Why is 80s Music so Good
The 80s for those who lived through it, was a time of questionable fashion trends,
curious haircuts, all accompanied by some astonishing popular music.
There was a radical change in direction for popular music not only because of the
revolutions and innovations in music technology but also in terms of stylistic diversity.
The 80s saw the rise of Punk, New Wave, Electronic, Soft Rock, and the more middle
of the road out and out Pop music. Each of these, plus other musical styles that emerged
from the late 70s into the 80s made an essential contribution to making the decade truly memorable.
One of the most reliable sources of popular music information is NME (nme.com). According
to an online survey from NME, the top-selling 12″ of all time is New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’.
For many people, this single track exemplifies all that was great about the music of the 80s.
There is a bleak, machine-like intensity that sets the tone for this song.
The familiar sounds of looped drum-machines, string synths, and bouncing bass lines, all topped
with dry, sullen vocals make for a compelling track that captures the essence of the 80s.
Looking further into the track, the bleakness of the political situation is also in my opinion,
mirrored in the song, highlighting the struggles that were associated with this decade. Even with
this dark undercurrent, the music, full of hooks and driven beats, invites repeated listening.
Another style of music that entered the popular music charts was Ska.
This was not music that originated in the 80s but in a sense was revived
through immensely popular groups like The Specials.
The band adopted a ‘mod’ look with pork-pie hats, sharp black suits, and loafers for footwear.
Alongside their music, this image helped secure the band a place in
the minds of everyone who saw them. In their hit track ‘Ghost Town’,
the tension and dismay at the politics of the day came through with a clear message.
If neither of these 80s hits convinces you that this was a wonderful decade of music, let’s
look at another massive chart-topper that falls neatly into the genre of anthemic arena rock.
One band, that heralded from New Jersey, USA, captured the hearts and allegiance of
tens of thousands of fans with their legendary hit ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’.
Written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, this song has become the
epitome of a rock anthem and subsequently has become the signature song for the band.
The song tells the story of Gina and Tommy, whose devotion to each other, despite tough times,
sees them through and is reflective of the tough times many experienced in 70s America.
Of the huge number of superstars to emerge from the 80s Madonna remains one of the most celebrated
and iconic still performing today. Her song ‘Like A Prayer’ became a controversial hit in 1988.
Like many songs to be composed in the 80s, ‘Like A Prayer’,
chose socially difficult material to present to the public. In this case, Madonna, in conjunction
with producer Mary Lambert created a video for the song that made the lyrics all the more poignant.
Issues of bigotry and racism are at the center of this upbeat track.
In this sense, the popular nature of the music juxtaposes with the troubling focus of the song.
‘Synthpop’ was very much in favor in the 80s making full use of new
technology that exploited synthesized sounds allowing musicians to develop and explore
sounds that up until then had not been possible.
British band The Human League became synonymous with the ‘New Wave’ movement
in 80s pop and wrote several stunning songs that not only used synthesizers and
drum machines to generate their unique sound but hit songs that are still popular today.
‘Don’t You Want Me Baby’ is exactly that
and has all the ingredients that you would want in a song from this era.
Another huge star who made his name eternal in the 80s was Michael Jackson.
Even though Jackson had been performing to great acclaim with The Jackson Five,
it was in the 80s that his solo career took hold and catapulted
him directly into the musical spotlight where he stayed until his untimely death.
With over 10 million copies of this song sold worldwide, it remains one of the most iconic
songs of the decade. ‘Billie Jean‘ was released in January of 1982 with almost immediate success.
It was the second single Jackson released from the renowned ‘Thriller’ album. Jackson’s passionate
vocal performance on this song coupled with a lyric that tells of Billie Jean’s claim that
Jackson is the father of her son makes this song captivating. Stylistically, the song has
a kind of disco feel with a square four-beat drum pattern, underpinned by a subtly moving bassline.