As we continue to adjust and cope with the realities of the current climate, Spotify listeners have been tapping into feelings of nostalgia. And Spotify also checked in withan iconic singerto hear her thoughts.
Based on Spotify listening between April 1-7, there has been a 54% increase in listeners making nostalgic-themed playlists filled with their favourite throwback tracks. Spotify has also seen an increase in the share of listening of music from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Could it be that listening to familiar tunes during challenging times provides comfort? Maybe so, says David DiSalvo, a behavioural science writer and author of “What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite.” DiSalvo tells Spotify, “Nostalgia – for many of us – brings us back to a time when our lives felt simpler and we had more control.” More on DiSalvo’s insights are available on the Spotify blog post.
One such artist who may be helping transport listeners to cheerier times time after time is Cyndi Lauper, whose upbeat hit“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is one of the most-streamed from the 80’s, with more than 2.3 million streams from April 1-7.
The iconic singer-songwriter, who has more than 8.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, shared her own perspectives on nostalgia from her home in New York City.
“Every artist’s dream is that their music can be a sense of comfort, of joy, of inspiration,” Lauper said. “That’s why we do what we do – to connect, to tell shared stories that people can relate to, cry to, laugh with, dance to and be joyful with, to comfort. Music marks time for me. So when I hear a song, it brings me back to that exact moment in time.
Lauper told Spotify. “Like most people I have a soundtrack. Broadway cast recordings of ‘The King & I’ and ‘Funny Girl’ bring me back to when I was five years old and just discovering my voice and love for music.”
And how is Lauper adjusting to life in quarantine? “I am eating too much and not exercising enough, but I am sticking to my vocal lessons and personal training, just not as much as before the quarantine. I am reaching out to friends to check on them and taking the advice of Governor Cuomo. We are playing by the rules so we can do our part to flatten the curve.”
For more from Lauper, check out Spotify’s blog For the Record. Additional data points have been included below, relating to nostalgic listening trends.
NOSTALGIA LISTENING TRENDS FROM SPOTIFY (Data from April 1-7):
- We’ve seen a 54% increase in listeners making nostalgia-themed playlists (based on words like “nostalgia,” “throwback” and “oldies” appearing in playlist titles).
- The most followed Spotify throwback playlist is “All Out 00s” with more than 8.1 million followers, followed by “All Out 80s” with more than 7.1 million followers.
- Certain nostalgic songs are getting increased attention too:
- 50s: “Solitude” by Billie Holiday streams increased by 74% in the past week, compared to the first week in March
- 60s: “In My Room” by The Beach Boys streams increased by 44%
- 70s: “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand streams increased by 47%
- 80s: “The Only Way Is Up” by Yazz streams increased by 56%
- 90s: “Me and My Homies” by 2Pac and Nate Dogg streams increased by 61%
- 2000s: “New Perspective” by Panic! At The Disco streams increased by 93%
READ: Spotify and One World: Together at Home
Listeners have also been selecting throwback tracks when making or updating their own playlists. Here are the most-added tracks to playlists, per decade:
- 80s: “Take on Me” – a-ha
Tracks from the 50s have seen the biggest increase in their share of streams but we’ve also seen increases among music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Here are some of the most popular tracks streamed by decade:
- 50s: “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” – Paul Anka; “Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry; “I Walk the Line” – Johnny Cash; “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” – Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong.
- 60s: “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles; “Feeling Good” – Nina Simone; “(What A) Wonderful World” – Sam Cooke; Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell; “Fortunate Son” – Creedence Clearwater Revival; “Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison, “Son Of A Preacher Man” – Dusty Springfield.
- 70s: “Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen; “Hotel California – 2013 Remaster” – Eagles; “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd; “Dreams – 2004 Remaster” – Fleetwood Mac.
- 80s: “Back in Black” – AC/DC; “Under Pressure – Remastered” – David Bowie, Queen; “Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi; “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Remastered” – Eurythmics; “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), Whitney Houston; “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper.
- 90s: “Wonderwall – Remastered” – Oasis; “I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys; “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana; “Wannabe” – Spice Girls; “…Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears; “No Scrubs” – TLC.
- 2000s: “Lose Yourself” – Eminem; “Hey, Soul Sister” – Train; “Mr. Brightside” – The Killers; “Hips Don’t Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean)” – Shakira, Wyclef Jean; “Halo” – Beyoncé.
Explore Cyndi Lauper’s true colours in This Is Cyndi Lauper; you can listen for free on Spotify. And, interested in getting hooked on a 90s earworm? We highly recommend the popular Reply All podcast episode “The Case of the Missing Hit.”
A favourite with listeners since it dropped last month, the episode follows a fan’s riveting journey to identify a mystery song that’s stuck in his head. We’ve all been there.