5 Music Inventions that Rocked the ’80s—and Every Decade After (2023)

FAQs

What were the music innovations in the 1980s? ›

The 1980s are commonly remembered for a great increase in the use of digital recording, associated with the usage of synthesizers, with synth-pop music and other electronic genres featuring non-traditional instruments increasing in popularity.

The music industry was rescued from its economic crisis by the development in the 1980s of a new technology, digital recording. Vinyl records were replaced by the compact disc (CD), a technological revolution that immediately had a conservative effect.

The 1980s were a time where individuals had influences from pop music superstars like Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and Madonna. This was mixed with the rise of electronic music that was fun to dance to along with hip-hop, rap, synth-pop, new wave, and not to mention hair metal that all became influential.

In 1980, Linn's LM-1 Drum Computer became the first drum machine to use digital samples of real drum sounds, not to mention allowing users to tune the individual sounds and even add a “swing” effect to approximate a human drummer's feel.

Music in the 1980s reflected the beginning of a period with great income disparity, and a focus on affluence was shown in the music. There were also many new genres that popped up including: hip hop, new wave and hair metal, all of which have influenced music today.

While Ronald Reagan and Madonna typically pop in our minds when we think of the '80s, perhaps we should focus on some of the world's greatest inventions that came to life during the decade. From the artificial human heart to the Apple MacIntosh, check out these 10 things that were invented in the 1980s.

The world changed on July 1st, 1979: the day that Sony released the iconic Walkman TPS-L2, the first real portable music player that would revolutionize the way we listened to music in a way that no other device really had ever done before.

January 1, 1983 is considered the official birthday of the Internet. Prior to this, the various computer networks did not have a standard way to communicate with each other. A new communications protocol was established called Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP).

The release of Nintendo GameBoy and NES, the rise of Sony Walkman and Trinitron TVs, the popularity of Casio calculator watch, and the craze for the Video Home System or VHS define the eventful ten years to a large extent.

What made the 80s the best decade? ›

During the 1980s, conservative politics and Reaganomics held sway as the Berlin Wall crumbled, new computer technologies emerged, AIDS ravaged the United States, especially the gay male community, and blockbuster movies and MTV reshaped pop culture.

The 1980s, often remembered for its materialism and consumerism, also saw the rise of the "yuppie," an explosion of blockbuster movies and the emergence of cable networks like CNN and MTV, which introduced the music video and launched the careers of many iconic artists.

The 1980s reflected the beginning of a period of great income disparity and a focus on affluence was reflected in the music. There were also several new genres that popped up including, Hip Hop, New Wave and Hair Metal, all of which have influenced music today.

As a result of the proliferation of personal technology like cell phones and personal computers, the 80s were all about technology and cyberspace. During this decade, science fiction was huge in films, books, and even music, influencing design styles.

This is the decade where we got more personal technology such as home video games, CD players, camcorders, and cable TV. It's hard to narrow down all the top creations from this decade, but hopefully, this list gives you a nice snapshot of the various inventions the 1980s gave us.

The Phonograph Thomas Edison's 1877 invention of the foil-cylinder phonograph fundamentally altered music's place in our lives.

The 1980s was the decade of the microprocessor, led by the likes of Sharp and its range of pocket computers. These gadgets resembled calculators but worked in a similar way to how we use keyboards on modern-day PCs and laptops.

Beyond their signature use of audio equipment, the 1980s also defined themselves by spawning distinctive chords, melodies and rhythms. The use of “sus”, or suspended chords was very popular on keys and guitar.

A poll of 2,000 adults found that when it comes to the 80s, it wins hands down for the most memorable songs of all time, including those by rock band Bon Jovi. Breakthrough artists, the personal memories and 'simply the music' were the reasons why this decade stood out the most.

What makes 80s music sound like 80s music? ›

Popular music of the 1980s is remembered today as having a “sound” that is somehow unified and generalizable. The '80s sound is tied to the electric piano preset of the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer.

What happened in 1980 Major News Stories include John Lennon shot and killed in New York, Post-It Notes go on sale, Liberty City, Miami Rioting, MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas Destroyed with Fire, Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act passed.

It was a period marked by defining events that continue to resonate. The Soviet Union began to collapse, AIDS emerged as a deadly epidemic, and work began on a little thing called the Internet. The decade is also remembered for its contributions to pop culture, which included the debut of MTV.

From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifts off in 1981; US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ease tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is considered to be one of the most momentous events of the 1980s; ...

For the majority of the 1980s, the Walkman dominated music and pop culture. Advanced versions, like solar-powered players and Walkmans with built-in radios, were also popular.

WHAT'S THE STORY? The Walkman was first created because Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka wanted to be able to listen to music on long flights. The first model of Sony Walkman, the TPS-L2, was released in 1979, and it proved to be a huge hit.

Around the turn of the 20th century, with the invention and popularization of the gramophone record (commercialized in 1892), and radio broadcasting (starting on a commercial basis ca. 1919-1920), there was a vast increase in music listening, and it was easier to distribute music to a wider public.

Technology. January 1 – The first British mobile phone calls are made. February 20 – Minolta releases the Maxxum 7000, the world's first autofocus single-lens reflex camera. Atomic force microscope invented by Gerd Binnig, Calvin Quate and Christopher Berger.

The IBM PC, Commodore 64 and the ZX81 were among personal computers to hit the shelves in 1981. The first IBM PC had a 4.7Mhz processor and the cheapest model had 16K of memory. Disk drives were an optional extra but each 5.25inch disk could hold 160K of data.

