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As the decade unfurled, so the mainstream music, once
again, returned to a formulaic approach with the production companies, like the phenomenally successful 'Stock, Aitkin
and Waterman' manufacture hit after hit after hit of disposable pop. This saw the rise of the producer - the front men
and women of the bands selected as much for their eye candy appeal as any talent or ability to write songs and play instruments.
Music had truly become as much a visual medium as an aural one. Nevertheless, a strong 'alternative' scene survived
through these times, as diverse as Indie rock and pop, Goth, Hip Hop and House. 1980s music laid the foundations for so much
of the music we listen to today.
The 1980's
were a great decade for music, and probably the first that really put the female singer front and center for a time. There
were so many great female singers during this decade and while there's no doubt that the three I'll mention here were
extremely successful, this list is subject to debate, as it all comes down to a matter of personal preference. I've done
my best to narrow it down, but it was naturally a challenge to do so. Anyway, here's my list.
3. Whitney Houston. A true diva in every sense of the word, Whitney
Houston was a legendary R&B singer whose many #1 hits have gone down as 1980s classics. From more upbeat songs like "I
Wanna Dance With Somebody" to slower songs like "The Greatest Love of All", Whitney belted out the high notes
like no one else in the 1980s.
2. Tina
Turner. This legendary singer was already a couple of decades into her career by the 1980s, but that didn't stop her from
achieving enormous commercial success. Some of Tina's biggest years took place in the 1980s, and her many hits were classic
1980s music.
1. Madonna. Were you expecting
anyone else? Madonna produced more chart toppers than any female singer in the 1980s, and more than any female singer in history.
She truly revolutionized the concept of the female pop star, and she amazingly still produces great music over 25 years later.
Irrespective what end of the spectrum of techno music,
whether you love it or hate it, chances are you don't know a thing about its history and even less about what has made
it one of the most popular forms of electronic music today.
Whilst techno is without doubt most popular in Europe today, techno music in fact originated from a Detroit Michigan
during the 1980's. Although Detroit is far more famous for exporting cars rather than music, the vast array of techno
music genres we listen to today are variants on the original style of "Detroit Techno." (Ironically Eminem, one
of the 2000's biggest names in rap music who openly hates techno music also comes from the same city)
The pioneers of techno music are without question the Belleville
3, given that label by adoring fans because they all attended Belleville High School, who's first 3 albums popularised
the fledgling genre of music.
However the
main reason for the growth in techno music during this period was the fact that synthesizers and sequencers required to produce
techno music became increasingly affordable. As a result, experimentation with techno music became increasingly popular within
Detroit, in particular by those not wishing to follow the mainstream music of the time.
It wasn't long before the techno music genre started to make inroads into Europe,
with Germany and England becoming early adopters of this new style. When the Berlin wall fell in 1989, techno music exploded
in German bars, nightclubs and underground venues, the most famous of which was UFO, hosted by DJ Westbaume and DJ Maute.
This underground venue would be the first steps to founding the most epic festival of techno music being The Love Parade.
I was a big fan of 1980's music (still am if the
truth be known). So much so that on my paperboy's wages I managed to put together a collection of over 100 7" singles
and a good number of 12" ones, along with a sprinkling of albums. The aim of this article is to give you an insight into
the sort of things that I was buying, and I hope that it jogs some pleasant memories for you too. Starting at the letter A,
on 16th March 1985 I bought Absolute Reality by The Alarm. If you can just put to one side the criticism of the band as a
'poor man's U2' you will see a band with an extensive portfolio of singles and albums, with no little fan base.
They have had over 5 millions album sales worldwide and a total of 16 UK Top 50 chart entries. When I was into them I was
a little musically confused, it has to be said, but in the spirit of trying anything once, The Alarm was a band which I tried
a few more times than once. And I do actually have some far worse skeletons than them in my musical closet...
Eurythmics was another band who I tried out more than
once. The appeal of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart is comparable to anything around in the 1980's. Of their 30 UK singles,
which included 3 re-releases - Love Is A Stranger (2) and the remix of Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Eurythmics had 22
hits in the 1980's, of which 8 were top ten hits, including on number one, There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart).
Of these, I bought six. In no particular order I splashed my cash on The Miracle Of Love, There Must Be An Angel (Playing
With My Heart), Thorn In My Side, It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back), Sexcrime (nineteen eighty-four) and Would I Lie
To You? Although these represent the link between my qualitative decisions on what to spend my money on, I'd say that
looking back now, it's probably the earlier singles, Sweet Dreams... and Love Is a Stranger which represent the musical
pinnacle of the group's offering. Sweet Dreams... especially is just an awesome sound - the baseline allows so much more
to happen than you would imagine.
