Get a taste of nostalgic sounds, from classic songs that have seen revivals to more recent hits
This article was created in partnership with Wendy’s NEW Orange Dreamsicle Frosty.
The power that music has to bring us back to a moment in time is priceless. It is no secret that nostalgia is bigger in music than ever before with artists sampling legacy tracks, recreating sentimental sounds and incorporating retro aesthetics across their visuals. Artists are navigating the careful balance of honoring the past while creating art to last long into the future, hoping to reach older and newer generations alike.
The warm, fuzzy feeling of revisiting a memory when you hear a song is great– but what if you could taste the nostalgia too? Wendy’s New Orange Dreamsicle Frosty is a blast from the distant present. It’s the same classic Dreamsicle flavor you grew up with, made for the now. Make today one of the good ol’ days by getting yourself a New Orange Dreamsicle Frosty and pairing it with the playlist below, ranging from classic songs that have seen recent revivals to more current hits with iconic samples.
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The hypnotic, soft rock sound of Fleetwood Mac was recently discovered by a new generation when “Dreams” went viral thanks to content creator Nathan Apodaca. Originally released in 1997, the song saw new life when Apodaca shared a viral video in which he was longboarding to work and drinking juice.
Reggaeton superstar Karol G is inspired from a global landscape of sounds, including 2007 hits. She personally received Leona Lewis’s blessing to sample “Bleeding Love” and then reimagined the track with Tiësto to create an infectious summertime vibe.
Foodies are uniting on TikTok to show their favorite eye-catching dishes, soundtracking videos with Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love.” Caldwell’s soulful vocals have resonated with new audiences, pushing the song to the top of the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart on the ranking dated Feb. 24.
Victoria Monét has deep roots in pop music, so it’s no surprise that her inspirations range from icons like Beyoncé to Bob Marley. Her breakout hit “On My Mama” honors another inspiration by Chalie Boy’s 2009 single “I Look Good” – and his contribution was so important to her that she invited him to have a cameo in the official video.
“Wild Thoughts” is an undeniable summer smash. The single, sampling an iconic riff from “Maria Maria” by Santana, was one of the top songs on Billboard’s 2017 Songs of the Summer chart and peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
Coi Leray consistently releases viral hits with samples honoring hip-hop’s greats. “Players,” one of Leray’s biggest hits, interpolates legend Grandmaster Flash’s song “The Message,” bringing the 1982 release back into the spotlight over 30 years after its release.
The English pop-rock sound of The Beatles extended with Edison Lighthouse and their song “Love Grows.” The bubblegum smash experienced an unexpected revival when TikTok users made its lyrics into a meme, causing the song’s consumption to rise by 1,490 percent.
Tracy Chapman’s GRAMMY-winning hit “Fast Car” has been widely celebrated since its release in 1988. Most recently, it was covered by country star Luke Combs in 2023, peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
Before Ice Spice rose to fame with her song “Munch,” she went viral on a smaller scale when she reimagined Zedd’s 2012 hit “Clarity.” Her producer, Riot, flipped the dance track into a New York drill song, perfect for Spice’s flow.
Bad Bunny’s experimental Reggaeton hit “Safaera” ended up being one of the most critically acclaimed tracks from the album ‘YHLQMDLG.’ The song pulls inspiration from multiple samples, the most prominent being Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On.”