80's Music

[Bearsyzf]

Speaking for myself i believe that the 80's music was the best music time, most of the best music then were from bands not in the U.S ........... My 3 biggest crushes back the were Pat Benatar , Stevie Nicks and Blondie.
How do you all feel and what era had the best music to you ?

 

[Dannydet]

I was in my 20s back then and I also agree, that Era had some of the best music ever. Not to mention the styles in fashion and hair, cars, and the economy was very good.

 

[MoodyBlues]

My favorite era is hard to pinpoint. I was lucky enough to experience Beatlemania as a child, and the Beatles will always be my favorite band. The '60s also cranked out such amazing artists as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Beach Boys, the Moody Blues, Joni Mitchell, the Doors, Carole King, Frank Zappa, Creedence Clearwater Revival and lots more.

But the '70s and '80s brought some incredible artists, including Queen, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks attended my high school [before me]!), Van Halen (so did Michael Anthony!), the Eagles, Dire Straits, The Police, Genesis, Blondie, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, the Grateful Dead, Tom Petty and others.

Basically, the artists I've listed (plus some I didn't) are artists whose music I still listen to, and find relevant and meaningful.

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Yes, this post keeps growing. Every time I think of another one of my favorites, I add them!

 

[olbriar]

I think that most feel the best music was created during their high school / college days. For me that would be the mid sixties to the mid seventies. I will not argue that the eighties enjoyed some great artists producing some great music. The same can be said for the forties big band sounds as well as the fifties artists that would ultimately progress into the rock genre. I've often pondered why most people love the music of their coming of age era.
I think it's because they were at an age where they enjoyed the freedoms of life without a great deal of responsibilities. Music has a way of bringing a person back to that time and stage of life. Music, no matter the era, is a wonderful gift.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I agree, @olbriar. There's something about that particular time in our growth that makes the music special, meaningful.

 

[JAy3001]

I was in my 20s back then and I also agree, that Era had some of the best music ever. Not to mention the styles in fashion and hair, cars, and the economy was very good.

Crumbs, I always thought the fashion and hair of the 80s was terrible! Lol Not to mention the economy, but this was the heyday of the banker making vast sums of money which led in turn to the financial crash in 2008.. it's all the hippys fault from the 60s, with their peace, love and and unity - that turned to greed once they grew up. Thems the ones to blame. Lol

I did like The Police, UB40, The Cure, The Specials to name but a few.

 

[Bearsyzf]

80's Rock, where all the great rock bands you couldn't tell the men from the women

 

[JAy3001]

The BBCs Guitar Heros shows are a great watch, if not for the amazing music - the amazing fashions will astound you.

 

[mikedt]

My favorite era is hard to pinpoint. I was lucky enough to experience Beatlemania as a child, and the Beatles will always be my favorite band. The '60s also cranked out such amazing artists as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, the Beach Boys, the Moody Blues, Joni Mitchell, the Doors and lots more.

But the '70s and '80s brought some incredible artists, including Queen, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks attended my high school [before me]!), Van Halen (so did Michael Anthony!), Dire Straits, The Police, Genesis, Blondie, Bruce Springsteen and others.

Basically, the artists I've listed (plus some I didn't) are artists whose music I still listen to, and find relevant and meaningful.

All of them I very often listen to now. I'll add a few more that I still really enjoy, Yes, Rick Wakeman, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Jethro Tull, King Crimson. I was really too young to experience Beatlemania for myself, I was 7 when they split in 1970.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I was really too young to experience Beatlemania for myself, I was 7 when they split in 1970.

I was...*cough*...older.

 

[mikedt]

I was...*cough*...older.

I know my mum and dad didn't care much for Beatlemania, who were both from Liverpool, they were too busy bringing me(b.1963) and my sister(b.1965) up.

 

[Dannydet]

I'm with you, miket. Born in 62 and too young to remember

 

[olbriar]

You guys missed out on a music revolution. The older generation felt the change and were a bit intimidated by it. The world was changing fast and so was the music. The Beatles were the vehicle and all of the younger generation jumped on board for a fun ride. The more they were disliked by our parents, the more the young people embraced their music. Their music was great but face it, they were mostly innocent love songs. Nothing to get all excited about. The Beatles weren't alone. The entire British invasion (as it was called) had a huge impact on this side of the pond.

I say that you missed out on a music revolution but the Beatles were not the first to be the voice of the younger generation. There have been many voices in the past and there will be many more in the future. You just missed out on living the Beatles impact.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Their music was great but face it, they were mostly innocent love songs. Nothing to get all excited about.

Early on, yes, definitely. But once they were able to break free of their forced (by Brian Epstein) clean-cut look and lyrics, watch out!

I don't think it can be overstated how much their songs, and activities/antics, influenced everything: our culture, our clothes, our hair, our drug use, our anti-war stance, our views on sex, and so much more.

