[Music] Is the 80’s the best decade ever for Pop Music ?

[Robinjakarta]

No, the sixties were the best. Lots of new and innovative ideas, Motown was at it's peak, British bands were producing great music, it was simply the best.

The correct answer. Great music by American bands, too (The Byrds, Love, The Doors, Buffalo Springfield etc). Songwriters (Dylan, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens and so on). And so much more.

Edit. Oh, and I forgot. Pet Sounds, Revolver, Sgt Pepper, Disraeli Gears, Highway 61, Blonde on Blonde, Hendrix, Pink Floyd with Syd Barrett, The Mamas and Papas, Neil Young, Fairport Convention/Judy Dyble/Sandy Denny and loads more.

 

[B-right-on]

Most things - movies, music, tv-series, fashion - from the 80s should have stayed in the 80s.

Of course there is good stuff but its a shite decade. I'm sure it was a fun time to live in, but culturally its a shitshow.

You're talking out of your arse. 'Culturally its a shitshow' proves that you have not clue as to the British culture of the 60s and 70s and therefore the culture of the 80s would not make any sense to you.

Sure looking back at it, you might think it looks dated, crap or whatever, but living thru it gives you a different perspective on it. Your casual dismissal of that decade and what it achieved for society today, such as freedom of speech, LGBT rights and even racial equality, cannot be underestimated and laid down the foundations for a far more tolerant society.

And Music was at the forefront of that cultural revolution.

 

[B-right-on]

Madness
The Specials
The Lamberettas (Brighton band)
The Selector
And the whole Ska, Mod, 2Tone revival.

 

[Juan Albion]

Madness
The Specials
The Lambrettas (Brighton band)
The Selecter

All formed in the 70s though.

 

[marlowe]

Other bands/artists who flirted with the pop charts in the 80s who are yet to receive a mention:

The Cult
Bauhaus
Japan
Psychedelic Furs
Talking Heads
The Clash
ZZ Top
Aztec Camera
Kraftwerk
Motorhead
Billy Idol
Soft Cell
Heaven 17
Thompson Twins
Grace Jones
A Flock of Seagulls
Blancmange
Haircut 100
Orange Juice
Scritti Politti
The Cars
Nena
Robert Palmer
Bananarama
Kajagoogoo

* I realise some of the above originally found fame in the 70s but they were prominent in the pop charts in the 80s.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

The 90's has dated the best in my opinion. So much damn good music from different genres. The last era to produce a lot of great rock. The last time Ska and Punk were on mainstream music fans radar. Some great Scandinavian pop. Grunge was huge, Britpop was huge. Alt rock was massive. Female bands started to come to the fore. The RnB beast started to take off. And there was a 90's version of pop too.

But in that 90's era i'd put late 80's to early 2000's into that period.

It's often the start or back end of the decade that contains the best music from eras.

That's when the new bands and styles start to appear on the scene.

The 90's had it all and Gen X drove it.

 

[marlowe]

All formed in the 70s though.

But their music was very prominent on the 80s pop scene, especially Madness and The Specials.

 

[dennis]

For me it’s not a defined decade that’s my favourite I would have to choose 1976 to 1986 but like a lot of people these were my school days when music seemed to mean a lot more and generates a lot of memories

 

[Swansman]

You're talking out of your arse. 'Culturally its a shitshow' proves that you have not clue as to the British culture of the 60s and 70s and therefore the culture of the 80s would not make any sense to you.

Sure looking back at it, you might think it looks dated, crap or whatever, but living thru it gives you a different perspective on it. Your casual dismissal of that decade and what it achieved for society today, such as freedom of speech, LGBT rights and even racial equality, cannot be underestimated and laid down the foundations for a far more tolerant society.

And Music was at the forefront of that cultural revolution.

After deeply considering what you said, I've reached the conclusion that... its a bit shite. Albums ruined by drum machines, hideous synths, excessive guitar solos and... meh.

As for the political stuff there is no freedom of speech, no rights, no equality and no tolerance, but even if you were right about that, people couldnt pay me to listen to... I dunno... Wham.

 

[Live by the sea]

Other bands/artists who flirted with the pop charts in the 80s who are yet to receive a mention:

The Cult
Bauhaus
Japan
Psychedelic Furs
Talking Heads
The Clash
ZZ Top
Aztec Camera
Kraftwerk
Motorhead
Billy Idol
Soft Cell
Heaven 17
Thompson Twins
Grace Jones
A Flock of Seagulls
Blancmange
Haircut 100
Orange Juice
Scritti Politti
The Cars
Nena
Robert Palmer
Bananarama
Kajagoogoo

* I realise some of the above originally found fame in the 70s but they were prominent in the pop charts in the 80s.

How can I forget the Thompson Twins . I purposely left out Bananarama because they were kind of manufactured by Stock Aitken and Waterman although loved them . They didn’t appear manufactured in their dance moves !

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

How can I forget the Thompson Twins . I purposely left out Bananarama because they were kind of manufactured by Stock Aitken and Waterman although loved them . They didn’t appear manufactured in their dance moves !

I wouldn’t leave out Bananarama for this reason. Plenty of popular music has been, as you say, “manufactured”, down the years….most of Motown was. Elvis? To you it might not be pure, in the sense it wasn’t written and fully performed by the band, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any less worthy.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Had me at 80s.

 

[Bakero]

After deeply considering what you said, I've reached the conclusion that... its a bit shite. Albums ruined by drum machines, hideous synths, excessive guitar solos and... meh.

As for the political stuff there is no freedom of speech, no rights, no equality and no tolerance, but even if you were right about that, people couldnt pay me to listen to... I dunno... Wham.

What's wrong with a drum machine? The 808 revolutionised music. I thought you were a hip hop fan

 

[Fat Boy Fat]

After deeply considering what you said, I've reached the conclusion that... its a bit shite. Albums ruined by drum machines, hideous synths, excessive guitar solos and... meh.

As for the political stuff there is no freedom of speech, no rights, no equality and no tolerance, but even if you were right about that, people couldnt pay me to listen to... I dunno... Wham.

You clearly missed these guys... massive political activists!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Quarter_(band)

And their biggest hit...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqsTq3WsFZ4

 

[Live by the sea]

I wouldn’t leave out Bananarama for this reason. Plenty of popular music has been, as you say, “manufactured”, down the years….most of Motown was. Elvis? To you it might not be pure, in the sense it wasn’t written and fully performed by the band, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any less worthy.

True .

 

[Live by the sea]

What's wrong with a drum machine? The 808 revolutionised music. I thought you were a hip hop fan

Wham rap was one of the first songs ever to have a white guy rapping on it . Rap had only become mainstream from around 1980 .

 

[Deleted member 37369]

Yes (good thread by someone I have on ignore by the way )

I love to love, but my baby just wants to dance.

I still have my 7" vinyl copy of this huge Tina Charles song

But then I have always had a very eclectic (some might say weird) taste in music ...

Seeing Steve Hackett Thursday

 

[Deleted member 37369]

Oi, you leave Tina Charles out of it. She got a page in my special scrapbook.

Quite right ... I was 14 at the time and had quite a crush

 

[Icy Gull]

Anyone born in the 50’s on here agreeing with the thread title? Not for me Clive

 

[Dr Q]

Most things - movies, music, tv-series, fashion - from the 80s should have stayed in the 80s.

Of course there is good stuff but its a shite decade. I'm sure it was a fun time to live in, but culturally its a shitshow.

I guess if all you had was Abba played in your mum's basement, you are gonna get a bit deluded!