During the 1980s, music became much more diverse with the new wave, alternative pop, heavy metal, and the new sound in country. This decade also brought about two new developments in music. This first was the introduction to MTV and the second was the development of the compact disc. Musicians realized that MTV was much more than music. It was about the exposure, being noticed. Some people complained that it elevated image over music. Then the compact disc or, as we call them today, CDs took the place of the vinyl album and cassettes. The CD was made better and last longer than its predecessors (The Eighties Club).
The eighties were considered the big hair decade because of the wild hair styles and tons of hairspray that was used. Rock-N-Roll was a major
staple during the decade. Bands such as Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Van Halen, and Def Leppard are still popular today. Then there was the pop music where musicians such as Madonna, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, and Michael Jackson who gained popularity during the decade and still remain just as popular today (The People Histor
y).
During this decade, country music started to blend with pop music. Thanks to groups like Alabama and singers like Reba McEntire, the transition went smoothly. However, for the basic country music, we had musicians like Randy Travis and Hank Williams, Jr. Lastly, as the decade was coming to an end, we got musicians like Clint Black and Garth Brooks. All of these groups and musicians are still just as popular today as they were back then (The Eighties Club).
Of course, as I am bias towards this decade, I know that all good things must come to an end. We now move into the 1990s. This decade brought pop, rap, and alternative music, as well as, many one-hit wonders. The early part of the decade was filled with techno and hip-hop music from groups such as Technotronic and C & C Music Factory whose songs were played in dance clubs across the country. The hip-hop music was filled with artists like MC Hammer and Tone Loc whose lyrics were about anything from the rise in their career to sexual innuendos (The People History).
Rock music started taking on a new twist during the early part of the decade. Bands such as Pearl Jam started writing lyrics about angst and trials of being a teenager. The music also sent a message about the helplessness that was felt among the teens and young adults. However by the mid-1990s, people were starting to get frustrated with this type of music. They were ready for something fresh and new. Pop bands such as Hootie and the Blowfish and Sister Hazel came on board with happier song lyrics. Also by mid-decade came pop musicians like Brittany Spears who dominated the music mainstream well past the 1990s (The People History).
Since the year 2000, there has been a new genre introduced called emo. This genre got its name because of the emotional, heartfelt lyrics that come with the songs. Some musicians and groups, such as Green Day and Dixie Chicks, have written songs criticizing the government and administration while others such as, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith, have written songs supporting the government (The People History).
Also during the last few years, television shows such as American Idol, have brought popularity back to the pop music genre. People such as Josh Gracin and Chris Daughtery have had success without winning the title as American Idol. Winners such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have experience tremendous success since being crowned American Idol (The People History).
Let’s not forget about the “bubblegum” pop artists that were popular back in the mid-1990s. Brittany Spears and Christina Aguilera are still holding their own, as well as, artists such as Madonna who has been around for decades (The People History).
The Eighties Club. The Politics and Pop Culture of the 1980s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id14.htm
The Eighties Club. The Politics and Pop Culture of the 1980s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id247.htm
The People History. Music Played in the 1980’s Popular Music from the 80s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/80smusic.html
The People History. Music Played in the 1990’s Popular Music from the 90s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/90smusic.html
The People History. The People History Music from 2000. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/nowmusic.html
The eighties were considered the big hair decade because of the wild hair styles and tons of hairspray that was used. Rock-N-Roll was a major
staple during the decade. Bands such as Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Van Halen, and Def Leppard are still popular today. Then there was the pop music where musicians such as Madonna, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, and Michael Jackson who gained popularity during the decade and still remain just as popular today (The People Histor
y).During this decade, country music started to blend with pop music. Thanks to groups like Alabama and singers like Reba McEntire, the transition went smoothly. However, for the basic country music, we had musicians like Randy Travis and Hank Williams, Jr. Lastly, as the decade was coming to an end, we got musicians like Clint Black and Garth Brooks. All of these groups and musicians are still just as popular today as they were back then (The Eighties Club).
Of course, as I am bias towards this decade, I know that all good things must come to an end. We now move into the 1990s. This decade brought pop, rap, and alternative music, as well as, many one-hit wonders. The early part of the decade was filled with techno and hip-hop music from groups such as Technotronic and C & C Music Factory whose songs were played in dance clubs across the country. The hip-hop music was filled with artists like MC Hammer and Tone Loc whose lyrics were about anything from the rise in their career to sexual innuendos (The People History).
Rock music started taking on a new twist during the early part of the decade. Bands such as Pearl Jam started writing lyrics about angst and trials of being a teenager. The music also sent a message about the helplessness that was felt among the teens and young adults. However by the mid-1990s, people were starting to get frustrated with this type of music. They were ready for something fresh and new. Pop bands such as Hootie and the Blowfish and Sister Hazel came on board with happier song lyrics. Also by mid-decade came pop musicians like Brittany Spears who dominated the music mainstream well past the 1990s (The People History).
Since the year 2000, there has been a new genre introduced called emo. This genre got its name because of the emotional, heartfelt lyrics that come with the songs. Some musicians and groups, such as Green Day and Dixie Chicks, have written songs criticizing the government and administration while others such as, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith, have written songs supporting the government (The People History).
Also during the last few years, television shows such as American Idol, have brought popularity back to the pop music genre. People such as Josh Gracin and Chris Daughtery have had success without winning the title as American Idol. Winners such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have experience tremendous success since being crowned American Idol (The People History).
Let’s not forget about the “bubblegum” pop artists that were popular back in the mid-1990s. Brittany Spears and Christina Aguilera are still holding their own, as well as, artists such as Madonna who has been around for decades (The People History).
The Eighties Club. The Politics and Pop Culture of the 1980s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id14.htm
The Eighties Club. The Politics and Pop Culture of the 1980s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id247.htm
The People History. Music Played in the 1980’s Popular Music from the 80s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/80smusic.html
The People History. Music Played in the 1990’s Popular Music from the 90s. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/90smusic.html
The People History. The People History Music from 2000. Retrieved on July 25, 2009 from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/nowmusic.html
