While 1986-1989 had many gems, I think that 1981-1985 were all that when it comes to pop music. I think most of my favorite 80's songs and videos come from 1981-1985. Bryan Adams also had great songs around that time with "Summer of '69", "Run To You" and "Heaven". From Human League, Kim Wilde and Duran Duran to early Michael, and early Madonna. Cary Simon had an European hit with "Why" and I love the video as it's so DIY. Hair metal was still not that big. Heck, women's hair was NOT as big as it got later in the decade and men weren't into mullets yet! :)

In 1986 things started to turn for the worse and in 1987-1989 Stock Aitken Waterman ruled with their repetitive songs in Europe, while Debbie Gibson, hair metal bands and Tiffany tried to destroy music in America. Madonna decided to become even more controversial but that made her songs more manufactured,less real and rough like her first two albums. I don't mind manufactured music, but I'd take The Flirts, Lipps Inc, and Fun Fun to Debbie Gibson, Tiffany and Neneh Cherry. Elton John's 1987 effort Nikita was a gem, but his comeback single from 1983 "I'm Still Standing" was a lot more energetic. And I'd rather listen to "Careless Whisper" than "Faith". While "Venus" was great in 1982-1984 Bananarama had a greater, more artistic output than later in the decade when they became too over the top. Anyone agree/disagree?

Hi!

I'm sorry, but that is simply not true. The years from 1986 to 1989 also had great music...I remember that much!

Yes, I agree, but somehow 1981-1985 were more artistic or something. More rough around the edges. For some reason in 80's parties today the over-the-top late 80's look is more popular.

I disagree with 1981 since that year had a lot of country crossovers, medleys, and conservative adult contemporary pop. Oak Boys' Elvira, Eddie Rabbitt's Step By Step, Ronnie Milsap's (There's) No Gettin' Over Me, Kim Carnes' Better Davis Eyes, Christopher Cross' Arthur's Theme, Air Supply's Every Woman In The World, the "Believe it or Not" theme song, Diana Ross/Lionel Richie's Endless Love, and Juice Newton's Queen of Hearts are all songs that sort of sound one dimensional and bland.  Not to mention it had the '80s most overplayed hit that people just don't want to hear today: Physical. MTV didn't start to gain any ground until sometime in 1982. 1987 beats 1981 by a lot. But 1982, 1983, and 1984 where clearly the best in terms of consistant quality and enjoyment, with 1985 not too far behind, though not quite as good due to a bit more adult contemporary that year. While the quality became more inconsistant later in the decade (and with a gradually more "urban" sound), I find 1987 to be a step above 1985 though not quite as good as 1982-84. New Jack Swing was born with Keith Sweat's I Want Her, the Hair Metal bands had their best outputs, most of the decade's big superstars had some big hits that year, U2 had its peak, and I akin that year to the '80s to what 1978 was to the '70s- lots of guilty pleasure that may not be liked by critics, yet fun hits that are enjoyable at retro parties.

I think it depends on our tastes. I think Physical and Bette Davis Eyes are quite nice. And I like A/C. I dislike new jack swing, hair metal and the urban influence later in the decade. And although I used to like Hi-NRG and eurobeat music like Kylie, Mel and Kim, now I find their songs annoying. These are not songs that can be enjoyed more than a few times.

For me the latter years of the 1980s that are the better years, it is then that Enya started her solo career.

1982, 1983 and 1984 are the key years for New Wave for sure. So I agree.

1980-81: Lots of disco, post-disco, yacht rock, country and smooth R&B. Not very distinctive from 1978-79 except for disco gradually flaming out.
1982: Obvious transition into MTV era with the first big push of New Wave and British acts, and the gradual death of '70s styled R&B and soft pop music
1983-85: Height of New Wave, synthpop, and 2nd British Invasion, also big time for AOR before it become virtually interchangeable with AC
1986-87: Transition away from New Wave and synthpop into freestyle, glam metal, and A/C
1988-89: Pretty distinctive from the rest of the decade with the hip-hop/new jack influence trickling in and the peak of glam metal ballads, also had tons of AC ballads

1983 and 1984 are my favorite years for '80s pop music. Tons of classic pop albums dominating the airwaves like Thriller, 1999, Purple Rain, Synchronicity, Born in the U.S.A, and She's So Unusual.

1981 also had New Wave-inspired hits in Europe - Kids In America comes to mind. And Jukebox by the Flirts is also somewhat New Wave. I agree that 1983 and 1984 were probably peak years.

For me the latter years of the 1980s that are the better years, it is then that Enya started her solo career.


I thought you would like the earlier years the most, because your youth was primarily the '70s and the early '80s were most like them.

I thought you would like the earlier years the most, because your youth was primarily the '70s and the early '80s were most like them.
I am much older than that, I was already an adult (happily working) in the early 1980s.

I was too young so I didn't care one way or the other.

I was too young so I didn't care one way or the other.
You must care for it was in 1981 that Duran Duran released their first album?

You must care for it was in 1981 that Duran Duran released their first album?


I wasn't a fan of Duran Duran until I was 10.  I was only 5 in 1981.

Even if you never lived through the '80s, you can still determine by virtue of listening which had the best tastes that you would enjoy. For example, nobody on this board is probably old enough to even remember the 1950s, but its pretty clear that 1956-58 were the best years for that decade with the Rock N' Roll music, Doo Wop, and Elvis at its peak, following the mainly easy listening/soft jazz/novelty songs in the first half of the decade and with 1959 not as good thanks to Elvis being drafted and numerous other rockers being affected (even if it is perhaps Jazz's best year of that decade). Yet in those years you could still find some music that was popular earlier in the decade (Perry Como's Catch a Falling Star and Round and Round along with some Frank Sinatra hits of that period), meaning that era of the fifties had the best variety and often the best, most memorable songs.

Stuff like this is always relative - how old you were, which country you lived in, whether you had older siblings, what genres you're into etc.

I'd put my best years for music between 1983-1987, with the peak year at 1985! I love my pop/soul and 1985 was great for that... Five Star, The Jets, Debarge, Whitney Houston, Pointer Sisters all had amazing albums that year!

You must care for it was in 1981 that Duran Duran released their first album?


and it was also the start of the electronic disco and funk sound.

Five Star, The Jets, Debarge, Whitney Houston, Pointer Sisters all had amazing albums that year!


and you can also add Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner and Rick James.

It is hard for me to divide the decade as I like many songs from 1986 to 1989.
However, I also tend to gravitate more to the experimental 1981-1985 years. I like more songs from those years than of 1986-1989. certainly for dance music the later part of the decade was better with sleeker productions, but the pop-rock and pop of the early-mid 80's stands the test of time more, e.g. I'm Still Standing, Zz Top's Legs, Money For Nothing etc. are better than most late 80s heair metal stuff.

Maybe it depends on the artists - those that were rock or new wave definitely sounded better in the earlier years IMO. I prefer Bananrama's earlier hits to the SAW era (they're just good imo for when you're feeling silly). I also prefer the early 80's look on women where hair was still not as huge or permed as in the later half of the 80's and before they used shoulder pads making their figures look masculine lol.

For TV I think the late 80's had better sitcoms and daytime soaps, but maybe that's because I was more exposed to this era of TV (ALF, Full House, The Bold and the Beautiful). For cartoon and movies I'm not sure

Culturally I often prefer the earlier parts of decades anyway due to their simplicity and experimentation. By the later parts, the trends of the decade are too overexposed, while in the early years of each decade people anticipate to try new things as they realize it's a new 10 year period and they HAVE to explore. The 40's because of the war being the exception. With the 80's it's difficult to say - it was such a vivid, crazy and progressive decade that you had great things from the very first to the very last year. ;)

For fashion and clothes I'd chose 1980-1985, for music it depends on the genre, I think the peak years for my favorite genres were 1983-1985, but I have lots of favorites of 1981 and 1982 too like Human League, etc. A bit less from 1986-1987 and even less from 1980, 1988 and 1989, so I'm complicated haha. For TV, 1986-1989 was the peak years considering ALF, Full House, and many more era-defining series came out during that time. For movies I think it's 50:50, the early 80s seem more Indy to me, while the later 80s had bigger blockbusters.

