Music of the 80s: Pop Hits That Stand the Test of Time
Contents
What are the most popular 80s pop hits? Here is a list of the top songs of the 1980s, according to Billboard.
Introduction
It’s been more than three decades since the 1980s ended, but the music of that decade still resonates with people today. Many of the biggest pop hits of the ‘80s have stood the test of time and become timeless classics.
Whether you’re a fan of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Queen, or any other artist from that era, there’s no denying that the music of the 1980s is still as popular as ever. In fact, many of today’s biggest pop stars credit the ‘80s as their biggest musical influence.
If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane, or just want to hear some great pop music, check out our list of the top 10 pop hits from the 1980s.
The Birth of MTV
On August 1, 1981, MTV (Music Television) went on the air for the first time. The now-iconic music channel changed the way we consume music and has had a lasting impact on popular culture.
MTV played a pivotal role in the rise of many 80s pop icons, including Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince. These artists created some of the most iconic music videos of all time, which are still remembered and beloved by fans today.
The 80s was a decade of great change in the music industry, and MTV played a major part in that. Thanks to MTV, pop music became more accessible than ever before and continues to be one of the most popular genres today.
The Rise of Pop
The 1980s is often remembered as a decade of excess, and in many ways that is true. But it was also a decade that saw the birth of some of the most enduring pop hits of all time. From Michael Jackson to Madonna, the 80s was a decade that saw the rise of pop music as we know it today.
Though many of these artists have since faded from the spotlight, their hits remain as popular as ever. Here are just a few examples of the pop hits that made the 80s such an iconic decade.
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”
Madonna – “Like a Virgin”
Whitney Houston – “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”
Bryan Adams – “Summer of ’69”
Bon Jovi – “Livin’ on a Prayer”
The Dominance of Hip Hop
In the 1980s, hip hop music became more mainstream and began to dominate the pop charts. The early 1990s saw the rise of artists like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, who helped to cement hip hop’s place as a dominant force in popular music. Today, hip hop is one of the most popular genres in the world, and its influence can be heard in everything from pop to rock to R&B.
The End of an Era
The eighties was a time of great change in the music industry. The emergence of MTV totally changed the way that people listened to and discovered new music. No longer were radio stations the only way to hear new songs; now, artists had a visual platform on which to promote their music. This shift had a big impact on the sound of pop music, as artists began to create songs with a more “visual” style.
The eighties was also a time of great change in the technological world. The introduction of the CD (compact disc) made it possible for people to listen to music without having to buy vinyl records or cassette tapes. CDs were much smaller and more convenient than either of these older formats, and they quickly became the preferred way to listen to music. This change in technology had a big impact on the sound of pop music, as artists began to create songs with a more “digital” sound.
By the end of the eighties, another major change was taking place in the world of pop music: the rise of grunge. Grunge was a very different sound from the synthesizer-driven pop that had dominated the charts throughout most of the decade. Grunge was darker, heavier, and more “real”; it was a direct response to the artificiality that many people felt had come to define eighties pop.
Though grunge would eventually take over as the dominant sound of popular music in the early nineties, there are many eighties pop hits that still stand the test of time. These are just a few examples of songs that continue to be loved by fans old and new.
Conclusion
While the 80s were a decade known for big hair and even bigger shoulder pads, it was also a time when pop music reached new heights. From classic power ballads to catchy synth-pop anthems, the 80s produced some of the most enduring hits of all time. And though fashion and music styles may have changed since then, these songs continue to delight listeners around the world.
