edit 3 - me humming the melody https://voca.ro/1fiQl9tlBHoh I also want to stress again it wasn’t a slow or chill song. It had energy very similar to I Feel For You by Chaka Khan, and the melody I’m humming was made up by what sounded like the opening piano in Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears, except in major. The singer’s vocals also complimented the melody since the vocals had a similar intonation as the melody I’m humming. I only caught one or two words but I swear she says “nothing really matters” or “nothing ever matters” “nothing truly matters” or “nothing matters”
It’s an 80s pop/dance/house song. There’s this dancy, warm electric bass that’s constantly in the background. The electric bass sounds like this (4:15 minute mark) the melody of it (the bass part) also sounded a little similar to what is in that video.
Then there’s this very 80’s instrument that plays in it between some lines, that’s also very weird. It goes like “DU-NA-NU-NAAHH-NAAA” in quick succession. It’s a sharp highish pitched synthetic/electronic sound. It sounded like something from this old game called Road Trip Adventure. It (referring to that one instrument/electronic sound) had a similar soundfont.
There’s also a piano sound that’s kind of low pitched. Sounded electronic/like a synth, but close to a real piano with the sound being held on to a little longer. I also remember the singer saying “yoouuuu” in a high pitched way.
The song is very energetic and sounds like something you’d hear at a party or disco. It also sounded a little romantic. I heard it in a shop earlier and now it’s driving me mad lol. ChatGPT keeps saying it’s a 90s Madonna song, but that’s not it. It is a very euphoric and nostalgic sounding song even though I’ve never heard it before. It almost sounds like she’s celebrating in the song.
The vibe/emotion/energy it gave is most similar to I Feel For You by Chaka Kahn, especially the later part. It was also fast-ish.
== edit ==
The song MAY have had this weird “get, get get down!” line in it, or something that sounded similar to that (I was talking to someone in the shop so my memory of it is muffled) but I am not 100% certain.
The song wasn’t slow and sounded heavenly.
== edit 2 ==
I can’t really whistle, but the part of the melody I remember most went like this https://voca.ro/17IhmkCs2oHu there was this piano that sounded a bit synth that made up much of that melody. There was also an electric bass sound. The melody was slightly slower than my whistled version of it. The piano sounded similar to the piano in Head over Heels by Tears for Fears except it sounded like the major version of it if that makes sense?
What it isn’t
-
Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
-
Missing You by Diana Ross
-
How Can I Ease the Pain by Lisa Fischer
-
Gotta Tell You by Samantha Mumba
-
Electric Feel by MGMT
-
Don’t Walk Away by Jade
-
Tell Me by Groove Theory
-
Right Here by SWV
-
Queen Bohemian Rhapsody
-
Sinead O’Connor Nothing compares to you
-
What Have You Done For Me Lately - Janet Jackson
-
Platinum Blonde’s “It Doesn’t Really Matter”
-
Janet Jackson - Doesn’t Really Matter
-
nothing really matters by David Guetta
-
Since You’ve Gone” – Belinda Carlisle (1986)
-
Basia - New Day For You
-
Ain’t Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan
-
PROM - Nothing Really Matters Anymore
-
D-Mob feat. Cathy Dennis - That’s The Way Of The World
It wasn’t a slow or chill song, it was a song you’d hear at some dance party.
Maybe it’s a lesser known cover/lift of an 80s song?
Might’ve been, or maybe not popular for some reason. I’ve not heard the song before
It’s not a girl, but nothing really matters by David Guetta sounds like it… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nySdj533Iqs
Sounds nothing alike
Self Control by Laura Branigan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP0_8J7uxhs
It probably sounds familiar because it was in the GTA Vice City soundtrack.
Nope
Nope. The song I heard makes that song sound flat in comparison. The vibe/emotion/energy it gave is most similar to I Feel For You by Chaka Kahn, especially the later part.
Could it be “Woodcabin” by Saint Etienne? If not, how close is it?
Not close at all, way too chill and slow and the melody is way different, sorry
Breakout - Swing Out Sister - 1996
Nope
Sinead O’Connor Nothing compares to you?
Nope
Maybe Janet Jackson - Doesn’t Really Matter?
Has lyrics with ‘doesn’t really matter’ and some drawn out ‘yoouuuu’ bits plus the backing music is vaguely synthish and upbeat like your example and description.
Not an 80s song, but it checks the boxes.
Love Janet Jackson but nope, that’s not it. The song sounded very nostalgic 80s and almost sounded heavenly.
Any chance it is Tina Turner song, or similar to someone’s voice even if it isn’t the right person?
Any additional lyrics you remember? So many songs have nothing really matters/nothing truly matters and drawn out youuuuu.
