The 1980s

1. The 1980s

2. What is the sound of the ’80s? • Michael Jackson, Thriller • Prince, When Doves Cry • Listen for: • Texture • Instrumentation • Accent on backbeat? • Riffs? • Stylistic influences? • Other?

3. Michael Jackson – Thriller • Style beat – 8 beat, occasionally opening to 16 • Instrumentation – drum machine, horns, guitar, synthesizer, bass (synth) • Texture - Often thin; thickens through verse to climax at chorus • Accent on backbeat • Riffs in bass, keyboard, horns (chorus)

4. Michael Jackson - Thriller • Stylistic influences? • Funk – (esp. Funkadelic) • Disco • Gospel • 70s soul – particularly Philadelphia • Other • Doubling (via overdubs) on hook, significant lines • Polyrhythmic – layered rhythmic ostinati • Melody driven, dramatic vocal style • Reverb

5. Prince – When Doves Cry • Style beat - 8 beat • Instrumentation – guitar, drum machine, synthesizer, drums • Texture – thin • Accent on backbeat, Rebound backbeat on 2 • Riff in keyboard, but not riff-driven

6. When Doves Cry • Stylistic influences? • Soul • Hard rock • Funk • Disco • Other • Doubling (via overdubs) on hook, significant lines • Polyrhythmic – layered rhythmic ostinati (repeating patterns) • No bass • Melody driven, dramatic vocal style • Reverb

7. Ingredients of the “mainstream” 80s sound • “Musical melting pot” • All rock styles used as inspiration • 70s styles: punk, funk, new wave (still in progress), reggae, black Romantic music • Retro styles: rockabilly, surf music, black rock and roll,Motown, blues, R&B • World music • Heard in new and unusual combinations • Synthesizers become standard component of rock ensemble

8. Synthesizers • Produce artificially generated sound through manipulation of electrical currents • Create entirely new sounds • Or replicate sound of any instrument • Oscillator creates sound wave • Filters modify tone color by subtle alterations to wave form • Other oscillators or generators manipulate vibrato, attack, sustain, and decay

9. Synthesizers • Invented in 50s, but expensive • Could only create/play one sound at a time • Four and eight voice polyphonic synthesizers introduced in early 1980s • MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) invented 1983 • Makes synthesizers easy for novice to use • Quickly become pop rock standard • Drum machines • Fill in for strings, horns • Creation of new, electronic sounds

10. MTV • Music television • Premiered 1981 • Popularizes the music video • Becomes common forum for pop rock audience • Shortly becomes means of launching new artists, songs

11. MTV/Pop rock • Video stars of the early ’80s • Michael Jackson • Madonna • Prince • Duran Duran • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

12. Michael Jackson (1958- ) • Jackson Five formed in late 1960s with brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon • Michael records a few solo records as well • 1976 Jackson Five leave Motown for Epic – become The Jacksons • 1978 Meets Quincy Jones while making The Wiz • Produces next several albums • 1979 Off the Wall • Multi-platinum • Fusion of rock, soul, and funk grooves

13. Thriller (1983) • More than 50 million copies sold to date • Six top ten hits, seven of the nine tracks chart • Unprecedented fusion of styles • Tracks on album • Influences combined on each track • Ex. Beat It • Punk-influenced beat • Funk influences evident • Some input from early hip-hop • Combined with hard rock and heavy metal

14. Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson) (1958-) • First album 1979 • Plays all instruments on and produces first five albums • Reaches mega-stardom with 1999 (1982) • Elements of style • Mixes disparate stylistic influences • Certain eroticism • Strong hooks • Melody with wide range over polyrhythmic foundation • Ex. Little Red Corvette

15. The Go-Gos • One of first all-female bands • prototype of mainstream ‘80s pop –”synth-heavy and ruthlessly stylish new romantic movement” • Formula • Riff less important than groove - rhythmic feeling created by sum of all layers • Bright, dance-friendly tempos • “Slice of life” lyrics • Flat four/sixteen beat style beat OR saturated eight beat • Accented backbeat, favoring rebound backbeat • Catchy melody with memorable hooks • Lots of repetition • Ex. We Got the Beat

16. Rock with a Message • Minority of groups, artists • Many indie or niche groups, but also pop rock, mainstream acts • Music serves as platform for message

17. Bruce Springsteen • First albums in mid 1970s - several hits • Hungry Heart • Born to Run • Also sold number of songs to other artists • Springsteen songs you didn’t know you knew… • Fire – The Pointer Sisters • Pink Cadillac – Aretha Franklin • Blinded By the Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band • Because the Night – Patti Smith Group • 1984 Born in the USA launches Springsteen into mainstream

18. Born in the USA • Tale of Vietnam vet after returning home • Opens with synthesizer riff = melody • Verse and refrain form • Simple bassline, drums accent backbeat • Thin texture • thicker in 2nd, 3rd verse • returns to opening texture for bleak final verse • Eight beat style beat • Highly repetitive • Influences: singers-songwriters of 70s, folk music, blues, hard rock, rockabilly and early rock

19. U2- Pride (In the Name of Love) • 16 beat style beat • Choked guitar • Less a riff than an ostinato - two interlocking patterns • Contrast to 8 beat style beat in active bass line • Every instrument, part in own register • Accented backbeat • Instrumental accompaniment for high-pitched vocals – melodic focus • Moderate texture, but thins under most significant verses • Influences 70s soul, gospel, Celtic music, as well as singer-songwriters

20. Band-Aid • Benefit recording by British pop and rock stars • Organized by Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) in response to BBC documentary on famine in Ethiopia • Do They Know It’s Christmas b/w Feed the World written by Geldof, Midge Ure (Ultravox) • Raises £8 million for charity • US response: USA for Africa, “We Are the World”

21. Live Aid • Bi-continental concert held 13 July 1985 • 68 bands playing in UK (Wembley Stadium) and US (Philadelphia) • Raised over $100 million • Farm Aid • Founded by John Cougar Mellencamp and Willie Nelson • To raise awareness about plight of family farms

22. Heavy Metal in the 1980s • Metal reinvents itself in 1980s • Common characteristics • LOUD • Distortion still important • Riff-driven • Instrumental virtuosity becoming more important • Influence of Eddie Van Halen • Fast, brilliant style based on rapid arpeggiation (borrowed from classical music), extremes of range and register, wide palate of tone colors • Lyrics deal with sex, occult, power, rage, frustration

23. Various grades of metal “purity” • “Pure” Heavy Metal – Metallica, Iron Maiden, AC/DC • “Pop” Metal (aka Light Alloy) – Van Halen, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot • “Hair” Metal – Poison, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister • Fusion of heavy metal and glam rock • Makeup, big hair, costumes combined with aggressive hard rock

24. Differences in Metal Styles • Metallica – One • Def Leppard – Photograph • Guns and Roses – Welcome to the Jungle

25. Differences in Metal Styles • Metallica – One • Complex form • Aggressive timekeeping • Extended solos and virtuosic playing • Harmonic and rhythmic complexities • Music with a message • Def Leppard - Photograph • Verse (ABC)/refrain form • Short guitar solo • Riff-driven • Melody more important • Simple harmonies • Catchy hook • More subdued timekeeping, though accented backbeat