We’ve heard Blake describe his sound as 2080s in various interviews and articles throughout the summer. Fan reactions to his description often range from “Wow, that sounds soooo cool!” to “Um, WTF?!!” This post is dedicated to all the WTF?!!ers out there. 
Team Plaid gives you the 2080s.
Exhibit A: Kanye West’s “Stronger” Listen closely…I don’t know about you, but in addition to the electronic Daft Punk sample, I hear shades of Depeche Mode.
More 2080s after the jump!
Exhibit B: Maroon 5’s “Won’t Go Home Without You” This pretty tune that recalls The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” will likely be Maroon 5’s next single from It Won’t Be Soon Before Long. It’s also worth noting that Mike Elizondo, who Blake’s been in the studio with, produced this track.
Exhibit C: Rihanna’s “SOS” Well, duh - it samples an 80s classic, “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell.
Exhibit D: Nelly Furtado’s “Do It” Nelly’s current single sounds like a lost Madonna track!
Exhibit E: Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” Yup, it’s Nelly again, this time with her big hit from 2006, which fuses Timbaland’s signature beats with some new wave synth.
Exhibit F: Gwen Stefani’s “Early Winter” Rumor has it this will be Gwen’s next single. (Fun fact: Gwen co-wrote this song with Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane!) Like Nelly, Gwen isn’t afraid to embrace her inner new wave chick from time to time. See also “Cool.”
Can you come up with any other examples of 2080s?
Wow what a great post! Thanks so much for all these samples, star..
Actually that Maroon 5 track is one of my personal favorite too.
I can absolutely hear a bit of Depeche Mode in that Kanye West song.
I am sure Blake will fit right in with all these talented current artists. I really can’t wait to hear his music. You really can hear the 80’s sound all over these songs.
This is great, thanks!
I looove Daft Punk and Kanye, I love the 80’s sound coming back. B’s album is going to be amazing, he’s a bit ahead of the curve which is perfect
Ahh, I love that Maroon 5 song! Thats so exciting that it’s probably going to be the next single! :)
The song is a couple of years old, but The Bravery’s An Honest Mistake certainly meshes early 80’s new wave to today’s sound, though more in the rock vein than dance.
BTW, the new Entertainment Weekly out on newstands has a feature on 30 hot albums for the fall. The article includes a sidebar comparing the forthcoming releases from Blake and Jordin. EW identifies the hot track as being as yet not titled song written by Blake and Chris. I checked the EW website, but it’s not there so I guess you have to go to the newstand. The cover story is about the show Heroes.
Blake’s album is going to be great! I love Kanye West’s Stronger, and that Maroon 5 song is great!
Awsomeness! ilove 2080’s!!!!
couldnt agree more!
Thanks, Star! I hear a lot of 80s influences in the music of The Killers, too.
And hip hop artists have been sampling 80s music for ages!
I love the 2080’s too!!!! i love the Kanye song and I LOVE maroon 5 I think that all of there songs have a 2080 vibe to it! Perfect example is Makes Me Wonder!!! which I also love!!!
I can wait until BLAKES CD!!!!!!
OK…it’s a good thing that I’ve become totally addicted to the 2080’s, right?