1980s Music Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Music-related events and trends during the 1980s

Emergence of electronic dance music and new wave
Genres such as post-disco, Italo disco, Euro disco, and dance-pop became more popular
Rise of rock genres such as soft rock, glam metal, thrash metal, shred guitar, adult contemporary, quiet storm, and smooth jazz
Digital recording and usage of synthesizers led to the rise of synth-pop music and other electronic genres
Development of electro, techno, house, freestyle, and Eurodance
Rise of R&B, hip hop, and urban genres, with rap becoming especially successful in the latter part of the decade
1980s was the most favored tune decade of the last 40 years according to a 2010 survey
Notable artists include Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince, The Police, and George Michael
Commercial stardom replaced artistry as an indication of a musician's significance
Hard rock and heavy/glam metal were popular with bands such as AC/DC, Def Leppard, Kiss, and Bon Jovi
Emergence of guitar virtuosi such as Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Yngwie Malmsteen
Rise of underground scenes producing more extreme metal subgenres such as thrash metal, death metal, and black metalMusic in the 1980s: Alternative Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Electronic, and Country
Les Claypool of Primus and Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris were praised for their bass playing in the 1980s.
Hard rock and heavy metal were popular live genres, with bands touring extensively around the world.
Alternative rock emerged in the 1980s as an underground phenomenon, primarily relegated to independent record labels, fanzines, and college radio stations.
American alternative bands of the 1980s included R.E.M., The Replacements, Minutemen, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, and Sonic Youth.
New singers and songwriters of the 1980s included Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Mark Heard, Lucinda Williams, Patti Smith, Rickie Lee Jones, Terence Trent D'Arby, Stevie Nicks, Suzanne Vega, Cheryl Wheeler, and Warren Zevon.
Many 1960s-70s veterans struggled to adapt to current trends in the 1980s, resulting in poor quality and critically panned albums.
Contemporary R&B originated in the 1980s, with artists adding disco-like beats, high-tech production, and elements of hip hop, soul, and funk to rhythm and blues.
Popular R&B artists of the 1980s included Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Kool & the Gang, Lionel Richie, James Brown, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Janet Jackson.
Hip hop became the dominant cultural movement of African American communities in the 1980s, with pioneers such as Africa Bambaataa, DJ Kool Herc, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Whodini, and Sugarhill Gang.
Popular hip hop artists of the 1980s included Kurtis Blow, Run D.M.C., Beastie Boys, NWA, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, and Ice-T.
Electronic dance music made using only electronic instruments became increasingly popular in the 1980s, influenced by Kraftwerk and disco music.
House music, a style of electronic dance music, originated in Chicago in the early 1980s and was strongly influenced by soul- and funk-infused disco.
Techno was developed during the mid-1980s in Detroit, Michigan, by Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, and Eddie Fowlkes.
Pop-influenced country music was dominant at the start of the 1980s, but by the mid-1980s, audiences were beginning to tire of it.Country and Rock Music in the 1980s Summary

Country Music:

The "new traditionalist" movement sparked a return to traditional country music in 1986.
New traditionalist artists included Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Ricky Van Shelton, and Holly Dunn.
The movement had already taken hold in 1981 when newcomers like Ricky Skaggs and George Strait had their first big hits.
Reba McEntire had her first big hit in 1980 followed by 15 other number one hit singles during the decade.
Vocal duos were also popular, such as The Bellamy Brothers and The Judds.
Country music groups and bands continued to rise in popularity during the 1980s, with Alabama being the most successful.
Enduring acts from the 1970s and earlier continued to enjoy great success with fans, including George Jones, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash.
Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline re-emerged in the spotlight when producer Bob Ferguson electronically created the "duet" "Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)."
Top classic country and influential performers who died during the decade included Red Sovine, Whitey Ford, Marty Robbins, Merle Travis, Ernest Tubb, Wynn Stewart, and Tex Williams.

Rock Music:

The arrival of MTV in 1981 ushered in new wave's most successful era.
British artists learned how to use the music video early on and several British acts signed to independent labels were able to outmarket and outsell American artists.
The Police and U2 were the only bands with post-punk origins to achieve global success.
New Romanticism emerged as part of the new wave music movement in London's nightclub, including Culture Club, Spandau Ballet, and Duran Duran.
Gothic rock music developed out of the post-punk scene in the later 1970s.
The new wave of British heavy metal broke into the mainstream, as albums by Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Motörhead reached the British top 10.
Phil Collins had more top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1980s than any other artist.
Boy George and his band Culture Club had great success in both the UK and US charts.
Wham! was the most successful British pop band of the era with eleven top ten hits in the UK.Music of the 1980s Around the World
The 1980s saw the rise of British pop stars like George Michael, Bonnie Tyler, Robert Palmer, and the Bee Gees, along with other successful artists such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Culture Club, and Kate Bush.
Synthpop, which emerged from new wave, dominated the pop music scene of the early 1980s in Europe, with popular artists including Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Eurythmics.
Latin American pop music saw the rise of teenage groups like Exposè, Menudo, and Timbiriche, as well as emerging stars such as Luis Miguel, Sasha Sökol, and Lucero. The 1980s also saw the dominance of veterans like Julio Iglesias and José José, and the worldwide breakthrough success of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.
The Rock en Español movement began in Argentina, with influential bands like Soda Stereo, Charly García, and Fito Páez. Chilean bands like Los Jaivas and Los Prisioneros also gained popularity, while Brazil saw the rise of the New Jovem Guarda with artists like Legião Urbana, Titãs, and Capital Inicial.
Salsa music diversified in the 1980s, with the rise of salsa romantica and salsa erotica, and performers like Sergio George and Joe Arroyo. Merengue music also hit its golden years during the decade, with acts like Wilfrido Vargas and La Coco Band.
Australian rock band INXS achieved international success, along with Men at Work, The Church, Real Life, Opus, and Midnight Oil. Kylie Minogue's debut single "Locomotion" became a huge hit in Australia and internationally. New Zealand band Split Enz achieved international success with their album True Colours, and Neil Finn went on to form Crowded House, which had a hit with "Don't Dream It's Over."
Japan saw the emergence of visual kei with bands like X Japan, and city pop with artists like Anri and Tatsuro Yamashita. Japanese noise rock also emerged, along with hardcore bands like The Star Club and GISM. Idol group Onyanko Club began in the 1980s.