Music is the rhythm of life and possesses the power
to revive stale heart, mind and soul. Music has that great power of expression of an artist's mind, his zeal, emotions
and vivacity. Music can make the blood flow in opposite direction and that is why music plays a vital role in nurturing revolution
by providing great motivation. Alternative rock is also that precious stone picked up from the sea of innovation. Alternative
rock is essentially an umbrella term for underground music that has emerged in the wake of the punk rock movement since the
mid 1980s. Throughout its history, alternative rock has been largely defined by its rejection of the commercialism of mainstream
culture. The music now known as alternative rock was known by a variety of terms before "alternative" came into
common use. "College rock" was used in the United States to describe this awesome music during the 1980s due to
its links to the college radio circuit and the tastes of college students.
In the United Kingdom the term "Indie" was preferred; by 1985 the term "Indie" had come to mean
a particular genre, or group of subgenres, rather than a simple demarcation of status. As a musical genre, alternative rock
consists of various subgenres that have grown from the indie music scene since the 1980s, such as grunge, Britpop, Gothic
rock, and Indie pop. These genres are unified by their collective debt to the style and/or ethos of punk, which laid the groundwork
for alternative music in the 1970s. Alternative bands in previous times used to play in small clubs, at that time there was
no advertising medium so it was advertised through world of mouth as a result alternative rock became popular among youth.
Alternative rock does not have any particular musical style but many performers have made up their own style by including
distorted guitars. Sounds range from the dirty guitars of grunge and the gloomy sound scales of gothic rock is the specialty
of alternative rock.
Lyrics in alternative rock songs
typically address issues concerned with society such as drugs, depression and environment. Alternative rock has that approach
that can awake youth and can make them realize their potential. Alternative rock performers differentiate themselves from
their traditional rock predecessors as they want to sing it for a greater diversity and experimentation in music. Alternative
rock performers produce catchy as well as motivational music. Though their music--with its emphasis on distorted guitars and
ambiguous lyrics doesn't suit to commercialize society. Expressions explained by alternative rock songs are 3-4 minutes
long, with catchy riffs and steady beats. Alternative rock aims to reach out to a new generation of youth with high energy,
melodic music which spoke to contemporary social issues.
Defining
music as "alternative" is often difficult because of the application of the word alternative. On one hand alternative
describes challenging music that protest commercialization and mainstream values. On the other hand alternative word is used
by music industry to mention available options. Whatever the meaning that word carries out, but the fact is that the alternative
rock is exactly what present youth need to get motivated.
Unlike many of the popular bands at the time who were
originally from England, U2 was a band of young teenagers who were originally from Dublin, Ireland. The band was created in
1976 by Larry Mullen Jr. when he was fourteen, and U2 is still currently performing and putting out music today. Like the
Rolling Stones they have been around for quite a while, but that is where similarities end. U2 is a different band all together,
especially in the genre of music that they put out. U2 focuses more on alternative rock, rock and post-punk instead of the
rock and roll that the Rolling Stones are best known for.
The main four members of the band have remained the same since the band was first created and includes Adam Clayton,
Paul Hewson (also known as Bono), Larry Mullen Jr. and Dave Evans (also known as The Edge). Unlike the members, the name of
the band changed a few times before it was known as U2. First, it was the Larry Mullen band for a day before the name became
Feedback. Later, the band renamed themselves The Hype before finally settling on U2. As mentioned before, the members of the
band were teenagers when they first started the band and their music wasn't overly popular at first, but this would soon
change in the 1980s when they became more recognized.
Though U2 started out in the late 1970s, their popularity
didn't begin to grow until the mid 1980s where their live shows were well received by their audience. In fact, their live
shows were apparently more a success than any of the recordings they made. It took some work in the start because when the
band was first created the members still had some work to do on their music. With some experimentation and work, they were
able to grow in popularity through the different music they offered. Even after they became relatively popular in the 1980s,
they continued to experiment and change their music so that they would have their own unique sound that would continue to
entertain the audience. This continued growth is especially seen in an album U2 released in the early 1990s. Even after this
album they continued to grow and ensure their music was dynamic.
When they first started out, U2 were lacking in some of their ability and experience and the first few years they
were playing together involved a lot of practice and growth before they started getting the recognition they deserved. Even
during the 1908s, it took a lot of hard work to build their fan base. It was possibly their enjoyment in trying new things
and in trying to build a larger fan base that kept them so dynamic throughout the years. Their continued dynamic growth in
their music has been rewarded with their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, winning more Grammy Awards than
any other band before them and having influenced numerous bands that were created after U2, such as Coldplay and Snow Patrol.
Freestyle music was very popular if not the most popular
style of music in the late 1980's. Music stations such as Hot 103 in New York City gained a tremendous following due to
freestyle music. Such artists as K7, Lisette Melendez, Judy Torres and George Lamond were pretty much household names. The
most well known and respect music producer of freestyle music was Carlos "After Dark" Berrios.