January 19 – The first MS-DOS-based personal computer virus, Brain, starts to spread. April 3 – IBM unveils the PC Convertible, the first laptop computer. June 23 – Eric Thomas develops LISTSERV, the first email list management software. Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is visualized by Mark Crispin.

What technology was popular in 1985? ›

VCR Technology

A true blast from the past, the VT-33E Hitachi VCR video recorder was a real sought-after gadget in 1985. Now, in the age of endless streaming, we often forget how revolutionary the videocassette recorder was back in the day. Indeed, VCR technology quickly gained momentum in the 80s.

The first luggable computer was introduced. The Commodore 64 (C64), an 8-bit computer with 64 kilobytes of memory and Commodore BASIC, began to be sold. SCSI was completed in 1982. SGI introduced the IRIX operating system.

Smartphones, the digital camera, targeted Internet searches and the World Wide Web itself, emojis, even SnapChat and Instagram are all built on the ideas that came about in the 1990's. Read on to discover some of the best technological advances of the '90s.

There were new, bold fashion and hair trends. Kids spent hours playing Super Mario Brothers. Shopping malls became teen hangouts. By the mid-1980s, as creativity mixed with television, technology, and commercialism, there was always something new to do, see, or try.

Teased hair and bright costumes. Glam metal and disco. Memphis style and colourful neon. We associate the '80s nostalgia with phenomena that are, if not outright kitsch, at least bordering on kitsch.

The 1970s and 1980s are the best decades for music, according to results from a YouGovAmerica poll. Among U.S. adults, 70s and 80s music were the best decades for music with 21% and 22% of the vote respectively. The 1960s and the 1990s were next with both garnering 14% of the vote from the 17,000 polled.

Some notable shows in the 80s were Growing Pains, Who's The Boss, Family Ties, Webster, Full House, Cheers, ALF, The Wonder Years, The A-Team, The Dukes Of Hazzard, Knight Rider, honestly, there are so many beauties from this time period.

The 1980s was a decade fraught by unimaginable threat scenarios involving nuclear wars and nuclear energy, and it was a decade that celebrated many a revolution small and large, a legacy that still lives on today.

Key Takeaways. Pop culture in the 1980s was defined by video games, arcade games, home gaming consoles, aerobics, workout videos, breakdancing, hip-hop culture, skateboarding, puzzle games, portable music, MTV, teen movies, roller skating, toy collecting, and action figures.

When thinking about music, the 80's era is largely overlooked, which is especially baffling considering that it's the golden era of rock and pop. The 80's music is more than the music being produced. It was also a time of enormous, nationally shared moments.

Why is 80s music so calming? ›

'1980s pop hits could have positive nostalgia attached to them for many people, and their upbeat, party-like sounds can induce the release of endorphins and serotonin in the brain, both increasing feelings of happiness and calm.

This decade (group of ten years) is sometimes called the "Greed decade" in English speaking countries.

In the 1980s, some of the popular decor trends included a heavy use of mirrors from walls to ceilings. Brass was the luxury finish. And few color combinations were more popular than black and mauve. Classics such as white, black and red, as well as black and gold, were also on the go-to list.

The essential elements of the '80s look were created by the Memphis design movement, led by Italian architect Ettore Sottsass. The collective included designers and architects from all around the world — Italy, Japan, Britain, Austria, France, Spain, and America.

What Is 80s Design? There's no denying that the 80s was an eye-catching era – think vibrant colors, crazy patterns, lycra leggings, and larger-than-life hairstyles. It was a decade defined by technology, which saw bright neon colors, futuristic fonts, angular patterns, and an explosion of pop culture.

What was a major, notable change in the production of music that occurred during the 1980s and 90s? Turntables were largely abandoned in favor of electronic equipment, such as digital samplers.

Aleatory, atonality, serialism, musique concrète, electronic music, and concept music were all developed during the century. Jazz and ethnic folk music became important influences on many composers during this century.

The release of Nintendo GameBoy and NES, the rise of Sony Walkman and Trinitron TVs, the popularity of Casio calculator watch, and the craze for the Video Home System or VHS define the eventful ten years to a large extent.

The Phonograph Thomas Edison's 1877 invention of the foil-cylinder phonograph fundamentally altered music's place in our lives.

The 1980s were a time of great pop culture including some of the best movies, music, TV shows, and toys of all time. It is the decade most often associated with nostalgia and the style, and memories of the decade, continue to live on.

Were the 80s the best decade for music? ›

It comes after research named the 80s as the best decade for music - with Queen, George Michael and Madonna still topping the charts for Brits of all ages. A poll of 2,000 adults found that when it comes to the 80s, it wins hands down for the most memorable songs of all time, including those by rock band Bon Jovi.

The 80s saw the rise of Punk, New Wave, Electronic, Soft Rock, and the more middle of the road out and out Pop music. Each of these, plus other musical styles that emerged from the late 70s into the 80s made an essential contribution to making the decade truly memorable.

Grunge, an alternative subgenre created in Seattle, Washington in the 80s that synthesized heavy metal and hardcore punk, launched a large movement in mainstream music in the early 90s.

1980s – Vinyl fades, and compact discs (CDs) rise

The earlier '80s brought in the compact discs (CDs). This format became the standard format in 1980 and, according to MUO, made it easier for manufacturers to get into the business.

Unquestionably, the major new influence on 20th-century music performance was electronics. Broadcasting and recording widened even further the potential audience for concert artists, at the same time as they tended to decrease the physical necessity for large new public performance arenas.