of 1992's Wish have a very 80's alt rock sound.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: 80sfan on 06/07/17 at 1:29 pm


I disagree. I'd say that song sounds pure 80's. Even songs off of 1992's Wish have a very 80's alt rock sound.


I was thinking, perhaps it could have come out in 1991, at the latest.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: JordanK1982 on 06/07/17 at 1:33 pm


I was thinking, perhaps it could have come out in 1991, at the latest.


It wouldn't of been at all out of place on their 1992 album Wish. :P

Listen to this song, for example. 1992 but totally sounds like '85 or '86:

wa2nLEhUcZ0

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: 80sfan on 06/07/17 at 1:41 pm


It wouldn't of been at all out of place on their 1992 album Wish. :P

Listen to this song, for example. 1992 but totally sounds like '85 or '86:

wa2nLEhUcZ0


Oh yeah, it sounds like it could have come out in 1985, at the earliest.
Love song sounds almost as early as 1984.
My guess is the acoustic kind of makes me think 'late 80's/early 90's'! But definitely not mid 90's.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: JordanK1982 on 06/07/17 at 1:45 pm


Oh yeah, it sounds like it could have come out in 1985, at the earliest.
Love song sounds almost as early as 1984.
My guess is the acoustic kind of makes me think 'late 80's/early 90's'! But definitely not mid 90's.


It definitely could of! Here's a song of their's from 1985:

-Mx7K1pQess

Really, all Cure albums from Head on the Door to Wish have a very consistent sound. Some of my favorites! 8)

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: JordanK1982 on 06/07/17 at 1:53 pm

Both of these alt. rock songs came out in 1985 and sound pretty 90's to me:

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J1sYN0PuRs4

I first heard of both these bands in 1996 and at the time I thought they were new!

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: 80sfan on 06/07/17 at 1:54 pm


It definitely could of! Here's a song of their's from 1985:

-Mx7K1pQess

Really, all Cure albums from Head on the Door to Wish have a very consistent sound. Some of my favorites! 8)


I actually find I like most of their songs you posted!  ;D  ;D  ;D

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: JordanK1982 on 06/07/17 at 1:56 pm


I actually find I like most of their songs you posted!  ;D  ;D  ;D


Good to hear! ;)

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: DesiredUsernameWasTaken on 06/08/17 at 3:28 pm

This is from 1985, yet to me it always sounded like a song made in the mid 90's. Not sure why

Simply Red - Holding Back The Years (1985)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yG07WSu7Q9w

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: Zelek3 on 06/08/17 at 11:56 pm

It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) by R.E.M.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: tnf on 07/01/17 at 9:32 pm

Tracy Chapman - Fast car

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uTIB10eQnA0

Suzanne Vega - Luka

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VZt7J0iaUD0

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: af2010 on 07/02/17 at 3:42 am

h04CH9YZcpI

"Jack and Diane" has always sounded like a 90s song to me, probably due to the acoustics. The only part that really has an 80s sound is from about 2:30 - 3:05.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: HeyJealousy on 07/03/17 at 12:25 am


h04CH9YZcpI

"Jack and Diane" has always sounded like a 90s song to me, probably due to the acoustics. The only part that really has an 80s sound is from about 2:30 - 3:05.


Nope, I don't sense anything that "90s" about any of John Cougar's work. Sounds purely "early 80s" to me. In the same way that Gin Blossoms was purely "mid 90s", The Eagles were purely "early-mid 70s", Poison was purely "late 80s" and Daughtry was purely "mid-late 00s".

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: #Infinity on 07/03/17 at 9:46 am


Nope, I don't sense anything that "90s" about any of John Cougar's work. Sounds purely "early 80s" to me. In the same way that Gin Blossoms was purely "mid 90s", The Eagles were purely "early-mid 70s", Poison was purely "late 80s" and Daughtry was purely "mid-late 00s".


Actually, to be fair, John Mellencamp was still commercially relevant throughout most of the 1990s, even scoring a serious hit in 1996 with "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)." However, I would agree that "Jack & Diane" isn't 90s-style.

Subject: Re: 80s songs that sound stylistically 90s?

Written By: aja675 on 07/03/17 at 10:32 am


Actually, to be fair, John Mellencamp was still commercially relevant throughout most of the 1990s, even scoring a serious hit in 1996 with "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)." However, I would agree that "Jack & Diane" isn't 90s-style.
I'd say it's one of those songs that fit into more than one eras.

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