However, as the years went on music stations started changing their
formats, moving away from freestyle music and playing more rock, alternative music and hip hop. The big record labels began
to dictate what the stations were to play and the genre slowly began to disappear from the air waves.
For fans of freestyle music, Carlos Berrios decided to revive the
genre by producing a brand new double CD entitled "Don't Look Back" broken into Session One and Session Two.
Old school artists such as George Lamond, Lisette Melendez and K7 perform on the albums. New school artists such as Joei May,
Katya and Jessica Fabus perform on the albums as well.
Will radio stations in markets such as New York, Los
Angeles and Detroit start playing this new material? I doubt it as commercial radio pretty much plays the same 30-35 tracks
every few hours. Fortunately for true fans of the 1980's genre of freestyle music, we can still get our hands on some
new material thanks to Carlos Berrios. Music Videos have played an important role in the success of many artists and the music
industry.
Discordant heavy metal music struck a chord with many
teenagers during the late '70s and '80s. The loud, fast, guitar-driven music has since languished commercially as
successive generations have chosen newer soundtracks to fuel their rebellion against the establishment. Many of the original
fans, however, never moved on, even as they aged, started careers, got married and had children of their own.
"If you're seeing a 40-year-old at a
concert, you're quite sure at 18 you know what kind of music he was into. For so many people the music of the most emotional
point of their lives is a touchstone that they return to for the rest of their lives, there keeping their own youth alive.
Heavy metal fans wear their passion on more than just
the sleeves of skull T-shirts and black leather jackets. For many of them, the music--louder and faster than anything heard
before--became a way of life. The mostly white, mostly male and mostly middle-class listeners found a feeling of power over
their parents, over their teachers, over the jocks at school that treated them as outcasts.
Metalheads, or headbangers, as they called themselves, built up a community linked
through underground tape swapping networks and conversations about Metallica lyrics while camping out on line for concert
tickets.
A second wave of British and American rock bands became
popular during the late 1960s to the 1970s, with groups that were more steeped in American blues music than their more pop-oriented
predecessors. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Status Quo, Aerosmith, Queen, Black Sabbath,
and Uriah Heep played highly amplified, guitar-driven hard rock that would come to be known as heavy metal. Heavy metal languished
into obscurity in the late 1970s. A few bands including Kiss, Queen, Black Sabbath,AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith maintained
large followings and there were occasional mainstream hits such as Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) the
Reaper". Music critics overwhelmingly disliked the genre. This began to change in 1978 following the release of Van Halen's
eponymous, self-titled debut album. The album helped to usher in an era of high-energy rock and roll, based out of Los Angeles,
California.
One
genre that was widely popular in the 1980s (c.1983) was glam metal. Taking influence from various artists such as Aerosmith,
Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Queen, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, (all but Queen would eventually play glam metal at
some point in the 80s), Sweet and the New York Dolls. The earliest glam metal bands to gain notability included: Mötley
Crüe, W.A.S.P. and Ratt. They became known for their debauched lifestyles, teased hair and use of make-up and clothing.
Their songs were bombastic and often defiantly macho, with lyrics focused on sex, drinking, drugs, and the occult. By the mid 1980s, a formula developed in which a glam metal
band had two hits -- one a "power ballad" (slow-dance tempo, with soft verses and bombastic anthemic choruses),
and the other a hard-rocking anthem. In 1987 a second wave of glam metal acts, sometimes referred to as sleaze rock, emerged
including L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat.
In the fall of 1982, "I Ran" by A Flock of
Seagulls entered the Billboard Top Ten, arguably the first successful song that owed almost everything to video. They would
be followed by bands like Duran Duran whose glossy video's would come to symbolize the power of MTV. Dire Straits'
"Money for nothing" gently poked fun at MTV which had helped make them international rock stars. In 1983 30% of
the record sales were from British acts. 18 of the top 40 and 6 of the top 10 singles on July 18 were by British artists.
Overall record sales would rise by 10% from 1982. Newsweek magazine featured Annie Lennox and Boy George on the cover of one
of its issues while Rolling Stone Magazine would release an England Swings issue. In April 1984 40 of the top 100 singles
were from British acts while 8 of the top 10 singles in a May 1985 survey were of British origin. Veteran music journalist
Simon Reynolds theorized that similar to the first British Invasion the use of black American influences by the British acts
helped to spur success. Commentators in the mainstream media credited MTV and the British acts with bringing colour and energy
to back to pop music while rock journalists were generally hostile to the phenomenon because they felt it represented image
over content. MTV continued its heavy rotation of videos by New Wave-oriented acts until 1987, when it changed to a Heavy
Metal and rock dominated format.