Heck, this not very old song is pretty close except for not having the ‘youuuuuu’
I was talking to someone while trying to listen so I only got the lyrics I mentioned. I can remember the melody parts vividly in my head.
Nope, that’s not it. If you listen to I Feel For You By Chaka Kahn that’s the type of vibe the song I heard gave me, had the same energy, especially as the song gets even more lively towards the end. I even wondered if Chaka Kahn might’ve sung it. Thanks though
I think I got it this time: Diana Ross - Swept Away
Sadly not it, I thought it was at first, the vibe and energy is VERY similar. Thanks though, you’re helping to narrow things down
It doesn’t fit all of your criteria, but Platinum Blonde’s “It Doesn’t Really Matter” comes to mind.
Nope. Was definitely sung by a female singer who sounded American.
I asked chatGPT:
Good question. I couldn’t find any 1980s song by a solo female singer with the exact lyric “nothing really matters” (or “nothing truly matters”) that matches your description. Here are a few thoughts and possibilities, plus what might help you narrow it down — and a guess + next steps.
💡 What the Searches Turned Up
-
“Nothing Really Matters” by Madonna — but that’s from 1999, so too late for your 80s vibe. (Wikipedia)
-
“Nothing Really Matters” by Gabrielle Aplin — also way more recent (2019). (Wikipedia)
-
“Nothing Really Matters” by Fiona — this one exists, according to Shazam. (Shazam)
-
But Fiona’s “Nothing Really Matters” seems to be a reggae-style song, not a high-energy 80s disco/funk. (Shazam)
-
Also, Fiona’s own career peaked more in the late ’80s rock/pop space — her album “Beyond the Pale” was in 1986. (Apple Music - Web Player)
-
-
I found no credible matches for an 80s dance/disco track where a female singer sings exactly “nothing truly matters” (in that phrasing).
✅ My Guess
Based on what you remember, it’s possible the lyric is slightly misheard. The Fiona song looks like the closest title match, but the style doesn’t align well with what you described (if it truly is her song).
🔍 What to Try Next
To track it down more precisely, you can:
-
Use a song identifier app (like Shazam or SoundHound) the next time you hear it in a store.
-
Ask the store (if they play a fixed playlist) — they might be able to check their in-store music list.
-
Try humming the melody into a “hum to search” tool (some modern music apps do that).
-
Think about other lyrics or fragments: maybe there’s a line before or after “nothing really matters” that stands out. Even a few more words help a lot.
If you like, I can dig into 80s female disco/pop songs with similar-sounding lyrics (bass line, synth, etc.) and send some top candidates. Do you want me to do that?
I already did this, none of those match sorry
-
Jump for my love by the Pointer sisters? That has the super high pitched yoo oo oo at the end (that honestly kind of ruins it) and bouncy dancy lady singing song
Great classic, but no
I can’t help but think that the whistling sounds a bit like Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper but the rest doesn’t really match.
Overall, I’m getting vibes that match a Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Cher, or Olivia Newton-John feel.
Nope…
I assume it’s not, but are you thinking of the end of the first part of Bohemian Rhapsody?
Nope
Just use AI! Lol
I did and it kept saying it was a 90s Madonna song. I listened to the Madonna song on YouTube and that wasn’t it.
Are you sure it’s not a remix of the madonna song?
Yes. I’ve listened to remixes of the Madonna song. The voice isn’t the same, only similarity is in this song the singer said that line or a very similar one (like “nothing else matters”) in the nothing really maaaaatt-ers way, but in the song I heard, the singer sounds very happy like she’s celebrating. it sounds euphoric and has a lot more energy. Overall the song I heard sounds very happy, gives you a strong urge to dance happily, and also a bit romantic and very nostalgic. The Madonna song sounds flat in comparison.
Is it maybe:
Missing You by Diana Ross
How Can I Ease the Pain by Lisa Fischer
Gotta Tell You by Samantha Mumba
Electric Feel by MGMT
Don’t Walk Away by Jade
Tell Me by Groove Theory
Right Here by SWV
These are all older songs, some from the 80s, but also some from the 90s.
None of them match, but thanks. The melody went like this and was played by a piano (similar to the sound in Tears for Fears head over heels) https://voca.ro/17IhmkCs2oHu so, just imagine my whistle as a slightly more higher pitched/happier version of that sound. The song I heard was a lot more energetic and faster while the ones on that list are slower and more chill.
We Don’t Need Another Hero by Tina Turner? I dunno, I’m out of ideas. Good luck though! You’ve got me curious to figure it out.
Nope. thanks though, I hope I can find it because if I do I’m going to play it all day lol. It’s kinda buggin me now
If you ever figure it out, you have to update us!
I will!
