The 80s, myth and reality?

[rogueclimber]

Aside from Don Johnson, I guess, HE was "the man of the hour" for all the teenage boys in the 80s, right?

Is the scene iconic?
Did white rib-undershirts and Zippos boom after the movie started? I wouldn't wonder.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Bee Gees - Bodyguard was really BANNED on MTV in 1989? Too hot??

 

[Turnip]

Too cheesy…

 

[Trenchfriend]

Too cheesy…

The key-R'n'B?

 

[tamoko]

Oi!
I filling it was thri worlds in same time and perhaps most creative time. Jes a lot of mainstream crap but best time of underground and alternative culture. It was time as postwar pures was ower people get money and anything digital was just a toy. Amazing films worldwide.
Jes Punk was already in 70s but became worldwide subculture in 80s, new wave, hard rock, even skating and surfing (not in California only) Hawk, Peralta, Laird Hamilton ...
Music and Film list a huge
David Lynch Dune, Ridley Scott Blade Runner .... and all without computer graphics. Was for sure pretty boring in province but a lot of creativ live in large cities. In 90s started to dead 60 to 70 post war pure time.

 

[Trenchfriend]

But there's another thing, I don't get.
What is the explanation of Madonna's big commercial success in the 80s? I mean, was there anything unique or special on this superficial, cheesy dance pop?? Or could her music videos be an explanation?

She wasn't the only pop musician, so what was the thing on her?
When I look on her first three albums, I only see stuff "from the pop retort".

 

[Zombie_61]

But there's another thing, I don't get.
What is the explanation of Madonna's big commercial success in the 80s? I mean, was there anything unique or special on this superficial, cheesy dance pop?? Or could her music videos be an explanation?

She wasn't the only pop musician, so what was the thing on her?
When I look on her first three albums, I only see stuff "from the pop retort".

Her songs were usually heavy on the "beat box" rhythm machines, so they were easy to dance to. Straight men thought she was attractive in a "sleazy" kind of way, and women seemed to find her "fashionable" enough to want to copy her style. Her songs were/are too "Top 40" for me, produced only to make money and allow her and her dancers to gyrate on stage during live performances. I thought she was one of the better things about that 1990 Dick Tracy movie starring Boring Beatty, but that's not saying much.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I was working in radio when Madonna became popular, and the most simple answer is that her record label marketed the hell out of her. She became unavoidable in the way that few other performers of the time other than perhaps Mr. Jackson ever were.

 

[Monte.C]

But there's another thing, I don't get.
What is the explanation of Madonna's big commercial success in the 80s? I mean, was there anything unique or special on this superficial, cheesy dance pop?? Or could her music videos be an explanation?

She wasn't the only pop musician, so what was the thing on her?
When I look on her first three albums, I only see stuff "from the pop retort".

I'm late on this one but I want to add to it. I was there, so to speak.
The only other kinds of female singers I can remember from the time were those more grown-up singers from the 70s, like Dianna Ross, disco queens, and then in the 80s things swayed so far into the teen market. These singers were like children. Like an artist called Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson. Madonna played to the teen crowd but she had a sort of adult vibe to her, some sort of mysterious sexy vibe when compared to these other girls who smelled like Ivory soap. That's my recollection.

 

[rogueclimber]

The only other kinds of female singers I can remember from the time

Annie Lennox, Terri Nunn, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, The Go-Gos, Bananarama, The Bangles (Susanna Hoffs), Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt...

So many wonderful female leads of the 80s

 

[Turnip]

Dawn Crosby, Leather Leone, Janet Gardner, Lita Ford, Wendy O Williams, The Great Kat, Skin OBE, Yvonne Ducksworth, Doro Pesch, Sabina Classen…

 

[Monte.C]

Annie Lennox, Terri Nunn, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, The Go-Gos, Bananarama, The Bangles (Susanna Hoffs), Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt...

