Following the countercultural and revolutionary movements of the 1970s, many Americans applied a new conservatism in economic, political, and social life during the 1980s. Defined by the policies of President Ronald Reagan, the decade was associated with materialism and consumerism and witnessed the emergence of blockbuster films and the rise of cable networks like MTV, which has played music videos round the clock since its US broadcast on August 1, 1981. The breakthrough of new technologies, such as the release of the very first CD, had a remarkable effect on ‘80s music, and resulted in a unique production aesthetic that launched the careers of many phenomenal artists.
Arguably the bigger star of this era, Michael Jackson, boasts unsurpassed fame, with a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards for his album Thriller in 1982. Another definitive icon of the decade is Madonna, whose incredible music videos became a necessary commodity on MTV, landing her the title as the most successful female singer of all time.
Hard rock also became one of the most dominant music genres of the time and its peak saw the formation of Nirvana, a band which had a significant impact on modern rock and roll culture. Then there was the induction of other rock bands like The Beatles, The Drifters, The Beach Boys, The Supremes and Bob Dylan into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. This recognition led to the naming of four streets in Liverpool after members of The Beatles in 1982. However, two years prior to this touching tribute to the iconic band, John Lennon was shot to death by a fan outside his NYC apartment. Nevertheless, the popular culture of the 1980s was a major influence on the artists and audiences of the decades to come, particularly in the music arena.
One of the megastars of the early 1980s was the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Michael became a massive figure in popular music thanks to his hundreds of awards. He’s received 23 Guinness World Records, 16 Grammys, and 26 AMAs, among others, and he created history with his music video “Billie Jean.” The very first song by a black artist to air on MTV, Billie Jean was recognized for breaking racial barriers.
The only pop artist to have been inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame, MJ popularized the robot and the moonwalk dance techniques. His fashion and music have strongly influenced numerous artists. And who could forget the fact that he co-wrote the 1985 song “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie, raising $63 million for underprivileged people in the US and Africa.
The Michigan native is known for her bold and distinct fashion and music. Rising to fame in the 1980s, Madonna was quickly dubbed the "Queen of Pop.” Though she is part of the mainstream, her creative songwriting and breathtaking performances on stage and in music videos maintained her autonomy within the recording industry.
Hailed as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records, Madonna had sold more than 300 million records worldwide. Her global bestsellers, including Like a Virgin and True Blue, became a lightning rod for both her supporters and critics. Her fashion choices were a great hit among young girls and women during this period. Did we mention that she was a straight A student and had an intense studying habits back then?
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota by musical parents, Prince Roger Nelson’s affinity for music was evident during his childhood.. He wrote his first song, Funk Machine, at the incredibly young age of seven. With a career that ran for four decades, Prince was known for his extensive vocal range and flamboyant stage performances that showcased his innovative style in funk, pop, R&B and psychedelia on his albums Dirty Mind (1980) and Controversy (1981).
Considered one of the best-selling music artists of all time, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received seven Grammys, six AMAs, and an Academy Award. Back when he was known worldwide as “The Artist,” that bizarre symbol Prince used was actually referred to as "Love Symbol #2," and it was copyrighted in 1997.
Before the British rock band became globally famous in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, they appeared in a Wrigley's commercial which required them to dye their hair – a look that eventually became The Police's trademark even though the ad never aired. In 1983, Rolling Stone pronounced them "the first British New Wave act to break through in America on a grand scale, and possibly the biggest band in the world."
Their 1983 studio album Synchronicity saw further critical and commercial success and ranked no. 1 in both the UK and the US. Considered as one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, The Police received six Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their fame and fortune won them a place on both the Rolling Stone and VH1 lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Formed in Leyton, East London on December 25, 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris, Iron Maiden’s discography is packed with thirty-nine albums that have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Despite little radio or television exposure, the heavy metal band made history with their success during the early 1980s to the 2000s.
Their career spanned four decades, all the while supported by their popular mascot, "Eddie," who has appeared on almost all of their album covers and live shows. Considered as pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal, Iron Maiden achieved a series of UK and US platinum and gold albums, such as The Number of the Beast (1982), Piece of Mind (1983), Powerslave (1984), and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988).
The Police and Sting’s signature song was the best-selling single of 1983. What made it so popular was the controversy linked to its creation. Sting penned the song in 1982 in the wake of his separation from Frances Tomelty and the beginning of his relationship with Tomelty’s best friend Trudie Styler. The lyrics are the words of a possessive lover who is watching "every breath you take; every move you make." When asked about the meaning of the song, Sting said: “I woke up in the middle of the night with that line in my head, sat down at the piano and had written it in half an hour. The tune itself is generic, an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting. It sounds like a comforting love song.”
This breakthrough hit depicts a troubled relationship that Bono can't escape. The lyrics can be interpreted many ways but in 1987, U2’s lead vocalist explained that everybody in the rock band was aware of the line “And you give yourself away” saying "It's about how I feel in U2 at times - exposed. I'm not going to do many interviews this year. Because there's a cost to my personal life, and a cost to the group as well."
“Like a Virgin” is a dance-oriented song written by Billy Steinberg based on his personal experiences of romance. The hit song's lyrics are ambivalent, comprised of innuendos and open to different interpretations. Madonna’s defining song reached the top ten elsewhere thanks to her portrayal of a sexually independent and strong woman.
Written by Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik, “Eye of the Tiger” was the theme song for the biggest movie of 1982. It received enormous MTV and radio airplay and topped charts worldwide that same year. Peterik recalled the origin of this song: "When we got the initial rough cut of the movie, the scene that “Eye Of The Tiger” appears in was cut to “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen. Frankie and I are watching this, the punches are being thrown, and we're going, “Holy crap, this is working like a charm.” We called Stallone and said, “Why aren't you using that?” The rest, as they say, is history.
Written by Shannon Rubicam, the wildly successful 1985 song was intended for Houston. Aside from its signature drum claps, the brilliant chorus made it one of the greatest pop songs of the ‘80s. When asked about the idea behind the phenomenal song, Rubicam said, “I pictured somebody single wishing that they could find that special person for themselves. It wasn't, 'I wanna go down the disco and dance,' really. It was, 'I wanna do that dance of life with somebody.' That was the thought behind the song. So we sent our demo version off to Clive Davis and he loved it.”