Another forgotten gem from the 1980s is alive once again thanks to the popular series Stranger Things, and this time, the song’s about weed.
1982 hit “Pass the Dutchie” hit number 89 in the U.K. chart during the third week in June after the song was featured in the Netflix series Stranger Things—representing a resurgence in popularity. “Pass the Dutchie” also hit number 18 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart in the U.S.
The song comes on when long-haired stoner character Argyle, played by Eduardo Franco, and Eden are in the back of his pizza van, which gives it a nice stoney vibe. The lyrics “pass the dutchie ‘pon the left hand side” is instantly recognizable to people who grew up with the song.
Most people are aware of Stranger Things’ power to resurrect Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” charting after 37 years—hitting number 8 on the U.S. Billboard chart, which was a better performance than in 1985. To put a good picture into how powerful the show is, Bush earned $2.3 million as of last week—from a 37-year-old song—due to the surge in sales thanks to being featured on Stranger Things.
The show also breathed life into other songs. “Pass the Dutchie” was a 1982 hit single for British band Musical Youth, five young singers whose parents emigrated from Jamaica and specialized in reggae.
The song is actually a mash-up of a few tracks, a short intro from U Roy’s ‘Rule the Nation’ and vocals by guitarist Kelvin Grant coming from U Brown’s ‘Gimme the Music’. But the song is mostly a cover of the Mighty Diamonds’ “Pass the Kouchie,” with “kouchie” being slang for a pipe. However “dutchie” became more common later on, being a word …
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Author: Benjamin M. Adams / High Times
