History: (Evaluation at the bottom)

The 1980s were a transformative decade for the development of music, founded by the core of traditional rock with the emergence of new wave, and advent of synthesised pop, an era of an electric mix of sounds, fashion and iconic videos within the music industry. The ascension of technology used with the introduction of the synthesiser bringing a futuristic dimension to the soundscapes of the decade - resonating particularly with the general population  - eager for innovation. 

Music in this decade was not only focused introspectively on catchy hooks and electronic beats but became a medium by which self-expression and political commentary shined through. The influence of the 80s being so vast it extends to today whereby it's aesthetic and sound continues to be sampled, covered and glorified in media - with a nostalgia by the generation who grew up within it.

The monumental shift towards electronic music in the 80s is most representative by the sound of synth-pop - structured by synthesisers and drum machines, creating a sonic foundation never heard before in pop, particularly with the Yamaha DX7 - dominating the sound of the decade itself.

Youth subcultures during this decade had founded their own individuality in the representation of different communities - punks maintaining their angst and ethos with studded leather jackets and mohawks, symbolic of their frustration to social conformity - adopting anarchist ideologies. Goths, influenced by bands like The Cure, cultivated a dark romantic aesthetic, adopting an introspection on gothic arts, literature and representative irony. Hip-Hop culture brought tracksuits and bucket hats to the media with an emphasis on urban culture. All these subcultures having an impact still lasting today.

Artists: (The top 30 of the 1980s)                                        

  1: Prince                                        11. Billy Joel                                      21. Lionel Richie

  2: Madonna                                   12. The Eurythmics                           22. Paul McCartney

  3: U2                                              13. The Cure                                     23. AC/DC

  4: Michael Jackson                        14. David Bowie                                24. Van Halen

  5: Bruce Springsteen                     15. Whitney Houston                        25. Depeche Mode

  6: Phil Collins                                 16. Elton John                                  26. Genesis

  7: Dire Straits                                 17. Duran Duran                               27. Bon Jovi

  8: Queen                                        18. Iron Maiden                                28. Rod Stewart 

  9: The Police                                  19. Barbra Streisand                        29. Simple Minds

10: The Rolling Stones                     20.The Smiths                                 30. Culture Club

Analysis, technologies and production.

(Compositional Techniques and song writing): 

•  Anthemic electric guitar leads and synth lines became popular - achieved by modulation, reverb, delay aswell as chorus and ADT, with an emphasis on space within its artificaially wide sound.

• The rise of the synthesiser itself was dominant - models such as particularly the Yamaha DX7 becoming as popular as the guitar itself, with the introduction of arpeggiators. and drum machines.

• Harmonies were a staple in the sound of the 80s whereby particularly in vocals there was layering in harmonies and double tracks  to thicken up the vocal lines in the mix and encapsulate this dominating and dynamic sound. To an extent being classical in nature in being so dramatic and grandiose with emphasis on things like vibrato and falsetto.

(Technological developments):

• The commercial release of music in the market had been based on vinyl records and cassette tapes

• Cassettes were more convenient for the general person - tape players being incorporated into technology and vehicles 

• Digital multitrack recording was recorded for professional use in studios

• Compact discs became more widely used, being introduced towards the end of the decade.

•  Mix automation became possible 

• Development of MIDI - announced in  1982, demonstrated in 1983

• MIDI transformed electronic music as it brought new creative possibilities 

(Production techniques):

• Harmonisers were used significantly more on vocals

• There was a shift whereby digital reverb was experimented with over natural reverbs as well as more usage of gated reverb

• Compression techniques were developed - dynamic range reducing

• Following the experimentation of the 70s - production had become even more creative - searching for new sounds rather than traditional

• Drum samples in production became more frequent

Evaluation: