A lot of songs today use samples from 80s songs and a lot of them are very well done.  Got any favourites?

Here's one from 2019 called Turn me on by DJs Oliver Heldens and Riton featuring singer Vula Malinga.  It samples the 1982 hit Don't go by Yaz/Yazoo.  Both songs were Top 20 hits in the UK and both also reached #1 on the US dance chart

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One of my absolute favourite songs of the 80s was Valerie by Steve Winwood.  While both the 1982 original and 1987 remix were hits in the US and UK, the latter was the Top 40.  Meanwhile both versions reached the Top 40 in Canada.  In 2004, Swedish DJ Eric Prydz sampled it in his dance smash hit Call on me, but what you may not know is that it technically is not a sample.  Winwood was so impressed with what Prydz had done, he re-recorded his vocals to better fit the track.  Prydz' version is best remembered for its music video (not shown here, for obvious reasons) that was so popular, it inspired a series of dance workout videos in Europe

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Here's one from one 80s band to another …

In 2003, Simply Red had a surprise hit called Sunrise that peaked at #7 in the UK, #3 in Canada, and #5 on the US Adult Contemporary chart.  It samples the 1981 classic I can't go for that (no can do) by Hall and Oates

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A classic example is "Superfreak" by Rick James (1981), which M.C. Hammer sampled in his 1990 hit "U Can't Touch This"!

Another one I like is "Tainted Love" by Softcell (1981) sampled by Rihanna in her 2006 hit "SOS".

In 1993 SWV sampled Human Nature by Michael Jackson with their song Right Here.

"Under Pressure" by Queen featuring David Bowie (1981) in "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice (1990) also comes to mind.

Stevie Nicks
"Edge of Seventeen"
1981

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

Destiny's Child
"Bootylicious"
2002

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV1Kt9M5ON8

Another one:

"How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths (1984) is sampled in "Hippychick" by Soho (1990). The latter begins exactly the same way, with the riff/hook, but then the techno-beat kicks in.


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The Men In Black theme sampled Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen.

The Men In Black theme sampled Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen.

Oh yes...that's true. "Forget Me Nots" was '82 and Will Smith sang "Men In Black" in 1997 (also starred in said movie).

Oh yes...that's true. "Forget Me Nots" was '82 and Will Smith sang "Men In Black" in 1997 (also starred in said movie).


Speaking of true... By spandeau ballet. Was sampled by pm dawn for “set adrift on memory bliss”.

Speaking of true... By spandeau ballet. Was sampled by pm dawn for “set adrift on memory bliss”.

Well spotted! O0

Regulate by Warren G sampled I Keep Forgetting by Michael McDonald.

Regulate by Warren G sampled I Keep Forgetting by Michael McDonald.

yeah...that was one that I didn't care for. ::)

There was also "I Think I'm In Love With You" by Jessica Simpson (2000), which took a sample from John Mellencamp's 1982 hit "Jack & Diane." I didn't care for that either. 8-P That was a rare case of a white non-rap singer sampling another song.

Tom Tom Club's "Genius Of Love" (1981/82) was sampled in Mariah Carey's 1995 hit "Fantasy" (which even contained part of the original late in the song) as well as in "Return Of The Mack" by Mark Morrison in 1997 (rhythm track only).

Centuries by Fall Out Boy sampled the melody from Toms Diner by Suzanne Vega, and even included a small snippet of her actual vocal.

Also I don’t know if you could call it a sample but on Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves, part of the melody comes right from The Search Is Over by Survivor. That stood out the first time I heard her song which was on a TV performance.

Then more on the country side, Old Alabama by Brad Paisley sampled Mountain Music by Alabama, while namedropping other Alabama song references.

Centuries by Fall Out Boy sampled the melody from Toms Diner by Suzanne Vega, and even included a small snippet of her actual vocal.