New
Romanticism emerged as part of the New Wave music movement in London nightclubs including Billy's and The Blitz Club towards
the end of the 1970s. Influenced by David Bowie and Roxy Music, it developed glam rock fashions, gaining its name from the
frilly fop shirts of early Romanticism. New Romantic music often made extensive use of synthesisers. Pioneers included Visage
and Ultravox and among the commercially most successful acts associated with the movement were Adam and the Ants, Culture
club, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran. By about 1983 the original movement had dissolved, with surviving acts dropping most
of the fashion elements to pursue mainstream careers.
Here are the number one songs from 1981:
01/31/81 "The Tide Is High" - Blondie (1
week)
Even though it only spent one week
at the top of the chart, this was Blondie's longest lasting single, staying on the charts for 26 weeks.
02/07/81 "Celebration" - Kool And The Gang (2 weeks)
From 1973 to 1987 the band had a string of hits. This
was their only number one, although 1983's "Joanna" and 1985's "Cherish" both made it to number
two.
02/21/81 "9 To 5"
- Dolly Parton (2 weeks)
Her first number
one song, from the movie of the same name, in which she also starred.
02/28/81 "I Love A Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt (2 weeks)
Back to back country artists had number one hits in February of 1981. This was Rabbitt's only number one along
with three other songs that made the top 10.
03/21/81 "Keep On Loving You" - REO Speedwagon (1 week)
Their first song to hit the Top 40 chart, and the first of two number ones for the quintet from Champaign, Illinois
that was named after a type of fire truck.
03/28/81 "Rapture" - Blondie (2 weeks)
The 4th and final number one song Blondie had in the '80s, and their second of 1981.
04/11/81 "Kiss On My List" - Hall and Oates (3 weeks)
The first number one of the '80s for the duo from
Philadelphia. They previously hit the top of the charts with 1977's "Sara Smile," and would have several hits
throughout the '80s.
05/02/81
"Morning Train (Nine To Five)" - Sheena Easton (2 weeks)
The sexy Scot's first single went all the way to number one and would be her only chart topper. She did have
6 other top 10 hits in the '80s.
05/16/81
"Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes (9 weeks)
The number two song of 1981 was written by the legendary Jackie DeShannon. Carnes was a former member of the New
Christy Minstrels in the late '60s. Her only other top 10 song was 1980's duet with Kenny Rogers, "Don’t
Fall In Love With A Dreamer."
06/20/81
"Medley" - Stars On 45 (1 week)
This
novelty song had Dutch session singers redo classic songs from the '60s. They released three other Medley singles, but
none even cracked the Top 40.
07/25/81
"The One That You Love" - Air Supply (1 week)
The only number one song for the Australian balladeers. They had seven consecutive top 5 singles from 1980 to 1982.
08/01/81 "Jessie's Girl" - Rick
Springfield (2 weeks)
1981 was a great
year for Australians, with 3 different artists reaching number one. Springfield played Dr. Noah Drake on the hit soap opera
General Hospital in the early '80s. This would be his only number one song, but he also had 4 other singles hit the top
10.
08/15/81 "Endless Love"
- Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9 weeks)
The
title song for the movie starring Brooke Shields became a wedding staple and was Ross' final number one. It was Richie's
first.
10/17/81 "Arthur's
Theme (Best That You Can Do)" - Christopher Cross (3 weeks)
The second movie theme in a row to top the charts in '81, it was Cross' second and final number one.
11/07/81 "Private Eyes" - Hall and
Oates (2 weeks)
Another one of their 6
number one singles.
11/21/81 "Physical"
- Olivia Newton-John (10 weeks)
The number
one song of the year, and the song spending the most weeks at number one in the decade of the '80s. In addition to 10
weeks at number one, it spent a total of 21 weeks in the Top 40.
The 1980s were a great decade of music, highlighted
by a wide variety of sounds. Whether you were a fan of rock music, rap, R&B, or some other genre, there was just about
everything you could possibly like. With so many great artists and bands out there, it's hard to narrow this list down
to just five. For the sake of making it a bit easier, we're just going to focus on bands. Therefore, solo artists won't
be mentioned in this list. Let's see who made it.
5. Guns 'N Roses. This metal band emerged in the late 1980s, and quickly became one of the most successful rock
bands of all-time. Their hits like Paradise City and Welcome to the Jungle rocked the music world.
4. REM. Originally billed as an alternative rock band, they may
have led the trend that dominated the 1990s, as this band was far ahead of its time with many hits throughout the 1980s.
3. The Police. Having emerged in the early 1980s, Sting
and crew were absolutely phenomenal through the first half of the decade. Their many hits characterized the decade.
