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The eighties; a time of perms, legwarmers and neon clothing but let us not forget the music. From Janet Jackson to U2; it really was a great time for pop and rock music. However, if you’re not sure where to start on your venture into the sounds of the eighties; we’ve got you covered with our top 10 artists that you need to listen to.
1. Madonna
Who can deny the cultural impact of Madonna? Influencing millions through her music, clothing and lifestyle, it’s no wonder that she dons the label ‘Queen of Pop’.
Known especially for her versatility in songwriting, production and presentation, Madonna has exercised artistic control and freedom as she continually pushed boundaries. And it was not in vain, as Madonna’s ‘look’ quickly became a female fashion trend well into the ‘80s.
With over 300 million records sold worldwide Madonna remains the best-selling female artist in music history. Her success and artistic contributions, alongside the sheer presence that is ‘Madonna’, have no doubt paved the way for female artists, changing the rhetoric and conversation surrounding women in the industry.
While setting new records in history, her title track, and single, ‘Like a Virgin’ (1984) did not come without its controversies. Deemed by conservative organisations and moralists as promoting premarital sex and undermining family values, Madonna’s performance at the 1984 MTV Music Video Awards has since been regarded as the most iconic pop performance in history. Not only did this skyrocket her popularity globally, but this release of her second album became the first album by a woman to sell over 5 million copies within the U.S. As of now, it has sold over 21 million copies worldwide.
2. Prince
The influence of Prince is staggering and his mark on the music world will forever be remembered. As an advocate for creative power being autonomous to artists, Prince is considered to be ‘one of the most hands-on artists’ of all time, which can ultimately be seen in his wide-ranging discography. Writing his own songs, playing instruments and producing his music gave Prince full control over the direction of his work and has continued to shape the industry today, as these are standards increasingly expected of artists - unlike previously.
His single ‘Little Red Corvette’ signified an era of change as it quickly made its way to the top of the charts. At this time releases by African-American artists received little airplay on MTV, with Prince and his 1982 single encouraging the breaking of barriers and showcasing diversity on an immensely popular music channel.
The infamous 1984 film and soundtrack ‘Purple Rain’ became almost interchangeable with Prince himself, with both pieces of work making Prince the first ever artist to achieve #1’s in top American film, album and single all at once.
Everything that encompassed Prince suggested a shift within the music industry and retains a long-lasting impact. The androgynous, sly and colourful image alongside his revolutionary music has made Prince an artist in every sense of the word.
3. Michael Jackson
Where to begin with the ‘King of Pop’? The influence and impact Michael Jackson has had, both within and outside of the music industry, is nothing short of monumental.
His sixth album ‘Thriller’ (1982) topped the Billboard 200 chart for 37 weeks, securing a place in the top 10 of said chart for 80 consecutive weeks. Additionally, 7 songs from this album made their way to the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 - the first album to reach this level of success.
Jackson’s achievements came at a time when the segregation of popular music within the U.S. still existed. However, his work challenged this and brought forward an era of multiculturalism and integration that inspired artists to follow.
The crossover appeal of Jackson led to him popularising dance moves in a way that others could not. Introducing the moonwalk to millions in his 1983 live performance of ‘Billie Jean’, dance history was made as he incorporated West Coast street dance and East Coast breakdance into his routines.
Breaking records, challenging racial boundaries and bringing attention to causes otherwise deemed taboo at the time, it is clear that the music and creativity of Michael Jackson has shaped the music world.
4. Wham!
When you think ‘80s music, you think Wham!. Although only a duo for 5 years, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley made their mark as they sold over 28 million records and 15 million singles.
Their debut album ‘Fantastic’ (1983) quickly climbed to Number 1 in the U.K., with many songs within the album achieving Top 10 status. The duo’s rise in popularity became evident, as their second album, ‘Make it Big’ (1984), began to chart within the U.S.; with ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ charting at Number 1 in the U.K and U.S.
Wham! became subject to worldwide media coverage as they were the first Western pop act to perform in China in 1985. This has been considered a historic performance, and only came about after a year and a half of discussion between the band’s manager and Chinese officials, as a variety of music was previously forbidden in the country.
With the success of Michael’s solo pieces, ‘Careless Whisper’ (1984) and ‘A Different Corner’ (1986), rumours of the impending split were only heightened.
After a sell-out concert at Wembley Stadium and their farewell single ‘The Edge of Heaven’ (1986) topping the U.K. charts, the duo officially split.
5. Whitney Houston
A beloved voice and individual to many, Whitney Houston has long been a household name as her work connected with audiences and set numerous industry records. Before Houston, the Billboard 200 albums chart had yet to see women at the forefront; that is, until the release of her album ‘Whitney’ (1987), with the legendary ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) as the lead-off track.
While the 80s proved Houston’s dominance within the US, it was simply a precursor to her popularity worldwide. Shock and devastation swept the world as news of her untimely passing came in February 2012. Houston’s crossover appeal has retained influence on several artists, especially female artists, as well as within genres more specifically; this includes, but is not limited to, dance, gospel, pop, and R&B.
