Huge news for the pop fans today: TEARS ARE JUST GLITTER has officially landed on the blog. If the name is new to you, the pedigree definitely isn’t. This is the brainchild of two of Sweden’s heavyweight songwriters, including Gustav Jonsson—the man who has crafted hits for Zara Larsson, Icona Pop, and Hayley Kiyoko. The duo just dropped a track called ’80’s Kind Of Sad,’ and it’s every bit as shimmering and nostalgic as the title suggests. Let’s get into why this is currently on repeat.
The track opens with this gorgeous, shimmering melody backed by a beat that just hits. There’s a specific kind of thumping rhythm here that is so incredibly satisfying to listen to—it’s like an instant shot of dopamine. And when those vocals finally kick in? Ooh la la. It is pure, unadulterated ear candy. I’m not even exaggerating when I say it’s a total sonic climax just at the beginning
80’s Kind Of Sad” is a love letter to a time when heartbreak felt like a movie scene. We’re talking about an era where sadness wasn’t a burden—it was a colorful, neon-drenched mood. If you got dumped, you didn’t just mope; you ate mountains of ice cream in bed and sang your heart out to the radio because, honestly, it just looked good. As the duo puts it, they’ve traded therapists for dreamy synths and Japanese drum machines. It’s a nod to Gary’s brilliant philosophy: “The advantage of living a superficial life is that the knife of sorrow can’t cut you that deep.
What happens when you put the architects of modern pop in a room together? You get Gary. We’re talking about Gustav Jonsson (the Ten Music Group founder who launched Zara Larsson) and Fredrik Berger (the genius behind Charli XCX’s massive ‘Boom Clap’). Between them, they’ve written for everyone from MØ to Mura Masa. But this isn’t just another industry project—it’s a “Gorillaz for 80s fans.” While Gary might be a cartoon character living out an online soap opera, the music is the most personal work these two have ever created. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s handmade in their Södermalm studio in the heart of Stockholm.
I don’t know about you, but this track actually made me want to get my heart broken—if only as an excuse to eat a mountain of ice cream and look dramatic. But in all seriousness, ’80’s Kind Of Sad’ is an absolute wonder. You can tell Gustav and Fredrik didn’t just write this; they put their entire souls (and their feet!) into the production. From the opening spark to the final fade, I found myself wishing it would never end—but hey, that’s exactly what the repeat button was made for. This duo is operating on another level, and I am officially on high alert for whatever they drop next. Gary, we’re waiting!
Stream “80’s Kind Of Sad” on Spotify
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