...and I keep forgetting that "Tom's Diner" was originally recorded in 1987 (not only that, its roots can be traced back to 1982, when Suzanne got the inspiration to write it). Yes, it became a big hit for her in '90 (with the techno beat), but the original version from 1987 appears on her album Solitude Standing. O0

Here is a 2009 hit called So Human by Lady Sovereign.  It samples the 1985 hit Close to Me by The Cure.  Neither songs charted in the US or Canada, but they both reached the UK Top 40

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Here is a 2007 song titled Relax, take it easy by British singer Mika.  It is based on the 1986 hit (I just) Died in Your Arms by British group Cutting Crew.  I remember when the Mika version came out, I loved it right away because I recognized the sample instantly and thought it was very well done!

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Here is a 2009 hit called Sunglasses at Night by British rap artist Skepta.  And you guessed it!  It heavily samples the 1984 Corey Hart hit of the same name.  What's interesting about this is that while Skepta's version only peaked at #64 in the UK, the Corey Hart original was never a hit in the UK at all.
While this is not better than the original, I must say that I quite enjoy the rap additions

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This is former American Idol contestant Jordin Sparks with the 2009 hit S.O.S. (Let the Music Play).  This never reached the US Hot 100, but peaked at #13 in the UK, #46 in Canada and also reached #1 on the US Dance Chart.  It's more of a cover than a sample, but elements from the 1984 Shannon original are there

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Here is the 2020 hit What's Love got to Do With It by Norewgian DJ Kygo and legendary American singer Tina Turner.  What's great about this one was that while the music from the 1984 original is being sampled, Tina re-recorded the lyrics for Kygo and it sounds fantastic!  Like most Kygo songs, this was a bigger hit in Europe than it was in North America.  It peaked at #31 in the UK #52 in Canada, and #1 on the US Bubbling Under Chart (for those not in the know, that means US #101)

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Here is the 2020 hit What's Love got to Do With It by Norewgian DJ Kygo and legendary American singer Tina Turner.  What's great about this one was that while the music from the 1984 original is being sampled, Tina re-recorded the lyrics for Kygo and it sounds fantastic!  Like most Kygo songs, this was a bigger hit in Europe than it was in North America.  It peaked at #31 in the UK #52 in Canada, and #1 on the US Bubbling Under Chart (for those not in the know, that means US #101)

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I first think of the Warren G version in 96.

Here's another one:

"Should I Stay Or Should I Go" by The Clash (1983) was sampled in "The Globe" by Big Audio Dynamite (1992). Coincidentally, Mick Jones, who was a member of both bands, sang lead on both songs. (He's not to be confused with the same-named member of Foreigner.)

Tag Team's 1993 smash -

Tag Team - Whoomp There It Is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffCEr327W44

It sampled this 1980 Disco hit in a big way -

Kano - I'm Ready (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Simila8JQRI

Here is a fantastic song from 2020 titled This Love by a British act called Uniting Nations.  It samples the 1986 hit Is this Love by Survivor. 

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Here is a 1999 single (was a hit in 2000) called Everybody by Progress featuring Boy Wunda.  It features a well recognizable sample from the 1986 hit Papa Don't Preach by Madonna

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More Madonna you say?  Here is one from 1998 called If You Buy This Record Your Life Will Be Better By The Tamperer featuring Maya.  It samples the 1984 hit Material Girl

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A Madonna trilogy you say?  In 2003, Australian singer Dannii Minogue released a single titled Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling.  In some countries, it was released as a remix titled Don't Wanna Lose This Groove as a mashup with the 1985 hit Into the Groove by Madonna and it worked very well.  So much in fact that it is the mash up that appears on Dannii's 2013 Greatest Hits album

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Speaking of Dannii Minogue ... In 2002, she released a single titled I Begin to Wonder, however in some countries including Canada (I bought the CD Single the day it was released), it was released as Begin to Spin Me Round as a mashup with the 1985 Dead or Alive hit You Spin Me Around (Like A Record).  I still love this one a lot.  Back in the day, and even still today, Dannii was one of my celebrity crushes