It reached such ridiculous heights of 'older generation' disdain and scrutiny, that [ostensibly ] innocent songs were condemned as secret/hidden endorsements to use drugs. For example, the classic and beautiful "Hey, Jude" was thought to have a hidden meaning/endorsement to use heroin. In fact, it was Sir Paul McCartney's ode to John Lennon's son, Julian, whom he called 'Jules,' meant to comfort and encourage him in the aftermath of his parents splitting up.

And, on a personal note, "She's Leaving Home", which was on the Sgt Pepper album, resonated with me like no other song or poem or book ever had. Years later, when I left home at 16, I listened to it over and over again. Its subject's story was so much like mine, it was uncanny (except that my family had no financial troubles, and I didn't have an abortion). As noted on the linked page, "The two call and response melodies played in the song symbolize the mother and the father grandmother, and the daughter thinking back to one another."

There's a reason the Beatles are the most successful band of all time--and it's not their early-period, innocent love songs.

 

[no one]

The '60s gave us Jimi Hendrix. End of conversation.

 

[mikedt]

The '60s gave us Jimi Hendrix. End of conversation.

The 60s also gave us bubblegum pop, and some of the first manufactured boy bands.

 

[MoodyBlues]

The 60s also gave us bubblegum pop

True--but, at least here in LA, we didn't have to hear it. We had real rock stations, on which the likes of the Jackson Five didn't exist.

 

[olbriar]

The surfer sounds were a sixties thing as well.

 

[olbriar]

Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan also made great music contributions in the sixties.

 

[jademonkey]

Speaking for myself i believe that the 80's music was the best music time, most of the best music then were from bands not in the U.S ........... My 3 biggest crushes back the were Pat Benatar , Stevie Nicks and Blondie.
How do you all feel and what era had the best music to you ?

I would have to go with 70’s and 80’s myself. Many of the great classic rock groups were from that time.

I grew up with Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Heart , ELP and many others. Would have to include Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles too, just because!

 

[mikedt]

True--but, at least here in LA, we didn't have to hear it. We had real rock stations, on which the likes of the Jackson Five didn't exist.

Unfortunately in the UK, in late 60s early-mid 70s we didn't have that luxury. Basically there were only two radio stations that played pop and rock, BBC Radio 1 and Radio Luxembourg(Fab 208), and both of them were mainly playing top-40 music. Oh I know about Jackson 5 of course, they were a big part of my early childhood, along with things like Partridge Family, The Archies, etc.

It was late 70s, early 80s that I really got into listening to things like Yes, Moody Blues, Genesis, Rush, etc.

 

[ocnbrze]

i think that with each decade, you can pull great music. can't say for the 40's but from the 50's on up, i know i can pick some great musicians and bands from each era....that i like at least. i think the issue for me now, i'm not sure that today's music is producing anything great that will have a lasting impressions. tbh i do not listen to anything new that has come out this decade. there are a few bacnds that i like, but i doubt they would ever make the rock n roll hall of fame.

now back to the OP, i do agree that 80's music has a lot going for it. there were many great bands to come out of that time period. for me it was the music that came from any John Hughes movies. Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, and the Breakfast Club influenced me as far as how i liked music. those were my highschool years. The Cure, Depeche Mode, New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Psychedelic Furs were all part of my music world growing up.

 

[MoodyBlues]

i'm not sure that today's music is producing anything great that will have a lasting impressions.

Right. That's the point I made in another thread recently. It was about the throngs of people recreating and commemorating the day the iconic Abbey Road cover photo was taken--fifty years ago. The crowds included young and old, all singing by heart Beatles songs. I pondered, who today will even be remembered 50 years from now, let alone have crowds of all ages commemorating anything they did?

 

[ocnbrze]

Right. That's the point I made in another thread recently. It was about the throngs of people recreating and commemorating the day the iconic Abbey Road cover photo was taken--fifty years ago. The crowds included young and old, all singing by heart Beatles songs. I pondered, who today will even be remembered 50 years from now, let alone have crowds of all ages commemorating anything they did?

i think there might be a few artists that will be remembered for this era. for me i think Lady Gaga stands out as a very talented artist and deserves the accolades she gets. i'm not really into her music, but i think she speaks thru her music and she is crazy talented. i can't think (at least at this moment) of anybody else in the 2000's that comes close to her as as greatness goes.

i listen to sirius and most of my channels are set for the 80's with First Wave as my favorite 80's channel. the best is friday nights where a dj samples a great many new wave dance grooves. its pretty awesome to drive to if you plan on going out that night.

 

[MoodyBlues]

i think there might be a few artists that will be remembered for this era. for me i think Lady Gaga stands out as a very talented artist and deserves the accolades she gets.

But, 50 years from now, can you see people--old AND young--singing her songs by heart, and commemorating some thing she did?

Think about the Abbey Road thing.

For the Beatles, that day in 1969 was just another day. They came out of their Apple offices and walked across a street as a photographer snapped pictures for their new album's cover. When they were done, Paul put his shoes back on and they went back to Apple to work. It wasn't some momentous, historic event, like Woodstock. Who today will be remembered in that way 50 years from now?