Dust off your cassette tapes and tease up your hair. It’s time to take a nostalgic trip back to the 80s – the era of unforgettable music trends. This decade was a melting pot of diverse genres, from the groovy pop tunes to the rebellious rock anthems, and it’s left an indelible mark on the music world.
80s Music Trends
Technology’s sway during the 1980s framed the course of music, producing unforgettable trends and sounds. Two discernible elements emerged central – the advent of music videos and the predomination of synthesizers in compositions.
Music videos swiftly cemented their position at the leading edge of technology’s impact on 80s music trends. Born out of the cable boom, MTV, launched in 1981, served as the principal platform that popularized this novel format. Musicians weren’t just recording songs anymore, they were encapsulating their music in visual narratives, fostering an intimate engagement with audiences. Immortalized examples, such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” – a 14-minute spectacle of horror movie aesthetics – demonstrate how this technology disruptively transformed music into a multimedia art form.
80s Music Fashion Trends
Iconic Outfits and Styles
Tinged with boldness, outfits and styles embraced the expansive atmosphere of the 80s music scene. Stage costumes of influential artists sparked replicable trends, becoming additional codas in their music narratives. Take Madonna for instance, whose eclectic wardrobe of lace tops, crucifix accessories, and tutu skirts sparked the “Madonna Look.” Similarly, Michael Jackson’s military-style jackets, single gloves, and fedora hats carved an indelible silhouette in pop culture. Bands also united under singular looks, such as the glam metal band Poison, known for skin-tight leather pants and flashy scarves, an epitome of hair metal fashion.
Music and Hair Trends
Yet, the lines of 80s music fashion didn’t stop at clothing, they entwined with hairstyles, creating cues as loud as the music, if not louder. The bigger, the better, was the hair mantra of the decade, presenting itself in sky-high perms, as sported by the female pop sensation Cyndi Lauper. Rock genres opted for expressive styles, starting a typhoon of ‘Mullet’ hairstyles, distinguished by their ‘short in the front, long in the back’ philosophy and omnipresence in the music scenes from Bono of U2 to David Bowie. Not to forget the influx of colorful hair dyes, aligning with the vibrant tunes and unabashed personalities of punk bands like The Clash and The Ramones.
Cultural Impact of 80s Music Trends
The Music Scene Heartbeat of the 80s Society
The music trends of the 80s truly served as the heartbeat of society at the time. They echoed societal feelings, reflected prevailing ideologies, and influenced everyday conversations. The lyrics, beats, and rhythms of songs became a medium for artists to express views, raise questions, and challenge norms. Songs such as U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” explored political and societal events, encouraging listeners to engage in global dialogues. Meanwhile, tracks like Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” championed feminist thoughts, promoting the idea that women had as much right to fun and freedom as men. These music trends molded social perspectives, indicating the cultural power of 80s music trends.
Music Trends Influencing Movies and TV Shows
The influence of 80s music stretches far beyond societal norms. It made big waves in the film and television industry too. Movies and TV shows of the time embraced this era’s music, using it to enhance storytelling and connect with viewers. The film “Footloose,” for instance, featured an electrifying rock-pop soundtrack that underpinned the rebel-against-the-system storyline, offering audiences a taste of 80s music’s rebellious spirit. Similarly, the popular TV series “Miami Vice” incorporated a synthesizer-based score to complement its fresh visual style and fast-paced storytelling. This cultural blending of audio and visual stimuli from 80s music trends revolutionized the entertainment industry, impacting today’s entertainment format.
Creating Music
The 80s music trends scene was a melting pot of innovation and expression. It’s clear from the trends discussed that this era wasn’t just about creating music; it was about making statements. The advent of music videos and synthesizers revolutionized the industry, while bold fashion and hairstyles complemented the vibrant tunes.