Pop culture's strong affection for the 1980s has always made its way into modern music, fashion, and television. But perhaps no decade has been as forward and persistent about their love for the era as the 2010s. I first began to notice it in 2012 when everyone in my high school was very obsessed with the Simple Minds classic "Don't You Forget About Me" (thanks to the a capella themed romcom Pitch Perfect). Then in 2015, the sci-fi pop culture phenomena Stranger Things dropped on Netflix and inspired everyone to dig up their dad's old Members Only jackets.
This Halloween, the 2010s' love letter to the 80s continues with the ninth reincarnation of Ryan Murphy's hit horror anthology series American Horror Story: 1984. This season's storyline is centered around the infamous Camp Redwood where the notorious serial killer, Mr. Jingles, murdered an entire cabin of campers in the 70s. At least that's what he believed. It turns out one young girl managed to survive and Mr. Jingles was arrested and admitted into an insane asylum. Fourteen years later, the surviver has decided to reopen the campsite to the public in an attempt to rid the campgrounds of its evil energy and re-establish Camp Redwood as a place where kids can come to have a wholesome summer. Just days before Redwood is scheduled to welcome its first campers since the horrific incident, Mr. Jingles has managed to escape from the asylum and is ready for revenge. Amidst all of the slasher style gore lies an impressive soundtrack of 80s classics and even a few modern takes on the era's sonic pallet, like the track "Treasure" by Chøppersaurus and of course the vapor-wave version of the American Horror Story theme song.
Even if you don't plan on watching the new season, which airs Wednesdays on FX, the soundtrack is a fun listen for any 80s music enthusiasts. To keep track of all of the great songs this season check out our playlist on the iHeartRadio app.