In 1981 MTV “Music Television” was introduced on cable television and revolutionized rock marketing. Just as FM radio had superseded the hit-oriented AM format, music videos, produced as mini-movie advertisements for songs, became essential to a performer’s popularity. Early in the decade, the British group the Police was one of the first to combine a progressive sound with polished videos. The expense of producing videos and MTV’s virtual monopoly made it difficult for experimental music to compete with the dance-pop sung by American artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, and Madonna, and the British groups Duran Duran and Depeche Mode. Nevertheless, performers such as the Irish group U2 and the American group R.E.M. emerged from their underground roots to enjoy enormous success. Now a few of the new genres of the 80’s.
In the early 1980s, the “new wave” movement, a sub genre of punk rock that began in the ’70s, was generating a more sophisticated pop sound. In Britain, artists including bands such as the Clash, Squeeze, and the Police attained both critical and commercial acceptance. The Pretenders, another British band established in the late 70s, was led by an American-born singer and songwriter, Chrissie Hynde. In the United States, the Los Angeles-based band X navigated the transition from punk to new wave, and the New York-based group Talking Heads with a big assist from MTV, succeeded in fusing art rock with funk and African rhythms.
In 1979, the album Rapper’s Delight by the American group the Sugar Hill Gang moved rap music (a rhyming, rapidly spoken word form of black dance music)from the clubs of New York City to the national scene. Rap was assimilated into popular culture through such mainstream artists as the performer M.C. Hammer, the group Run-D.M.C, and rapper-actor Will Smith , the “Fresh Prince” of the duo D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. One of the first controversial rap hits was the hip-hop song “The Message” by the rap group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Despite its controversies, rap was terrible to young white males and was imitated by many white American groups, including Blondie and the Beastie Boys; it was combined with hard rock in the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other groups. By the late 1980s, rap had replaced rock as the most popular music of social commentary (not something all of us would agree with).
Another genre was glam metal better know as hair metal by most originated in the early 80’s. some of its characteristics are lyrics that focus on sex, drugs and alcohol. Musically speaking, Hair metal songs often featured distorted guitar riffs shred guitar solos, anthemic choruses, hard hitting drumming (usually not musically correct, chuckle. Many Hair metal performers became infamous for their debauched lifestyles, long, teased hair, and use of make up, gaudy clothing, and accessories. The genre took most of its influence from 70’s rock and heavy metal bands, Like KISS, and Alice Cooper. Some of the most popular Hair band songs were Def Leppard Pyromania, Mötley Crüe – Shout at the Devil , W.A.S.P. – W.A.S.P., Ratt – Out of the Cellar , Quiet Riot – Metal Health, Dokken – Tooth and Nail, Twisted Sister – Stay Hungry.
Ok now we have my favorite part musics effect on society, we will begin first with fashion. Well in the eighties your fashion depended mostly on what kind of music you listen to. Punk, metal, and hard rock fans would wear torn and tattered clothes, chains, chuck taylos, patches and anything else to look like there band or favorite artist. this idea is the same for most other artists of the 80’s if they wore it there audience wore it.
Music all so gave some fans the excuse to go over the top in every way everything in huge amounts lots of sex, lots of drugs and alcohol. In schools it had affected everything know one wanted to come to school so a lot of them would skip or drop out early. And many of them developed a very arrogant attitude against the establishment, their parents.
This era of music also affected our economy. The record industry boomed every one needed the new crue cd or whatever it may have been. And mtv’s rating hit record highs. Also the sale of guitars and other instrument soared to new heights as kids and teens alike wanted to be the next Van Halen or Hendrix Another way music boosted our economy was Merchandise (aka Merch) if it had a band name or something of the sort on it it was sold out! Any sort of band stuff was all the rage.
In concluesion id like to say the music of the eighties diffently had an effect on the way people thought acted and dressed. Other than mind control no force had more impact on daily life than music. The 80’s were wild and about having lots of fun, rebelious behavior was just a norm. and music even put a little money back in uncle sams pocket through merchandise and other gimicks.
credit goes to http://www.123helpme.com/s-music-report-view.asp?id=157773
