Synthtastic

June 18, 2016 7:29 PM

TRONICBOX (twitter) makes 1980s versions of current day pop songs including an absolutely spot on version of Justin Bieber's "What Do You Mean."
posted by ocherdraco (14 comments total)

Not to be confused with tronc.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:47 PM on June 18, 2016 [7 favorites]

tronc box has yesterdays Chicago Tribune for 75¢
posted by GuyZero at 7:49 PM on June 18, 2016 [8 favorites]

The quasi-anachronism of the autotune on What Do You Mean is uncanny!
posted by STFUDonnie at 8:18 PM on June 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

I don't know Ariana Grande's "One Last Time," so the 80s version sounds pretty vintage, except the vocals sound too modern, somehow.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:48 PM on June 18, 2016

Another vintage group covering newer songs: Postmodern Jukebox.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:06 PM on June 18, 2016 [3 favorites]

I think the vocals sound too modern, because my theory since Destiny's Child ("Say My Name") and that generation of pop music landed on the scene, the way that singers sing their syllables and do their syncopation sounds different to me. I'm sure someone more informed than I am would know, but it sounds really different. The synth instrumental on What Do U Mean is hysterical though, so good.
posted by yueliang at 12:25 AM on June 19, 2016 [5 favorites]

This sounds like it is denying so much culture. It's kind of fun; but shit, those drum fills tell me this isn't coming from a real place.
posted by coolxcool=rad at 4:36 AM on June 19, 2016

Not to be confused with tronc.

Which is exactly what I did, got me all excited about the idea that someone had set up some kind of twitter tronc bot that tronc-ifies famous quotes or something like that. Then I realized it was not tronc-related. And now I'm tronc. :-(
posted by Fizz at 5:10 AM on June 19, 2016 [5 favorites]

And now I'm tronc. :-(

Get cronc!
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:57 AM on June 19, 2016

The question is, what 80s movie soundtrack is Justin Bieber's song on?
posted by AFABulous at 2:54 PM on June 19, 2016 [1 favorite]

This is great.
posted by saul wright at 6:20 PM on June 19, 2016

this track reminds me of an excellent boomer vs millennial tweet. I won't entirely give away the punchline, but I enjoy that millennials are also sneaking our pop aphrodisiacs into Gen X's nostalgic fiefdom. politicise sensual sax solos.
posted by Collaterly Sisters at 6:29 PM on June 19, 2016

my theory since Destiny's Child ("Say My Name") and that generation of pop music landed on the scene, the way that singers sing their syllables and do their syncopation sounds different to me.

You're absolutely right, and it's something I've thought about, too.

My take on it is: basically, hip-hop happened, and nearly every popular music style has absorbed that rat-a-tat, staccato rhythmic sensibility into its vocals - even country!
posted by tantrumthecat at 8:08 PM on June 19, 2016

Another vintage group covering newer songs: Postmodern Jukebox.

Oh wow, that '50s doo-wop version of "We Can't Stop" is fantastic.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:35 PM on June 19, 2016