Unit 18 Flashcards
What were the 3 biggest pop acts of the 80s?
Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna. In an era of political and social conservatism (during the Reagan presidency), all three presented complex, provocative, and at times confusing images of race and gender.
Why did 80s pop have a distinctly 80s sound? (2)
Two reasons:
- The use of sounds and rhythms that were not common currency, or even available through much of the 1970s.
- The integration of style elements from what had been “outsider” styles in the 1970s.
Why did most 80s music incorporate synthesized sounds?
Digital technology made both the replication of existing timbres and the creation of new timbres easier. It also streamlined the enhancement of conventional sounds through various effects.
What new rhythms were used in the 80s? (3)
The energized rock beat derived from punk; adaptations of the afterbeat rhythms of reggae; and, most commonly, the sixteen-beat rhythms first heard in funk, black pop, and disco. These took various forms, often in combination.
What new rhythms were used in the 80s? (3)
The energized rock beat derived from punk; adaptations of the afterbeat rhythms of reggae; and, most commonly, the sixteen-beat rhythms first heard in funk, black pop, and disco. These took various forms, often in combination.
Dance-oriented rock
A term coined by Robert Christgau to describe an array of musical styles which emerged in the 1980s, specifically synthesis of the post-punk and post-disco sounds.
Why were the innovations resulting from the fusions of the eighties different from those of the previous generation? (3)
- The eighties was the first generation of twentieth-century popular music that was not nurtured by the blues.
- The “outside” styles came from within rock-era music.
- Because of the blending of rock styles, the boundaries between rock, rhythm and blues, and pop became more fluid and transparent
Music video
A genre that emerged in the 80s. Sound, image, and movement came together. They became a staple on a new network—MTV—in a new medium, cable television.
Until the early 70s, what TV networks were available?
Almost everyone only had access to 3 networks: NBC, CBS, and ABC. That changed radically when cable TV became commercially viable.
What 2 developments made cable TV economically feasible?
The launching of communications satellites and significant deregulation of the broadcast industry
Cable Act of 1984
Deregulated the television industry and in its wake, the cable industry wired the nation. With new revenues came new and more varied programming.
MTV
A cable network which began broadcasting music videos in 1981.
Who broke MTV’s color barrier?
Michael Jackson, in 1985. For the first couple of years, programming had targeted a young, white audience.
How did MTV affect creators and consumers?
The network became a key tastemaker for young people around the world. It has influenced not only what they listen to but also many other aspects of youth culture: dress, looks, body language, vocabulary, and attitudes. However, its most significant contribution was providing an outlet for music videos.
What defined the music that topped the charts during the eighties?
A set of principles, rather than specific musical features. The songs typically have intelligible lyrics that tell a story. They are set to a singable melody. The melody in turn is embedded in a rich, riff-laden texture. Most layers are played on synthesizers. The songs typically have a good beat, easy to find and danceable, neither too monotonous nor too ambiguous.
When did Michael Jackson’s solo career take off?
1978
How does “Thriller” exhibit the characteristics of post 1980 pop?
The extensive use of electronic instruments in combination with conventional instruments. The basic rhythm grows out of disco, and we hear a strong backbeat. However, the other instrumental parts, especially those played on rhythm section instruments or their electronic counterparts, create a texture that is denser and more complex than that heard in a conventional disco song. Jackson’s vocal line is simply one strand in the texture
What played a crucial role in “Thriller’s” success?
The music videos, and the fact that the songs were so “video-ready,” played a crucial role in its overwhelming success.
When was Madonna’s first album released?
1983
Madonna
80s pop artist known for combining provocative, shocking, and controversial themes and images with bright, accessible music.
“Like a Prayer” (1989)
The music video was controversial. . The video conflates religious images (e.g., a scene in which she grasps a knife, and it cuts her in a way that evokes the stigmata of the crucified Christ); symbols of racism (burning crosses); numerous incongruities and impossibilities, etc., and featured Madonna in a revealing dress. This outraged religious groups, but the controversy acted as free publicity. The video for “Like a Prayer” dramatically evidences the emergence of the music video as an entity distinct from the song that spawned it and from other expressive forms that merge song, image, and movement.
What was Madonna known for musically?
She combines a simple, catchy melody with trendy sounds and rhythms and skillful production.
What was the most ground-breaking aspect of Madonna’s career?
Her ascension to a position of complete control of her career: writing her songs, producing her recordings, choreographing her performances, and making the key decisions about every aspect of production and promotion. This owes more to her ambition than it does to her musical talent.
