| For all of us who grew up in the 1980s, the music of | | | | themselves with makeup -annoying their elders as |
| that decade will remain the soundtrack to the key | | | | much as it delighted their peers. Having begun in such a |
| moments of our lives. Music acts as a time machine, | | | | state of flux, 1980s music continued to evolve as new |
| transporting us back through time and rekindling | | | | technologies emerged and artists, musicians and film |
| memories, both the good and the bad, and 1980s | | | | makers began to experiment. |
| music provided a tune for every event in that | | | | However, as the decade unfurled, so the mainstream |
| tumultuous decade. | | | | music, once again, returned to a formulaic approach |
| The 80s began in turmoil and social unrest and the | | | | with the production companies, like the phenomenally |
| music reflected this need for change. The decade | | | | successful 'Stock, Aitkin and Waterman' manufacture |
| began hanging on to the coattails of the Punk | | | | hit after hit after hit of disposable pop. This saw the |
| revolution that took direct action against the bland | | | | rise of the producer - the front men and women of |
| musical fare of the late seventies, but finished with | | | | the bands selected as much for their eye candy |
| stadium rock, manufactured mass produced pop and a | | | | appeal as any talent or ability to write songs and play |
| confidence and swagger that matched the world's | | | | instruments. Music had truly become as much a visual |
| mood as we entered the 90's in a spirit of optimism | | | | medium as an aural one. Nevertheless, a strong |
| and hope with falling of the Iron Curtain in 1989. The | | | | 'alternative' scene survived through these times, as |
| dawn of the MTV era meant that the visual appeal of | | | | diverse as Indie rock and pop, Goth, Hip Hop and |
| a band was as important as their musical ability and | | | | House. 1980s music laid the foundations for so much |
| this principle was seized upon by the New Romantic | | | | of the music we listen to today. |
| Movement, who dressed flamboyantly and daubed | | | | |