Modern songs that would’ve been perfect for ’80s cop shows
The ’80s seems like the decade that won’t die—and maybe deservedly so. For all of its neon flash and pastel gawkiness, the era did produce some indelible pop culture. In honor of Comedy Central’s newest animated series, “Moonbeam City,” which is an absurdist take on the gritty, sex-drenched crime dramas from the 1980s, here’s a “mixtape” of modern songs that all have that Day-Glo influence running through them. Fire up these tracks to get yourself in the mood for Moonbeam City, which airs Wednesdays 10:30/9:30c on Comedy Central and on the Comedy Central APP.
1. “Narcissus Is Back,” Christine And The Queens
Trashy ’80s romance needs a pulsing electronic groove, the kind Peter Gabriel churned out in his sleep. But add a dollop of sultry female pop vocals on top, along with some marimbas (nothing said pop music in the ’80s like some world-music instruments, right, Paul Simon?), and you’ve got this delicious ditty by Christine And The Queens. It’s the most fitting pop throwback to lurid love since Stacey Q’s “Two Of Hearts” did it the first time.
2. “Modern Love,” Coasts
The ’80s were bigger, louder, glitzier, more. Even the cops in Miami Vice were defiantly loud. Walking the beat, then, needs a big beat, and it doesn’t get much bigger than Coast’s “Modern Love.” Dance-floor rhythms combined with U2-style arena-rock bombast? More, please.
3. “You’re Not Good Enough,” Blood Orange
The Minneapolis funk sound popularized by Prince and others was the soundtrack for many a late-night ’80s party. Whether you’re an innocent patron or the detective staking it out, “You’re Not Good Enough” would be the soundtrack to that sexed-up club scene.
4. “True Survivor,” Mitch Murder
If you’re looking for the spirit of the ’80s, then why not turn to Mr. Knight Rider himself, David Hasselhoff? He provides the vocals on Mitch Murder’s lead single for the Swedish short film Kung Fury, itself an homage to all things ’80s.