While the level of nostalgia being written about as of late seems focused more on the ‘90s in the era of Cool Britannia, lads mags and, let be honest, car crash television I feel like we’re skipping over a generation - those from the ‘80s. Detractors I have met in my time writing about music have long felt that the decade was garrish, forgettable and in terms of pop culture anthropology not a good time to be a fan, but nothing could be further from the truth. From how dangerous people felt films were getting on the VHS market through to fashion statements that have been co-opted and advanced by TikTok and other digital cornerstones, the ‘80s offered quite a lot in terms of influencing pop culture to come.
Just look at these 11 artists that we picked, all who emerged throughout the decade to become defining influences across a range of music. No Madonna ? Well perhaps no female empowerment in pop music. No Run-D.
M.C ? Adidas sales would have plummeted and hip-hop artists would need to look elsewhere to see how music and marketing can go hand in hand for labels. No doubt I might have missed a few that you consider influential on today’s music scene, in which case please let me know your thoughts in the comments section down below or if you’re a little shy, drop me an email .
But here’s some of the artists that helped influence a wave of popular music in recent years, many of which have gone on to influence a newer generation themselves. 1 . A Tribe Called Quest As.
