The 1980s witnessed an array of new artists attain success. Cyndi Lauper topped charts in the US with her cover of Girls Just Want To Have Fun while Rick Springfield scored hits with Jessie’s Girl.
In the 1980s, synthpop music flourished under the leadership of such acts as A-ha, Pet Shop Boys, Kajagoogoo and Yazoo – not forgetting political themes in its compositions.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie is an American singer-songwriter best known for his smooth and soulful love ballads from the 1970s and ’80s. A versatile musician, Richie is adept at performing and masterfully blending various musical genres such as funk, rhythm and blues, soul, and country into his performances.
Richie first found success when his songs like “Brick House” and “Lady” by The Commodores became chart-topping hits, creating hits like “Lady”. Following their initial albums’ success, Richie began receiving requests from other artists who asked him for hit songwriting help – including Kenny Rogers who asked Richie to pen one of his number-one smash hits “Lady”. For his solo debut in 1980 he produced another chart-topper: Richie’s richly rewarding songs included Richie-penned hit record “Lady.”
Richie launched his solo career shortly after the Commodores went on hiatus in 1982 with his self-titled debut. This album produced number-one hits like “Truly” and “You Are”. Additionally, Richie collaborated with Diana Ross to record one of the decade’s biggest songs, Endless Love’s title track that spent nine weeks at number one on Billboard charts.
Richie continued his musical success through the remainder of the ’80s by releasing albums like Dancing on the Ceiling and All Night Long; co-writing “We Are the World,” earning both Oscar and Grammy Award. Richie eventually expanded his genres of music beyond country and eventually collaborated with Blake Shelton and Shania Twain for duets; 1997 saw a young soccer player named after Richie in her son. Additionally, Richie has become known as an active sports charity figure who frequently attends Barcelona home matches; additionally, Richie has created The Richie Foundation with which to give back to his community.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner rose to stardom as one of the era’s foremost musical artists during the 1980s, yet managed to remain at the top for much of this decade. Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26th in Nutbush Tennessee to parents Floyd and Zelma who were poor sharecroppers who eventually separated, leaving Anna Mae in her grandmother’s care before moving with Alline (Tina’s younger sister). They eventually settled in St Louis Missouri with Grandmother as Anna Mae was grown.
In 1962, Ike Turner discovered a sultry yet raspy-voiced teenager at a local talent contest and invited her to join his Kings of Rhythm band as its first female member – eventually changing her name and giving rise to global superstardom.
By the early ’80s, she had become a household name thanks to hits like Typical Male and What’s Love Got To Do With It. But she also earned herself an unfavorable reputation due to her adventurous live performances – sometimes wearing risque outfits which exposed her leg protrusions!
Private Dancer, her follow up album, helped regain mainstream success and was released with single ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It, which became an empowerment anthem and earned a Grammy nomination. Furthermore, Private Dancer produced several hit singles such as smooth-jazz title track Better Be Good to Me as well as numerous smooth jazz singles such as What’s Love Got to Do With It and Better Be Good To Me from which she received awards from different music awards bodies.
Tina Turner furthered her worldwide success with the 1986 release of Break Every Rule, producing US chart-topping singles such as “Typical Male, Two People and Back Where You Started. She published her autobiography I, Tina that same year before receiving a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame that summer – not to mention undertaking an extensive concert tour which grossed more than $100 Million at that time!
Cher
Cher first gained fame as one half of Sonny and Cher, before her popularity skyrocketed during the 1980s with her hit single “I Got You Babe.” Cher continued her acting career and has won multiple awards including the Grammy Award for best dance recording. Additionally, Cher is widely recognized as a fashion icon responsible for popularizing perm hairstyles.
The 1980s witnessed a dramatic transition in music production, moving away from heavy disco sounds of the 1970s and toward lighter synthpop sounds. Artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Janet Jackson dominated this genre during this era; Madonna also scored multiple hit singles during this decade alongside first wave teen pop bands such as New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Stacey Q who gained popularity during this era.
Guns N’ Roses and Bon Jovi made waves with their glam rock hits while country music acts such as The Oak Ridge Boys and Statler Brothers found success during this era. Cher, Diana Ross, and Janet Jackson also popularized sexy lady images during this era.
In the ’80s, political activism was at its height. In Chile where military dictatorship ruled, Nueva Cancion protest songs maintained popularity even while other artists adopted folk and punk styles; alternative rock became increasingly popular thanks to bands like Husker Du, The Replacements and Dinosaur Jr.
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney was one of the most acclaimed pop musicians of the 1980s, producing numerous critically-acclaimed albums and receiving multiple awards. A member of The Beatles (one of the world’s most enduring groups), McCartney wrote hit after hit for them including their iconic track “Yesterday”. Additionally he formed Wings which proved equally as successful.
McCartney continued his music career even after The Beatles disbanded in 1970, writing and recording music in various styles that ranged from rock, dance and classical through psychedelic. In the ’80s he released several popular albums like “Run Devil Run” and “Working Classical.” Additionally he collaborated on musical projects with Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.
The 1980s was an age of musical experimentation. MTV helped put music under the spotlight as an art form and musicians started experimenting with sound, instrumentation and genres in order to tell visual stories through song. This gave birth to some of the catchiest pop songs ever made!
The 1980s was an amazing era for music lovers! Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Def Leppard and Def Leppard’s hits such as Born in the USA, Back in Black and Hysteria all enjoyed great popularity during this decade; but some of the best pop songs came from British artists Paul McCartney and George Michael whose albums Faith (1987) and Wings at the Speed of Sound (1988) became some of the highest selling records at that time – these artists became immensely popular due to their iconic music videos and memorable lyrics which still move audiences today – their songs remain some of most beloved pop songs ever written!
Donna Summer
American urban pop experienced an enormous revival during the 1980s, thanks to artists like Lionel Richie, Donna Summer and Chaka Khan who all saw major success. Teen pop bands and singers such as Expose, New Edition, Tiffany Taylor Dayne Stacey Q became teenage idols. Michael Jackson and Madonna also returned as pop icons via music videos featured heavily on MTV – dominating charts with music videos which topped charts globally.
The 1980s also brought a surge of dance music and innovative genres such as hip-hop and grunge that were popular with younger generations and had more raw, edgy sounds that contrasted sharply with the sophisticated pop of past decades.
This was a period of change within the music business as many of its old guard fell by the wayside due to their inability or unwillingness to adapt with changing tastes. Acts such as ABBA, Olivia Newton-John and The Bee Gees all struggled against changing times as their outdated styles hindered success; at the same time female icons such as Vanity 6 and Whitney Houston emerged and cemented their place within pop music culture.
The 1980s was an era of drastic social and cultural transformation, including in terms of fashion. Fashion trends such as The A-Team and Miami Vice helped shape fashion in this decade.