There was a post on Buzzjack a few weeks back explaining the reason why Roxette's 'It Must Have Been Love' from 1990 sounds very 80s was because it was originally released in 1987 in their native Sweden. It reminds me that they are several more 90s songs I know of that can pass as 80s.

 

Go West - The King of Wishful Thinking (1990) - possibly the most 80s sounding 90s track there is, would not sound out of place amongst their 1985 stuff.

 

 

The Cure - Friday I'm In Love (1992) - I'm sure many other folk would agree with me.

 

 

House of Love - Shine On (1990) - Although it was released just into the 90s it can pass for 1986 or 1987.

 

 

Gary Clail on U Sound System - Human Nature (1991) - Can pass for 1988 or 1989.

 

 

Paula Cole - Where Have All the Cowboys Gone - I swore it came out in the 80s but was stunned that it's from as late as 1997!

 

 

 

 

 

I think the Cure 'Friday I'm In Love' fits perfectly in the 90s beginnings of Brit pop!

 

Here's a wrong way round one -

 

Heaven 17 Temptation

 

Always thought it sounded like a 90s banger and was shocked to hear it on totp 1983! I know it got a rerelease in the 90s!

Shine On was their debut single 1987

Yes I was just thinking the same, “Shine On” is a brilliant song but was released in May 87. Didn't become a hit until 90 of course..

with 1990 being the last year of the 80s, sure most songs from 1990 sound like the 80s :D

 

seriously, sure there's tons but don't think you've given many good examples

Paula Cole doesn't sound like 80s to me at all,

it's quite an unusual mix, with the verses being spoken rather than sung, almost like a urban song from nowadays

and then chorus is kinda country-is but the lyri9cs are also very modern

if something, it sounds ahead of its time

Scorpions - Wind Of Change (sounds more late 80s than 90s)

Bon Jovi - Always (see above)

and practically any other 90s soft rock song too

Genesis - Hold On My Heart (could be mid to late 80s)

Human League - Tell Me When (well it sounds like their early 80s stuff)

Mavericks - Dance The Night Away (could be early 80s - would have slotted into the charts well alongside Shakin' Stevens and Modern Romance - Best Years Of Our Lives)

 

Not that I am criticizing these songs for sounding dated for their time, I like all of them for the record!

Edited January 21, 20205 yr by januarysalesnake

Mike and The Mechanics - Over My Shoulder

Pet Shop Boys - Go West

Sting - An Englishman In New York

Simply Red - Something Got Me Started

 

Yes I was just thinking the same, “Shine On” is a brilliant song but was released in May 87. Didn't become a hit until 90 of course..

I'd say Shine On sounds more like Britpop which makes it several years ahead of its time. It's a fabulous song regardless.

Sting - An Englishman In New York

 

 

This was released in 1988 but didn't do that well

I'd say Shine On sounds more like Britpop which makes it several years ahead of its time. It's a fabulous song regardless.

I agree, Shine On was ahead of its time.

Mike and The Mechanics - Over My Shoulder

Pet Shop Boys - Go West

Sting - An Englishman In New York

Simply Red - Something Got Me Started

 

I think the Simply Red one though sounds very early 90s house-pop with the piano (although I suppose it sounds like it could have been from 1989 when house production started to become more mainstream) and the Pet Shop Boys Go West production is clearly 90s house and eurodance influenced too, and the female backing vocal couldn't be more 90s.

 

The other two are good shouts I think though.

Edited January 21, 20205 yr by januarysalesnake

I think Tell Me When by the Human League and Over My Shoulder by Mike and the Mechanics sound 90s, as they are a more updated sound than their 80s output.

I think Tell Me When by the Human League and Over My Shoulder by Mike and the Mechanics sound 90s, as they are a more updated sound than their 80s output.

 

I suppose 'Over My Shoulder' doesn't sound that different in style to the likes of Crowded House's stuff in the 90s. It does sound more modern than their big 80s hit 'The Living Years'.

 

 

with 1990 being the last year of the 80s, sure most songs from 1990 sound like the 80s :D

 

seriously, sure there's tons but don't think you've given many good examples

Paula Cole doesn't sound like 80s to me at all,

it's quite an unusual mix, with the verses being spoken rather than sung, almost like a urban song from nowadays

and then chorus is kinda country-is but the lyri9cs are also very modern

if something, it sounds ahead of its time

 

Right on this point, I always think that the 80s is better divided up than going along normal decades as barriers as most decades take a while to get going and take shape. So stuff in the 80s sounds like the 1970s until around late 1983 and the 90s sounds like the 80s until around 1992.