So many wonderful female leads of the 80s

Sure Cap'n, I can do the internet too. I did, in fact.
I'm just remembering a moment in time when I was at a particular age, excited about ACDC, Zeppelin, etc. and noticing the popularity of these little girl singers becoming so popular with the girls I was interested in. I was having none of it.

Linda Ronstadt was more like a holdover from the 70s. I can't include her in this picture.
Pat Benatar was very much pursuing the rock end of things, as girls found their place in pop music. Lita Ford went that way too. Of course Joan Jett.
Annie Lennox created her own distinct thing and could never be grouped with a specific teen thing.
Blondie - again from the 70s and she had somewhat of an adult flair. She grew out of the age of disco.
You're right about the Go-Gos and Bananarama. SO pop. Squeaky clean and cloyingly sweet.

I very much remember the strong contrast between the Ivory soap-type pop artists and Madonna, who was close to that, but never quite. It's like... She appealed to the teen girls but made them feel a little bit naughty. Not just "I like lollypops" but more "I'm so excited you want to share my lollypop".

Anyway it's all good. I'm glad it's behind us. But I cringe at what they're offering the kids today. Ouch.

 

[rogueclimber]

I can do the internet too

Just remembering acts I've seen and enjoyed in the 80s, and remain on my playlists today

 

[Turnip]

Same here, as well as:
Sam Brown, Gianna Nannini, Gloria Estefan, Marie Fredricksson, Lee Aaron…and many more on the 80s-playlist in Germany/Europe.

 

[Benny Holiday]

When I listen to the songs of that era, they're a soundtrack to the events of my teenage years and evoke strong and usually very welcome memories of fun and more innocent times. I started high school in 1981 and my attention was caught by the dramatic flair and persona of Adam and the Ants. Ant Music, Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming, They remain my favourite 80s band to this day. There was a music show on Channel 7 every Saturday morning called, appropriately enough, Sounds. Through it I was introduced to the joys of the Swingers' Counting the Beat, Mental As Anything's Too Many Times, Split Enz with History never Repeats, The Go-Gos Our Lips Are Sealed, and a wacky band called Devo whose big hit was Whip It. Whenever I hear Phil Collins' version of Can't Hurry Love or Billy Fields' Bad Habits, I remember the strange feeling of transitioning from primary school to high school, having to catch the (preferably correct) bus there and back, making new friends, negotiating the walkways and corridors of a big, unfamiliar place.

In 1982 I was in Year 8 and I remember the big songs being Tainted Love by Soft Cell, Centrefold by the J Geils Band, I Just Can't get Enough by Depeche Mode and Olivia Newton-John with Physical. Kajagoogoo's Too Shy always reminds me of spending money I'd earned during school holidays to buy a Star wars-inspired Matchbox space ranger vehicle set at K Mart Fairfield West.

Dragon's It's Been Raining takes me back to, funny enough, a rainy day when I was bored with the high school routine. Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler) makes me think of when my Mum bought a green Mini and we used to go to my Uncle's house in the summer and swim in his pool. Tim Finn had a big hit at that time called Fraction Too Much Friction. Ray Parker Jr's The Other Woman and Up Where We Belong (Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes) remind me of catching the bus with my friend Chris Byrne from his house into town and wandering down to karate lessons. Laura Branigan's Gloria was a huge hit, as was Billie Jean by Michael Jackson and Safety Dance by Men Without Hats.

1984 was year 10 and I turned 15 in April that year. Lots of memorable songs from that year and memories to go with them. Some fella named Boy George proceeded to confuse my entire peer group by looking like a chick but sounding like a guy with his hits Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? and Karma Chameleon. Madonna had emerged the year before with Holiday and Lucky Star, but she went supernova with Like a Virgin. One of my best buddies moved across town and hearing Material Girl reminds me of schlepping my butt on train and foot to visit him. Matthew Wilder's Break My Stride takes me back to Art class and my Year 10 major work (I sucked at painting). Michael Jackson's Beat It and the Police with Wrapped Around Your Finger make me think of walking home from school with some friends rather than catching the bus, a good half hour walk. Speaking of Michael Jackson, he had released Thriller around New Year's and it was huge here as it was everywhere else.

