Sono – 1984

Sono's “1984”: A cool and fresh update for a dusty genre

The first few bars of ‘1984’ by Sono evoke nostalgic memories of Jan Hammer's iconic soundtrack for Miami Vice. But before you can lose yourself in this retro mood, the vocals begin – and suddenly everything becomes more intense. The song takes on an impressive force that immediately reminds me of early works by Scandroid, but without drifting into clichéd copies.

For me, ‘1984’ is clear proof that synthwave can be much more than just the usual indulgence in the 80s. The track manages to give the genre a modern freshness with a cool, almost serious undertone. I particularly like the chorus: its structure and melody inevitably remind me of classics by Corey Hart (Sunglasses At Night) – a nostalgic highlight that fits perfectly into the overall picture without appearing old-fashioned.

But there is a small downer for me: the saxophone bridge. It's short, that's true, but it feels a bit out of place for my taste. It disturbs the otherwise tight and atmospheric flow of the song and is too generic. Nevertheless, with ‘1984’ Sono proves that they not only understand the synthwave scene, but can also boldly push it forward.

The fact that the song deals with conspiracy theories and the loss of truth thematically further emphasises its cool and serious mood. For me, ‘1984’ is a statement: brave, tonally well thought out and exactly what the genre needed. Another personal note: ‘1984’ is my favourite work by George Orwell and we are closer to this dystopia than ever before. Read the book or watch the film!

This song is part of our Spotify playlist ‘New Synth Pop Songs 2024‘. The playlist is updated continuously. Follow this playlist now and don’t miss any of the latest synth pop hits in 2024.