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E-Mail the Author#define EIGHTIES_MUSIC 1
... Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV ...
Being a member of 'Generation-X' my favorite music is from the 80's, especially early 80's. Much of this music, now called 'retro', was consider at the time to be 'alternative' and played only by radio stations such as Toronto's CFNY.
The eighties were a time of transition - a break-away from the 'corporate album rock' of the 70's. Just listen to some of the junk that was passed-off as music during that decade and its not hard to see how the sound of the 80's offered such a refreshing alternative. DISCO was definetely _DEAD_ and we all just could not stomach one more song by Terry Jacks (His infamous 'Seasons in the Sun' made the list of the worst 50 songs of all time). Not that all seventies music was bad, there was even some decent disco (seriously ;), but it was, as a whole, a tired and uninspired decade, musically.
The eighties were also a decade of "One Hit Wonders" - while some bands lasted for some time, many had a massive hit and were never heard from again - most of the mid-80's CFNY playlist falls into this category.
Aside from the one-hit wonders there were a few 'album' artists of the eighties - most were successful carry-overs from the seventies (which, as I said, weren't totally void of talent, just mostly :). My faves include Kate Bush (Hounds of Love was awesome but she had a host of goodies from the late seventies too), Pink Floyd (nothing too early, I like to be able to listen to my music without the aid of hallucinogens :), New Order (Substance 1987 still sounds good), and Depeche Mode.
So, what characterizes Eighties music ?
I suppose, more than anything, the eighties can be characterized musically as One-Hit_Wonders and Synthesizers.It was a time when electronic music became embraced and common and the synthesizer grew to become an instrument in it's own right. The wailing guitar of the early 70's and the disco sound of the late 70's gave way to a new sound which could not exist in nature - the sound of the synthesizer.
In the 1970 most bands used 'traditional' instruments such as guitars for melodies. In the music clip below you'll hear what a 'typical' 70's band sounded like. The clip is Sweet's Love is like Oxygen. It's sound was like that of many bands of the day. This song was released in 1978 and at this late a date many bands, including Sweet, were beginning to use electronic instruments however they were used to emulate traditional instruments: In this case an electronic piano is used to emulate the real thing.
About The Music Clips ...
In keeping with 'fair dealing' according to copyright laws, only small samples
of the music are made available here ... presumably if you like the music you'll
do like I did and buy the CD (or vinyl ??). These clips, which demonstrate
the 'sound' of the times, are inferior quality, low-resolution (11KHz) MPEGs to keep the size down to about 100K each. All music is copyright by various respective labels. Good Listening
Listen to a sound clip of Love Is Like Oxygen here. Due to size (and bandwidth)
limitations, only the MP3 format is available. All audio clips are about 100K long
and are less than 45 seconds.
By comparison, consider a 'typical' 80's tune like Depeche Mode's Everything
Counts. Depeche Mode used synthesizers as instruments in their own right
creating a new sound which 'traditional' instruments could not produce.
Listen to a sound clip of Everything Counts here.
The difference is quite pronounced: The synthesizer as an Emulator of a traditional instrument as opposed to the synthesizer as it's Own instrument. Now to be fair, the eighties were not the first time artists had used the synthesizer as an instrument in it's own right and homage must be paid to the pioneers like Hot Butter with the 1972 hit "Popcorn". First recorded in 1969 by Gershon Kingsley (and rerecorded by Hot Butter), the primary instrument was a primitive analog Moog synthesizer (which used analog voltage-controlled oscillators and filters). Another pioneer in the use of synthesizers (and a personal favourite) was the German group Kraftwerk. Their first major album, Autobahn, released in 1974 set the tone for the band which would last into the 80's - watch a Kraftwerk video (try "Showroom Dummies") and you'll see that all of their instruments were purely electronic. But both of these efforts were, at the time, considered "experimental" or "fringe" .... in the 80's this sound would become mainstream.
Listen to a sound clip of Hot Butter - Popcorn here.
Listen to a sound clip of Kraftwerk - Showroom Dummies here.
The early 80's were also a time dominated by ONE-HIT-WONDERS: Artists who had one, extremely popular hit, never to be heard from again. To understand this phenomenon, consider the technology of the time. In the 1970's most listeners bought entire albums on vinyl but as the prices of record albums climbed to over $10 (thats 1980's dollars) many listeners bought 45 rpm singles for the ONE song they liked rather than an entire album. For the more serious, 45 rpm 12-inch singles provided optimal quality (Most dance bar DJs used 12-inch singles). The CD, which became affordable in the mid-1980's as prices dropped below $300 (I bought my first player for $300 in Dec. 1985), changed how music was distributed as people bought entire CD's instead of singles. This may help explain why there were so many one-hit-wonders during the early 80's. We'll wait and see if the phenomenon is repeated again given that online download services allow the purchase of an individual track.
First Stop: 1979
Our first stop in our tour of 80's music actually begins in 1979 with Gary Numan's classic song Cars. Indeed from a music standpoint the 80's sound begins now! Some consider the entire era of 80's music as having been heralded by either Numan or The Buggles 'Video Killed the Radio Star' which was the opening video played when MTV started.
