BACK TO THE 80s

I expect some of you reading this title, you may counter with, well, it’s not, but let’s look further into this decade of music to give it a fair chance to prove its worth. The 80s for those of us who lived through it, was a time of questionable fashion trends, curious haircuts, all accompanied by some astonishing popular music. There was a radical change in direction for popular music not only because of the revolutions and innovations in music technology but also in terms of stylistic diversity. The 80s saw the rise of Punk, New Wave, Electronic, Soft Rock, and the more middle of the road out and out Pop music. Each of these, plus other musical styles that emerged from the late 70s into the 80s made an essential contribution to making the decade truly memorable. Why is 80s Music so Good One of the most reliable sources of popular music information is NME (nme.com). According to an online survey from NME, the top-selling 12″ of all time is New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’. For many people, this single track exemplifies all that was great about the music of the 80s. There is a bleak, machine-like intensity that sets the tone for this song. The familiar sounds of looped drum-machines, string synths, and bouncing bass lines, all topped with dry, sullen vocals make for a compelling track that captures the essence of the 80s. Looking further into the track, the bleakness of the political situation is also in my opinion, mirrored in the song, highlighting the struggles that were associated with this decade. Even with this dark undercurrent, the music, full of hooks and driven beats, invites repeated listening. Another style of music that entered the popular music charts was Ska. This was not music that originated in the 80s but in a sense was revived through immensely popular groups like The Specials. The band adopted a ‘mod’ look with pork-pie hats, sharp black suits, and loafers for footwear. Alongside their music, this image helped secure the band a place in the minds of everyone who saw them. In their hit track ‘Ghost Town’, the tension and dismay at the politics of the day came through with a clear message.