The Best 80s Electronic Music Playlist

Looking for the best 80s electronic music? Look no further than this ultimate playlist, featuring all the greatest hits from the decade.

Introduction

In the 1980s, electronic music became more mainstream with the rise of popular artists such as Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, and Duran Duran. The genre also became more experimental with the advent of new technologies such as synthesizers and drum machines. This playlist features some of the best 80s electronic music, from both mainstream and underground artists.

New Wave

New Wave music first emerged in the late 1970s as a reaction against the stagnant, artistic confines of punk rock. New Wave artists experimented with different sounds and styles, incorporating elements of disco, pop, and even Latin and reggae music into their work. By the early 1980s, New Wave had become one of the most popular genres in the world, spawning countless hits and launching the careers of some of the biggest names in music.

Some of the most popular New Wave artists include Duran Duran, The Police, Blondie, Billy Idol, and The Talking Heads. These artists helped to define an era with their innovative sounds and catchy songs. If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane, or just want to hear some great 80s music, check out our playlist of the best New Wave songs below.

Synth-Pop

Synth-pop is a subgenre of new wave music that first became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It combines elements of electronic music and pop music and is often focused on synthesizers or electronic instruments. Some of the most iconic synth-pop songs include “Cars” by Gary Numan, “Blue Monday” by New Order, and “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes.

Industrial

Industrial music is a genre of music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of British label Industrial Records by members of Throbbing Gristle and Monte Cazazza. While the genre’s lyrical content has been variously described as concerned with ideas of futurism, technology, repetition, and Sexuality, it has also been associated with extreme violence and misanthropy.

The industrial music aesthetic is industrial, that is to say, it is Concerned With the products of industry: machines, manufacturing and assembly-line processes. This may manifest itself in the use of found objects as musical instruments (e.g., Throbbing Gristle’s “White Car”) or in the use of synthetic sounds produced by electronic means (e.g., Skinny Puppy’s “Digital Tension Dementia”).

Industrial music was originally intended to be a part of progressive rock, but developed into a separate genre after punk rock broke down the barriers between high art and low culture in the late 1970s. Unlike punk rock, which was primarily concerned with deconstructing rock music, industrial music was more concerned With creating a new type of music altogether. This new type of music would be made using machines instead of guitars and drums, and would be based around repetition and rhythmic drone instead of melody and verse-chorus song structures.

The first wave of industrial bands were often aggressive and confrontational, both in their lyrics and in their stage performances. Many industrial bands used shock tactics to jar their audiences out of complacency, using strobe lights, naked women, bloodletting, self-mutilation, and other violent or sexually explicit imagery. This approach was intended to break down barriers between band and audience, to create a sense of immersion in the performance And to provoke an emotional reaction.

later industrial bands would take a more experimental approach to sound And ambience, using found sounds And samples instead Of traditional instruments And employing minimalist composition techniques to create slow-building And often unsettling soundscapes. This approach would come to be known as dark ambient or drone music…

EBM

EBM, short for electronic body music, is a genre of electronic music that combines elements of industrial music and synth-pop. It was originally developed in the early 1980s by Belgian and British musicians, and came to prominence in Belgium at the New Beat nightclubs. EBM was often used as a synonym for industrial music, but eventually came to be seen as its own distinct genre.

EBM is characterized by a heavy bass sound, driving rhythms, and often vocals that are processed or distorted to create a robotic or machine-like effect. The lyrics often deal with themes of rebellion, despair, and anxiety.

If you’re looking for something to dance to, look no further than this playlist of the best EBM songs from the 80s.

Techno

The first techno tracks began to appear in the mid-1980s, and the genre really came into its own in the early 1990s. Techno was a product of the underground rave and club culture of the time, and its popularity spread quickly throughout Europe and America.

There are many different subgenres of techno, but all share a common ground in their use of electronic instruments and rhythmic, repetitive beats. Techno is often associated with futuristic or dystopian themes, and its mix of melody and abstraction can create a feeling of euphoria or alienation, depending on the listener’s mood.

If you’re looking for a taste of the best that techno has to offer, look no further than this playlist. It includes classics from the likes of Kraftwerk, Detroit techno pioneers Juan Atkins and Derrick May, as well as more recent tracks from contemporary artists like Jeff Mills and Richie Hawtin.

House

British house music is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the late 1980s. It is strongly influenced by elements of Chicago house, Detroit techno, and acid house. House pioneers such as Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, and Robert Owens are from the Chicago area, where house music developed in the early 1980s. House music quickly spread to other American cities such as Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia. House music became popular in Europe during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It also had a significant impact on the development of electronic dance music in general.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a tempo ranging from 125 to 160 BPM, repeated melodic phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout the song. Trance tracks often have a central hook or melody that is repeated throughout the track, giving it a “hypnotic” feeling.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass (also written as “drum ‘n’ bass” or “d&b”) is a genre of electronic music characterised by fast breakbeats (typically between 150 and 180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines. It emerged as a successor to the UK jungle scene of the early 1990s.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our 80s electronic music playlist. As you can see, the 80s was a great decade for electronic music, with many different genres and subgenres becoming popular. We think it’s safe to say that electronic music is here to stay, and we can’t wait to see what new sounds the next decade brings. Thanks for listening!