# Were the 80s a lost decade for music, or am I full of it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716 "2016-03-12T04:23:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/61 "2016-03-12T21:53:09Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Looks like meaningless click bait to me. > > It says that "they threw out “musical lore and aesthetic judgment.” It also looks like they were analyzing top 40 data exclusively. If songs influenced the charts it means they were “better” for this survey. But not for a human being. > > In doing that they admit they couldn’t tell if songs were good or bad or original or not, or anything really. GIGO. There are a couple of other articles on the study from other reputable new sources (nbc and bbc), but I can’t seem to find the study itself so who knows. They are just looking for tangible evidence of influence not quality. That’s why they stuck to top 40 and attempted to control for intangibles. You just asked for evidence of influence. You didn’t ask for evidence of influence in music you liked. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/62 "2016-03-12T22:13:05Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Well can you name songs that people sing to themselves that originate from this impact? How the hell should I know what songs people sing to themselves? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/63 "2016-03-12T22:17:52Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > How the hell should I know what songs people sing to themselves? You’re a people I’m a people If you don’t have any idea of what anyone else whistles (melodies that you know just from being around) then maybe music is not serving the same function at all in the world as it was during the time we are comparing it to. I could see that. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/64 "2016-03-12T22:20:50Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > There are a couple of other articles on the study from other reputable new sources (nbc and bbc), but I can’t seem to find the study itself so who knows. They are just looking for tangible evidence of influence not quality. That’s why they stuck to top 40 and attempted to control for intangibles. > > You just asked for evidence of influence. You didn’t ask for evidence of influence in music you liked. No my point is influence on the top 40, measured by computer would be different than “influence on music” maybe because music is not well represented on the top 40 and it’s a human art and function. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/65 "2016-03-12T22:20:56Z")
And we’ve barely touched the metal bands of the era. Sure, there was a lot of hairband fluff, but there was so much great metal. The 80s were a terrific decade for music. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/66 "2016-03-12T22:24:09Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > No my point is influence on the top 40, measured by computer would be different than “influence on music” maybe because music is not well represented on the top 40 and it’s a human art and function. Your going to have to clarify what you mean here. I’m not following. This sounds like it might be the making of its own thread topic though if you think you can gather it up into an OP. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/67 "2016-03-12T22:24:12Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > And we’ve barely touched the metal bands of the era. Sure, there was a lot of hairband fluff, but there was so much great metal. The 80s were a terrific decade for music. Good point. Fantastic decade for metal. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/68 "2016-03-12T22:38:29Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > You’re a people I’m a people The song I most often sing to myself is, for reasons I cannot explain, Warren Zevon’s “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”. I don’t think this is evidence that this song had a whole lot of impact, though. It’s not even one of Zevon’s better-known songs. > [@](#): > > If you don’t have any idea of what anyone else whistles (melodies that you know just from being around) then maybe music is not serving the same function at all in the world as it was during the time we are comparing it to. I could see that. What are you even talking about? I said that '80s hip hop has had a greater impact on popular music today than '90s alt rock and you’re asking me about what other people whistle. I don’t know and I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/69 "2016-03-12T22:50:51Z")
No love for Devo? - they started in the 70s, but the 80s were their height of popularity. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/70 "2016-03-12T22:51:58Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Your going to have to clarify what you mean here. I’m not following. This sounds like it might be the making of its own thread topic though if you think you can gather it up into an OP. Measuring top 40 songs by computer according to snippets would have limited use for talking about an art form as a whole.? