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Music of the 80s
Music is an art form that involves prearranged sounds and silence. The popularity of pop music exploded during the 1980s with music lyrics that are unrivalled by other decades. Artists such as Michael Jackson and Madonna became mega-stars, commanding huge audiences and even bigger pay packets. Other genres of this era were also born and reborn during this decade.
The post punk era of the 70s produced the following genres …
New wave music …
The term new wave is a source of much confusion. Originally, Seymour Stein, the head of Sire Records, needed a term by which he could market his newly signed bands. And so, some say, new wave was founded. New wave bands were considered experimental and anti-corporate. However, the 1980s cannot be attributed to the term new wave. IT was, in fact, first used in 1977 on a compilation album which introduced bands that were a little more sophisticated that those of the Punk genre. New wave included artists and bands the likes of Talking Heads, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Blondie and Joe Jackson.
Many keyboard-led bands of the early 1980s, such as A Flock of Seagulls, Duran Duran and Kajagoogoo, were also referred to as new wave.
Indie Pop music …
The word "indie" is often used to refer specifically to various genres of music that were considered non-commercial because they were not managed by the big corporate music companies but by small, independent record labels.
The indie genre was used more for cultural diverse music and self-expression.
Indie Rock music …
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent underground music scene. The difference between indie pop and indie rock is that indie rock incorporates rock instrumentation.
Heavy Metal music …
Heavy Metal music began in the late 60s / early 70s and is considered a sub-genre of Rock. Heavy Metal music was revitalised during the 1980s by bands such as Van Halen. It was re-branded and heavily commercialised during the decadent 80s.
