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Who thinks the 80's music still rulz to this very day? I personally think it still rulz it brings back memories of my early days and my high school years:) I had to bring up this topic cause I thought it's something different for a change
I am just curious to see how many people still love the 80's music!
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Missy
HOOKY'S DANCING DISCO BACKUP DJ.:D
PS I HAD TO SAY THAT!
Some of the 80's was cack,but a lot of the experimental stuff still stands up.Still love early Human League (well some of their recent stuff too),Soft Cell,Cocteau Twins, OMD still rock my boat,Pet Shop Boys,Echo & THe Bunnymen,a lot of guitar bands in fact.Plus some Manchester band whose name escapes me.
I think the secret to the 80's which still holds dear to everyone was the sense of fun. I look at the stuff now,and I love a lot of it. But in the 80's there was a dash of colour. The hairdo's were fucking embarrassing,but a constant source of nostalgia.
Many wonderful songs were written in the 1980s----I was born in 1987 so sadly, I don't know what it was like actually to live in the 1980s very much.
There were several good bands (NO, The Cure, Depeche Mode, PSB, Soft Cell, Human league, Metallica), but there were some bands and genres that were absolutely horrible (hair metal, bubblegum pop like Tiffany, Milli Vanilli, Wham, most American bands.)
missy wrote: Who thinks the 80's music still rulz to this very day? I personally think it still rulz it brings back memories of my early days and my high school years:) I had to bring up this topic cause I thought it's something different for a change
Missy
HOOKY'S DANCING DISCO BACKUP DJ.:D PS I HAD TO SAY THAT!
80s MUSIC rules in everyway; it's fun, upbeat, stylish and trend setter. 80s MUSIC matters! just can't get enough.
This blue-eyed boy that wants to be wrote: ... most American bands.
Not neccessarily - Sonic Youth, Husker Du, Pixies, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, Devo, REM, Mission of Burma...all innovative and influential US bands from the 80s
There was much more to "80s music" than sythpop and the Smash Hits rubbish...don't forget the likes of Wire and Magazine as well!
CTB
Its still fairly relevant, I wouldn't say that it rules though.
Most of the bands I like are from the eighties..... even though the eighties were not really my era for music (being aged between 2 and 12 during that decade!)
The brit pop era was a good time, kind of 94-97, some great bands around then..... but I always seem to end up back at the eighties stuff.
A lot of the music was great, be it mainstream pop or the more independant stuff. As for the haircuts and clothes though......
yes, 80's music is superior to what's out today. as far as the clothes and hair styles, they should bring that back too. :P
Like every decade, it was a very mixed time. People saying ridiculous sweeping statements like "all 80s stuff was crap" etc are really way off the beam as with any given time in music, there were huge differences between not only bands but also a wide variety of genres etc.
As someone that lived through the decade as a young gig-going, record-buying bloke in Britain, I'd say it was an amazing time musically. Yeah sure, you had a lot of crap about but for a good five or six years, synth-based musics did the business across Europe especially. Even inside of synth musics, you had a fair few chancers and bandwagon jumpers but then that would've always been the case as it is with any genre which has become absorbed by the mainstream to become 'the norm' (this was both the making and the death of dance music).
The fact that the great songs of that decade are still widely appreciated, receive mucho airplay etc is testament to how good they were. Think of songs like Torch, Blue Monday, Enola Gay, The Only Way Is Up, Agadoo (ha ha!)...
It's weird: people think of the sixties as some sort of golden age musically as well but people also forget that a lot of crapola came out then too. You'd never know because the 'classic gold' radio stations only play the well-known hits from that decade, airbrushing the shit out of existance. The shit still remains but it's hidden!
To me the music I loved then and still love is what matters. You love it for your own reasons and great music stands apart from - and paradoxically is inextricably linked with - the time it was first known to the world.