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/71 "2016-03-13T00:07:48Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Also, see this article about a recent study that backs up the importance of hip hop with science! > > [http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/06/tech/pop-music-study-hip-hop-the-beatles/](http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/06/tech/pop-music-study-hip-hop-the-beatles/) > > Of course the study also says the 80s sucked for music…but they were looking at top 40. Top 40 music in the 80s did suck. I’m going to grab a random month from the 80’s…I’m lying. I’m going to grab a random month from 1983. I wouldn’t touch 85-88…though I might be surprised if i did. Ok, October 1983 and let’s see what i get. Eeesh…okay. Here’s the good stuff: King of Pain (Police) Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics) Sexy and 17 (Stray Cats) One Thing Leads to Another (The Fixx) Burning Down the House (Talking Heads) Delirious (Prince) Suddenly Last Summer (The Motels) Don’t Forget to Dance (The Kinks) It Must Be Love (Madness) Modern Love (David Bowie) Admittedly there was a lot more dreck in the other 30 songs than I thought. Frank Stallone??? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/72 "2016-03-13T00:21:16Z")
Anyhoo my own contribution Great Albums Peter Gabriel-Peter Gabriel (III) Kate Bush-The Dreaming Kate Bush-Hounds of Love Pink Floyd-The Final Cut Madness-Madness The Specials-More Specials Donald Fagan-The Nightfly The Pretenders-Learning to Crawl Tears for Fears-The Hurting etc…etc… ---
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/73 "2016-03-13T00:26:17Z")
I was into hair metal and pretty much limited my tastes to just that. From Helloween and Slaughter to Nuclear Assault, I loved them all. However I can now listen to most popular 80’s music without shame and quite enjoy it now. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/74 "2016-03-13T00:34:47Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Measuring top 40 songs by computer according to snippets would have limited use for talking about an art form as a whole.? Well sure, but that wasn’t what was being attempted. They were looking for evidence of influence in concrete traceable musical forms. Question: how influential was hip hop Answer: very, more than just about anything else if you are talking about influence on current pop music and we can tell by breaking the music into component parts and identifying commonalities unique to hip hop and post hip hop top 40 music. If you want the non computer generated answer I will point you back to Taylor Swift and Beyonce. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/75 "2016-03-13T00:51:02Z")
> [@HeXen](#): > > I was into hair metal and pretty much limited my tastes to just that. From Helloween and Slaughter to Nuclear Assault, I loved them all. Under no conceivable circumstances could Nuclear Assault or Helloween be considered “hair metal.” ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/76 "2016-03-13T00:55:16Z")
Mainstream radio music in the 80s blew. But mainstream music in nearly every decade blows. Most of my favorite music (Naked Raygun, Husker Du, Replacements, X) is from the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/77 "2016-03-13T01:11:04Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > MTV was a rotting pustule on the ass of music. Everybody knew that at the time. Like everybody… It led to the worst music ever. What center are you referring to that didn’t hold? Melody was in? In the toilet. Your opinions on music are always strong. And idiosyncratic. I always spend the appropriate amount of time considering them. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/78 "2016-03-13T01:41:22Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Your opinions on music are always strong. And idiosyncratic. I always spend the appropriate amount of time considering them. You are being kinder to me than I was to you. Onward and upweird ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/79 "2016-03-13T01:51:17Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Well sure, but that wasn’t what was being attempted. They were looking for evidence of influence in concrete traceable musical forms. > > Question: how influential was hip hop > Answer: very, more than just about anything else if you are talking about influence on current pop music and we can tell by breaking the music into component parts and identifying commonalities unique to hip hop and post hip hop top 40 music. > > If you want the non computer generated answer I will point you back to Taylor Swift and Beyonce. I would say that whole project is very questionable from the concept to the input to the output. It measures only a small thing that you need to make a lot of assumptions about to find meaningful. It doesn’t mean that music has a future at all for instance. It would not know if music was original or spiralling up its own fundament. The top 40 can have a tendency to be a negative loop, rewarding things that don’t expand music creatively. It thinks the Beatles were not the principle source of the 1964 rush of originality. OK, but then what was? I don’t get that point. Look at the top songs of 1972. And compare with last years top 100. A computer might just miss the most obvious things about the difference. It’s a machine. One more thing: It is quite possible to not listen to hiphop and have a complete musical life, amateur or professional, or just a fan. I just have a hard time believing it is that comparatively influential ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716/80 "2016-03-13T02:38:02Z")
Hip hop is influential in the usual sense of the word. You hear it everywhere all the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-80s-a-lost-decade-for-music-or-am-i-full-of-it/748716.md?page=5)