Numan joined a punk band in England in the mid-70's. Their sound, though, was anything
but typical screaming punk music as Numan set aside his guitar in favour ot
the synthesizer. Influenced by David Bowie and European techno-pop groups such as
Kraftwerk (of which I have a decent selection myself) Numan drifted away from the
fading 70's punk sound to develop a new, electronic sound.
Numan's music was further reinforced by visuals. His video for Cars, which appeared
on the new MTV, featured new video techniques which weren't seen in the 'standard'
video where performers stood around and played through the song (I so loathed band-centric
videos). The album featuring
Cars became a #1 hit in the U.K. and placed Numan on the U.S. Pop charts for his
one and only time (like so many other 'one hit wonders' during the 80's).
Hearing this song today, it sound pale and lifeless in comparison to modern music
however in the early 80's it was revolutionary as few artists had used the
synthesizer as a lead instrument (other than a few European bands such as Germany's
Kraftwerk which never made it big in North America). His music influenced many
artists to follow during the 80's and his work paved the way for a decade
of electronic music.
Listen to a sound clip of Numan's Cars here.
As You Listen to the sound clip notice the synthesizer which actually SOUNDS
unlike a real instrument. Before this point, many artists tried to use a synth
to emulate a real instrument. Numan used the synth in it's own right.
Lyrics:
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days
In cars
Here in my car
The image breaks down
Will you visit me please
If I open my door
In cars
Here in my car
I know I've started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right
In cars
I know I've started to think
I know I've started to think
Second Stop: 1980
Our next stop on the 80's tour is Soft Cell's Tainted Love. In 1980 a synth player named David Bell and a singer named Marc Almond put together a band whose music was a combination of synthesizer-meets-soul. Their hit Tainted Love was a re-make of a classic motown soul tune.
The influence of Soft Cell can be heard in mid-80's bands such as ABC which
added a touch of soul music to their songs. Other 80's bands re-made motown
classics with an 80's (a la synth) touch.
Tainted Love reached number 8 in US pop charts. Soft Cell, like so many other 80's
bands, was a one-hit-wonder and broke up in 1984. The band's singer Almond later had
a hit with Bronski Beat.
Listen to a sound clip of Tainted Love here.
Lyrics:
Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
From the pain that you drive into the heart of me
The love we share
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Oh...tainted love
Tainted love
Now I know I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
You don't really want any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Oh...tainted love
Tainted love
Don't touch me please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I'm going to pack my things and go
Tainted love, tainted love...
Touch me baby, tainted love...
Third Stop: Depeche Mode in 1981
One of the most popular 80's bands, Depeche Mode was founded by Vince Clark, Andrew Fletcher, and Martin Gore in the late '70s. Just Can't Get Enough was released in 1981 and was their first big hit. At first the band was considered 'alternative' and was heard in dance bars and on radio stations such as Toront's CFNY but by the mid 80's they would become accepted by mainstream radio.
Vince Clark, who had written most of the band's early music, left Depeche
mode almost immediately after their first album "Speak and Spell" to form
Yaz along with singer Alison Moyet (see our next stop). Although many felt
Mode was doomed after Clarke left, the band went on to fame and fortune putting
many hits into the North American top-40 lists. Their first big North American
hit was in 1984 with People Are People. Unlike earlier works which are
'lighter', their post-Clarke music is darker - many songs had a 'meaning' if
you listened to them (Don't you just hate having to listen for some hidden
message :). Some of their songs had a downright macabre theme and the band went through
several periods where there 'sound' changed.
Still very listenable, Mode is still successful even today. Very few bands have survived two decades but Mode's latest hits have attracted an entirely new generation of listeners - many perhaps unaware of much of their earlier work. This puts Mode in the same category as REM for endurance-through-the-ages!
Listen to a sound clip of Just Cant Get Enough here.
Lyrics:
When I'm with you baby
I go out of my head
And I just can't get enough
And I just can't get enough
All the things you do to me
And everything you said
I just can't get enough
I just can't get enough
We slip and slide as we fall in love
And I just can't seem to get enough
We walk together
We're walking down the street
And I just can't get enough
And I just can't get enough
Everytime I think of you
I know we have to meet
And I just can't get enough
And I just can't get enough
It's getting harder, it's a burning love
And I just can't seem to get enough
I Just can't get enough...
And when it rains
You're shining down for me
And I just can't get enough
I just can't get enough
Just like a rainbow
You know you set me free
And I just can't get enough
I just can't get enough
You're like an angel and you give me your love
And I just can't seem to get enough
Fourth Stop: Yaz
The early 80's band Yaz was composed of an R&B singer named Alison Moyet and ex-Depeche Mode keyboard player (and founding member) Vince Clarke. When Clarke left Mode many thought Mode was finished since he _WAS_ Mode. Mode went on to many hits though.
Yaz broke up in 1984 after only two albums and Moyet went on to a solo career.