2. The Cure. Having had numerous albums that were well
received by both the public and critics alike, the Cure were a classic 80s band with that classic 1980s sound. Their music
is still widely listened to today.
1. U2. Still nearly as relevant today, this band's classic songs live on. The Joshua Tree was one of the most
successful albums of all-time.
Falco was an Austrian singer who caught the publics
attention with his 1986 offering Rock Me Amadeus. This German language single became the first of its kind to top the UK Singles
Chart (although Nena's 99 Balloons was earlier, she sang that in English). Released in March 1986, I went out and paid
for it on 19th April. To say that the single had global appeal is an understatement if there ever was one. It was number one
in 12 countries and number two in 4 others. I equally loved the follow up, Vienna Calling and although it made number ten
in the UK Singles Chart it didn't quite have the same impact as its predecessor. Sadly Falco was killed as the result
of a motorcycle crash in February 1998.
Many
musical artists made their careers a success by using music videos. As an important part of the music industry, music videos
not only showcase an artist's singing talent, but also how they perform. The history of music videos shows how the use
of the videos transformed the music industry.
Premiering in 1974, the Australian TV show 'Countdown' played an important role in the development of the
music video industry. Music video clips were used as a method of promoting acts that were to appear on the show. As the popularity
of the video clips grew, the music industry began to realize the marketing potential of these music clips. One of the most
notable video clips features was the AC/DC hit, "It's A Long Way to the Top." During the 1980s, 'Countdown'
aired in 22 countries.
Predating MTV by almost three years,
'Video Concert Hall,' was the first nationwide video music program on American television. Premiering in June 1981,
one of the first US programs to play music videos was the USA Cable Network program 'Night Flight.' Night Flight predated
MTV's launch by just a few months.
In 1981, the U.S. video
channel MTV was launched and it began the age of 24-hour music television. They launched the channel with the video, "Video
Killed the Radio Star." Throughout the 1980s, MTV expanded to become an important tool used in music marketing. Singers
like Madonna not only used music videos to promote their albums, but to create their images. In 1983, the almost 14-minute-long
video for Michael Jackson's song "Thriller," was released. It became the world's most successful and influential
video in music video history.
In 1985, MTV launched the channel
VH1 which featured softer music for an older audience than the typical young MTV audience. In 1987, MTV Europe was launched
and in 1991, MTV Asia was introduced.
In 1988, the MTV show,
Yo! MTV Raps was launched. The show helped to bring hip hop music to a nation wide audience. Two of the videos that are most
famous for being two of the three most expensive music videos of all time are Michael and Janet Jackson's "Scream,"
which cost $7 million to produce, and Madonna's "Bedtime Story," which cost $5 million. "Scream" is
still the most expensively video ever made.
During the 1990s,
MTV launched channels around the world that included: MTV Latin America in 1993, MTV India in 1996, and MTV Mandarin in 1997.
In 1996, MTV2, originally called "M2" was launched as an alternative and older music video channel.
By the mid-2000s, MTV and many of its other channels had stopped showing a large
number of music videos and began showing reality television shows.
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that had
its early beginnings in Western Europe in the late 1970s and later developed and established as a genre in Detroit, Michigan
during the 1980s. Techno has since been retroactively defined to encompass, among others, works dating back to "Shari
Vari" (1981) by A Number Of Names, the earliest compositions by Cybotron (1981), Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder's
"I Feel Love"(1977), "From Here to Eternity" (1977), and the more dance floor-orientated selections from
Kraftwerk's repertoire between 1977 and 1983. Techno became more of a phenomenon in Europe than in the United States;
American artists such as Moby and The Crystal Method who started their careers making techno were initially successful in
Europe, but did not gain a presence in the US until branching out into other styles such as break beat and electronica. Techno
is, finally, a thoroughly mediated music, from its continually recombinant musical genres and its constant (re)generation
of new categories, labels, and self- definitions, to its circular processes of both resistance and acceptance.
In the US indie music is considered to be a spin off
from alternative rock. The movement is believed to have been started during the 1970s or 1980s. The indie rock music of the
1980s had sounds, which were described as being heavy and distorted.By the 1990s, indie music groups such as Nirvana and Pearl
Jam became a main stream, and the genre became more widespread. Once the genre became popular, major record companies begin
investing large amounts of money in it. Once this happened, the term “alternative rock” became more of a misnomer.
Traditionally, many musicians who have signed with major record companies were considered to be “sell outs” by
their hardcore fans. My Original Music is an indie music site located at my original music.com. Here you can find music by
independent artists from all over the world. Today, indie rock is a term which has come to describe a wide variety of music.
The term indie rock has been applied to psychedelic folk, synth pop, and post punk. Sometimes the term indie rock becomes
blurred, and some believe that the word will soon disappear much like alternative rock did. Mainstream artists such as Britney
Spears and the Backstreet Boys have been known to reach high levels on the indie music charts, especially in the United Kingdom.