80's pop/rock like any other era has it’s gems and it's s***e. The main difference is '80's pop had more of a progressive, inventive and naïve feel to it - at the indie end at least, than today's retro, derivative, stylised, throw-away and corporate ethos. There does tend to be a convenient pigeon hole-ing of everything associated with the '80's as being New Romantic/Synth/Electro pop. Yes that was a popular sound at the time and the likes of NO, Depeche Mode, PSB, Human League/Heaven 17, Soft Cell, OMD, Visage, Ultravox, Japan etc. were absolutely massive but the decade is also notable for the sheer amount of musical genres that it spawned. In the early '80's the punk rock movement either capitulated or merged towards a new wave sound which embraced other forms of music and attracted newcomers to the sound. For example The Clash/BAD, Blondie and Talking Heads incorporated elements of Reggae, Hip Hop and other sounds into their mix. Reggae and Ska were also massive as typified by the Two Tone/The Specials sound although the commercial success of Madness (who I don't mind) and novelty pop of Bad Manners probably killed the scene's underground credentials. The likes of The Smiths, Echo And The Bunneymen, Coctau Twins, Jesus And The Mary Chain, Pixies etc. were part of a indie rock underground which was more about making music they wanted to make rather than doing music which did well in the charts and at the time gained critical success rather than the sales success you could say they should have had. The '80's was also Hip Hop's 'golden era' with Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, KRS One, Public Enemy, Eric B And Rakim, Mantronix etc. showing just how new, fresh, exciting and dangerous this music was back then compared to the boring gangsta/R&B rap s***e which pervades today. The mid-'80's is IMHO the decades low point with the Stock/Aitken/Waterman pop of (P)Rick Astley etc. for example being the lowest common denominator of the s***e that was around back then. However as the decade was coming to an end an interesting and exciting musical movement emerged that NO/Factory/Hacienda was to be a part of. The Dance/Rave scene although pimped to almost extinction by the mid '90's was absolutely mind blowing in 1987/88 when you heard the House/Acid House being produced by Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, DJ Pierre, Steve 'Silk' Hurley, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Tony Humpries etc. Combine that with Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes, Kenny Larkin, Carl Craig etc. Techno sound of Detroit you had the elements which created a necessary to shake up the music scene - in the UK and Europe at least. NO were around at the start of this Dance music revolution and Technique represents just how different the pop music landscape was post 1988. Likewise many of Manchester's music makers to a greater or lesser degree incorporated these influences into their sound. The 'Madchester' era of the Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Charlatans, 808 State, Inspiral Carpets etc. is arguably one of the most creative periods of the '80's and directly/indirectly helped lay the foundations for the likes of Dance music acts like The Chemicals, Orbital, Leftfield, Underworld, Moby, The Orb, Massive Attack, Prodigy, Faithless, FSOL, LFO, Aphex Twin, Hardfloor, etc. to emerge in the '90's. On the whole I like much of the music that emerged in the '80's and I suppose if it's good it will eventually get appreciated - even if it wasn't at the time. Still I'd love to meet the f***ers who bought that Joe Dolce single and Kept Ultravox's Vienna of No.1 on a dark night LOL!
Anyway time for a break from the keyboard methinks - cheers!
Alan Paul Kitching wrote: 80's pop/rock like any other era has it’s gems and it's s***e. The main difference is '80's pop had more of a progressive, inventive and naïve feel to it - at the indie end at least, than today's retro, derivative, stylised, throw-away and corporate ethos. There does tend to be a convenient pigeon hole-ing of everything associated with the '80's as being New Romantic/Synth/Electro pop. Yes that was a popular sound at the time and the likes of NO, Depeche Mode, PSB, Human League/Heaven 17, Soft Cell, OMD, Visage, Ultravox, Japan etc. were absolutely massive but the decade is also notable for the sheer amount of musical genres that it spawned. In the early '80's the punk rock movement either capitulated or merged towards a new wave sound which embraced other forms of music and attracted newcomers to the sound. For example The Clash/BAD, Blondie and Talking Heads incorporated elements of Reggae, Hip Hop and other sounds into their mix. Reggae and Ska were also massive as typified by the Two Tone/The Specials sound although the commercial success of Madness (who I don't mind) and novelty pop of Bad Manners probably killed the scene's underground credentials. The likes of The Smiths, Echo And The Bunneymen, Coctau Twins, Jesus And The Mary Chain, Pixies etc. were part of a indie rock underground which was more about making music they wanted to make rather than doing music which did well in the charts and at the time gained critical success rather than the sales success you could say they should have had. The '80's was also Hip Hop's 'golden era' with Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, KRS One, Public Enemy, Eric B And Rakim, Mantronix etc. showing just how new, fresh, exciting and dangerous this music was back then compared to the boring gangsta/R&B rap s***e which pervades today. The mid-'80's is IMHO the decades low point with the Stock/Aitken/Waterman pop of (P)Rick Astley etc. for example being the lowest common denominator of the s***e that