1980′s Music

Pop music in the 1980s left lasting impressions on the music world. Artists in the 80s pioneered the modern music world, giving birth to styles and sounds that pushed the envelope of what the public considered taboo to create melodic pieces of art that have lasted through the decades since.

One of the most notable pop music stars in the 1980s was Madonna. Madonna's career began in the 1970s but did not take off until 1983 when she released her self-titled debut album. Released by Sire Records, Madonna's debut album ushered in a new generation of music that carried on through the decade. "Everybody", the first single off the album, became an instant hit on the dance charts and in the following year, the "Like a Virgin" single solidified Madonna's status as a music super star.

Around the same time, Michael Jackson had undergone a transformation and crashed onto the music scene with his new album, "Thriller". The release of the album ushered in what came to be known as the Thriller Era; rightly so because Thriller went on to become the best-selling album of all time. For this reason, critics often cite Michael Jackson as the most popular pop music star and the most influential artist of the 80s. His sound drew much of its influence from R&B, another popular genre in the 80s, yet his voice and his dance styles were distinctly pop.

Behind the spotlights on Madonna and Michael Jackson, songstresses like Whitney Houston and Tina Turner established solid positions on the pop music charts. Pop ballads had become increasingly popular during the 1980s, making stars like Lionel Richie prominent figures in the era, sometimes coined as urban pop. The latter half of the decade also gave birth to the world's first sample of teen pop, made popular by boy bands like New Kids on the Block and New Edition.

Dance was an important aspect of 1980s music and pop showcased it best. Popular United Kingdom bands like Frankie goes to Hollywood made slam dunks on the music charts during the early 1980s, whereas new age and pop star Enya dominated the hits list during the latter part of the decade with her breakthrough album, "Watermark". Synth pop also rose to popularity in the early 80s, creating careers for artists like Tangerine Dream, the Thompson Twins, Tears For Fears, and the Eurythmics.

By the end of the decade, pop music had reached a level of versatility rivalled only by the many sub-genres of rock, creating an entirely new era of music and art that continued inspiring musicians well into the 90s.