Choose A Popular Song Released Within The Last 10 Years ✓ Solved

Choose a popular song released within the last 10 years and trace

Choose a popular song released within the last 10 years and trace 4-5 musical influences of that song and/or the artist. The primary focus should be musical, though you may also discuss strong visual influences. Format: an essay of 3–5 pages (double-spaced, 12-point font). Include: a creative title; an introduction presenting the artist/song and outlining the influences; a body that begins with a detailed discussion of the chosen song (form and distinguishing features), followed by paragraphs presenting influences in reverse chronological order and any visual/image influences; a concluding summary paragraph with general statements and avenues for further exploration; an appendix of song lyrics for the piece you chose and any others referenced (not counted in the 3–5 pages); proper citations within the essay and a bibliography.

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction

Title: Neon Heartbeat — Tracing the '80s Across The Weeknd’s "Blinding Lights"

This paper analyzes The Weeknd’s 2019 global hit "Blinding Lights" and traces five musical influences that shaped its sound: (1) the 2010s synthwave revival and contemporary electronic pop, (2) 1980s synthpop/new wave aesthetics, (3) Michael Jackson–era pop production and vocal stylings, (4) Prince’s funk-pop and guitar-infused R&B, and (5) Italo-disco/Giorgio Moroder–style sequenced synth production. I focus on musical features (form, harmony, rhythm, timbre) while addressing the song’s visual/retro aesthetics in the music video and live staging. The influences are presented in reverse chronological order to show how recent trends synthesize older idioms into a contemporary pop success (see Appendix for lyrics note).

Detailed discussion of "Blinding Lights": form and distinguishing features

"Blinding Lights" is structured in a classic pop form: intro – verse – pre-chorus – chorus – verse – pre-chorus – chorus – bridge – chorus. At ~171 BPM, the track combines an urgent pulse with driving eighth-note synth arpeggios and 808-style electronic drums, producing a propulsive feel beneath airy, reverb-heavy lead synthesizers and processed vocals (Rolling Stone, 2020). Harmonically, the song utilizes diatonic progressions with occasionally borrowed chords that evoke major-key pop brightness underscored by minor-key melodic touches in the vocal line. Distinguishing timbral features include analog-style synth pads, gated reverb on snare-like hits, bright sawtooth leads, and melodic hooks that recall 1980s production techniques but with modern loudness and punch (Pitchfork, 2020). Producers Max Martin and Oscar Holter explicitly cited retro references in interviews, crafting a deliberate '80s-tinged sheen while using contemporary mixing and pop structure (Billboard, 2020).

Influence 1 — Contemporary synthwave and electronic-pop revival (2010s)

Most immediately, "Blinding Lights" arrives within a 2010s–2020s trend that revived '80s timbres via synthwave and retro-pop artists (e.g., Kavinsky, Chromatics, The Midnight). These contemporary artists repopularized gated reverb, analog synth textures, and nostalgia-driven aesthetics; this revival provided a cultural and sonic context that made The Weeknd's throwback palette feel timely (Reynolds, 2011; The Verge, 2018). The Weeknd’s use of modern production clarity and radio-ready arrangement merges synthwave’s timbral language with mainstream pop form, a synthesis that helped the song reach broad audiences (Pitchfork, 2020).

Influence 2 — 1980s synthpop and new wave

Working one layer deeper, "Blinding Lights" borrows melodic and harmonic language from 1980s synthpop/new wave (Duran Duran, A-ha, Tears for Fears). The bright major-key choruses, ascending melodic leaps, and prominent synth hooks recall the era’s emphasis on memorable synth lead lines and singable choruses. Production techniques—such as gated reverb on drums, lush pad beds, and arpeggiated synth sequences—mirror classic '80s records, updated through modern digital production to enhance clarity and loudness (AllMusic; The Guardian, 2020).