Looking back with what we know now, this British song from 1985 is one of many examples of a song retaining some early 80's new wave influences while starting to sound more like late 80's pop-dance in some places:

ZW-swyCgvY0

Another one from 1985 is of course Material Girl - Madonna's sound in between here 1983/4 sound and True Blue 1986.

There's just so many sides to the decade, it was a free for all as to what stuck and what didn't. A very rich decade to get through.

I was never a fan of 1980 to 1982. 1983 was when the party truly began for the 80's, for me.  :o

From a UK perspective, yes, 1981 to 1985 were absolutely golden years, filled to the brim with infectious post-disco, cutting-edge new wave, and all sorts of other pop songs with rich progressions and strong hooks.

The US was a bit stronger from about 1983 to 1986. The early 80s were a fairly weak time for music there due to far less new wave and synthpop making it to the charts and too much unremarkable country and easy listening filling the gap between the disco age and MTV age of music instead.

From a UK perspective, yes, 1981 to 1985 were absolutely golden years, filled to the brim with infectious post-disco, cutting-edge new wave, and all sorts of other pop songs with rich progressions and strong hooks.

The US was a bit stronger from about 1983 to 1986. The early 80s were a fairly weak time for music there due to far less new wave and synthpop making it to the charts and too much unremarkable country and easy listening filling the gap between the disco age and MTV age of music instead.


Generally speaking in the US, the cities that tend to have moderate tastes "i.e. purple states/cities" tend to dictate musical trends, and as such. Dance music was still very popular in the urban Northeast and Miami, while rock still ruled coastal California and other cities like Seattle and Boston. Middle America places like Denver, Dallas (in particular with it being the home of Urban Cowboy), and Indianapolis though felt that more rustic and simple was in as opposed to flamboyantness in bands like KISS and pulsing sounds The Bee Gees. The country was reeling through a recession at the time and didn't feel the need for "happy, party music", the mid-1979 hike in inflation and growing pains from items like the Iran Hostages and high interest rates may have led to this, not unlike the early 1930s in between the dixieland and hot jazz of the Roaring Twenties and the Big Band era of FDR with his New Deal stimulus. It seems like the UK had less of those problems, and bands over there launched videos sooner than in the US, particularly artists from the country genre, which didn't really start to see video as important until the very end of the '80s or early '90s when the next wave of starts from that genre, such as Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood launched their careers. Of the 100 songs in Billboards Hot Country Singles list on one week in February of that year, just nine songs had a video, and even around mid-1989, less than a third of the songs had a video, whereas pop/rock had at least 90% since sometime in 1984. The dearth of country videos of course led MTV to being a rock-oriented network, with a side of crossover R&B via artists like Prince, Rick James, and most importantly, Michael Jackson. The addition of channels like VH1, BET, CMT, and diversification of shows on MTV like 120 Minutes and Yo! MTV Raps led to a more diverse and rhythmic feel in the late '80s.

There's amazing music from every year of the 80's. The only years I really find lacking are 80 and 81.

There's amazing music from every year of the 80's. The only years I really find lacking are 80 and 81.


They were kinda quiet or "safe" years musically - though has to be noted that Michael's "Off The Wall" album (released late '79) was pretty groundbreaking. As was The Jackson's hit "Can You Feel It". Still not sure why that was a huge hit everywhere but the US.  :o

They were kinda quiet or "safe" years musically - though has to be noted that Michael's "Off The Wall" album (released late '79) was pretty groundbreaking. As was The Jackson's hit "Can You Feel It". Still not sure why that was a huge hit everywhere but the US.  :o


Wasn't that in 1981?

...The Jackson's hit "Can You Feel It". Still not sure why that was a huge hit everywhere but the US.  :o



Wasn't that in 1981?


The "Triumph" album came out in late 1980.  It is an excellent album - I always considered it underrated, as it wasn't as much a smash commercially as it could've/should've been, although it was somewhat successful.  I guess what it lacked was those "monster" hits.  I believe it was MJ's last significant project before "Thriller".  It's one album I pull out a lot.  :)

The music industry was struggling, sales-wise, from 1979 to 1982.