Many Yaz songs hit the US charts only after the band's break-up. Even today
Situation remains a decent-sounding track full of the 'feeling' of 80's tunes
and has aged gracefully (as opposed to many other 'dated' sounding tunes). The
album still places high on my list of favorite tunes.
Listen to a sound clip of Situation here.
Lyrics:
Blue eyed dressed for every situation
Moving through the doorway of a nation
Pick me up and shake the doubt
Baby I can't do without
Move out, don't mess around
Move out, you bring me down
Move out, how you get about
Don't make a sound just move out
I remember only for an hour
Move right through me can you feel the power
I don't know what's going on
it scares me but it won't take long
Move out, don't mess around
Move out, you bring me down
Move out, how you get about
Don't make a sound just move out
Now he's in control he is my lover
Nations stand against him he's your brother
Been a long time, been a long time now
I'll get to you somehow
Move out, don't mess around
Move out, you bring me down
Move out, how you get about
Don't make a sound just move out
Fifth Stop: A One-Hit Wonder, Thomas Dolby
If you had to choose one song that said 'EIGHTIES', this would be it. And while it might not be fair to call him a 'one hit wonder', few listeners have probably heard anything from Dolby other than 'Blinded with Science' (certainly not from his much later stuff like 'Aliens Ate My Buick' .... have YOU heard of that one??). Aside from 'Science', I think his best effort was also found on the same album - a haunting tune called 'One of our Submarines'.
Born Thomas Robertson, the name 'Dolby' might well have been chosen because of the popularity of the noise reduction system by the same name which was an essential feature of almost all cassette decks of the era (specifically, 1983).
I might be critical here, but havng heard him live I consider Dolby not a true musician but rather a computer programmer
who enjoyed putting music together (no disrespect intended there, computer programmers were a talented bunch, especially in the 80's). I suppose the computer WAS his instrument. In this light, one notes that his music
videos show him with computer terminals.
Listen to a sound clip of Blinded With Science.
Lyrics:
It's poetry in motion
she turned her tender eyes to me
as deep as any ocean
as sweet as any harmony
umm - she blinded me with science
she blinded me with science!
and failed me in biology
When I'm dancing close to her
blinded me with science, science!
I can smell the chemicals
blinded me with science, science!
Science!
Science!
mm - it's poetry in motion
and when she turned her eyes to me
as deep as any ocean
as sweet as any harmony
mm - she blinded me with science
and failed me in geometry
When she's dancing next to me
blinded me with science, science!
Science!
I can hear machinery
blinded me with science, science!
Science!
It's poetry in motion
and now she's making love to me
the spheres're in commotion
the elements in harmony
she blinded me with science
she blinded me with science!
and hit me with technology
Good heavens Miss Sakamoto - you're beautiful!
I -
I don't believe it!
there she goes again!
she's tidied up, and I can't find anything!
all my tubes and wires
and careful notes
and antiquated notions
but! - it's poetry in motion
and when she turned her eyes to me
as deep as any ocean
as sweet as any harmony
mm -she blinded me with science
she blinded me with - with science!
she blinded me with -
One of the classic lines in this song "Good Heavens Miss Sakamoto ..." was
the voice of Dr. Magnus Pyke who had a popular science show on British TV.
Final Stop: New Order
No tour of the 80's would be complete without mentioning New Order. This band was
was formed from remaining members of a 1980's band called Joy Division. As New
Order developed, their music became danceable and went over well in dance bars.
Their first top-ten hit was Blue Monday released in 1983 (I have the 12-inch vinyl
version of that song which features an incredible 133 beats-per-minute bass
track). Bizarre Love Triangle was released in 1986 and is still played in
bars. The band is still together (last I checked) however they seem to lack the
same spark that made them popular in the 80's. If you like New Order, the 'required' anthology
is 'Substance 1997' which contains all of their greatest 80's hits.
Listen to a sound clip of Bizarre Love Triangle.
Lyrics:
Every time I think of you
I feel shot right through with a bolt of blue
It's no problem of mine but it's a problem I find
Living a life that I can't leave behind
But there's no sense in telling me
The wisdom of the fool won't set you free
But that's the way that it goes and it's what nobody knows
Well every day my confusion grows
Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can't say
I feel fine and I feel good
I'm feeling like I never should
Whenever I get this way I just don't know what to say
Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday
I'm not sure what this could mean
I don't think you're what you seem
I do admit to myself that if I hurt someone else
Then I'll never see just what we're meant to be
Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can't say
During the 80's we never really asked what the lyrics meant. Like many other
dance tunes the lyrics never did make sense! (Back then you didn't sit on chat
lines for hours pondering such things, you just went to the bar to enjoy it).
Parting Notes ...
There were a lot of really great tunes during the 80's ranging from alternative to top-40. I've only used a few on this page - I had chosen these six as they really represent the sound of the 80's as well as illustrate how that sound changed over the course of the decade. I tried to avoid anything too specific but could have gone into, for example, songs with a "cold war" influence like Nena's 99-luftballoons.
... When did Motley Crue become classic rock,
And when did Ozzy become an actor
(With quotes from Bowling for soup's 1985)