Electronic music from the ’80s produced some timeless tracks. Some even go on to influence current genres like Hip Hop, Post-punk, Techno and Ambient music today.
Gary Numan began experimenting with synthesizer equipment and created his iconic track, considered an early landmark of electronic music.
‘Planet Rock’ by Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa was already an icon in hip-hop when his track ‘Planet Rock’ released in 1982, yet this landmark song served as a landmark moment. Influenced by Kraftwerk and Gary Numan’s electronic soundscapes, its futurist theme created instant club staple status; with laser pulses, acrobatic MCing, uptempo thrusts defining an entirely new genre of dance music.
Produced by Arthur Baker (who had earlier created Bambaataa’s ‘Jazzy Sensation’ with Jazzy 5), Arthur Baker used an early Tr-808 drum machine and first Fairlight synth to compose melodies on “Planet Rock.” It featured its signature metric designed by MC Globe and Bambaataa’s crew which stood out as unique to anything hip hop had seen until that point.
RUN DMC and Eric B & Rakim quickly followed suit, creating the electro sound that became popularly known. Other artists also picked up on it, eventually creating what is now called electro-funk; acts such as The Egyptian Lover, Cybotron and Twilight 22 sampled elements from Planet Rock for their own records – eventually leading Bambaataa towards near-icon status and making possible Planet Rock: The Album which followed it.
‘Are Friends Electric?’ by Tubeway Army
As punk blossomed in 1976, guitarist Gary Webb joined local bands Mean Street and The Lasers before eventually teaming up with bassist Paul Gardiner to form Tubeway Army. They used pseudonyms such as Valerian (Webb), Scarlett (Paul Gardiner) and Rael (drummer Bob Simmonds), with rock-influenced sounds that weren’t quite new wave. “Punch and Punch,” however, from their debut album Replicas made an impactful statement about where this band were headed with their next record despite rock influences; it showcased where punk would go next time!
The lyrics draw upon sci-fi writings by JG Ballard and Philip K Dick to examine what lies in store for human civilisation in the future, making the song futuristic in tone. Gardiner and Lidyard provided conventional drum and bass rhythm, with Numan playing an assortment of synths including Minimoogs, Polymoogs, an RMI Electrapiano as well as heavily flanged guitar parts during recording sessions.
This single is considered one of the first truly influential synthpop hits; although only reaching number one in the UK, many credit it with being revolutionary. Since its release, Tubeway Army concerts have utilized it and included it on all ten albums; additionally it was featured in Need for Speed Carbon video game, IO Interactive Hitman game, and JJ Abram’s Fringe show as well.
‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ by The Human League
Dare was The Human League’s third and most successful album, featuring this holiday number one in 1981. A moody New Romantic ballad that stood out from their usual dance hits helped establish them as major international acts.
Bob Geldof of Boomtown Rats and Midge Ure from Ultravox collaborated to co-write and produce this record, alongside 37 artists such as Spandau Ballet, The Police, U2, Status Quo Phil Collins and Duran Duran – with it becoming the fastest selling single ever and raising millions.
Gary Numan was an accidental synth pioneer. While planning to produce a punk rock album in his studio, Gary came upon an abandoned Minimoog keyboard which he utilized for electronic sounds sculpting and his groundbreaking debut single depicting man living among robot prostitutes in the future.
This track gave listeners their first taste of Electro music; its pulsing bassline and synthesizers, which could easily have been inspired by Kraftwerk’s Autobahn, provided an early example. It marked the first time such sounds became widely heard on commercial radio stations as well as dance clubs; furthermore, it helped introduce Techno into mainstream culture as Acid House began becoming mainstream across America at this same time.
‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Donna Summer
Donna Summer has long been revered as an innovator of electronic music. One of her signature tracks, released in 1975, marked a turning point in her career – as it marked the first time she worked with producer Giorgio Moroder, whom would become her lifelong collaborator.
Song which launched her into stardom and established her as the queen of disco was “Dream World”, an unforgettable tune still sounding fresh today. Described by many as being about an unreal dream world and was an excellent showcase for her vocal ability when translated to electronica music.
This song’s use of samples was far ahead of its time and one of the first disco songs to heavily utilize electronic instrumentation; a trend which would continue into the 1980s and beyond.
On the Radio features this song as remixed by Harold Faltermeyer and contains both full length and edited versions, in both full-length and edited format. A 7″ single featuring different cover art from Groovy and Atlantic (the labels responsible for her earlier works in each country), can also be purchased with this single. Blondie later covered this track on their album Heart of Glass as well as available on box set Love to Love You Donna.
‘Hey Baby’ by The Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys founders Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe composed this dark synthpop anthem as the B-side to their 1981 number one single “Computer Love,” drawing inspiration from hip hop music as well as T.S. Elliot’s poem ‘True.’ It soon became their breakthrough hit and established them as moody New Romantic artists alongside Spandau Ballet and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
Pet Shop Boys were also the only British act to win a Grammy award for a dance song in 1982; for “Ride “Em Carmen”, an unusual can-can number that combined elements from Georges Bizet’s operatic ‘Toreador Song” with the rapping of an unknown group called Bizet Boys (and had prominent question marks instead of names on its sleeve, leading many fans to speculate it might actually be Pet Shop Boys in disguise).
Pet Shop Boys made their return three years after taking time away, debuting with 1996’s Bilingual, an expansive album exploring Latin rhythms, and 1999’s Nightlife (collaboration with theatrical company for musical about gay life). By the end of the decade they had matured artistically; creating Introspective (a downcast, introspective album), recording material with Liza Minnelli and Springfield; becoming elder statesmen of their genre while remaining flexible enough to adapt with constantly shifting musical landscape – as demonstrated with 2016’s Super.
‘It’s My Life’ by A-Ha
This song by this synthpop group became their second big success, featuring lyrics that express a man who feels successful in life while celebrating its joy. Furthermore, the track highlights all there is to do and experience out there and encourages people to make the most of every opportunity in their lives.
“Don’t Stop Believin” became an international success and reached number two in both countries; its iconic music video featured animals from different nature documentaries in order to protest lip-syncing that had become so commonplace in pop music videos at that time.
This was their second single and it became their biggest worldwide hit. Featuring lyrics about love that endures for a long time and an accompanying music video featuring Paris scenes, its success led them on tours around the globe and helped cement them more recognition globally.
The 1980s was a crucial period in music, marking a transition from traditional instruments such as guitars, drums, piano, bass and basse to more electronic ones such as synthesizers and samplers. This new form of music quickly gained widespread acceptance during this era – still played today!