They were kinda quiet or "safe" years musically - though has to be noted that Michael's "Off The Wall" album (released late '79) was pretty groundbreaking. As was The Jackson's hit "Can You Feel It". Still not sure why that was a huge hit everywhere but the US.  :o


Off the Wall is a great album!

1980-81: Lots of disco, post-disco, yacht rock, country and smooth R&B. Not very distinctive from 1978-79 except for disco gradually flaming out.
1982: Obvious transition into MTV era with the first big push of New Wave and British acts, and the gradual death of '70s styled R&B and soft pop music
1983-85: Height of New Wave, synthpop, and 2nd British Invasion, also big time for AOR before it become virtually interchangeable with AC
1986-87: Transition away from New Wave and synthpop into freestyle, glam metal, and A/C
1988-89: Pretty distinctive from the rest of the decade with the hip-hop/new jack influence trickling in and the peak of glam metal ballads, also had tons of AC ballads

1983 and 1984 are my favorite years for '80s pop music. Tons of classic pop albums dominating the airwaves like Thriller, 1999, Purple Rain, Synchronicity, Born in the U.S.A, and She's So Unusual.


Points for these great descriptions. You should do them for other decades.

It's crazy how much the scene changes by the end of the decade. I tend to associate the music of 88-89 with the 90s because they were still relatively popular in the early 90s and that's what most of my earliest memories consists of.

The "Triumph" album came out in late 1980.  It is an excellent album - I always considered it underrated, as it wasn't as much a smash commercially as it could've/should've been, although it was somewhat successful.  I guess what it lacked was those "monster" hits.  I believe it was MJ's last significant project before "Thriller".  It's one album I pull out a lot.  :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cDK0XDxrKA

Off the Wall is a great album!


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/Off_the_wall.jpg

I'd say it had the most consistency with good music. My favorite genres, deaththrash and war metal, came out later, but music later was more hit and miss imo. Early 80s had not the best, but the most good.

1979-1981 NWOBHM sound
Diamond Head, Tygers of Pan Tang, Blitzkrieg, Holocaust, Angel Witch, Witchfynde, Saxon

1982-1984 Transitioning period + Old School Power and Speed Metal
Axe Witch, Black Tears, Vault, Mad Max, Ostrogoth, Divilje Jagode, Omen, early Manowar, Mercyful Fate

85 onwards would be dominated by thrash and thrash influenced power metal, which I like more, tbh, but 85 onwards also had some glam-influenced more pop metal stuff, eugh. Early 80s everything was in the middle but there was less bad, lots of boring bands, but few bad ones.

79-85 also had lots of good hardcore punk and goth rock, which was cool, but with punk I still feel like lots of early 80s acts were boring, but late 80s had crust which makes it better for me.

Early 80s excelled mostly in having consistency and a more punk-ish feel. Not as good as later in terms of what is best, but it was before the posers and glam acts tried to compete.

Some of these were played on VH1, but most were strangely omitted. I like how most sound.
The very first music videos played on the first air day of MTV in 1981:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_music_videos_aired_on_MTV#cite_note-4

I love many mid/late 80s songs, but definitely the early 80s have that carefree DIY "figuring what the future holds" vibe. And I love A/C, more guitars, but also early 80s synths rather than the annoying ones used later in the decade.

Some of these were played on VH1, but most were strangely omitted. I like how most sound.
The very first music videos played on the first air day of MTV in 1981:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_music_videos_aired_on_MTV#cite_note-4

I love many mid/late 80s songs, but definitely the early 80s have that carefree DIY "figuring what the future holds" vibe. And I love A/C, more guitars, but also early 80s synths rather than the annoying ones used later in the decade.