Some mainstream artists have even been signed to independent record labels.Many popular indie music artists become a main
stream, and once this happens, they are no longer independent.
Music journalists and fans of the genre are generally
selective in their use of the term, careful not to conflate it with related but distinct genres, such as house, trance and
hardcore. Acid techno, influenced by the heavy use of the Roland TB-303 for bass and lead sounds in the style of acid house,
enjoyed a surge of popularity in the mid-1980s and went on to influence acid trance. A strong, bass-heavy trance beat is infused
with a driving, dark hip-hop guitar line and a light, high synthesizer melody in this mid-tempo trance piece with an urban
feel.
Techno music can make excellent
background music for cutting edge businesses and as production music for progressive films or television programs highlighting
fast-paced popular culture. Techno music still requires plenty of human intervention to create and perform the machines are
simply the equipment that enables it. Techno music is, in fact, a collection of genres which are, depending on how you view
them, complimentary, contradictory or none of the above. Techno music is influenced by electro, new wave, funk and futuristic
themes that were prominent in modern culture after the end of the cold war in America at this time. Techno music then expanded
and was introduced to related genres of music, making it globally recognized by the 1990s.
AC/DC - The thunder from down under and possibly the
biggest, loudest thing that has ever come out of Australia. Unless you have lived under a rock all your life, you know who
this band is. Original lead singer Bon Scott passed way too early, but I believe Brian Johnson has filled the shoes extremely
well. Angus and Malcom Young complete the original lineup and hard, fast rock are what these guys are all about. From the
early days of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, to the excellent movie soundtrack of Maximum Overdrive, they have a style all their
own.
TNT, Big Balls, Wole Lotta Rosie, Thunderstruck, the
80's classic hits seem to go on and on. One thing I don't understand though. Where does Angus Young get all the energy
to keep doing show after show like he does? The school boy uniform, and the constant running across the stage is a sight to
witness. I often wonder how many uniforms he has worn, and where he gets them. For most bands, the lead singer is the center
of attraction. With this band, the lead guitarist is the main figure. Talk about talent, how does anyone run and play the
guitar at the same time? I don't mean a slow steady trot, either. Angus is in a full out sprint constantly during the
show. The other band members are'nt no slouches, the wall of sound they put up is almost intoxicating. Loud drums, loud
bass, loud rhythm guitar, just loud!!
The origins of house music can be traced back to the
early 1980's in Chicago, Illinois. House rhythms were originally rooted in disco, but the music was influenced by a wide
range of styles including blues, jazz, soul, R&B, and funk.
The coining of the phrase "house music" is a hotly debated topic among musicians and DJ's. Some say
it originated from a club called "The Warehouse" where longtime resident Producer/DJ Frankie Knuckles played his
unique brand of dance music until 1982 when the venue closed. Knuckles himself said he first heard the term while passing
by a bar on the south side of Chicago that displayed a sign in its window reading "We play house music". DJ Leonard
"Remix" Rroy claims the sign was a reference to the type of soulful music one would play at home.
Another opinion is that the term referenced the creation of music
in the homes of pioneering DJ's and dance producers. These early creations would be recorded using synthesizers, drum
machines and sequencers. Others claim that "house" references the correlation of certain tracks with their respective
DJ's, as in the house DJ's played their own house records.
The Chicago club scene of the early 80's was fueled
by DJ's spinning various forms of music including disco, hip hop, funk, pop, and R&B. The advent of relatively inexpensive
electronic instruments led to many DJ's producing their own blend of existing songs by mixing in drum machines and effects.
Considered by many to be the first original house music
record, "On & On" by Jesse Saunders was released in 1984. The album's success stimulated a wave of recordings
from the early DJ's trying their hand at producing house music. The music soon branched off into subgenres of house such
as deep house and acid house.
With the
support of club DJ's such as Lil Louis, Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, and radio stations like WBMX, house music quickly
gained popularity in Chicago. At the same time, house began to spread to neighboring DJ's and producers of Detroit, Michigan.
Artists like Marshall Jefferson helped push house outside of Chicago with his widely popular track "Move Your Body".
From the mid to late 80's artists like Larry Heard, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Farley Keith, and Steve Hurley, continued
to popularize the genre.
Today, house music is stronger than ever and can be
heard in some form throughout clubs across the globe. The genre has continued to branch off into subgenres including progressive
house, electro house, techno house, breakbeat, and the list goes on. House is not just a form of music, but is a religion
supported by devoted practitioners the world over.
The Rolling Stones' quintessential jam album, Black and Blue is a departure from It's Only Rock n' Roll
and Goats Head Soup in the sense that its does not revel in the decadence but merely showcases the band just, well, playing.
