Why is an entire decade of music (actually, from the late 70s to the early 90s could all be considered part of the “80s genre”) completely ignored by almost everyone? I don’t know of ANY 80s radio stations (I’m sure there are a few though). There are tons of oldies stations, tons of top 40s/easy listening stations but 80s music seems to have completely fallen off the radar!
Whenever I hear an 80s song on the radio its inevitably either Madnonna or Michael Jackson. If they’re doing an “80s flashback” (I don’t undertsand why a decade+ of music only deserves an hour flashback…), inevitably its nothing but hair bands.
Actually, its more like New Wave has fallen off the radar.
Why? This music was incredibly inventitive, its (finally) being recognized for the huge influence its had, it WAS extremely popular at one time but now…its just…gone. Why?
I know of at least one dedicated 80s station here in Atlanta–or there was one a few months ago, last time I listened to the radio. In addition, quite a few of the rock stations would do an 80s block around lunch time. Some would even do an “80s at 8” at night.
Well, 80’s pop was probably the worst era of pop music ever known other than disco, so that is part of the reason it is lost. As for the great 80’s bands (The Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Kate Bush, etc.), I guess U2 is the only one that is still accessible to new audienced so they are the only one that gets played. It’s sad but that’s how the big money machine works.
As for the OP, there are quite a few radio stations with an 80’s music format here in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, I can’t stand to listen to most of them for more than a few minutes. istareatthesun is mostly right about the era. I can’t remember exactly who said this, but any decade that begins with the murder of John Lennon and ends with the return of Donny Osmond to the Top 10 is best quickly forgotten.
Still, this does not mean there wasn’t any good music out during this time. In addition to the groups istareatthesun mentioned, there were also–among others–The Replacements, the Cowboy Junkies, and (late in the decade) The Pixies. Hip-Hop was new and was also a lot more creative. The problem was that much of this music existed below the general pop music radar. It was generally only heard on low-wattage college, alternative, or hip-hop stations. That’s why I can’t stand most of what they play on 80’s format stations. They usually play what was popular in the mainstream during that period so that means you essentially get a lot of Madonna, Duran Duran, hair metal, and other stuff I spent much of the decade trying to avoid.
There might not be a big need for a lot of stations devoted solely to the 80’s right now. I know that a ton of easy listening and pop stations play 80’s songs right along with the newer stuff, and I’ve heard a lot of those hour long flashback deals.
Stations could just be waiting for full-blown 80’s nostalgia to kick in, too.
'80s music is the music of Generation X. The generations on either side of us are much larger. There is a larger music market to the aging Baby Boomers and to their children than there is to us, especially as we age out of the key 18-to-34 demographic.
Don’t turn on our music! No one does angst and materialism like we did!
istareatthesun: First of all, I happen to think the 90s-current has been the worst decade for pop music.
Secondly, the bands you list were indeed good. And that’s my point: There were A LOT of good bands in the 80s yet all people associate with the 80s are the crappy bands. Sure there was crappiness in the 80s, but there’s a hell of a lot MORE crappiness out there these days!
But this is all beside the point: Why have the “good” bands been so completely forgotten? Why does everyone focus on the “crappy 80s” rather than the “good 80s”?
Trigonal Planar: I imagine that part of it has to do with the technological revolution in music. Since the later nineties, music has become more digitized (and better, in my opinion) and also more readily accessible due to the net boom. If you try to find netmusic, you’ll be able to find far more more modern songs than you will 80s songs. I also think that a large part of it may have to do with the image of the eighties. Afros, disco balls, and pink pants.
I am with Trigonal Planar on this one.I seriously feel that the current music scenario sucks as compared to the 80s. As regards to the op,I would highly reccomend Netscape Radio.Theres a direct link on my browser to connect to this service.They have 2 genuinely nice stations(Awesome 80s and Awesome 80s II).Since we dont have any 80s stations where I stay, this is highly preferred.
When Elvis Costello chose The 500 Albums Essential to a Happy Life in 2000, he wrote in the introduction, “There is nothing to speak of from the 80s, the decade that music forgot, except for Robert Wyatt.”
And he wasn’t being an old fogey; he included numerous albums from the '90s, including Beck, Björk, Blur, Jeff Buckley, Destiny’s Child, the Fugees, etc.
Huh- I was a fan of the Elvis Costello-produced Specials albums from the 80s; I guess he doesn’t feel the same way. **
Trigonal Planar**, if you’re interested in bands with a 80s new-wave sound, may I recommend Deadsy (specifically the song She Likes Big Words)? You can definitely hear a Duran Duran influence with some Rush in there as well.
Slight hijack- I’ve recently noticed a resurgence of 80s culture. Last weekend I saw several people with mohawks as well as what I’d describe as a Ted McGinley wannabe- white pants, pink belt, turquoise polo shirt with upturned collar, frosted hair.