THROWBACK
TRACKS
How music from our past is making a comeback to compete with new releases
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ictures from childhood often elicit physical and emotional cringe— anything from the clothing you wore to the eccentric poses. One token of our past, however, that almost always prompts a smile rather than a grimace is music. Many songs from our childhood have been regaining popularity thanks to the nostalgia that they evoke. These songs are being brought back from under the radar through platforms such as TikTok. Junior Arohi Bhattacharya appreciates this rise of older songs that carry with them a plethora of emotions. “I really love that older songs are gaining popularity through social media platforms,” Bhattacharya said. “To me, it almost stops time and brings back the feeling of old memories and cheerfulness, especially in the time that we’re in now.” Bhattacharya, like many others, associates songs with memories. As songs of the past are now heard in many different places, they dig up these forgotten memories and act as a source of happiness in these difficult times. “I was reintroduced to one specific
song called ‘What the Hell’ by Avril Lavigne, and it just made me pause and wash away all my cares in the world,” Bhattacharya said. “Old songs are gaining popularity because many of us are connected on social media and are becoming comfortable enough to share these songs and artists through these platforms.” Another reason older songs have added appeal in comparison to modern songs is their ability Arohi Bhattacharya to very clearly mark certain times in our lives. Sophomore Karol Bermudez describes music as a tool to connect time. “It’s interesting how powerful music is and how it allows us to ‘time travel’ through decades,” Bermudez said. One song Bermudez has heard making a comeback is ‘Chasing Pavements’ by Adele. “Although the song was released in 2008, I grew up hearing Adele a lot in my household, so it was always in my head,” Bermudez said. “It felt great knowing that one of the songs that I really enjoy listening to is able to reach a wider audience and that more people will be able to appreciate it the same way.” Both artists and fans
“I really love that older songs are gaining popularity through social media platforms.”
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alike have one main goal when making or listening to music: to spread awareness of their songs and reach a wider audience. TikTok has given artists the opportunity to reach this wider audience, benefitting both artists and their fans. While everyone’s music taste is different, songs of the past have a way of uniting these different preferences. However, some songs and genres face more barriers when trying to make a comeback. Bermudez believes that artists like Cuco faded into obscurity because the bedroom pop genre died out after 2018. The genre was very prevalent from 2016 to 2018 and Cuco was one of the standout artists. “Nowadays, people on TikTok enjoy more R&B, rap, pop, international and alternative music,” Bermudez said. There seems to be a set genre of music that gains popularity on social media platforms. Artists may try to overcome the limits that come with the genre of music they create, and when they succeed, they have created a huge hit. Sophomore Katie Firtch believes that social media platforms are not only enabling old songs to make a resurgence, but also promote a greater variety of artists.
