Welcome to Awakenings

Life IS history in the making. Every word we say, everything we do becomes history the moment it is said or done. Life void of memories leaves nothing but emptiness. For those who might consider history boring, think again: It is who we are, what we do and why we are here. We are certainly individuals in our thoughts and deeds but we all germinated from seeds planted long, long ago.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

80s Music Mania

The 70s ended with the introduction to a new genre of music, hip-hop. There are several claimants to the first hip-hop record. Among those included are The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" (1979) and "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" by The Fatback Band, which was released a few weeks before "Rapper's Delight", as a rap record.

By early 80s, hip-hop's distinctive place in music history was set. Unique techniques were established as a new genre of music.

Hip-hop gained momentum. Among the most influential of its artists are Run-DMC, The Beastie Boyz (who opened for Madonna on her first North American Tour), LL Cool J, and DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Two artists epitomize 80s pop music: Michael Jackson and Madonna. Let's begin with Michael Jackson. Powerful. Stylistic. Magical. Michel Jackson has been dubbed "The King of Pop." With multiple hits to his credit, the songs "Beat It (Feb 3, 1983)," "Billie Jean (Jan 2, 1983)" and "Thriller (Nov 30, 1982)" were among his top hits throughout the 80s. The album Thriller has yet to be unseated as the best-selling album of all time with claimed sales of from 51 - 65 million copies.




Next in line is Madonna. Materialistic. Fashionista. Intense. In 1981, she went solo as a pop singer in a then male-dominated 80s music scene. On July 27, 1983, Madonna's debut album self-titled Madonna was released. It was her second album, Like a Virgin, that catapulted her to the top of the charts selling an estimated 21 million copies. Her controversial lyrics and behavior quickly made her a household name, while her look influenced fashion throughout the decade. By 1991, she had achieved 21 Top 10 hits in the United states having sold in access of 70 million albums internationally. In January 2008, she was named the world's wealthiest female musician by Forbes magazine.


Music Television (MTV) debuts...

Among others, both Michael Jackson and Madonna capitalized on the newly launched MTV to drive their careers.

On Saturday, August 1, 1981, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, MTV launched with the words "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll," spoken by John Lack, and played over footage of the first Space Shuttle launch countdown of Columbia, which took place earlier that year, and of the launch of Apollo 11. Those words were immediately followed by the original MTV theme song, a crunching rock tune composed by Jonathan Elias and John Petersen, playing over photos of the Apollo 11 moon landing, with the flag featuring MTV's logo changing various colors, textures, and designs. MTV producers Alan Goodman and Fred Seibert used this public domain footage as a conceit.[10] Seibert said they had originally planned to use Neil Armstrong's "One small step" quote, but lawyers said Armstrong owns his name and likeness, and Armstrong had refused, so the quote was replaced with a beeping sound.[11]
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Perpetuation of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock...

Heavy metal and hard rock were influential styles during the 80s. Hard rock developed into a major form of popular music in the 1970s reaching a commercial peak in the mid to late 80s. Glam metal, a subgenre of heavy metal and hard rock, became the commercial force with groups like Mötley Crüe and Poison. Other artists, such as Def Leppard, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi and Megadeth, dominated the genre in the latter part of the 80s decade and helped perpetuate the popularity of rock artists from the 1970s, such as KISS and AC/DC. This genre included “Hair Bands” (manifesting themselves in outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots and named for their heavily teased tresses), of which some of the aforementioned artists were a part. Other noteworthy hair bands were Twisted Sister, Scorpions and Quiet Riot.



WHEW! I SAY THAT IS SOME HEAVY MUSIC!

What say YOU?

Added Bonus! #1 Single of the Year



April 19, 1980 Blondie "Call Me"♪ (1980)

May 16, 1981 Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes"♪ (1981)

 November 21, 1981 Olivia Newton-John "Physical"♪ (1982)


July 9, 1983 The Police "Every Breath You Take"♪ (1983)

 July 7, 1984 Prince "When Doves Cry"♪ (1984)


February 16, 1985 Wham! featuring George Michael "Careless Whisper"♪ (1985)

 January 18, 1986 Dionne Warwick "That's What Friends Are For"♪ (1986)

 December 20, 1986 The Bangles "Walk Like An Egyptian"♪ (1987)

 December 12, 1987 George Michael "Faith"♪ (1988)

 December 10, 1988 Chicago "Look Away"♪ (1989) 

   

Milton Brown (the “Founder of Western Swing”)
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.
Milton Brown (the “Founder of Western Swing”)
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
Duke Ellington hit, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" brought the word “swing” into the mainstream.
Read more at http://www.roughstock.com/history/western-swing#2ZiocLvLXJ1WvBVu.99
 And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...

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