It is also worthwhile to note the commercial impact Houston enjoyed within the film industry, where both her acting and music roles have reached heights of notoriety previously deemed unimaginable.
6. Duran Duran
Duran Duran are essentially interchangeable with the 80s. Emerging into the New Romantic scene, the group utilised the rise of the video age; their look and sound helped to define pop music at the time.
While their debut single ‘Planet Earth’ did well on the U.K charts, it was the accompanying video that aided the success of their 1981 single ‘Girls on Film’ as it peaked at Number 5 on the U.K Singles Chart. The aim was to create a sensational and erotic music video that would cause audiences to talk about it - and it worked; the heavy airplay on MTV in 1983 allowed the song to rise in popularity in the U.S.
Global success ensued as their carefully crafted music videos continued to maintain substantial screen time on MTV. Alongside this, Princess Diana declared them her favourite band - encouraging only further popularity.
7. Madness
Charting from their very first single and touring with the Specials and the Selector before even recording their debut album, the highs and lows of Madness are an essential part of 80s music.
With earlier albums, such as ‘One Step Beyond’ and ‘Absolutely’, sticking closely to the ska genre, the release of their 1983 album ‘7’ showcased more of a pop sound. While this was somewhat expected, it was suggested that the sound of the group would be constantly changing with the times, and Madness continued to stick with the pop sound in later albums.
Regarded by many as just a band with catchy songs, many of the lyrical themes included childhood memories - an aspect of the group that only added to their popularity. Their music also tackled what were seen as controversial issues, at the time, such as animal testing and criticism of the NHS.
1983 was a bittersweet year for Madness; while achieving success on the charts, nationally and internationally, it was also the beginning of the group's decline and subsequent breakup in 1988. The 1985 album ‘Mad Not Mad’ charted at 16 on the U.K charts, the lowest charting position for the group; with the singles ‘Uncle Sam’ and ‘Sweetest Girl’ not making the top 20.
Known as ‘The Madness’ in 1988, the band came to an end after their self-titled album didn’t make the top 40. However, I think it’s safe to say that this was, thankfully, not the last of Madness that we'd see!
8. Spandau Ballet
Another successful group of the New Romantic era, Spandau Ballet are known for changing the London club music scene.
It was rumoured that their first single, ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’ was released only ten days after recording before it quickly made its way into the Top 5. Success on this scale continued, as their first full-length album, ‘Journeys To Glory’, became certified Gold in the U.K - peaking at Number 5 on the charts.
The group's third studio album ‘True’ (1983) showcased a newer sound for the members as they moved away from their electronic influences to a more soulful pop sound, popularising pop dance scores in the process. This did not go in vain either, as their single ‘True’ exercised global success by topping the charts in the U.K., Ireland and Canada; as well as entering into the Top 5 in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Despite the nasty split between members in 1990 and a happy reunion 19 years later, the group amassed over 25 million albums sold and 23 hit singles worldwide. With the success of this magnitude, is there any wonder how Spandau Ballet influenced the club music scene?
9. David Bowie
Despite his debut in the music scene being in the early ‘60s, David Bowie’s decades-spanning artistry was just as evident and influential in the 80s.
Instilling confidence through his music and performances, Bowie actively worked against conforming to societal ‘norms’. His exploration of gender and sexuality via on-stage personas paved the way for new art styles and enabled generations in finding assurance in who they are.
Bowie’s ability to remain relevant in the music scene was in part to his ever-changing image. Through the use of personas and storylines, Bowie’s ability to effortlessly incorporate theatricality to rock music has long been admired.
The 1983 release of his 15th album, ‘Let’s Dance’ saw Bowie achieve, perhaps, the peak of his popularity as the album achieved platinum status in the U.K and U.S; its title track achieved Number 1 and its three singles became Top 20 hits, again in the U.K and U.S.
In the 80s, Bowie introduced an era of New Romantic pop, participated in numerous collaborations with artists, such as Queen, Tina Turner and Iggy Pop, and continued on in his acting career. With leading roles in ‘The Elephant Man’, ‘Baal’, ‘Jazzin’ for Blue Jean’ and ‘Labyrinth’, Bowie soon became recognised for his expressive performances and even bagged himself a non-posthumous Grammy. In most cases, he produced accompanying soundtracks to his acting work.
As Bowie stayed true to himself through his creative and innovative work, there is no doubt that his name remains legendary nearly half a century since his first musical release.
10. Rick Astley
What other way to sum up the 80s music scene without a bit of rickrolling? Before his days as a viral internet meme, Rick Astley was quick to achieve success on the charts.
His second single ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ (1987) became the year’s highest-selling single as it spent five weeks at the top of the charts in the U.K. Most notably, for such a new artist on the scene, the single also topped the charts in 24 countries achieving a high level of global success and set the precedent for the rest of his career.
Known especially for the deepness and richness of his voice, the contrast with his dance-pop sound made for immense popularity. For Astley, the end of the 80s ended on a bittersweet note. After completing his first world tour, consisting of 15 countries, he moved away from the dance-pop scene to instead focus on alternative genres and change his image.