I agree, it could feel 'overused' 1986/1987 and after. But being the over-the-top person that I am, I like the over-the-top sound of it!  ;D

I like the Stock Aiten Waterman sound only from circa 1986-1987. By 1988 they started to sound too overproduced/"thin"/formulaic. You could say Venus and You Spin Me Round were much less alike compared to two fo their 1988-1989 hits. They were both dance, but could be procuded by different people, but in later hits you could say it was SAW from the intro and it got old too fast. Of course they had great songs done in 1988 and later (Better The Devil You Know), but it was more of a hit or miss.

What disappeared by 1985 is this specific early 80s guitar sound. Late 80s rock ballads just sounded different, less raw and too polished if you wish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HplvE-GXUtw
;)

I like all the 80s for their creativity, even the underrated 1980 and the overrated IMO 1987-1989 (love me some Opposites Attract by Paula, such a the-80s-turn-into-the-90s kinda song!). However I love 1981-1985 with Billie Jean, Money For Nothing and all those one hit wonders and obscure songs you can find on the list of early MTV videos.

Back to SAW-related acts, I prefer Bananarama's lesser remembered today early songs despite their moodiness. Take a listen to the haunting "Cheers Then", "Wish You Were Here"; or the somewhat upbeat "Shy Boy" and the big hit "Robert DeNiro's Waiting". The carefree, punk-ish attitude of their early days suits them better than the campy 1987+ versions of themselves. I do think the Venus music video was their most glamorous look (Sara was her hottest self there, see below!), but the ones that followed were too campy for my taste and actually (and they didn't make Sara look her best). :D To me their Venus viedeo stands out as a one-time affair as it was far more polished than their 1987-1988 videos and was more artisitc and less cheesy/campy.

https://ringdude.net/content/images/Bananarama_Venus_Free_Ringtone_Download.gif

OMG, I checked this article. April Wine, Rainbow, Split Enz, 38 Special, Lee Ritenour? I'm like who? It seems those bands and artists were simbolic of their time but now all people remember is the biggest stars of the 80s. Given that the late 80s are more recent, the early 80s seem remembered mostly by their biggest hits/acts like Billie Jean, Physical, etc.
Quite a ctachy chorus:
xv6oOxn1axw

b0l3QWUXVho

Even more early 80s obscurities that sound catchy to me

Ih2Krw2f88M

This song is a bit annoying but the video was uber cool for early MTV I guess:
_HjLJgj5pnQ

This one still is played in A/C / Retro station in Bulgaria though:
dGKnSdikqjw

I found all of these gems (imo) here, apparently MTV played them when it launched: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_music_videos_aired_on_MTV#cite_note-4

That said, 1986-1989 had some fun, cool or genious songs. Some Stock Aitken Waterman hits were pure genious like 1986’s Venus or Respectable (1987). While they were sort of a decline in quality compared to Venus and Respectable and sounded too digital/computer-made, I Should Be So Lucky (1988), Never Stop Me Loving You and Can’t Forget You (both in 1989) had a catchy melody. I also like some rock ballads from that time. I think what makes the second half of the 80s sound worse is the inage/styling/music videos - by that time hair was OTT big and frizzy and only the biggest acts had the fun music videos. 1986 is maybe so-so as it was transitional. Early 80s had more variety in fashion compared to the later half. I find tge later half too glitzy, OTT on purpose.

I discovered those early 80s gems back in 2012:
Cool verses and woman:
_50-gOeBilc

Early Bananarama when they were punk-ish:
_hErKqs1a7U

A slow lounge number for those calm afternoons looking at the sunset. The music is typical for circa 1980 A/C music, but once the chorus starts I love the higher backing vocals. From the producer of Baccara's Yes Sir I Can Boogie:
-oB6L7xGGno

Early 80s Heavy Metal and Punk

q7oa3k74rGE

zVPD9HHwyhE

qkNv4OYL_Bo

or how about when Classic Soul and R&B was cool when you had Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, George Benson and Lionel Richie just to name a few:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwaqmwCidDE

I can find a lot of these early 80s metal gems, so many. Late 80s-early 90s doesn't have as many tbh, even if my favorite stuff is from then.

ywJmDBI_ZjM
Jk6BdhyaX6w
U8HqDBOeZA8

I agree that wit the OP that 1981-1985 are the best years of 80's music.