1. 1980s – Pop Icons Go Global
1980s a time for major
companies to regroup and
reinvent themselves with a new
format and new technology
2. From the 80s to the 90s –
n 1. Eighties Icons
n 2. The influence of Technology
n 3. Ecstasy and Rave – The summer of
Love
3. The Visual Element
n The visual representation of popular in the ascendancy
n 1. Connections between popular music and film, TV, Music Video
and MTV. Global success from multi-media presence.
n 2. Music became even more of `a thing’ with digital recording
technology. Increasingly less `live’ element and more a commodity.
n 3. History of music of film a long one – `rockumentary’ forms a spin
off. From Elvis films to Bealtes to Punk stories on film.
n 4. 80s success of MTV boosted televised music video – reshaped
the form – helped to construct a global teenage consumer.
Became an essential part of music industry – virtually all recordings
released with a video.
n 5. Analysis of MVs – is music or video? – is it visual radio? Does it
represent `a new phase of development of sound recording as a
cultural form’?
4. MTV
1. Formed in 1981 in the US as the first global music network.
Highly profitable and has spawned a host of imitators.
n 2. By late 1980s reaching 20 million American homes. By 1991 28
million subscribers and adding 1-3 per year. MTV Europe in 1988
- by 1993 it was giving 24- hour coverage on cable.
n 3. Attempt in 1990s to play a greater proportion of local performers
(e.g. 20% in India and Latin America).
n 4. Influence of North American cultural and the new global industry
becomes enormous.
n 5. Getting on MTV was seen as the way to `break’ a new artist.
n 6. Performers who received considerable exposure on MTV before
they were picked up by radio include Madonna, Duran Duran and
the Thompson Twins.
n 7. Invasion of American charts by British groups in the 1980s
attributable to MTV.
6. 80s Icons
1. Background to period – Economic boom of Reagan
and Thatcher. Beginning of communist bloc collapse.
Triumph of capitalism over socialism –
n 2. Satellite and cable TV – proliferation of media –
franchised films – Star Wars – video machines in most
homes – Dallas and Dynasty on TV
n 3. Power dressing, Yuppies, Mortgages and City Jobs
n 4. Aids and Safe Sex
n 5. Miners Strike and Falklands War – triumph of
Thatcherism
n 6. Cultural relativism
n 7. Post modernism
7. More 80s Icons
Madonna, Prince, Elton John, Michael Jackson,
Queen, Boy George, George Michael, Tina
Turner, Springsteen, etc
n characteristics:
n 1. Individualism
n 2. Versatility
n 3. Selling with sex
n 4. Control of Business – set up own business
organisation
n 5. Cross Gender Appeal
n 6. Soloist with ego
8. Michael Jackson – Triller 1982
biggest seller of all time
n In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in
popular music. The music videos for his songs, including
those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were
credited with transforming the medium into an art form
and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these
videos helped to bring the relatively new television
channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White"
and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s.
Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson
popularized a number of dance techniques, such as the
robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound
and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, pop
contemporary R&B, and rock artists.
10. Case Studies
1. Madonna – constantly reinventing herself. Centre of her own
world. Good business sense - $860 deal with Time Warner setting
up Maverick
n 2. Freddie Mercury – gay icon in both senses of word. Again
constantly reinventing self and band. Epitomized 80s decadence.
n 3. Prince – Paisley Park Organisation more like a fantastically
prolific hit factory in the mid 80s around Sign O’th Times. Appeal
across the races but a decision around 1990 to pursue the Black
side of his personality – contract difficulties took him out of limelight.
n 4. Annie Lennox – Eurythmics – split up at the wrong time but very
prolific in early and mid 80s. Gender androgyny.
n 5. Springsteen? Embodiment of authentic working man class
authenticity but in 80s was in fact boss of a multi million dollar
organisation
12. Dance Music
n Working in the other direction against globalisation/centralisation
was the development of dance music in the late 80s.
n 1. Electro pop had showed how technology could empower. 80s
the decade for simple electro pop - Soft Sell, Joy Division, Wham,
Spandau Ballet, Human League, etc. Simple songs with simple
technology
n 2. MIDI, sampling, sequencing, computers etc., all become possible
in the 80s and get increasingly affordable.
n 3. Break through of the DX7 – sampling and synths in the bedroom
n 4. Development of House and Techno – importance of Chicago =
develops into Acid House
n 5. Arrival of Ecstasy around 1985 in the UK – first produced for gay
dance scene – then spread
n Prodigy – Big Beat from 1990 – rave hardcore, industrial and break
beat -= Everybody in the place
14. Summer of Love - 1988
n Summer of Love – 1988 – spontaneous acid
house parties
n 1.Rave scene and DJ culture moved out of the
clubs and into the open.
n 2.Development of the illegal rave – first in 1980
Graham Bright’s Entertainment Act increased
fines which could be imposed on organisers.
n 3.Connection with travellers and law breaking.
n 4. Led to Criminal Justice Act by Major
Government in 1994
n Dee-Lite - Groove is in the heart – house music
