Music and Pop Culture Exam 3

1980

Ronald Reagan elected President, major recession hits U.S., record sales plummet(hit bottom in 1982), Cold War with U.S.S.R. escalates, increase in patriotism and conservatism

Music and Technology

VHS and cassette tapes, increase in music/video piracy, blamed for decline in music industry, electronic instruments, synthesizers, drum machines, compact discs(CD's)

Music Television(MTV)

Debuts on August 1st, 1981, 24 hour format of three minute videos played by VJs, target audience under 25, original focus on rock music, initially would not play black arists, helped create rock(and eventually pop) superstars

MTV

"Video Killed the Radio Star", The Buggles, first video played on MTV

Duran Duran

Disco/electro-pop music, found success through MTV videos, use of drum machine, "Rio"(1982)

Eurythmics

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, electronically synthesized sounds, sequenced loops, androgynous appearance(lennox), "Sweet Dreams(Are Made of This)" (1983)

Peter Gabriel

Formerly of art rock group genesis, "Sledgehammer"(1986), use of japanese shakuchachi flute, became popular due to video, won a MTV video music awards

Wham!

British duo with george michael, formed in 1981, disbanded in 1986, " Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"(1984)

Cyndi Lauper

One of the most popular female artists of the decade, nominated for 6 grammy awards, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"(1983), four top 5 hits from the same album

Michael Jackson

" The King Of Pop", one of the most commercially successful and influential performers of all time, second only to elvis presley for solo artist sales, music and fashion and dance and videos

Thriller(1982)

Best-selling album of all time, by any artist, boundry crossing popularity, diverse audience, included huge musical starts (Paul McCartney, Eddie Van Halen), combined elements of disco, funk, B and B, metal, and pop, 7 released as singles all were top 10 hits

Madonna

originally a dancer, became a singer in NYC, purposefully controversial figure, use of sexual and religious images, creation and reinvention of her own image, second only to michael jackson in popularity at the time

Prince

one of the most talented pop musicians in history, mixed-race heritage, ambiguous sexuality, one of the most prolific artist ever, over 1,000 songs that were never released

1999(1982)

title track from 1982 album, synth-funk, dance rock, inspired by a documentary about Nostradamus predicting the end of the world, song reflects what a party would sound like if thrown on the eve of the end of the world

When Daves Cry(1984)

from purple rain film soundtrack, semi-autobiographical film that made him famous, 6-minute long single, mix of funk, heavy metal, post-disco dance music(synth/samples), prog rock

1980s Country

expanded popularity, hollywood film soudtracks, col miner's daughter, urban cowboy, nine to five

Hee Haw

tv variety show that ran from 1969-1993, rural country music, hosted by country music artists

George Jones

began career in 1950s, influenced by hank williams , known for similar wild behavior, "he stopped loving her today" won multiple grammy and country music awards, it was cma song of the year for both 1980 and 1981

Famous Country Male Singers

willie nelson, kenny rogers, george strait, clint black, randy travis, hank williams jr

Reba Mcentire

successful singer, songwriter and actress(tv, film, broadway), nominated/won numerous awards, grammy, cma, ama, "Fancy", cover of 1969 song by Bobbie Gentry, one of her most famous music videos

Other female country stars

the judds, dolly parton, tanya tucker, k.d. lang, tammy wynette, emmylou harris

Bruce Springsteen

"The Boss", songs about working class america, folk influenced rock, "Born In The U.S.A", lyrics critical of government, misunderstood as patriotic and used for reagan's reelection campaign

U2

bono is frontman, has won 22 grammy awards(the most of any group), known for support of human rights causes, " Sunday Bloody Sunday", on 1983 album war, political song about 1972 shooting of 27 civil rights marchers by british army in derry(a border town in northern ireland)

Journey

formed in SF in 1973, known for "power ballads", escape(1981), their 8th and best-selling album, "Don't Stop Believin'", "Open Arms"

R.E.M.

formed in athens, georgia, byrds sound(folksy rock), " It's The End Of The World As We Know It(And I Feel Fine)"

1980's Punk and Hardcore Rock

california becomes center of punk and harcore scene, hardcore= faster, heavier punk subgenre, anti-mtv= relied on recordings, zines, small independent radio stations

Dead Kennedy"s

Pioneers of hardcore sound, " Kill the Poor", lyrics critical of conservative economic policies and nuclear arms build-up of the cold war era

Glam Metal

also called pop metal or hair metal, influenced by kiss and alice cooper, theatrical performance, androgynous appearance, guitar solo worhship

Van Halen

formed in pasadena, california, david lee roth(vocals), eddie van halen(electric guitar), most top 10 hits of any rock/metal group in the 80s, "Jump"

Motley Crue

based in la, california, drummer tommy lee, problems with drugs, alchohol, and arrests, " Girls, Girls, Girls", video banned from mtv

Guns N' Roses

based in la, california, axl rose, slash, inspired by ac/dc, queen, rolling stones, punk bands, " Sweet Child Of Mine"