Nik Kershaw's I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me reminds me of building a bird aviary with my Dad in August '84. David Bowie's Let's Dance and Modern Love take me back to school dances. Cyndi Lauper had a huge hit with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, while She Bop jibed strongly with my blossoming love of 50s/Rockabilly music, as did I Can Dream About You by Dan Hartman. Breakdancing really took off at my school and Herbie Hancock's Rockit and Hey You by the Rock Steady Crew were popular.

I'm just glossing over it all, there's heaps more songs and I'm barely touching on the memories but you get the idea. The songs evoke very vivid pictures and emotions of a time and place in my personal history and hold deep meanings for me during my formative years.

 

[Monte.C]

When I listen to the songs of that era, they're a soundtrack to the events of my teenage years and evoke strong and usually very welcome memories of fun and more innocent times. I started high school in 1981 and my attention was caught by the dramatic flair and persona of Adam and the Ants. Ant Music, Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming, They remain my favourite 80s band to this day. There was a music show on Channel 7 every Saturday morning called, appropriately enough, Sounds. Through it I was introduced to the joys of the Swingers' Counting the Beat, Mental As Anything's Too Many Times, Split Enz with History never Repeats, The Go-Gos Our Lips Are Sealed, and a wacky band called Devo whose big hit was Whip It. Whenever I hear Phil Collins' version of Can't Hurry Love or Billy Fields' Bad Habits, I remember the strange feeling of transitioning from primary school to high school, having to catch the (preferably correct) bus there and back, making new friends, negotiating the walkways and corridors of a big, unfamiliar place.

In 1982 I was in Year 8 and I remember the big songs being Tainted Love by Soft Cell, Centrefold by the J Geils Band, I Just Can't get Enough by Depeche Mode and Olivia Newton-John with Physical. Kajagoogoo's Too Shy always reminds me of spending money I'd earned during school holidays to buy a Star wars-inspired Matchbox space ranger vehicle set at K Mart Fairfield West.

Dragon's It's Been Raining takes me back to, funny enough, a rainy day when I was bored with the high school routine. Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler) makes me think of when my Mum bought a green Mini and we used to go to my Uncle's house in the summer and swim in his pool. Tim Finn had a big hit at that time called Fraction Too Much Friction. Ray Parker Jr's The Other Woman and Up Where We Belong (Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes) remind me of catching the bus with my friend Chris Byrne from his house into town and wandering down to karate lessons. Laura Branigan's Gloria was a huge hit, as was Billie Jean by Michael Jackson and Safety Dance by Men Without Hats.

1984 was year 10 and I turned 15 in April that year. Lots of memorable songs from that year and memories to go with them. Some fella named Boy George proceeded to confuse my entire peer group by looking like a chick but sounding like a guy with his hits Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? and Karma Chameleon. Madonna had emerged the year before with Holiday and Lucky Star, but she went supernova with Like a Virgin. One of my best buddies moved across town and hearing Material Girl reminds me of schlepping my butt on train and foot to visit him. Matthew Wilder's Break My Stride takes me back to Art class and my Year 10 major work (I sucked at painting). Michael Jackson's Beat It and the Police with Wrapped Around Your Finger make me think of walking home from school with some friends rather than catching the bus, a good half hour walk. Speaking of Michael Jackson, he had released Thriller around New Year's and it was huge here as it was everywhere else.

Nik Kershaw's I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me reminds me of building a bird aviary with my Dad in August '84. David Bowie's Let's Dance and Modern Love take me back to school dances. Cyndi Lauper had a huge hit with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, while She Bop jibed strongly with my blossoming love of 50s/Rockabilly music, as did I Can Dream About You by Dan Hartman. Breakdancing really took off at my school and Herbie Hancock's Rockit and Hey You by the Rock Steady Crew were popular.

