Music: What do you think of the 80s?

[Elvis P]

There were some good artists: Prince, Dire Straits, U2, Kate Bush, Eurhythmics, Tina Turner, Talking Heads, David Bowie, and early pre-1984/Jump Van Halen. Most of the rest of the singles/pop hits played on MTV and the radio were horrible.

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[Hippasus]

The 80s are a pivotal decade for the music I like (metal and punk). There was a lot of experimentation, and a lot of bands had an authentic sound because of that. The synth-heavy new wave thing started to get on my nerves after a while, though, outside of a band like Talk Talk. Depeche Mode was okay, I guess.

 

[Elvis P]

The 80s are a pivotal decade for the music I like (metal and punk). There was a lot of experimentation, and a lot of bands had an authentic sound because of that. The synth-heavy new wave thing started to get on my nerves after a while, though, outside of a band like Talk Talk. Depeche Mode was okay, I guess.

Agreed. I love New Wave and Punk but forgot about them while I was writing that post.

 

[Ceremony]

I'd assume it's obvious

 

[Xelebes]

Much of the problem in the 1980s was the sharply reduced budgets for acts. And that meant going lean, introducing new technologies to fill that palette. That could mean replacing a drummer with a drum machine, or guitars, strings and so forth by synthesizers. Many of the experiments failed but some mistakes became genre-definers like the Roland TB-303.

 

[SmytheKing]

I'm of the firm belief that we'll never see another decade like the 80's when it comes to experimentation across almost all genres of music and the sheer amount of greatness across all the genres.

That's not to say that the best music and bands of all times came from that decade, but that taken as a whole, you'd be hard pressed to find another with so much happening during it. Bands like Metallica, Van Halen (yeah late 70's but the 80's they were in a different stratosphere), Duran Duran, Madonna, The Cure, Guns N Roses, Depeche Mode, the whole Hair Metal scene, punk rock, NWA, the list goes on and on.

I'm sure many would disagree, and that's cool, but it's just my opinion.

 

[Sentinel]

Great metal.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

imho the 80's was the last decade where the bar was real high on pop music. the artists were killers!!!! U2, police, dire straits, van halen, prince, mj, madonna, hall and oates, and so on. even those one hit wonders - a lot of those songs once you heard them they would be permanently embedded inside your head, and you didn't mind that.

 

[kihei]

After the 60's, my favourite decade for rock and pop music. So many great New Wave bands and some resurging established acts like Roxy Music and Neil Young as well.

 

[frisco]

Other than acts mentioned, you had the alt-college bands led by R.E.M. making an impact. This really is its own genre of music. Also, the birth of electronic music and rap into the mainstream. Post-punk and new wave which have been mentioned (add Hoodoo Gurus, INXS, Blondie, Echo And The Bunnymen, Go-Go's, The Smiths, Midnight Oil)

You had 70's artists like Queen, Springsteen, Elton, Jackson Browne, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Genesis, Billy Joel, McCartney, Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, etc., still having great ouput (along with Bowie and others mentioned).

For melodic music that rocked it couldn't be beat (again sticking with artists not mentioned yet): Heart, Journey, Richard Marx, Foreigner, Leppard, John Cougar Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Rick Springfield, Tears For Fears, Billy Idol, The Cars, Bangles, AC-DC.

Pure pop artists not mentioned with huge chart presence: Whitney Houston, George Michael, Olivia Newton-John, Laura Branigan, Kenny Rogers, Sheena Easton, Paula Abdul, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins,

My Best-Carey

 

[#37]

So diverse.

The births of New Wave, Speed Metal, Rap, Gangsta Rap, and Teddy Riley's New Jack Swing sound, just to name a few.

There was a lot of good Country and R&B stuff too.

No one has mentioned how huge and important Mtv was. 120 Minutes, Head Bangers Ball, and Yo Mtv Raps.

Sony Walkman's and Boom Boxes galore... you could buy new stuff on Vynl, cassette, DAT, or CD.

Then you also had frauds like Milli Vanilli and C&C Music Factory.

It was easy to find stuff you didn't like, but there was so much goodness too.

 

[TheAngryHank]

80s was garbage , movies sucked but a handful, music sucked but a small amount, motorcycles sucked till mid to late 80s , I'd have worse things to say but the 80s gave us the beastie boys.

 

[Mike C]

There were some good artists: Prince, Dire Straits, U2, Kate Bush, Eurhythmics, Tina Turner, Talking Heads, David Bowie, and early pre-1984/Jump Van Halen. Most of the rest of the singles/pop hits played on MTV and the radio were horrible.

Graham Parker, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, Billy Idol, Human League, The Cure, The Smiths, New Order, Yazoo, The Clash, Spandau Ballet, etc

Check out Live Aid, Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing". It's almost a religious experience

I was at Philly part of it. Truly awesome!

 

[I am not exposed]

My favourite decade. Absolutely love the 80s.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I'd assume it's obvious

When I was 14 I thought it was these guys that did the song in the opening of 'Blade' haha

 

[93gilmour93]

5 of my favourite bands to come out of the 80s

 

[Guardian17]

Best time to be alive.

 

[Unholy Diver]

Best time to be alive.

Agreed, I would go back tomorrow if I could, and never come back

 

[GKJ]

The past like 5 years I’ve been all about 80’s new wave, so I say it rules

 

[TheAngryHank]

My favorite 80s

 

[frisco]

Best time to be alive.

Wow. The Fall Guy. That was a Wednesday nite favorite.

My Best-Carey

 

[Guardian17]

Wow. The Fall Guy. That was a Wednesday nite favorite.

My Best-Carey

Great show with a great theme song!

 

[Mike C]

The past like 5 years I’ve been all about 80’s new wave, so I say it rules

Listened to ABC Lexicon of Love today. 2nd British invasion was great! I lived through it the first time (barely) and relive it daily!

 

[GKJ]

Listened to ABC Lexicon of Love today. 2nd British invasion was great! I lived through it the first time (barely) and relive it daily!

1st wave on siriusxm is like my favorite channel.

 

[Mike C]

1st wave on siriusxm is like my favorite channel.

My favorites go in pairs

Verge and Kirk Franklin's Praise

1st Wave and XMU

Mad Dog Radio and Radio Classics