was around back then. However as the decade was coming to an end an interesting and exciting musical movement emerged that NO/Factory/Hacienda was to be a part of. The Dance/Rave scene although pimped to almost extinction by the mid '90's was absolutely mind blowing in 1987/88 when you heard the House/Acid House being produced by Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, DJ Pierre, Steve 'Silk' Hurley, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Tony Humpries etc. Combine that with Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes, Kenny Larkin, Carl Craig etc. Techno sound of Detroit you had the elements which created a necessary to shake up the music scene - in the UK and Europe at least. NO were around at the start of this Dance music revolution and Technique represents just how different the pop music landscape was post 1988. Likewise many of Manchester's music makers to a greater or lesser degree incorporated these influences into their sound. The 'Madchester' era of the Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Charlatans, 808 State, Inspiral Carpets etc. is arguably one of the most creative periods of the '80's and directly/indirectly helped lay the foundations for the likes of Dance music acts like The Chemicals, Orbital, Leftfield, Underworld, Moby, The Orb, Massive Attack, Prodigy, Faithless, FSOL, LFO, Aphex Twin, Hardfloor, etc. to emerge in the '90's. On the whole I like much of the music that emerged in the '80's and I suppose if it's good it will eventually get appreciated - even if it wasn't at the time. Still I'd love to meet the f***ers who bought that Joe Dolce single and Kept Ultravox's Vienna of No.1 on a dark night LOL!
Yeah, what he said.
Julie wrote: There was loads of absolute cack in the 80's as well though
There was some utter shite in the eighties - who remembers five star! Mind you, I liked them at the time but I was a child! Can see now that I should have been shot for my musical taste! Although, I did prefer Duran Duran to wham! Redeenming? Maybe not! 
Alan Paul Kitching wrote: 80's pop/rock like any other era has it’s gems and it's s***e. The main difference is '80's pop had more of a progressive, inventive and naïve feel to it - at the indie end at least, than today's retro, derivative, stylised, throw-away and corporate ethos. There does tend to be a convenient pigeon hole-ing of everything associated with the '80's as being New Romantic/Synth/Electro pop. Yes that was a popular sound at the time and the likes of NO, Depeche Mode, PSB, Human League/Heaven 17, Soft Cell, OMD, Visage, Ultravox, Japan etc. were absolutely massive but the decade is also notable for the sheer amount of musical genres that it spawned. In the early '80's the punk rock movement either capitulated or merged towards a new wave sound which embraced other forms of music and attracted newcomers to the sound. For example The Clash/BAD, Blondie and Talking Heads incorporated elements of Reggae, Hip Hop and other sounds into their mix. Reggae and Ska were also massive as typified by the Two Tone/The Specials sound although the commercial success of Madness (who I don't mind) and novelty pop of Bad Manners probably killed the scene's underground credentials. The likes of The Smiths, Echo And The Bunneymen, Coctau Twins, Jesus And The Mary Chain, Pixies etc. were part of a indie rock underground which was more about making music they wanted to make rather than doing music which did well in the charts and at the time gained critical success rather than the sales success you could say they should have had. The '80's was also Hip Hop's 'golden era' with Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, KRS One, Public Enemy, Eric B And Rakim, Mantronix etc. showing just how new, fresh, exciting and dangerous this music was back then compared to the boring gangsta/R&B rap s***e which pervades today. The mid-'80's is IMHO the decades low point with the Stock/Aitken/Waterman pop of (P)Rick Astley etc. for example being the lowest common denominator of the s***e that was around back then. However as the decade was coming to an end an interesting and exciting musical movement emerged that NO/Factory/Hacienda was to be a part of. The Dance/Rave scene although pimped to almost extinction by the mid '90's was absolutely mind blowing in 1987/88 when you heard the House/Acid House being produced by Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, DJ Pierre, Steve 'Silk' Hurley, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Tony Humpries etc. Combine that with Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes, Kenny Larkin, Carl Craig etc. Techno sound of Detroit you had the elements which created a necessary to shake up the music scene - in the UK and Europe at least. NO were around at the start of this Dance music revolution and Technique represents just how different the pop music landscape was post 1988. Likewise many of Manchester's music makers to a greater or lesser degree incorporated these influences into their sound. The 'Madchester' era of the Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Charlatans, 808 State, Inspiral Carpets etc. is arguably one of the most creative periods of the '80's and directly/indirectly helped lay the foundations for the likes of Dance music acts like The Chemicals, Orbital, Leftfield, Underworld, Moby, The Orb, Massive Attack, Prodigy, Faithless, FSOL, LFO, Aphex Twin, Hardfloor, etc. to emerge in the '90's. On the whole I like much of the music that emerged in the '80's and I suppose if it's good it will eventually get appreciated - even if it wasn't at the time. Still I'd love to meet the f***ers who bought that Joe Dolce single and Kept Ultravox's Vienna of No.1 on a dark night LOL!
