INTRODUCTION TO THE EIGHTIES
The 80s were a time that revolutionized the music industry in general, as styles emerged that marked music forever. In the 1980s, several musical genres became known, while others began to disappear. Appearance in its contents of a whole baggage of sound elements from new electronic instruments with relatively "new" sounds. By that time, many of these musical instruments, especially keyboards, were beginning to become popular due to their increasingly affordable prices.
POPULAR GENRES
NEW WAVE The focus of this music was on artistic themes and the sound was tied to punk rock, dance music, synthesizers and other electronic instruments. New Wave eventually became tied to pop music as music videos from the genre were heavily promoted on MTV. The term "New Wave" is meant as an all encompassing term that allows a variety of highly diverse artists to fit into the same category. HAIR METAL Hair Metal had its roots in the 1970s Glam Rock. Hair metal bands would pull influences from heavy metal, punk rock, and traditional rock music to develop their sound. Lyrically, songs had catchy hooks and a pop sensibility. Songs were often party anthems or power ballads and would focus on themes of being an outlaw, drugs and women. CHARITY MUSIC As many pop stars became excessive and affluent during the eighties, they wanted to show that they could be generous and have a serious purpose by taking up causes. The best way for many of them to do so was to create or contribute to charity concerts and recordings. These were bigger and better than ever during the decade and there were plenty of causes from which to choose. Musicians would organize these songs and televised concerts and contribute the profits to the cause. |
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important news and events
One Hit Wonder
The eighties was the decade of one hit wonders, where an artist would achieve massive success with one or two extremely popular songs and then seemingly fade away, never able to re-create their success. Part of this had to do with the expansion of the music industry, facilitated by MTV and technology.
The eighties was the decade of one hit wonders, where an artist would achieve massive success with one or two extremely popular songs and then seemingly fade away, never able to re-create their success. Part of this had to do with the expansion of the music industry, facilitated by MTV and technology.
Events
- The Iran-Iraq war begins in September of 1980.
- Lady Diana Spencer and Charles the Prince of Wales are married.
- The Chernobyl nuclear reactor explodes in the USSR.
- John Lennon is shot and dies.
- The popular video arcade game "Pac-Man" is released.
- Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.
- The Fox television network begins operations.
- The Soviet Union withdraws their troops from Afghanistan.
POPULAR SINGERS
MADONNA
Madonna spent her childhood in Bay City and in 1978 moved to New York City to pursue a career in contemporary dance. After participating in two musical groups, Breakfast Club and Emmy, in 1983 she released her debut album Madonna the following year. Many of his songs have reached number one on the music charts of various countries around the world. |
George Michael
He was a British singer and songwriter who won numerous music awards throughout his career. Michael rose to fame in this decade, when he formed the duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley. His first solo single."Careless Whisper" was released while still part of the duo and sold nearly six million copies worldwide. |