Wallows pulled it off this time with a re-vamped version of their original (1980s Horror Film) from the Spring EP; introducing a true 80s twist to the beats. There couldn’t have been a better song to start this whole blog off with. 80s keyboard synths and echoey vocals boost the underlying mood throughout; emphasising the catastrophic ending to the immersive narrative. It offers an interesting contrast to the original version which focuses on a softer, more mellow tone – that’s not to say the original isn’t just as good. With a prominent 80s vibe in pop culture at the minute, it’s no wonder this song is greeted so warmly.
The music video, uploaded 2 months ago, parodies a typical, sloppy, romanticised – yet moreish – 80s music video that would have made frequent appearances on Top of the Pops. The video follows the narrative of the lyrics; accompanied by cringe-worthy dance moves straight out of the 80s, as well as the hairstyles and getups. The vintage camera effects and the low quality images complement the music; pushing it into a dreamy, American ballad all about teenage melancholy.
The Lyrics (From the Original)
- “Oh why are girls in songs always seventeen?” – A subtle reference to the Beatles’ classic: I Saw Her Standing There.
- “I could touch her hair // but still we watched”
- “Jamie” – Jamie Lee Curtis from Halloweeen, which is of course a real 1980s Horror Film.
- “I’m really not that into guys” – Is followed by:
- “A 1980s Horror Film (x8)” – It’s bad enough to be in one
And that’s why it’s my song of the week – it’s perfect for those nostalgic weekend road trips. I’ll be doing a song of the week, every week (self explanatory) and on Fridays I’ll be doing album reviews. Back again in 3 days…
Mercury Music 