I got two and half lines into this and realised, unsurprisingly that you were, in fact, talking complete and utter bullshit.
The main difference is '80's pop had more of a progressive, inventive and naïve feel to it - at the indie end at least, than today's retro, derivative, stylised, throw-away and corporate ethos
stylised, throw away and corporate ethos? Nice to see you'be been reading the dictionary Alan but you really shouldnt have done it at the expense of checking out of reality.
Presumably, you think that music stop and starts with what you hear on whatever Radio Station you listen to. So that means you are likely to hear some rapper or r nb nonsense samping Phil Collins, or Toto or Spandau Ballet etc etc. Of course, this means you havent checked out any of the hundreds of half decent bands out there because even though you know they are out there (and if you dont you are even less intelligent than I gave you credit for). So according to you, who knows nothing about todays music short of perceptions of the stuff you hear on the radio and looking into what its not, and therefore criticising it, what you should do is look into what is there, what is good about it and actually enjoy it.
In one sweeping statement you have denegrated the entirity of todays music scene. Well, I'll tell you what, based on our conversation a few weeks ago, in the "Other Bands You Like" thread in BCD, I have a done a nice big list, so look at that, get yourself onto Myspace, or Napster and then come back to be with an informed reasonable debate, something which is a vast improvement on "I Dont like The Whip, I Like Electronic Music"
As for the best decade. Well, as anyone with a brain would realise, the likes of Stock, Aitken and Waterman and that kind of nonsense has always been around. In fact, I did a blog entry on it which can be found here so i would never let that pre judge my opinion on what has been the best musical decade. I actaully think that if you were a fan of independent live music that anytime after 1977 you'd be alright, especially in the major cities. I think the only time the 'scene' got bad was between 99-2003 when the following bands were top of the tree: Travis, Coldplay, Limp Bizkit (does anyone remember the whole nu-metal thing. Ouch), The D*rkness (very briefly, thank fuck) and you couldnt go anywhere without hearing gangsta rap, or nu metal or shit like that. 2004 comes along, so do Franz Ferdinand, and a year later you cant move for gigs by decent bands again. What happens in 2004? The first mega rush for Glastonbury tickets, followed in 2005 by the first mega rush for tickets to Reading/Leeds and V. Who, generally, plays these events? Popular independent bands.
So, to go back to the original question, does 80's music still rule? Well its very hard for a decade to rule anything, what with it being a designated time frame. Considering how styles change and things evolve and new sounds are created its probably very inaccurate to pigeonhole.
What I will say is this, if anyone is stupid enough to limit themselves to one era, or one scene, or one type of music, one dare i say it, one band, then they are a total fool. Life, and Music goes on.
One great thing about the 80s was the simple fact that there was so many one-hit wonders that it allowed for so much experimentation. Plus there wasn't the pigeon-holing as there is today. Granted there were titles and radio stations did stick to the genre mostly, but everyone that listened to the clash, heard some billy ocean, micheal jackson, belinda carlisle (or how ever you spell it), or some other group that was from outside the genre. Talking to kids today, they listen to their genre solely and don't deviate outside the box. Seems music appreciation is at a real low today:\ohwell:
