Music of the Soul: 80s Edition

The 80s were a time of great music. From hair bands to pop, there was something for everyone. In this edition of Music of the Soul, we’ll take a look at some of the greatest hits of the 80s.

The 80s: A Decade of Great Music

The 1980s was a great decade for music. A wide variety of genres emerged and flourished, from pop to rock to R&B to hip hop. The decade also saw the birth of electronic music, which would go on to become one of the most popular genres in the world.

Some of the biggest names in music emerged in the 80s, including Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, and Bruce Springsteen. These artists and others helped to shape the sound of the decade and create some of the most iconic songs of all time.

The 80s was a decade of experimentation and innovation, and it continues to influence music today. If you’re a fan of 80s music, or just want to explore some of the greatest hits of the era, check out our list of the 100 best songs of the 80s.

The Birth of MTV and the Rise of Music Videos

In 1981, a little-known cable channel called MTV went on the air and changed the face of music forever. MTV, which originally stood for “Music Television,” was a 24/7 channel devoted to music videos. At first, the channel aired mostly videos by older, established artists like Rod Stewart, The Police, and Duran Duran. But soon, it began to showcase newer artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince. These artists became known as “video stars” because of their heavy rotation on MTV.

The advent of music videos changed the way both artists and fans experienced music. For artists, music videos became a new way to promote their songs and gain exposure. For fans, music videos provided a visual accompaniment to the music they loved. And for everyone involved, MTV revitalized the power of music and brought it into the 1980s.

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) was a musical movement that started in the late 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. It was a reaction to the declining hard rock and progressive rock scenes of the 1970s.

The NWOBHM combined elements of those two genres with punk rock to create a fast, aggressive, and often short-lived subgenre of heavy metal. Bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Diamond Head, Saxon, and Def Leppard typified the sound and style of the NWOBHM.

Lyrically, most NWOBHM bands adopted a tough stance, creating working-class anthems about fighting back against The System. The DIY ethic of punk also influenced the movement, as evidenced by the widespread use of self-produced demos and independent record labels.

The NWOBHM began to decline in popularity by 1983, but it left a lasting impact on metal as a whole. Many of its bands went on to have successful careers, and its influence can still be heard in modern metal.

The American Hard Rock Scene

The American hard rock scene of the 1980s was dominated by a number of powerful bands and artists. Among them were Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and Bon Jovi. These bands defined an era of hard-hitting, edgy music that reflected the culture of the time.

Guns N’ Roses was one of the most popular bands of the era. They combined elements of punk, metal, and classic rock to create a unique sound that was both raw and powerful. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, is one of the best-selling albums of all time. It showcased their talent for writing catchy hooks and melodies, as well as their ability to deliver high-energy live performances.

Metallica was another hugely successful band of the 1980s. They helped to pioneer the genre of thrash metal with their groundbreaking album, Master of Puppets. This album displayed their technical mastery of their instruments, as well as their ability to write complex and intricate songs. Their follow-up album, …And Justice for All, cemented their place as one of the greatest metal bands of all time.

Bon Jovi was one of the most successful pop-metal bands of the 1980s. They built a massive following with their good looks and catchy radio-friendly tunes. Their Slippery When Wet album became one of the best-selling albums ever released, thanks in part to its smash hit single, “Livin’ on a Prayer”. Bon Jovi has continued to be a force in popular music over three decades later.

The Hair Bands of the 80s

In the early 1980s, American rock music was dominated by a style known as hard rock. Hard rock bands such as Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, and Guns N’ Roses gained popularity with their aggressive, high-energy sound.

In the middle of the decade, a new style of hard rock known as hair metal began to gain popularity. Hair metal bands such as Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Warrant became famous for their catchy melodies and flamboyant image.

Near the end of the decade, another new style known as grunge began to emerge from the underground music scene in Seattle, Washington. Grunge bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam combined elements of hard rock and punk rock to create a rougher, more aggressive sound.

The Rise of Hip Hop

In the 1980s, Hip Hop music first gained mainstream popularity in the United States with artists such as Run-D.M.C. and Beastie Boys. Hip Hop is a style of music that includes rap, DJing, and graffiti art. Hip Hop culture is often associated withinner-city African American youth, but it has become popular with people of all races and social backgrounds.

The Legacy of the 80s in Music Today

When people think of the music of the 80s, they often think of Whitney Houston, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and other popular artists of the time. However, the 80s was a decade that saw the rise of many different genres of music, including new wave, synth-pop, hip hop, and heavy metal. While some of these genres have faded in popularity since the 80s, others have had a lasting impact on the music industry and continue to be popular today.

New wave is a genre of pop music that emerged in the early 1980s. New wave music is characterized by synthesizers and electronic drums, as well as a more cynical or ironic lyrical style. Some popular new wave artists of the 80s include Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, and The Police.

Synth-pop is a genre of pop music that combines synthesizers with traditional pop songwriting. Synth-pop songs often have catchy melodies and simple lyrics. Some popular synth-pop artists of the 80s include Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, and Tears for Fears.

Hip hop is a genre of music that developed in the early 1980s in New York City. Hip hop music is characterized by its use of rhyming lyrics, turntablism (scratching and mixing records), and samplers (replaying short musical passages). Some popular hip hop artists of the 80s include Run DMC, Public Enemy, and Beastie Boys.

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Heavy metal music is characterized by its distorted guitars, pounding drums, and aggressive vocals. Some popular heavy metal bands of the 80s include Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer.