80s Soul Music on YouTube

Looking for some 80s soul music to listen to on YouTube? Check out our top picks for the best channels to find this classic genre.

The Birth of Soul Music

The 1960s were a turbulent time, with the African-American civil rights movement at the forefront of the country’s consciousness. In the midst of this charged atmosphere, a new type of music was born: soul. Soul music blended the sounds of Rhythm and Blues with Gospel to create a sound that was both sanctified and secular, simultaneously both comforting and rebellious. It was the perfect soundtrack for a nation in flux, and it helped to define an entire generation.

Motown

Few music genres have as rich a history as soul music, and few labels have been as instrumental in shaping that history as Motown.

Motown was founded in 1959 by Berry Gordy, Jr., and over the next two decades, it would become the most successful African American-owned record label of all time. Hits like “My Girl” by the Temptations, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye, and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross made Motown a household name, and the label’s artists became some of the biggest stars of their generation.

In the 1980s, Motown experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to the popularity of so-called “quiet storm” soul music. Hits like Lionel Richie’s “Lady” and Smokey Robinson’s “Being with You” helped to keep the label’s legacy alive and well into the new decade.

Stax Records

The story of Stax Records is inextricably linked with the city of Memphis, Tennessee – it was here that the label was founded in 1957, and it remained the company’s base until it finally closed its doors for the last time in 1975. It was also in Memphis that most of the music that came to define the Stax sound was recorded, in the legendary studio on McLemore Avenue that gave birth to hits by Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & The MGs, and many others.

The label’s rise to fame was swift – within a few years of its formation, Stax had produced a string of smash hits and was being hailed as one of the most important and influential independent record companies in America. The secret of its success was simple: unlike most other labels, which were based in New York or Los Angeles, Stax was based in the city where soul music was created. This meant that it had access to the best talent, and could record them in conditions that were familiar and comfortable.

The result was a string of classics that defined soul music for a generation, and established Stax as one of the most important record labels of the 20th century.

Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records was founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson in New York City. Ertegun and Abramson were Record Executives for DNA Productions and helped to produce Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin. In the 1960s, Atlantic shifted their focus to soul music and were able to help some of the biggest names in the genre achieve success. These artists included Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Ben E. King, and Sam & Dave. Atlantic Records was also responsible for bringing Led Zeppelin to the United States and releasing their self-titled debut album in early 1969.

In the early 1970s, Atlantic experienced some financial difficulties which caused Ertegun to sell the label to Warner Communications. Under Warner’s ownership, Atlantic became one of the most successful record labels of the 1970s and 1980s. One of their biggest successes during this time period was signing Philadelphia-based duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. The duo went on to release six consecutive platinum albums between 1975 and 1981.

In 1994, Warner Communications merged with Time Inc. to form Time Warner. In 2001, Time Warner sold Atlantic Records (along with Elektra Records and EastWest Records) to media conglomerate Edgar Bronfman Jr.. Six years later, Bronfman sold off Atlantic’s sister labels (Elektra, EastWest, and Rhino Entertainment) to various companies; Atlantic remains under the sole ownership of Bronfman’s holding company Access Industries.

The Evolution of Soul Music

The origins of soul music can be traced back to the 1950s when artists like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke began fusing gospel with other genres like blues and R&B. In the 1960s, Motown artists like Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder continued to evolve the sound of soul music. And in the 1970s and 1980s, artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston took soul music to new heights. So how did soul music evolve in the 1980s?

Funk

Funk is a subgenre of soul music that originated in the 1970s. It has a signature rhythmic groove that is often syncopated and based on a configuration of electric bass, drums, and guitar. Funk songs are often characterized by their call-and-response structure, as well as their use of slurred vocal stylings, horn sections, and percussive beats.

Disco

Disco was the last big musical innovation of the 20th century. It began in the early 1970s, and reached its height of popularity in the late 1970s. Disco was a fusion of black soul music and white pop music, and it quickly became the dominant pop music genre of the latter half of the 1970s.

However, disco’s popularity was short-lived. By the early 1980s, disco had fallen out of favour with both black and white audiences. In particular, disco’s association with drug use and promiscuous sex made it unpopular with conservative Americans. As a result, disco experienced a sharp decline in popularity in the early 1980s, and by 1983 it was largely forgotten.

Despite its brief lifespan, disco left a lasting legacy. Many of the dance moves and fashion styles associated with disco are still popular today. In addition, disco’s impact on pop music can still be heard in many contemporary genres, such as house music and techno.

New Jack Swing

New Jack Swing is a subgenre of soul music that emerged in the late 1980s. It combined elements of hip-hop and R&B, and was spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle. New Jack Swing was heavily influenced by James Brown’s style of Funk, as well as the work of Parliament-Funkadelic. The genre reached its height of popularity in the early 1990s with artists like Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe, and Boyz II Men.

The Resurgence of Soul Music

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in popularity for soul music. This genre of music was first popularized in the 1970s and 1980s, and many of the artists from that era are still revered today. Thanks to platforms like YouTube, fans can listen to their favorite 80s soul music anytime, anywhere.

Neo-Soul

Neo-soul is a subgenre of soul music that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is characterized by a renewed focus on organic and vintage production values, as well as a more introspective and personal lyrical approach.

Some of the key artists associated with neo-soul include D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, Lauryn Hill, and Amy Winehouse. The genre has also been influential on contemporary R&B, hip hop, and pop music.

Contemporary R&B

Contemporary R&B (also known as simply R&B) is a music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues, pop, soul, hip hop and electronic music. It comprises a set of subgenres including alpha rap, bounce, Chicago house, dance-pop, doo-wop, electro hop, quiet storm and Baltimore club.[1][2]

The genre features a distinctive record production style, drum machine-backed rhythms, an occasional saxophone-laced beat and a heavy use of samples. Contemporary R&B lyrical themes often deal with love and relationships.

The Future of Soul Music

There’s been a resurgence in popularity for 80s soul music as of late. This genre of music is known for its emotive lyrics and catchy melodies. But what does the future of soul music look like? Will it continue to be popular?

Hip-Hop/Soul

Hip-hop and soul are two genres of music that have been growing in popularity in recent years. Here, we take a look at the future of these two genres, and how they are likely to continue to grow in popularity.

Both hip-hop and soul originated in the African-American community, and have since gone on to enjoy global success. Hip-hop is a genre of music that is characterized by its use of rhymed verse, and often features sampling from other tracks. Soul, on the other hand, is a genre of music that is characterized by its emotive vocals and often features themes of love and relationships.

In recent years, both hip-hop and soul have enjoyed increasing levels of commercial success. This is largely due to the growth of streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, which have made it easier for listeners to discover new artists. Moreover, the rise of social media has helped to promote these genres of music to wider audiences.

It is clear that hip-hop and soul are here to stay, and they are only likely to continue to grow in popularity in the years to come. If you are a fan of either genre, then make sure to keep an eye out for new talent!

Electronic Soul

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the advent of electronic music and the rise of disco. This created a new landscape for soul music, which began to experiment with incorporating electronic elements into its sound. The result was a new genre known as “electronic soul.”

Artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna were at the forefront of this new sound, infusing soul music with synthetic beats and sounds. This new style of soul music was often more danceable than traditional soul, and it quickly gained popularity in clubs and on the radio.

Today, electronic soul is still being made by artists like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Maxwell. However, it has also been influence by other genres like hip hop and R&B. As a result, modern electronic soul often incorporates elements of these genres as well, making for a truly unique sound.