After disco music died out in the 1980s, contemporary R&B became more prominent, with artists like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston emerging. Additionally, girl groups such as SWV, Destiny’s Child, and TLC found success during this era.
At this point, R&B, hip-hop and pop began to blur. Listening to songs such as Hearsay by Alexander O’Neal can give an indication of this trend.
1. Hearsay by Alexander O’Neal
Alexander O’Neal had great faith in himself. From fighting racism in his hometown to combatting the relentless mockery directed against Prince when he was fired from The Time, O’Neal never gave up and Hearsay became the result. Jam & Lewis joined him on it and it became one of their hit records!
O’Neal truly showed her talent as an artist through this track, which stands out among its funkiest tracks on this album. After listening to it once, you are guaranteed to be singing along or humming along – an outstanding combination of smooth R&B and ballroom grandeur that made an excellent record from one of the greatest soul artists of the 80s.
2. Treat Her Like a Lady by The Temptations
In the ’80s, R&B music experienced an infusion of soulful singers who could convey various feelings with emotional honesty. Artists in this genre became known for powerful vocals that conveyed love, longing, and heartbreak to listeners from diverse backgrounds.
One of the most iconic r&b songs from 1986 was Anita Baker’s ballad “Caught in the Rapture”. This smooth and sensuous ballad highlighted Baker’s distinctive voice accompanied by dreamy instrumentation that perfectly showcased its dreaminess. Lyrically, “Caught in the Rapture” focused on themes of love and passion as the lyrics promised never-ending commitment from her lover while making them pledge their affection forever for one another – becoming an instant classic that still remains captivating today with its seductive soundscape and captivating vibe.
3. Untitled (How Does It Feel) by D’Angelo
D’Angelo excelled at understated performances on Brown Sugar and its singles, yet on this sensual ballad he stripped down to essentials. Boasting Raphael Saadiq’s bass guitar work and Chalmers Edward “Spanky” Alford’s late guitar work (later covered by Raphael Saadiq himself), its sensuousness is enhanced by cool backbeats from D’Angelo himself who often defied metronome beats for emotional based beats that followed D’Angelo instead.
Dominique Trenier, the director of this video, understood D’Angelo’s body was central to his charm, yet underestimated how his public persona as a sexual icon would overshadow his music and cause issues when embarking on his concert tour for Voodoo. Journalists covering his performances for Voodoo reported women grabbing him during songs – an uncomfortable experience for D’Angelo who felt powerless against fantasy that seemed beyond his control.
4. The Power of Love by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was revered as a musical master due to his extraordinary ability to convey emotional depth and address urgent social issues through soulful melodies. His classic work What’s Going On serves as an poignant reflection on world events during the turbulent 1970s while inspiring all of us to pursue peace and unity.
Released in 1986, this soulful and romantic R&B ballad features Anita Baker’s velvety vocals over an engaging instrumental accompaniment. The lyrics explore themes of love and passion as she sings of being “caught up in the rapture” of her partner’s affections.
The song has earned itself a place in lovers worldwide due to its seductive and sensual sound, becoming a favorite in collections across R&B music lovers worldwide. This track perfectly captures the joy and enchantment of true love. A must-have addition for R&B lovers.
5. What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
Smooth R&B singers of the 1980s were widely revered for their velvety vocals, yet some utilized their talents to explore deeper themes. One such track by Marvin Gaye called out against war, racism, poverty and environmental degradation through an emotive song called “What’s Going On”.
Gaye’s politically themed song starts off silent before newscast recordings and sirens play before his voice comes in. These elements may reflect his experiences in the military and may have inspired its anti-war lyrics. Today, this iconic track remains relevant today despite having been released decades ago.
6. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar) by Marvin Gaye
The 1980s were an extraordinary decade for R&B music. The genre began incorporating elements from hip hop music, becoming more homogenized, with several high-profile artists dominating the charts. R&B singers of that era were known for their powerful yet emotive vocals that conveyed various feelings with soulful grace.
This song’s sensuous sound and lyrics touched upon themes of love, passion and desire; while its catchy yet upbeat melody became an instant classic.
Listening to “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch” cannot fail to evoke an emotional response in listeners. Though some critics have called out Holland-Dozier-Holland writers for recycling some of their own work in it, this R&B song still remains one of the most renowned R&B songs from the 1980s.
7. I’ll Be There for You by Marvin Gaye
R&B singers in the 1980s were revered for their soulful, emotive vocals that could convey an array of feelings with great power. Their songs tapped into universal experiences of love, heartbreak and longing that struck a chord among audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Funk is an eclectic musical style introduced by James Brown in the late 1960s. It incorporated elements from jazz, soul music and r&b into one distinctive sound which quickly gained traction with African American artists.
Make It Last Forever was released by Keith Sweat in 1987 as an emotionally seductive song, and became an instant classic. Its slow yet sensuous instrumental backing provided the perfect backdrop to Sweat’s smooth vocals; while lyrics dealt with love, commitment, and vowing that his love would last. Make It Last Forever instantly became a favorite classic that remains beloved to this day.
8. Love Is in the Air by Marvin Gaye
This song celebrates true love with an unforgettable guitar riff and full lineup of saxophones. More than simply sexual attraction or physical attraction, true love encompasses emotions which run deep within us all.
Motown evolved beyond disco into more modern sounds as Anita Baker made use of this transition with soulful ballads that celebrated love and romance; her velvet vocals and dreamy instrumental arrangement helped make this an R&B classic. Gaye took an uncharacteristically brave approach by delving into topics like war, inequality, drug addiction, poverty while still adhering to R&B traditions on his What’s Going On track; his bold move won him critical acclaim and earned him much praise from critics alike.
9. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar) by Marvin Gaye
R&B or R’n’B is an African American genre of music encompassing elements of blues, jazz, gospel and soul music that has grown increasingly popular since its origination. By the 1980s it had become a widely played form of dance music.
The 1980s were an era of musical experimentation within R&B music. As disco faded away, artists responded by weaving funk and soul elements together with synthesizers and drum machines in what came to be known as New Jack Swing – leading to some iconic R&B hits, including Janet Jackson’s 1986 album Control by Janet Jackson herself! R&B singers of this era were known for powerful emotive vocals which conveyed an array of feelings with honesty and authenticity while their songs resonated deeply among listeners of all ages and backgrounds alike.
10. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar) by Marvin Gaye
R&B music underwent tremendous change during this decade. Artists explored innovative production techniques and sounds, and some of black music’s biggest names reached new heights of success on charts and radio.
Gaye transcended Motown with his sublime suite of sensuous love songs that challenged racial stereotypes while leaving an influenceful record that continues to influence artists today.
Gaye was inspired to compose timeless love anthems following the death of his first wife Effie Terrell and quickly rose to become one of the most iconic R&B singers ever. This track’s funk and dance beat, along with soulful vocals perfectly capture physical and spiritual love’s excitement – an eternal classic still popular today!