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Here is a 2002 hit called Desire by a German duo called Blank and Jones.  It samples the infamous 1985 single Oh Yeah by Yello

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I was a massive fan of this one when it came out in 2005.  It's a group called D.O.N.S. with a remix/sample of the 1989 hit Pump Up the Jam by Technotronic

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In the very first post in this thread, I talked about the 1982 hit Don't Go by Yaz(oo).  Here are two more songs that sample it, both from 2006.  The one on the left is called Don't Go by a French project called Starting Rock featuring Diva Avari.  The one on the right is called Let's Go by Canadian singer Shawn Desman

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Love You Like A Love Song, Selena Gomez, 2011

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It’s A Sin, Pet Shop Boys, 1987

Can’t miss the unique chord progression of the same pulsing 8th notes.

Random vocal sample:

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Latin Party - Esta Loca (1989)

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El Chombo - Dame Tu Cosita (2018)

"WEEEPAAA!"

Here is one that is not technically a sample, but it does borrow elements.  If you listen to new music, you might be familiar with the current chart hit Kings and Queens by Ava Max, but do you recognize that chorus?  It's the melody from the 1986 Bonnie Tyler hit If You Were A Woman (and I Was a Man)

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Here is one that is not technically a sample, but it does borrow elements.  If you listen to new music, you might be familiar with the current chart hit Kings and Queens by Ava Max, but do you recognize that chorus?  It's the melody from the 1986 Bonnie Tyler hit If You Were A Woman (and I Was a Man)


Wow. I never thought of that song. But for weeks now I’ve been thinking the chorus melody to Kings and Queens was the same as The Lucky One by Laura Branigan (1984).

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Wow. I never thought of that song. But for weeks now I’ve been thinking the chorus melody to Kings and Queens was the same as The Lucky One by Laura Branigan (1984).


Wow, I can hear the resemblance.  Desmond Child wrote If You Were A Woman and later re-worked it for Bon Jovi as You Give Love a Bad Name.  He was given songwriting credits for Kings and Queens, but sounds like the writer of Lucky One should get the credit instead

Wow, I can hear the resemblance.  Desmond Child wrote If You Were A Woman and later re-worked it for Bon Jovi as You Give Love a Bad Name.  He was given songwriting credits for Kings and Queens, but sounds like the writer of Lucky One should get the credit instead


I’m a big fan of the 80s Bon Jovi and never once did I think of their song while hearing Kings and Queens. All I ever thought of was Lucky One as I’m a huge Branigan fan too. But now you point it out I do hear the similarity. I never heard that particular Bonnie Tyler song until now.

I do think Lucky One sounds a little closer, besides that it was made 2 years earlier. But one thing the other songs have going for them is they both open with that line, just like Kings and Queens. Desmond Child could have certainly been influenced by Branigan.

Gary Numan - Are Friends Electric?
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Sugarbabes - Freak Like Me
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The Men In Black theme sampled Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen.

Oh yes...that's true. "Forget Me Nots" was '82 and Will Smith sang "Men In Black" in 1997 (also starred in said movie).


And speaking of Will Smith...he had a hit song in 1998 called "Just The Two Of Us" which samples...you guessed it...the Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers 1981 hit song of the same title! (Actually, Will's song not only samples, but also borrows some lines from, the GWJ song.)

And another one I did NOT care for: "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, from 1983, sampled by P. Diddy in 1997 for "I'll Be Missing You." :P

And another one I did NOT care for: "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, from 1983, sampled by P. Diddy in 1997 for "I'll Be Missing You." :P


I wasn't a big fan of that P. Diddy one either.  I get the message behind it, and the music is there, but give me The Police anyday

I wasn't a big fan of that P. Diddy one either.  I get the message behind it, and the music is there, but give me The Police anyday

I agree, it was meant as a tribute, but I don't think he needed to use the Police as a background for it. Still, Diddy went on to release a bunch of hit records (most of which sampled other songs, which is typical of rap artists anyways).