The remake of Valley Girl (released in 2020) retells the story of the popular 1983 film, but it uses music in a very different way to help modern audiences understand 1980s pop culture and the importance of MTV. The original Valley Girl came out at the start of MTV and helped introduce American teens to new music from the UK during the Second British Invasion. Bands like A Flock of Seagulls, Modern English, and The Plimsouls were shown in the film using their original recordings, which made the movie feel current and trendy at the time.
​
The remake is clearly linked to this history, but it is not the same soundtrack. Instead of using the original versions of songs, the 2020 film is a musical where characters sing new cover versions of famous 1980s hits. Songs such as “Take On Me” by a-ha, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, and “Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League are used to move the story forward.
​
These songs represent the New Romantic era, a style connected to early MTV that focused on synth music, emotional lyrics, fashion, and image. MTV was important because it showed music visually for the first time, making looks and style just as important as sound. The remake helps students see how MTV-era music shaped teen identity, fashion, and storytelling. By updating these songs for a new generation, the film shows how 1980s pop still matters today, even though the soundtrack is reimagined rather than copied from the original.
​
-
When was the Valley Girl remake released?
-
What music TV channel helped make 1980s pop music more visual and fashionable?
-
What is the name given to the wave of British bands that became popular in the US during the early 1980s?
-
Does the Valley Girl remake use the same soundtrack as the original film?
-
Name one song mentioned in the text that appears in the remake.
-
According to the text, what two things besides sound became important in pop music because of MTV?