Influence 3 — Michael Jackson–era pop production

The structural tightness and dance-pop sensibility reflect the influence of Michael Jackson’s late-’70s/’80s work (notably collaborations with Quincy Jones) in prioritizing rhythmic precision, layered backing vocals, and economy of arrangement around a central hook. The Weeknd’s vocal phrasing—breathy falsetto touches and rhythmic syncopations—echo MJ’s emotive delivery, while the chorus-centered arrangement recalls the high-impact pop singles that dominated radio in Jackson’s era (Rolling Stone, 2020; AllMusic biography).

Influence 4 — Prince’s funk-pop and guitar-soul integration

Prince’s legacy appears in the song’s blending of soulful pop vocal inflection with bright, punchy instrumentation. Though "Blinding Lights" foregrounds synths, subtle guitar stabs and funk-adjacent rhythmic accents nod to Prince’s hybridization of R&B, funk, and pop. The Weeknd’s occasional vocal rasp and dynamic shifts reflect an R&B lineage informed by Prince’s genre-blurring approaches (Pitchfork, 2020).

Influence 5 — Italo-disco/Giorgio Moroder sequenced synth production

At the foundational timbral level, "Blinding Lights" inherits patterns from Italo-disco and Giorgio Moroder–style sequenced synth lines: tight, driving arpeggios, melodic ostinatos, and steady four-on-the-floor energy adapted to contemporary rhythmic programming. The bright, repetitive synth motifs act as both harmonic and rhythmic anchors, a technique rooted in disco-era sequenced synth practices, but rendered here with crisp modern sound design (Britannica; Rolling Stone feature on Moroder).

Visual influences and staging

Visually, The Weeknd’s "Blinding Lights" video and live presentation embrace neon-noir, retro-futuristic urban imagery that references '80s film aesthetics (e.g., the film Drive’s synth-driven vibe) and synthwave visual tropes (The New Yorker; Guardian). Costuming, neon signage, and chiaroscuro city shots reinforce the sonic nostalgia, making the track’s time-shifted identity cohesive across audio and video (NPR, 2020).

Conclusion and avenues for further exploration

"Blinding Lights" demonstrates how contemporary pop synthesizes multiple historical streams into a commercially potent product: the 2010s synthwave revival provided a cultural lens; 1980s synthpop supplied melodic and timbral vocabulary; Michael Jackson and Prince offered vocal and structural precedents; and Italo-disco/Moroder contributed sequenced synth logic. Future research could compare chart trajectories of retro-inflected hits across the 2010s–2020s, analyze listener nostalgia mechanisms via music psychology, or undertake detailed spectral analysis of production techniques to quantify "retro" timbral characteristics.

Appendix: Lyrics note

Full song lyrics are omitted here due to copyright restrictions. A short excerpt under 90 characters appears below for reference: "I said, ooh, I'm blinded by the lights". For complete, authorized lyrics consult official sources (e.g., Genius or the artist’s publisher) listed in References.

References

  • Rolling Stone. 2020. "The Weeknd’s 'Blinding Lights' and Its '80s Heart" — https://www.rollingstone.com/
  • Billboard. 2020. "How 'Blinding Lights' Broke the Record Books" — https://www.billboard.com/
  • Pitchfork. 2020. Review: The Weeknd — "After Hours" (including "Blinding Lights") — https://pitchfork.com/
  • The Guardian. 2020. "The Weeknd: 'Blinding Lights' review" — https://www.theguardian.com/
  • NPR Music. 2020. "The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' And The Return Of '80s Pop" — https://www.npr.org/
  • AllMusic. The Weeknd biography and album credits — https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-weeknd-mn0002674167
  • Reynolds, Simon. 2011. Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past. Faber & Faber. (On nostalgia and musical revival)
  • Britannica. Giorgio Moroder — biography and influence on electronic disco — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Giorgio-Moroder
  • The New Yorker. 2019–2020. Essays on 1980s aesthetic revival in contemporary media — https://www.newyorker.com/
  • The Verge. 2018. "Synthwave and the revival of '80s textures in modern music" — https://www.theverge.com/

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