10/10/2018: “Acceptable In The 80’s” by Calvin Harris

For me, something like this is how pop music should be. I’ve written about whether “should be” is the right way to talk about music, but as a pop tune, I think this nails it.

The song bursts into life on a wave of self-assured funkiness, with a distorted electronic bassline that bounces along with a syncopated disco rhythm, some understated but varied drums, and a killer synth riff that just screams “disco ball”.

Later on we get the vocals (not mindblowing but they do add to the song rather than take anything away), and the other wicked melodic part, that G-funk squeal, which is like the embroidery on a quilted cushion. Just a little touch that really makes it memorable.

It’s interesting that the lyrics “I’ve got love for you, if you were born in the 80s” are used. The song was released in 2006, so someone born in 1985 would be 21. Seems like a pretty clever idea to make a commercial club track focused on  an age range of 17-25…

The song featured on the 2007 album I Created Disco, which is a big claim!

Calvin Harris gives no clue here as to just what was acceptable in the 80s. The fashion maybe? I doubt there’s really a deeper meaning here, although everything’s open to interpretation.

Such a belter!

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