One could call Black and Blue the hangover from those two albums. Part of the reason for this was the departure of guitarist
Mick Taylor after It's Only Rock n' Roll as the band was auditioning guitarists and because of this, there were numerous
guitarists on this album. The band did eventually settle on former Jeff Back Group and faces guitarist Ron Wood, but he would
be more extensively featured on the next album, Some Girls. The album incorporates disco ("Hot Stuff"), reggae ("Cherry
Oh Baby"), ballads ("Fool To Cry" and the beautiful "Memory Motel," one of their finest), hard rock
("Hand Of Fate" and "Crazy Mama"), latin music ("Hey Negrita") and tin-pan alley ("Melody").
Like Exile On Main Street, Black and Blue does not feature any massive hits ("Fool To Cry" barely cracked the Top
10) but as a whole it's a rewarding listen. The musical landscape was changing with the emergence of disco and punk, however,
and the band would need to revitalize itself (not to mention that Keith Richards would need to sober up) to remain relevant.
Never count out the Stones.
Emotional Rescue followed the extremely successful Some
Girls and it basically follows the same formula, especially since the album consists of leftovers from the Some Girls sessions.
Given this fact it is easy to assume that this album consists of filler, and while this might hold true, it is filler that
is very well written and performed. The reggae-tinged mail order bride anthem "Send It To Me," the silly rockers
"Summer Romance" and "Where The Boys Go," the Buck Owens-ish "Indian Girl," and the disco rock
of "Dance " are solid songs if not guilty pleasures. The punky "Let Me Go" and the blues-rock of "Down
In The Hole" are winners. The cold but sexy title track track and the Chuck Berry-like "She's So Cold"
could be considered classics that hold their own with the rest of the band's catalog, while "All About You"
is another brilliant vocal contribution by Keith Richards. Overall, Emotional Rescue is a very solid outing with barely a
dull moment, not to mention a terrific way to open up a new decade for the band the one with probably the most enthusiastic fans has to be heavy metal and all the hundreds of sub-categories, whether
it is classic hard rock or grindcore.
Popular music of the United Kingdom in the 1980s built
on the post punk and new wave movements, incorporating different sources of inspiration from sub-genres and what is now classed
as World music in the shape of Jamaican and Indian music. It also explored the consequences of new technology and social change
in the electronic music of synth pop. In the early years of the decade, while sub-genres like heavy metal music continued
to develop separately, there was a considerable crossover between rock and more commercial popular music, with a large number
of more "serious" bands, like The Police and UB40, enjoying considerable single chart success. The advent of MTV
and cable video helped spur what has been seen as a Second British Invasion in the early years of the decade, with British
bands enjoying more success in America than they had since the height of the Beatles' popularity in the 1960s. However,
by the end of the decade a fragmentation has been observed, with many new forms of music and sub-cultures, including Hip Hop
and House music, while the single charts were once again dominated by pop artists, now often associated with the Hi-NRG hit
factory of Stock Aitken Waterman. The rise of the Indie rock scene was partly a response to this, and marked a shift away
from the major music labels and towards the importance of local scenes like Madchester and sub-genres, like gothic rock.
The arrival of MTV in 1981 would usher in New
Wave's most successful era. British artists, unlike many of their American counterparts, had learned how to use the music
video early on. Several British acts signed to independent labels were able to outmarket and outsell American artists that
were signed with major labels. Journalists labeled this phenomenon a "Second British Invasion".
Hip hop music is a musical genre that developed as part
of hip hop culture, and is defined by four key stylistic elements rapping, DJing/scratching, sampling (or synthesis), and
beatboxing. Hip hop began in the South Bronx of New York City in the 1970s. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip
hop, but hip hop also denotes the practices of an entire subculture.
Rapping, also referred to as MCing or emceeing, is a vocal style in which the artist speaks lyrically, in rhyme and
verse, generally to an instrumental or synthesized beat. Beats, almost always in 4/4 time signature, can be created by sampling
and/or sequencing portions of other songs by a producer. They also incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and live bands.
Rappers may write, memorize, or improvise their lyrics and perform their works a cappella or to a beat.
Creation of the term hip hop is often credited to Keith Cowboy,
rapper with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. However, Lovebug Starski, Keith Cowboy, and DJ Hollywood used the term
when the music was still known as disco rap. It is believed that Cowboy created the term while teasing a friend who had just
joined the U.S. Army, by scat singing the words "hip/hop/hip/hop" in a way that mimicked the rhythmic cadence of
marching soldiers. Cowboy later worked the "hip hop" cadence into a part of his stage performance, which was quickly
used by other artists such as The Sugarhill Gang in "Rapper's Delight".
