Trends resurface, and having “vintage” styled clothes, shoes and even cars is a hot commodity. But what about music? Art can be timeless, and this fact proves itself every time an old song finds its way back into the mainstream.
“I love listening to a lot of rock and pop from the ’80s and ’70s; like The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie,” said sophomore Isacc Vogel. “My parents and I enjoy studying music, and I just love listening to whatever new music I can find.”
The appearances of these forgotten or unappreciated songs from the past decades are now able to experience a new revival, introducing older music to a newer audience and can also return nostalgia to older listeners. Creators of shows and movies can put these songs into their productions, allowing the viewers to have a chance to listen to these older gems and help bring them back into the spotlight.
“I really liked “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, when I first heard it while watching Stranger Things,” said freshman Trinity Jenkins. “I love this song because I like the feeling of the lyrics used in the song, and I just like the character development behind the song, and it helps me understand the full meaning of what she was trying to express in the song.”
Ever since “Running Up That Hill” made a recurrence on Stranger Things, they have been on a roll with popularizing older songs in their final season; like “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes, “Upside Down” by Diana Ross, “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany, and “Purple Rain” by Prince. These songs might seem old, but they have definitely stolen the hearts of many viewers.
“I have been watching Stranger Things since I was little, and I loved listening to songs that were used in it, like “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by The Clash and “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper”, said sophomore Chloe Manley. “After I watched the final season of Stranger Things, I fell in love with the songs “Purple Rain ” and “Upside Down” because it felt like I was living in that decade, and I just really enjoy listening to the music.”
Music from the 20th century is making its way back into today’s time with different videos on TikTok using the songs for different dances and edits. These songs can now help bridge generational gaps, and the younger generations can discover and appreciate music from these different eras.
“I love to listen to George Strait and Keith Whitley, and I like to see a lot of these old songs on TikTok that I listen to,” said sophomore Luke Helms. “Like Friday Night Fever by George Strait – I love that song because it makes me feel happy and sad at the same time.”
The old music in TV shows and movies can be a powerful resurgence in popular culture, and the way the songs are used in them can create memorable moments and create long-lasting emotional connections with the characters and viewers. Hopefully, this generation can come to a conclusion that older music might just be better than what they had expected it to be.
“Music from the ’70s through ’90s should be heard by everyone because it’s uplifting and it brings out a bunch of different emotions that you might not have known you had,” said Vogel. “The recurrence of these songs in different media today helps prove a fact that older music truly is timeless.”