I'm just glossing over it all, there's heaps more songs and I'm barely touching on the memories but you get the idea. The songs evoke very vivid pictures and emotions of a time and place in my personal history and hold deep meanings for me during my formative years.

Wow, Adam Ant! J. Geils! That brings back memories. For a time I dated a girl who turned me on to Billy Squire. Good stuff.

But those years I was still wrapped up in what I might consider the last of the golden years of rock. Boston, Aerosmith, Bad Company, early AC/DC, Van Halen's first four albums, Foreigner, Journey, Tom Petty, The Who, Cheap Trick, The Police, etc.

Golden years.

 

[Zombie_61]

Meh. My freshman year of high school started in the second half of 1975 here in the U.S.. Heavy Metal bands were still trying to rule the charts, but that abhorrent noise called Disco was trying in earnest to take over; truly a terrible time for modern music if you had taste. Eventually the 1980s began, and on this side of the pond we were introduced to something called "New Wave". Better than Disco, but not by much. I didn't pay much attention to it because I married my first wife in August of 1981, so she and I spent the better part of the 80s working and trying to build a life for ourselves. To be honest, I don't remember it being all that bad, but I was so disinterested in the new music of that era that I went in the other direction and started listening to music from the 50s, 40s, and 30s instead. So...well, here I am.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Wow, Adam Ant! J. Geils! That brings back memories. For a time I dated a girl who turned me on to Billy Squire. Good stuff.

But those years I was still wrapped up in what I might consider the last of the golden years of rock. Boston, Aerosmith, Bad Company, early AC/DC, Van Halen's first four albums, Foreigner, Journey, Tom Petty, The Who, Cheap Trick, The Police, etc.

Golden years.

A great roster of artists. Real music made by real people with actual musical instruments. Rock.

I was hanging out with a buddy of mine a couple of years back and some rap-electronic junk came on the radio and he sarcastically commented, "No musical instruments were harmed in the making of this so-called song, because none were used. Just a computer." Sad but he was right.

 

[Zombie_61]

Wow, Adam Ant!

*sigh* Oh well, here goes. For a brief period of time in the late-70s and early 80s lip-synching was a bit of a craze here in southern California. Y'know, DJ plays a song, you get up and sing along without actually singing, pretending to be the artist singing the song. Eventually a local bar that my wife and I frequented on Friday and Saturday nights held a "Lip-Synch" contest, and I participated; I won a free drink. After the contest a man walked up to me, and...well, at the time there was a TV show called Solid Gold that promoted popular new music groups and their songs. Eventually they produced a spin-off from that called Solid Gold Hits, and this man wanted me to audition because they were going to start featuring a Lip-Synch segment on each episode. Long story short, I went to their studio, did my bit as Adam Ant, and "won" $2,500 for my troubles. It was rigged by the show's producers, but what the heck; $2,500 is $2,500. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[TelemarkTumalo]

My memories of the 1980's are largely positive. I finished college and then on to grad school, undergrad in VA, and then to Tucson, and to Champaign-Urbana. Met a bunch of wonderful people during those years and an incredible expansion of how I thought.

My cultural influences were more entertainment oriented by rock music of the day and some incredible movies out of Hollywood (Terminator, The Empire Strikes Back, Bladerunner, The Princess Bride, Platoon). Magic, Bird and Jordan ruled the hardwoods and I still remember the 1984 Olympics as incredibly influential. Honestly, I remember nothing much of fashion of the day. As a grad student, I was just trying to meet rent and eat. I don't remember being hungry or cold, but it was basically an ascetic lifestyle for me for most of the decade. I'm sure I was wearing Levi's, Nikes and a sweatshirt. On the other hand, it was the decade of Reagan's presidency and an economic boom for the U.S. The decades long cold war ended with the destruction of the Berlin wall. It was also an age of skepticism of government (remember Iran-Contra?). Perhaps the worst decade of the U.S. car industry, but rise of Japanese and German cars in the U.S. AID's, genocide in Zimbabwe and Nelson Mandela were all campus hot topics of the day. Indelible on my psyche.