The roots of hip hop are found in African-American music and ultimately African
music. The griots of West Africa are a group of traveling singers and poets who are part of an oral tradition dating back
hundreds of years. Their vocal style is similar to that of rappers. The African-American traditions of signifyin', the
dozens, and jazz poetry are all descended from the griots. In addition, musical 'comedy' acts such as Rudy Ray Moore
and Blowfly are considered by some to be the forefathers of rap.
During
the late 1970's Punk Rock became popular and those of us who were fans of Disco ignored punk rock as a passing fad. In
the late 1970's and early 1980's as an alternative to Punk a new type of music appeared in London called The New Romantics.
They could be identified by their Big hair and make up – both Men and Women. It was often associated with the New Wave
music scene that had become popular during that time. It has seen several revivals since then, and continues to influence
popular culture.
Developing in London
nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz, the movement was associated with bands such as Visage, Culture Club, Adam and
the Ants, Ultravox, Duran Duran, Japan and Spandau Ballet. Other
artists, such as Brian Eno and Roxy Music had significant influence on the movement. The term New Romantic was coined by Richard
James Burgess in an interview with reference to Spandau Ballet.
Since each of the bands associated with the movement
took a different approach to their music, it is difficult to define what constitutes New Romantic music. Contrasting with
the punk rock which was popular at the peak of the movement, New Romantic music tends to be elaborate and highly stylized.
The musical structures are usually consistent with those of pop music, as are the lyrics, which are often very emotional,
which deal with themes such as love, dancing, history, the future and technology. The lyrics of New Romantic music also tend
to be far more apolitical than those of punk rock or other songs written in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Many of the bands featured synthesizers and electronic drums or
drum machines in their music, often alongside bass and lead guitar. While some bands such as Ultravox or Duran Duran consciously
synthesized rock and electronic elements, others such as Culture Club or Spandau Ballet drew greater influence from R&B
and soul music while still employing electronic instrumentation, albeit to a lesser extent.
Some bands, such as Visage, made music that was almost entirely electronic; often
many early British electronic bands such as the Human League and Depeche Mode have been connected to the New Romantic movement,
although some sources, sometimes including the individual members of such bands, deny the association. During the last 25
years the New Romantic's music scene has been active and in the charts on a regular basis – Duran Duran is an example
as a group who still release new music. Many people out there are nuts about 80's music. The sad reality of loving the
music of the 1980's is that line-ups change, bands disband or the traditional press ignores their new output. That's
what we're here to fix. Wondering what the latest news is on your favorite music artists?
As a whole, the movement was largely a response to the
ethos and style of early punk rock, which had been enjoying widespread popularity around this time. Although punk initially
had great appeal as a vehicle of self-expression and entertainment, by the final days of the 1970s, some had felt that it
had lost its original excitement and degenerated into an overly political and bland movement instead. The New Romantic image
ultimately sought to contrast with the austerity of punk as a whole by celebrating artifice in music and culture as opposed
to rejecting it.
New Romantic music is
influenced by many genres such as Disco, Rock, R&B and early electronic pop music. Since the New Romantic movement began
in and was largely based in nightclubs, a great amount of the music associated with the movement was meant to be suitable
for dancing. Glam rock acts of the 1970s such as David Bowie (whose 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes" was influenced
by and considered a New Romantic anthem, Roxy Music and Brian Eno have been cited as major influences on the music and image,
the bands. Kraftwork, a German band pioneering electronic music, also heavily impacted many of the artists.
With the growth in techno music in bars and nightclubs,
various genres started to make a name for themselves and create their own following. He various genres of Trance music (hard
trance, progressive trance, acid trance, uplifting trance) all have their origins in Detroit techno. Mainstream music also
became heavily influence by techno, in particular with "techno remixes" of pop, hip hop, RnB and rap music.
Today techno music is without question the most popular
genre of electronic music, so much so that it is often mistaken by newbie's as the name for electronic music itself with
DJs and groups such as the Aphex Twins, Basshunter, Daft Punk and DJ Rush pushing techno music into the mainstream. Indie
music is a type of alternative rock, which exists in the independent music world. The word is periodically used to refer to
all underground music, and is the opposite of indie pop music.Indie rock music places an emphasis on electric instruments
such as guitars and drums. Musicians in the genre are also known for using abstract sounds.The term indie rock is used because
musicians work under smaller record labels instead of the major record companies. Though indie rock is not technically a genre,
it is considered to represent the underground culture in many aspects.Indie artists are known for demanding a large amount
of creative control over their music, and this is something, which often alienates them from larger companies.Indie artists
will strictly rely on word of mouth, tours, and independent radio stations in order to promote their music. Many of the popular
artists will end up becoming popular with mainstream audiences, and may be signed by large record labels.
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