The 1980s was a time of great social and cultural change, marked by the rise of MTV, the decline of vinyl, and the birth of new genres such as hip-hop and heavy metal. This era was also defined by a wide range of musical influences that have continued to shape the music landscape to this day.
M MTV and the Rise of Video Pop Culture
In 1981, MTV launched and music was never the same. Music videos became an integral part of pop culture, giving fans a new way to connect with their favorite artists. This medium also led to the rise of image-based stars, where artists could create personas that were as much about style and looks as about the music. MTV helped launch the careers of many artists, such as Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, and Bon Jovi, who became synonymous with the medium.
One of the most significant influences of 80s music on future generations was the proliferation of genres like hip-hop, metal, and goth. These styles have since branched out to create various sub-genres and influenced numerous mainstream acts.
New Wave and the Emergence of Independent Rock
The late 70s and early 80s saw the emergence of new wave, a genre that eschewed traditional rock instrumentation and opted for synthesizers and other electronic sounds. This movement laid the groundwork for future alternative rock acts. Artists such as Talking Heads, Blondie, and Devo gained fame by breaking the rules of traditional rock ‘n’ roll and experimenting with innovative sounds and visuals.
Athens-Geeky Rock: A Hub of Creative Innovation
From Athens, Georgia came an influx of bands who shook off the mold of traditional rock by merging sounds, instruments, and creative liberties to make innovative music. B-52s, R.E.M, and The dB’s represent an influential scene, blurring genre lines, experimenting with vocals and riffs, and, importantly, building an indie DIY approach, influencing countless underground artists for decades to come.
Beyond Athens, influential labels, like I.R.S., Homestead and Slash records, became hotspots for groundbreaking musicians and albums. Such efforts expanded musical boundaries while further propelling the alternative wave’s power. In turn, those in-the-trenches discoveries also impacted mainstream sounds.
Athens-inspired fusion and its ripple effect throughout independent and alternative realms show up in various notable projects throughout history. Influenced or direct offsprings to Athens bands spread beyond just those three to further widen their influence as many popular indie bands have built themselves based on their musical innovations. A generation of fans adopted new norms as their preferred norm while exploring diverse sub-culture music styles from multiple geographies and communities around the globe, thereby diversifying, or should say, democratizing their choice in music, radio programming and performance art.
Punk Revival
In the 80s, punk’s flame got a renewed spark through new blood. The US-based alternative/ indie rock emerged on multiple levels. This genre shared in part its foundation roots within 70’s hardcore/ post-punk to generate such influences on multiple underground networks across the globe as some indie scenes flourished to break barriers of traditional conventions to new artistic expression platforms to emerge.
Catching in its stride to its re-invention cycle punk revitalized with The Cure and its album release with Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me. These two 1988 records had great appeal that also made sense at least on some artistic/production fronts for people into metal. They can create as an album (re-entry), with it going deeper. Bands within it gained credibility with alternative or at least non commercial scenes from where the influences also drew in their appeal towards many rock, or subcultures and rock/progressive and industrial realms respectively, for other aspects the rock/ hard core band or post-rock sound which came into action also
Miscellaneous Trends
New trends also blossomed and coalesced amidst various corners like grunge that initially made the most powerful influences the rock music spectrum within North America, while dance-bleed electronica began crossing into pop genres (Techno-Technique).
Conclusion
So, you might understand, how 80’s music brought this profound impact with regard to diversity and variety through rock bands from Athens’ Georgia or indie scene to post- wave/punk and New wave scene that we may enjoy till date, along the evolution through their impact for mainstream radio. Artists of each movement went ahead and got successful because their creative, experimental endeavors.
FAQs
- How influential were 80s bands? – Extremely! Their style and creativity influenced mainstream pop music, leading to lasting trends like the rise of MTV and electronic elements.
- Who made a significant contribution in music genres in the 80s? – Some key acts: Depeche Mode for Goth-Rock, Bon Jovi and others for hair rock, New Kids on the Block and Friends for Pop, the Bangles for Pop/Rock.
- Is MTV as important as it used to be? – MTV has experienced decline but continues to affect modern pop music and has now changed itself as MTV Classic which continues on classic and 90’s popular programming, giving old-timey content re-advertisement with nostalgia being sought more frequently. Also has introduced streaming and TV versions along the digital evolution which are important now in terms of popularity & global outreach.
- Is it possible that alternative, Indie or underground styles gained attention after 1980’s decade? – Yes. Independent radio and other non-major streaming channels gave prominence and increased awareness for the previously-lesser-known styles during these same timeframes where other mediums or genres in an unconnected way to major platforms made.
