How the 80s changed music forever

It is a decade that introduced several new genres and it also produced some of the biggest music stars that ever lived. It's also a decade represented in East Coast Gold's playlist, which plays classic hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Hip Hop, which began in the late 1970s, became prominent. In 1979, Sugarhill Gang released the single 'Rapper's Delight' and it was the first single to bring hip-hop to a mainstream audience, reports redbull.com. With its roots in New York, the genre became prominent in the 80s and is now one of the biggest and most-loved genres in the world. 

Another new genre that was introduced was House Music. It began in Chicago in the early 1980s and spread internationally. According to Britannica.com, House Music was started by deejay-producers such as Frankie Knuckles and Marshall Jefferson. Today, the genre has taken the world by storm and produced superstars such as South Africa's very own shining star, DJ Black Coffee. 

Punk rock was also big in the 1980s. Although the genre began in the mid-70s, it became more prominent in the 80s. 

How music was consumed in the 1980s

Music was mainly consumed through cassettes, but one great thing that the 1980s brought was the mixtape/dual cassette tape deck. These tapes allowed you to copy tapes to an empty cassette and put together your own mixes. 

The 1980s was also a decade where the Sony Walkman became a hit. It was not just any ordinary stereo cassette player, but one that you could listen to while walking around. After hitting the market in the 1980s, it became so popular that Sony sold 50,000 units in the first two months.

Stars of the 80s

The 1980s produced some of the biggest names in music history. Icons such as Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna ruled the 80s. 

According to top40weekly.com, the top 10 stars of the 1980s were: 

- Michael Jackson
- Prince
- Madonna
- U2
- Bruce Springsteen
- Run DMC
- Van Halen
- Public Enemy
- Billy Joel
- The Police

Songs that ruled the Billboard charts

The following songs became number #1 on the Billboard charts in the 1980s: 

1980: “Call Me” — Blondie
1981: “Bette Davis Eyes” — Kim Carnes
1982: “Physical” — Olivia Newton-John
1983: “Every Breath You Take” — The Police
1984: “When Doves Cry” — Prince
1985: “Careless Whisper” — Wham!
1986: “That’s What Friends Are For” — Dionne & Friends
1987: “Walk Like An Egyptian” — The Bangles
1988: “Faith” — George Michael
1989: “Look Away” — Chicago

Top-selling albums of the 80s

1980: Pink Floyd — “The Wall”
1981: REO Speedwagon — “Hi Infidelity”
1982: Asia — “Asia”
1983: Michael Jackson — “Thriller”
1984: "Thriller" again
1985: Bruce Springsteen — “Born In The USA”
1986: Whitney Houston — “Whitney Houston
1987: Bon Jovi — “Slippery When Wet”
1988: George Michael — “Faith”
1989: Bobby Brown — “Don’t Be Cruel”

The year-end Billboard #1 songs of the 80s

1980: “Call Me” — Blondie
1981: “Bette Davis Eyes” — Kim Carnes
1982: “Physical” — Olivia Newton-John
1983: “Every Breath You Take” — The Police
1984: “When Doves Cry” — Prince
1985: “Careless Whisper” — Wham!
1986: “That’s What Friends Are For” — Dionne & Friends
1987: “Walk Like An Egyptian” — The Bangles
1988: “Faith” — George Michael
1989: “Look Away” — Chicago

Image courtesy of iStock/@Shaiith

This Friday, we’re taking you back to the days of tapes, Pop Shop and shoulder pads. Get ready for the More Music March 80s Party with East Coast Gold!

READ: WIN data vouchers by taking it back to the 80s this Friday! 

For loads of fantastic 80s classics, listen to East Coast Gold via the ECR app or here. We’re also on various other platforms, including Alexa (just enable the ‘East Coast Gold’ skill); MyTuner, Radio Garden; iono.fm, Radioline or OpenRadio.

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