These iconic pop music 80’s artists dominated the decade with unforgettable songs and videos. Here are just a few.
Toni Basil made waves with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, one of the iconic hits from the 1980s. She also became known for her experimental music which caused controversy at the time.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson became one of the most beloved pop icons during the ’80s. First emerging with Motown group the Jackson 5, then going solo, his music such as “Bad,” “Thriller” and “Billie Jean” made industry records while inspiring elaborate music videos and becoming global hits with audiences worldwide. Michael was revered around the globe due to his impressive talent and charisma onstage.
Although Jackson was best known as a singer, he was also an innovative producer and director. Working alongside filmmaker John Landis, Jackson produced a 14-minute minimovie for “Thriller”, widely considered one of the greatest music videos ever made and setting new standards in film-inspired musical entertainment.
Jackson was an expert at projecting an image, which furthered his fame and influence. Using his celebrity status to promote various social causes – HIV awareness and childhood cancer awareness among others – as well as creating a foundation to aid children, Jackson used this celebrity status for good causes.
Madonna and Whitney Houston also made waves during this decade as cultural icons with their dance hits and powerful vocals; both artists challenged the boundaries of traditional pop music with sexualized images and controversial messages; their music encompassed disco and grunge genres alike.
Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper became one of the most beloved pop icons of the 1980s with her 1983 debut She’s So Unusual, her debut that propelled her into stardom with its unabashedly bold sound and unabashedly bold aesthetic. From feminist anthem “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Robert Hazard’s “Time After Time,” and Prince’s “When You Were Mine”, She’s So Unusual was filled with catchy pop hits that quickly made it onto radio playlists across Europe and North America.
Her eccentric attire and eccentric hair represented more than simply style choices; they represented an openness towards different genres of music and played an invaluable role in creating the new wave movement, by opening up pathways for artists to incorporate elements from other genres into their own works.
Lauper was also an early pioneer of women in music business. She became the first female rock star ever to land an A-side single on both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart charts – her ground-breaking achievements inspiring many young women to follow in her footsteps.
Lauper remains an iconic figure in pop music despite her brief career, with hits like Girls Just Want to Have Fun and True Colors still remaining classics today. Contemporary artists such as Michelle Zauner (known as Japanese Breakfast ) even sound similar to Lauper with their fun, upbeat tunes.
Boy George
George stood out among other English New Romantics with his androgynous appearance, soulful voice, and fashion sense. Culture Club produced global hits like Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Time (Clock of the Heart), and Karma Chameleon thanks to George.
George struggled with drug addiction for many years and ran into several legal trouble. Health issues forced him to temporarily stop performing; at one point he even required hospitalization at a psychiatric facility.
Sold, released in 1987, marked George’s comeback and solidified his status as a pop culture mainstay. He quickly became a frequent guest on chat shows, and his sly humor earned him the moniker Oscar Wilde of the 1980s.
On this album, George joined forces with Lamont Dozier, the iconic Motown songwriter renowned for creating hits for Alison Moyet and Peabo Bryson. Although some of their collaborations may not rank among Dozier’s finest efforts, Lamont and George managed to add some genuine pop magic.
After Sold was released, George continued releasing electronic dance singles and collaborated with acts like Groove Armada and Faithless. Additionally, he published his memoir Take It Like a Man (1995), founded his label More Protein that released Cheapness and Beauty as well as publishing his memoir Take It Like a Man (1995).
Sinead O’Connor
Sinead O’Connor remains one of the world’s most iconic singers and continues to influence new artists today. Her music transcends genre boundaries, drawing influence from indie rock, folk, pop, dance/club music, R&B standards Celtic music Reggae as well as other sources. Additionally she’s an accomplished songwriter.
Her best work comes when she keeps it simple and lets her incredible voice take center stage. “Dense Water Deeper Down” is an outstanding example of this approach – an upbeat soul song which finds her sounding carefree while dancing along to its fun beat and added punch from horns.
“No Man’s Woman” from her first album is another excellent tune; this rock tune provides much needed assistance and support to people in need, acting both as an anthem for female empowerment as well as an expression of devotion.
Sinead’s powerful song, “Black Boys on Mopeds,” addresses issues of poverty and racism with sparse acoustic folk music that still resonates today. Her extraordinary talent seems to have found some peace within Islam under her new moniker of Shuhada’ Davitt – she stands as an inspiring example of using your talent for good!
Peter Gabriel
The 1980s witnessed the emergence of mega superstar pop stars who changed fashion through music videos and redefined what it meant to be popular. Madonna, for instance, inspired many fans to wear blue eyeshadow and black plastic pants; her dance songs provided the soundtrack for numerous parties across America and beyond. Madonna became known as an unchallenged queen during this decade thanks to her talent for reinvention as well as creating controversy around herself – qualities which allowed her to successfully navigate pop culture while keeping her brand relevant and popular.
Gabriel first rose to prominence through his progressive rock band Genesis, formed in 1967 alongside fellow Charterhouse school pupils Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett. Following several albums together with Genesis, he decided to embark on his solo career in 1977 with So, an album which explored personal themes including failed relationships and psychotherapy; security followed soon afterwards and further challenged pop music with its challenging songs.
Gabriel made headlines in 2008 for his song “Down to Earth” from the movie WALL-E, contributing it to its soundtrack and receiving a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Motion Pictures, Television or Other Visual Media as well as being nominated for an Academy Award nomination for it. Outside his musical career, he founded World of Music Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival in 1982 which introduced non-Western artists to mainstream audiences.
The Bangles
The Bangles were one of few all-female bands to achieve both critical and commercial success in the 1980s. Established in Los Angeles through ads placed in The Recycler newspaper in 1981, guitarist/vocalist Susanna Hoffs and her sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson formed as part of Paisley Underground scene alongside groups such as Three O’ Clock and Dream Syndicate – quickly becoming one of the decade’s top rock acts with its combination of British Invasion guitar pop riffs with new wave energy chimes!
Different Light, their second album, reached number two in the US and produced hits such as “Walk Like an Egyptian” and the bittersweet “Eternal Flame.” They also recorded a hard rock cover of Paul Simon’s “Hazy Shade of Winter” for Less Than Zero soundtrack film; that song peaked at number two before disappearing off their last LP Everything after not performing as strongly as expected.
Though no longer together as an active group, The Bangles remain an influential presence in music. Susanna Hoffs began pursuing solo career while members continued playing various short-lived projects. They reunited briefly for single release for Austin Powers movie The Spy Who Shagged Me as well as embark on tour. Since then they remain active with one reformed single and then released comeback album Doll Revolution in 2003.