The charts are currently flooded with dance-pop tracks boldly borrowing from 80s, 90s and 00s classics. Is this a creative fusion of nostalgia and innovation, or does it signal a lack of original ideas in the industry?
1 - Interpolation Overload
The charts are currently flooded with singles employing interpolation - the musical technique of incorporating elements from an existing song, such as lyrics or melodies, into a new composition.
Recent examples include FIFTY FIFTY’s “Barbie Dreams” (feat. Kaliii) which features an interpolation of Janet Jackson’s 1997 classic “Together Again” and Charlie XCX’s "Speed Drive" which contains an interpolation of Toni Basil’s 1981 song"Mickey".
Interpolation isn’t a new practice but the tipping point came in 2023 when David Guetta and Bebe Rexha released "I'm Good (Blue)" in which they interpolated Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)," reaching No 1 on the UK charts.
In a recent interview, Jack Melhuish, former general manager of Parlophone Records UK, highlighted the impact of this particular release. This marked a significant moment in the trend's escalation, prompting more producers and artists to embrace it.
2 - Future Nostalgia
Unlike traditional rap music samples that often faithfully recreate vocal hooks or original song productions, tracks that embrace interpolation, create a musical déjà vu by reusing specific lyrics or melodic phrases from dance classics.
When asked about the trend, Radio 1 DJ Natalie O'Leary pointed out that as certain dance classics were cultural phenomena that shaped scenes of the time, they bridge generations. We say, it’s a delicate balance between honoring the past and shaping the future.
3 - Interpolation & Catalog Acquisition
The rise in catalog acquisition also helps to explain how we’ve arrived at a moment when the pop charts are littered with chunks of old intellectual property. Nicki’s “Super Freaky Girl” and Yung Gravy’s “Betty” are just two high-profile examples. Latto skillfully incorporated elements from Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love," a track famously sampled in Mariah Carey's "Fantasy," for her own song "Big Energy." To add an extra layer of excitement, Latto even collaborated with Mariah Carey herself.
In March of 2006, Primary Wave announced its first-ever acquisition: the catalog of Kurt Cobain, for which it shelled out $50 million. Since then, they have acquired the rights to music by Bob Marley, Smokey Robinson, Prince, Stevie Nicks, James Brown, and Whitney Houston. Music publishing companies such as Primary Wave, own the rights to some of the most crucial American popular music ever recorded. Instead of passively collecting royalty income alone, catalog owners and managers are now actively marketing catalogues to new generations.
4 - Gen Z Decoding Musical References
Peering into the current pop charts feels like investigating a complex mystery, each song potentially holding hidden references. The art of crate digging has taken a digital twist, with TikTokers and musicians/producers like LUXXURY highlighting musical interpolations in popular songs by artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, and Ava Max, all of whom have achieved chart success through these creative reinterpretations.
Interpolation in songs has become a focal point of analysis and debate in the music community.
The prevalence of song interpolations has led to a trend where music enthusiasts and self-proclaimed theorists engage in side-by-side comparisons of alleged plagiarism instances.
For example, Lil Nas X's "That's What I Want" subtly references OutKast's "Hey Ya," sparking discussions among copyright lawyers and “TikTok detectives”.
Similarly, Harry Styles' "As It Was" unmistakably echoes a-ha's "Take On Me," prompting fans to create mash-ups and even leading platforms like Genius to label "Take On Me" as a "sample" on "As It Was," despite the lack of official credits in the liner notes.
5 - The Artist's Perspective
If it was a hit once, it can be a hit again. Collaborations like Rita Ora's "Praising You,"feat. Fatboy Slim reimagine classics. Artists are on a creative spree, melding eras and genres. Artists and producers are seeing what works, and giving the market more of what it wants.
Much like Hip Hop’s inventive sampling in the 90s, today's interpolations are transformative. The industry isn't running out of ideas; it's reinventing them.