Ah, the 80s, what a glorious epoch to exist in! Hair teased to astronomical heights with clothes even louder, and music that would fill stadiums and hearts alike. The decade didn’t just give us memorable tunes; there was an entire feeling associated with it as well. Since the bombastic introduction of music videos in MTV and breathtaking entertainment in live performances, one hit after another dominated the twenty-minute timeline. Are you all set to make a round trip? Let’s go back in time and play the songs that made the 80s worth all the wait.

What Was The Essence of The 80s?

The 80s was not just another ten years that passed by, it was a culture. The side of the music industry where synthesizers made most of the songs and controlled the songs possessed. Artists pushed the envelope, took several liberties and made us experience feelings from within that we never knew existed. And there was MTV. Long before the dawn of YouTube and TikTok, it was the go-to place for the newest of the new music video releases. Sounding good wasn’t just sufficient for a song- the song had to have a good visual as well.

And about the fashions. Rounded heels, outrageous colors and hair sprayed literally to the skies. The 80’s decade was not known for its subtlety and many thanks for that. The music complemented the attitude, brash, boastful, and in your face, but in a delightfully pleasing way.

Legends Who Owned the ‘80s

Michael Jackson: The King of Pop

What can be more obvious than this? There’s no arguing that Michael Anthony Jackson didn’t simply rule the decade of ‘80s; he was the decade of ‘80s. “Billie Jean”? All hail, the perfection. “Thriller”? A cultural earthquake. He gave us the moonwalk, iconic music videos, and a whole lot more that feels as right today as it did then. MJ did not follow the trend; he created it, the remaining part of the world was only in a race to keep up with him.

Madonna: The Queen of Pop

There’s never been anyone quite like Madonna, and the overexposure is riveting – quite evidently, the music had the feet moving. ‘Like A Virgin’, and ‘Material Girl’ – were not just mere songs but scenes. Pushing the limits and topping the charts, Madonna showed that no one was going to be sick enough to forget to remember her. And to be honest? Her fashion is yet to be forgiven.

Prince: The Purple One

The most shocking thing with Prince is that he never confirmed. That’s why he is a legend. Songs like “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry” had the power to make a person freeze. Just as with his flamboyant getups, music blended funk, rock, and soul in a manner that was quite different. Who else could wear every shade of purple imaginable and actually make it a fashion statement?

Bands That Shaped an Era

Bon Jovi

Has there ever been a listener's gathering of friends in the 80s without the blaring song of “Livin’ on a Prayer?” Bon Jovi had it all, with lyrics and melodies that prompted sing-along choruses, amazing guitar solos that could only be rivaled by none, and a whole lot of love. Whether screaming the lyric in the car or at the concert, their music was – and still is – pure rush.

Queen

Queen did not just reign; they presided. From “Another One Bites the Dust” to “Radio Ga Ga,” their music was titanic, as was Freddie Mercury. And let’s not talk about the 1985 Live Aid concert performance; it is still discussed up to these days. Freddie did not only sing; he performed at the very highest level of stage domination.

Metallica

If conducting head banging to rhythmic heavy ringing sounds was your thing, then Metallica was the right answer for you. Ride the Lightning album and the others made thrash metal quite accessible. They illustrated that the decade of 80’s was not only about pop and synth sounds – it could also be loud and heavy as well and very unapologetic.

Genres That Shaped the Decade

Over The Top Pop

The most successful decade of Pop and its artists can be said to be the 1980s. Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun is one of the greatest anthems ever made while in ‘80 Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody sent every social gala concerned to the dancefloor. They were songs that made moments which tempted you to pick a microphone and croon out your heart.

The Mother Of All Rock

Be it a guitar intro of ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses or ‘Don’t Stop Believing ’ by Journey, the rock scene was blazing through the years of the 80s. Mega music and even larger than life performance is what came to define stage rock and even the era. If you were not miming the guitar hero, were you really tuned in?

A More Advanced Form Of Wave

The 80’s music scene wouldn’t have been complete without emerging bands such as Duran Duran and Depeche Mode. Song such as “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Just Can’t Get Enough” were more than just great sounds; they were trends that transcended into many aspects of style. Thanks to synths and a pug outlook, New Wave music had it’s own cockiness that is still not tired of.

Nostalgic feelings of the ’80s continue to inspire creativity

To this day, the essence of the ’80s remains in existence and well. Shows such as Stranger Things bring back the sounds of the time, and so do modern artists such as The Weeknd and his use of synths. One is bound to find an invitation to ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ or watch a video of people doing a ‘moonwalk’ to ‘Billie Jean’ on almost all social media platforms.

The ‘80s did not only elevate pop musicians; it elevated memories and feelings and gave the world a lot of things for the years to come. It’s the decade that won’t be erased – a notion that can clearly be understood within the context of nostalgia.

Let’s Have a Flashback to the times of the ‘80s

One of the best things about the ‘80s was the fact that it was 100% extravagant.  There was no inhibition, and there should not be. Step on those classics – Bon Jovi screaming ‘Woah-oh!’, or Madonna making you feel ‘Like a Virgin’. The ‘80s was not just an age in history; it was an attitude.

And since we are talking about reliving such epic moments through sounds, an equally energetic celebration has been envisioned for the modern day within MDLBEAST's Soundstorm. With thrilling acts and famous names in the slightest of what they do, it is the best way to assist in evergreen making music.the spirit of musical revolutions alive. So, whether you’re spinning those ‘80s hits or dancing to the beats of Soundstorm, let the music take you on a journey.