Why Soul Music From the 80s is Still Relevant Today

The 80s was a decade that saw the birth of soul music. This genre of music has since gone on to have a lasting impact on popular culture. Here’s why soul music from the 80s is still relevant today.

The Birth of Soul Music

Soul music has its origins in the late 50s and early 60s, when artists like James Brown and Otis Reading began to fuse rhythm and blues with gospel music. The result was a new sound that was both spiritual and earthy, and it quickly caught on with both black and white audiences. In the 80s, soul music reached new heights of popularity with artists like Whitney Houston and Lionel Richie. Today, soul music is still going strong, with new artists like Adele and John Legend keeping the genre alive.

The Motown Sound

The Motown Sound is a style of popular music characterized by a heavy bass line, repetitive beats, horns, and a strong emphasis on vocals. The sound was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by a group of music producers at the Motown record label, which was based in Detroit, Michigan.

The Motown Sound was named after the record label, but it soon became associated with a specific style of music that was created and popularized by Motown artists. This style of music combined elements of R&B, pop, and gospel to create a new sound that was appealing to a wide range of listeners.

The Motown Sound became one of the most successful and influential styles of popular music in the 20th century. It helped to shape the sound of soul music in the 1960s and 1970s, and it continues to be an important influence on popular music today.

The Philly Sound

The Philly Sound is a subgenre of soul music that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The sound is characterized by its use of the string section of an orchestra, as well as heavy use of electronic instruments such as the synthesizer. It was developed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was influenced by both Motown and disco. The Philly Sound was popularized by artists such as Gamble and Huff, who were responsible for producing some of the most well-known soul songs of the era.

The Golden Age of Soul Music

The 80s was a golden age for soul music. Artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston were pumping out classics that are still relevant and loved today. The genre has seen a resurgence in recent years, with artists like Bruno Mars and Adele bringing their own modern spin to the sound. In this article, we’ll explore why soul music from the 80s is still so relevant today.

The Rise of Funk

Funk became a major force in black music during the early 1970s. Pioneered by James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone, the style was raw, disciplined, and based on a leaner version of the groove that had fueled Brown’s earlier hits. Funk also abandoned the self-consciousness and political concerns of much late-’60s black music; as Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic later told Rolling Stone, “All we wanted to do was get people to move their behinds.” The best funk songs were tight, hypnotic, percussive grooves with simple, declarative melodies; they were often based on a single guitar riff or bass line that was then echoed and embellished by other instruments. The best funk groups emphasized rhythm over everything else; even the horns were used primarily for rhythmic punctuation. And because of their focus on rhythm, most funk groups used live drums rather than drum machines or samples.

The Birth of Hip-Hop

The music of the 80s was a golden age for soul music. It was a decade that saw the rise of hip-hop, the birth of new jack swing, and the ascent of contemporary R&B. But it was also a decade that saw the continued success of traditional soul music.

While disco may have been the biggest musical craze of the 70s, it was soul music that defined the sound of the 80s. From Marvin Gaye to Luther Vandross, there were few genres that could match the emotional power and musicality of soul.

And while many of the biggest soul hits came from African American artists, there were also a number of white artists who found success with soul-influenced music. Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, and Cyndi Lauper all had hits with songs that owed a debt to soul music.

The 80s were also a golden age for female soul singers. Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, and Janet Jackson all released debut albums in the 1980s that would go on to become classics. These women would help define the sound of pop music in the 1990s and beyond.

Today, soul music from the 1980s continues to be hugely influential. Many contemporary artists have cited 80s soul as a major influence on their work. And thanks to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, these classic songs are more accessible than ever before.

The Legacy of Soul Music

Though it has been decades since the golden age of soul music, the genre still maintain a large and passionate following today. There are many reasons why soul music from the 80s is still relevant and appreciated by music lovers all over the world. In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why soul music from the 80s is still relevant today.

The Influence of Soul Music on Pop Culture

Though you might not hear it on the radio as much as other genres, soul music is still very influential in today’s pop culture. The sounds and style of 80s soul music can be heard in the work of contemporary artists like Beyonce, Bruno Mars, and Adele. Even though these artists may not self-identify as “soul” musicians, they all have been influenced by the genre in some way.

Beyonce’s 2013 song “Haunted” is a great example of how soul music has influenced pop culture. The song features a sample of Betty Wright’s “Clean Up Woman”. This sample gives the song a vintage soul sound that would not be possible without Wright’s original recording. Bruno Mars’ 2014 hit “Uptown Funk” also features a sample of an 80s soul song, in this case Rose Royce’s “Carpetbaggers”. The use of these samples shows how contemporary artists are still drawing inspiration from the sounds of 80s soul music.

Adele’s 2011 album 21 is full of soul influences, from the production to the songwriting. The album’s lead single, “Rolling in the Deep”, was co-written by Paul Epworth, who is known for his work with acts like Florence + The Machine and Coldplay. However, Epworth has also said that he was heavily influenced by 80s soul music while working on 21. In an interview with MTV News, he said that he was “trying to make a record that had the kind of power and scale that records by [Earth, Wind & Fire], Marvin Gaye or Tina Turner had.” This quote shows how Adele’s work would not exist without the influence of 80s soul music.

Though it may not be as visible as other genres, soul music from the 80s is still very relevant in today’s pop culture. The sounds and style of this era can be heard in the work of contemporary artists like Beyonce, Bruno Mars, and Adele. These artists have been able to take what they love about 80s soul music and create something new and exciting that speaks to today’s audiences.

The Influence of Soul Music on Today’s Artists

The influence of soul music can be heard in the work of contemporary R&B, hip-hop, and pop artists. The term “soul” was originally coined in the early 1960s to describe African-American popular music that combined elements of gospel and blues. By the end of the decade, soul music had become one of the most popular genres in the world.

In the 1980s, soul music began to evolve again, incorporating more elements of funk, pop, and dance. This new sound became known as “contemporary R&B.” Today’s top R&B and hip-hop artists often cite soul music as a major influence on their work.

The emotional power and spiritual depth of soul music continue to resonates with listeners today. The best soul songs are able to capture the feeling of love, loss, joy, pain, or hope and convey it in a way that is both personal and universal. These are some of the qualities that make soul music so timeless and relevant.