The 80s saw pop music evolve into various subgenres. Dance-pop became a prominent style featuring upbeat rhythms and synthesizer instruments; new wave combined punk rock with disco and reggae music; while artists like Madonna challenged boundaries with provocative images and iconic hits like Like a Virgin and Material Girl.
Pop
The 1980s witnessed an abundance of legendary pop music artists emerge. Michael Jackson became one of the world’s best-known musicians thanks to his revolutionary Thriller album and iconic songs such as Billie Jean and Beat It; Madonna became known as Queen of Pop due to her innovative music and provocative persona; while Prince, Cyndi Lauper, and Whitney Houston also gained immense recognition during this decade.
The 1980s was an era of creative experimentation, featuring synthesizer-driven new wave and dance music as well as the rise of teen pop with artists like Belinda Carlisle, Taylor Dayne and Stacey Q emerging as teenage idols. Additionally, rock music evolved with subgenres including Bon Jovi and Guns N’ Roses becoming major glam metal performers.
Hip hop music emerged as a significant force in pop music, with artists like Run D.M.C. storming the charts with their cover of Aerosmith’s Walk This Way which became one of the best-selling singles ever released.
The 1980s witnessed an explosion of musical genres such as synthpop, dance music and glam metal. Synthpop emerged from new wave with its use of electronic instruments and futuristic sounds; pioneers in this genre included Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre. Additionally notable artists were Pet Shop Boys Soft Cell and Alphaville who contributed significantly to synthpop’s rise.
Synthpop emerged with its own distinctive style and sound during this era, featuring upbeat rhythms ideal for dancing that reflected fashion and culture of its time. It eventually gave rise to many successful artists like A Flock of Seagulls, Tears for Fears, Ultravox, and Gary Numan.
No matter if you were an early fan or are just discovering this genre for the first time, no doubt 80s pop music has left its mark on modern culture. Put on your neon leg warmers and turn up the volume so you can experience this enduring genre firsthand; its infectious melodies and nostalgic feel will capture your heart!
Punk
Punk was an aggressive genre of rock music which first gained traction during the late 1970s. Characterized by electric guitar, bass, drums, vocalist and backup singers who shouted slogans or choruses; its rise served as an important catalyst for 80s culture as new styles crossed traditional genre boundaries – an antidote for disco’s perceived excesses and grandiose prog-rock which were dominating mainstream rock at that time.
The punk movement emerged as an outlet for economic discontent and social alienation among youth, coinciding with rising inflation and unemployment rates, leading to feelings of disenfranchisement that manifested themselves through lyrics of punk songs such as Johnny Rotten’s Sex Pistols song, “God Save the Queen”, which took aim at British culture’s pomp and pageantry.
Punk rock had long been linked with past radical movements; its most significant contribution, however, was breaking down barriers of free speech for underclass youth. Punk became an outlet for their frustrations and gave them a voice in media that had long ignored them; additionally it served as a reaction against prog-rock’s grandiose spectacle and its associated elitism.
Although some punks were truly anti-materialist, others simply sought entertainment and self-expression through music and brash visual aesthetics. Rebellion took the form of short catchy songs with aggressive visual aesthetics; shows often ended in brawls between skinheads and antifacist squads.
Punk also established subcultures associated with particular musical genres, including ska, which is derived from rhythm and blues, featuring mod-style clothing in vibrant colors. Glam, popularized by Prince, featured flashy fashion with permed hair and large earrings; Guns N’ Roses stood out as an influential glam band known for their shredding guitar licks and showmanship in this subgenre.
Conversely, art-school feminist punk group The Raincoats brought London-style deadpan humor through their madcap grooves and verbal attacks against misogynistic stereotypes. Both groups demonstrate how the nuance and irony of punk rock often get overlooked within simplistic narratives of youthful rebellion.
R&B
R&B continued its momentum into the 1980s despite an influx of more pop-oriented artists, with hits from Whitney Houston such as “I Will Always Love You” and Luther Vandross’ “Quiet Storm.” Additionally, female superstars emerged, such as Teena Marie with “Square Biz” which showcases both strong vocals and emotive lyrics; artists like Madonna and George Michael also left an indelible mark through soulful tracks that stirred strong emotions in listeners.
In the ’80s, rock and metal bands flourished with raw, gritty sounds that even featured provocative music videos. Though many mainstream critics disliked heavy metal music, its dedicated fanbase remained. Bands such as Guns N’ Roses (whose guitar-driven songs evolved the hard rock style from 1970s) received critical acclaim.
Hip hop, ska and reggae also had an enormous effect on the music scene during the ’80s. Rappers like MC Hammer and Salt-N-Pepa introduced audiences to new forms of musical expression; Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith used catchy tunes and MTV video exposure to revitalize their careers and reinvigorate careers alike.
Synthpop music combined elements of dance, rock and classical into an accessible yet trendy genre known as synthpop during the ’80s, popularized by Pet Shop Boys, Alphaville, New Order Soft Cell The Human League Yazoo The Thompson Twins Eurythmics who all achieved immense success using this style.
The 1980s witnessed the birth of some of the world’s most celebrated and influential artists, such as Michael Jackson and Prince. Their beautiful ballads captured the beauty and magic of that decade, and remain revered even today. People still turn to albums when they need a quick boost or need an emotional release, and many turn to albums from the 1980s when looking for an enjoyable musical experience. This remarkable era continues to inspire modern artists and fans, so grab your neon leg warmers and enjoy this legendary era’s hits! This playlist contains everything from pop classics, rockers, rappers, soul divas, New Wavers disco jams punk ragers dance-floor anthems all-time legends such as Axl Rose all-the way down to cheese and sleaze- Axl meets Slash!
Country
The 1980s marked an age of cultural and musical revolution. Iconic artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper made lasting impacts through their pioneering performances and hits that changed music trends as well as fashion and pop culture trends.
As much as the 80s was an era of creative experimentation, some genres remained immensely popular throughout its entirety. This included dance-pop and synth-pop which utilized electronic instruments and futuristic sounds; also introduced was Glam Metal which combined elements from rock, punk and metal music genres; both styles continue to influence modern musicians today and even contemporary performers incorporate them into their music.
Country music enjoyed success during the 1980s, particularly among newcomers to the genre like Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Ricky Van Shelton and Holly Dunn. Kathy Mattea and Keith Whitley rose to prominence with more traditional forms of country known as honky-tonk music that was prevalent at that time.
Long-running acts also had tremendous success during this era. George Jones continued his success with hits such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “Desperado Love,” while Willie Nelson enjoyed many hit songs including his iconic “Always on My Mind.” Loretta Lynn made waves in Coal Miner’s Daughter while producing many top 10 singles during this era; Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, T.G Sheppard Eddie Rabbitt Anne Murray and Crystal Gayle were all long-running stars during this era; Kenny Rogers were all long-running stars who enjoyed much success during this era;
In the 80s, artists who mixed elements of pop and country together to form an original sound became known as neo-traditionalists and helped revive country music’s popularity among older fans. These musicians became known as neo-traditionalists.