Thrash/Dark Metal

venom, u.k bsed metal group, albums include Welcome To Hell(1981) and Black Metal(1982), " Welcome To Hell", influential for future black metal groups

Metallica

formed in la in 1981, thresh metal;speed metal, initial underground popularity; later mainstream popularity(which caused issues with fans), " Master of Puppets"

Megadeth

thrash metal group fronted by ex-metallica guitarist, numerous grammy nominations, "Symphony of Destruction"

Origins of Hip Hop

urban decay, south bronx(nyc), widespread unemployment, decrease in federal funding for schools and development

SugrHill Gang

Rapper's Delight, first major rap record, fun, accessible, non-controversial, becomes hit single on r&b and pop charts

Run-D.M.C.

possibly the most influential group in rap music histroy, trio or college educated men, first rap group to have a national tour, first rap group to appear on m.t.v.

Beastie Boys

white punk group turned hip-hop, license to 111(1986)- best selling rap album of 1980s, " Fight For Your Right"

DJ Jazzy and The Fresh Prince.

"Parents Just Don't Understand", first rap record to win a grammy award

MC Hammer

" U Can't Touch This"(1990)

Vanilla Ice

"Ice Ice Baby", first rap single to reach #1 on billboard Hot 100

Snoop Dog

Introduced by dr.dre, helped make gansta rap popular mainstream, music included a smooth, cool, sound, "What My Name?", hit #8 on billboard hot 100

West Coast

rivarly between west and east coast record companies and artists, west coast: death row records, dr. dre, tupac shakur, snoop dog, east coast: bad boy records

Queen Latifah

first prominent, commercially successful female solo rapper, adopts persona of african queen, "Ladies First", from album al hail the queen(1989), feminist hip-hop anthem

Salt-n-Pepa

best-selling female rap act, "Push It", sample by many later artists

Lauryn Hill

walked line between singer and rapper, established career with fuguees, the miseducation of lauryn hill(1998), first female to recieve 10 grammy nominations(won 5), "doo wop(that thing)"

Kurt Corban

formed nirvana, anti-establishment, anti-m.t.v., " Voice of Generation", 1969 debut album, cost $600 to produce

Nirvana

Nevermind(1991), knocked micheal jacksons dangerous off the #1 spot on u.s. charts, stayed on charts for 5 years, selling 10 million records, "Smells Like Team Spirit", first 1990s alternative rock single in top 10, mix of heavy metal, pop lyrical hooks

Dave Matthew's Band

formed in 1991 in charlottesville, virginia, live performances important(songs played differently in each performance)

Alanis Morrissette

canadian-born singer-songwriter, actress, winner of numerous grammy and juno awards, " Jagged Little Pill", best sselling debut album by female artist in U.S.

Sinead O'Conner

irish singer, known for advocacy around human rights, combatting racism and child abuse, controversial SNL performance '92, performed rendition of Bob Marley's 1976 song "War"

Marilyn Manson

born brian hugh warner in 1969, stage name combines marilyn monroe and charles manson, influenced by alioe cooper and david bowie, music lyrics and videos contained shocking images, horror, goth, sex, fetishism, spiritial/demonic

Death Metal

emerges in tampa, groups:death, morbid angel, obituary(the tampa sound in metal), characteristics: low guttural vocals, speed-picking, blast-beats, double-kick, bass drum , lyrics focus on graphic violence, gore, slasher films, "Zombie Ritual"

EN Vogue and TNC

Destiny's Child, original group had four women formed in texas, final lineup compromised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams, " Survivor)

The Spice Girls

New formula for girl groups, open call for young women to be in a group, each women has her own "character", posh, scary, baby, ginger, and sporty spice, ended up being the biggest british group since the beatles

" Wannabe"

feminist stance in music, "Girl Power" message, debut single from spice(1996), #1 in UK and U.S. charts

Jackson Five

1960s motown, pop in the 1980s mostly solo artists, notable exception: new kids on the block

Lou Pearlman

promoter who created the backstreet boys and nsync, used new kids on the block as the model, hugely successful and well-known in the industry, cousin of art garfunkel, successfully sued by all of his musical acts

NSYNC

created by pearlman, modeled after success of backstreet boys, sales driven in part by rivarly between his two groups, dance pop-music-known for choreography, dominated charts in late 1990s and early 2000s

Justin Timberlake

started on the new mickey mouse club, member of nsync, begin solo career in 2002, expanded career through producing, fashion, and acting, Justified(2002), michael jackson inspired sound, " Cry Me A River"

Britney Spears

started on the new mickey mouse club, one of the best-selling female artists of all time, 5 of 6 albums released between 1999 and 2008 debuted at #1(the other debuted at #2) on billboard 200, controversial artist due to lyrics, fashion, videos, and behavior, heavily influenced by madonna"...Baby One More Time"

Ricky Martin

Puerto Rican singer, mixes latin pop, dance, salsa, reggaeton, member of puerto rican boy band menudo at age 12

Moulin Rouge

musical that incorporated dozens of pop music hits into storyline, " Lady Marmalade", cover of 1974 song that features christina aguilera, lil' kim, mya, and pink