Did I hear a cowbell?

– The 80s has a bigger impact on today’s music than you may think.

No, it’s not Homecoming Week, but the 80s are still here. All you have to do is turn on the radio.

Lately, synths and funk bass strums not only occupy 80s radio stations, but the popular ones as well. Need some prime examples? Think “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk or Pharrell’s “Happy”.

The 80’s was renowned for taking American pop culture to a whole new level of raunchiness and explicit content not only with the power of blue eyeshadow, but in the song lyrics as well. As we all have probably noticed, the 2010s aren’t too different. Songs with colorful lyrics and titles litter the Billboard Hot 100 like dangerous pieces of candy. And we love it.

Choppy guitars once prominent 30 years ago have returned in popular albums like Pharrell’s G I R L or Katy Perry’s Prism to give tracks a classic-sounding, poppy vibe that makes each song stand out. Punchy kick drums and hand claps also take over as percussion instruments of choice. “Boom Clap” sound familiar?

High pitched voices like Tove Lo, Charli XCX, and Lady Gaga emulate the likes of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper with sweet-sounding pipes that are full of bold wit and sass. Jay-Z and MC Hammer, both regarded as some of their decade’s best rappers, share similarities with egotistic lyrics bragging about their money. If only you still had yours, MC.

My personal favorite part of this 80s comeback would have to be the ingenious addition of the cowbell to the scores of several songs. Any single featuring this little bad boy has never failed to please. Hello Blurred Lines.

80s sampling is also abundant as a more direct way of bringing back the music of the decade. “Rap God” by Eminem samples Doug E. Fresh’s “The Show”and Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop”samples “La Di Da Di”, also by Fresh. So the next time you sit back and relax with your favorite playlist, know that they all probably borrowed something from the era of boomboxes and wild hair.