The 1980’s Pop Music Scene

The 1980’s pop music scene was all about big hair, big personality, and big hits. From Madonna to Michael Jackson, the decade was full of iconic artists who left their mark on the music world. If you’re a fan of 80’s pop, this blog is for you!

Introduction

The 1980s saw the birth of pop music as we know it today. artists like Madonna, Prince, and Michael Jackson changed the sound and face of pop music forever. This was a decade of excess, with big hair, big shoulder pads, and big egos to match. The music was loud and brash, and the fashion even louder.

The 1980s was the decade when MTV truly came into its own. The network began to produce its own programming, including the now-legendary show “Unplugged,” which featured some of the biggest names in music performing stripped-down versions of their hits. MTV also helped to make household names out of some previously lesser-known artists, such as Cyndi Lauper and Duran Duran.

The 1980s pop music scene was characterized by a number of different genres and subgenres. New wave and synth-pop were huge at the beginning of the decade, giving way to hair metal and glam rock as it progressed. Hip hop also emerged as a major force in popular music during the ’80s, with artists like Run DMC, Public Enemy, and NWA becoming international superstars.

In terms of pure pop hits, few decades can match the ’80s. Songs like “Billie Jean,” “Like a Virgin,” “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” and “We Built This City” were instant classics that are still played on radio stations around the world today. Love them or hate them, there’s no denyin

The Birth of MTV

MTV, or Music Television, changed the face of pop music in the 1980’s. Launched in 1981, MTV quickly became the go-to destination for music fans, and artists began making music videos specifically for the channel. The first video played on MTV was The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” and it set the tone for the transforming pop landscape.

Suddenly, looks mattered as much as sound, and image became everything. Artists like Madonna and Prince used MTV to create larger-than-life personas that were just as popular as their music. And bands like Duran Duran and A-ha rode the wave of popularity generated by their catchy videos. The 1980’s were truly the decade of image over substance.

The Rise of Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone (/tʃɪˈkoʊneɪ/; Italian: [tʃikˈkoːne]; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. Referred to as the “Queen of Pop” since the 1980s, Madonna is known for pushing the boundaries of songwriting in mainstream popular music and for the visuals she uses onstage and in music videos. She has frequently reinvented her music and image while maintaining autonomy within the recording industry. Although having sparked controversy, her works have been praised by music critics. Madonna is often cited as an influence by other artists.

Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist and vocalist in the rock band Breakfast Club, she signed with Sire Records in 1982 and released her eponymous debut album the next year. She followed it with a series of successful albums that garnered critical acclaim before taking a hiatus from recording after actually 1982’s Like a Virgin suffered poor reception compared to its predecessors.

The New Wave Movement

New Wave was a music genre and subculture that emerged in the late 1970s and flourished in the early to mid-1980s. Though it was initially used as a catch-all for the punk rock movement that followed the 1974 release of the album Ramones, including the earliest manifestations of punk rock, New Wave subsequently encompasseddiverse styles such as power pop, experimental pop, electronic music and synth-pop. New Wave differed from other punk rock styles of the time by combining aggression and energy with experimentalism and catchy, melodic tunes. It generally eschewed political themes for more personal ones, and produced danceable, optimistic songs with a shiny, polished sheen that reflected positively on contemporary consumer culture. The Human League, Devo, Talking Heads and Blondie were some of the biggest acts to come out of this movement.

The British Invasion

The British Invasion was a musical movement of the early 1960s when rock and pop music acts from the United Kingdom and other aspects of British culture, became popular in the United States and significant to rising “counterculture” on both sides of the Atlantic. Led by Beatles, Rolling Stones and Animals, Britain invaded America with its young, long-haired, rebellious musicians and its new styles of music. This new hard rock sound was often tagged with the labels beat music or Merseybeat.

The Decline of Disco

The 1980’s pop music scene was dominated by disco for a few years, but the tide started to turn by the end of the decade. A number of factors led to the decline of disco, including the backlash against the perceived superficiality and excesses of the genre. New music styles, such as punk and new wave, also gained popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, leading to a decline in disco’s popularity. The movie “Saturday Night Fever” also played a role in disco’s decline, as it was seen as depicting a negative image of disco culture.

The Birth of Hip Hop

In the early 1980’s, a new music genre was born in the streets of New York City. Hip hop was created by African American and Latino youths who were looking for a way to express themselves. This new music style combined elements of DJing, MCing, and breakdancing. Hip hop quickly became popular in the inner city neighborhoods of the Bronx and soon spread to other parts of the country.

The Conclusion

It can be said that the pop music scene of the 1980’s was highly influential and set the stage for future decades. The sounds and styles of the time period are still prevalent in today’s music. The 1980’s pop music scene was characterized by a number of different styles, each with its own devout following. While some styles faded away as the decade came to a close, others continue to be popular to this day.