Music
Surely there can be no better decade for music than the Eighties?
The rise of the synthesizer meant that you didn't need the traditional five-piece band to make music. Bands such as Soft Cell, Gary Numan and The Pet Shop Boys began to define what would become the sound of the Eigties.
Other than Synthpop, the music scene was largely a follow on from the 70's with big hair soft rock bands such as Bon Jovi, Kiss and Aerosmith.
The Eighties also saw the birth of the indie scene. Formed from the ashes of Punk Rock, bands such as Sonic Youth and the Pixes were defining a new sound, closely followed by more mainstream acts such as Talking Heads and The Smiths.
Hip hop,a genre of music and culture that began in 1970s Bronx in New York City, became mainstream and a strong influence on pop music in the late 1980s and continues to be in the present day. Popular hip hop artists of the 1980s include Grandmaster Flash, Salt n Pepa, Beastie Boys, NWA and Run DMC.
Top Selling Albums of the 80's
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
Fleetwood Mac - Tango In The Night
Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
The Top 10 Best Selling Singles of the 80s
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes
Human League - Don't You Want Me
Wham! - Last Christmas
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
George Michael - Careless Whisper
Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
The Top 10 Best Selling Singles of the 80s - Year By Year
1980
Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me
Barbra Streisand - Woman In Love
Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm In Love
Abba - Super Trouper
Ottawan - D.I.S.C.O.
Blondie - The Tide is High
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno
Kenny Rogers - Coward Of The County
Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful
John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
1981
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Adam & The Ants - Stand And Deliver
Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming
Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House
Ultravox - Vienna
Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
Michael Jackson - One Day In Your Life
Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddup You Face
The Tweets - Birdie Song
Shakin' Stevens - You Drive Me Crazy
1982
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
Irene Cara - Fame
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
Tight Fit - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie
Eddy Grant - I Don't Wanna Dance
Goombay Dance Band - Seven Tears
Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder - Ebony And Ivory
The Jam - Town Called Malice / Precious
1983
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Billy Joel - Uptown Girl
UB40 - Red Red Wine
David Bowie - Let's Dance
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Men At Work - Down Under
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Spandau Ballet - True
Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night)
Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
1984
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas
Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes
George Michael - Careless Whisper
Wham - Last Christmas / Everything She Wants
Lionel Richie - Hello
Black Lace - Agadoo
Wham! - Freedom
Ray Parker Junior - Ghostbusters
1985
Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love
Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well
Madonna - Into The Groove
Paul Hardcastle - 19
Sister Sledge - Frankie
David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street
Phyllis Nelson - Move Closer
A-Ha - Take On Me
Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart
Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
1986
Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way
Nick Berry - Every Loser Wins
Boris Gardiner - I Want To Wake Up With You
Cliff Richard & The Young Ones - Living Doll
Diana Ross - Chain Reaction
Chris De Burgh - Lady In Red
Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough
Berlin - Take My Breath Away
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
Sinitta - So Macho / Crusing
1987
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Bee Gees - You Win Again
T'Pau - China In Your Hand
Mel & Kim - Respectable
Ben E King - Stand By Me
Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin
MARRS - Pump Up The Volume
The Firm - Star Trekkin'
1988
Cliff Richard - Mistletoe And Wine
Yazz & The Plastic Population - The Only Way Is Up
Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky
Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan - Especially For You
Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now
Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You
Phil Collins - A Groovy Kind Of Love
Wet Wet Wet - With A Little Help From My Friends
Hollies - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother
Womack & Womack - Teardrops
1989
Black Box - Ride On Time
Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers - Swing The Mood
Bangles - Eternal Flame
Jason Donovan - Too Many Broken Hearts
Soul II Soul - Back To Life
Marc Almond & Gene Pitney - Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart
Jive Bunny & TheMastermixers - That's What I Like
Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam
Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas?
Madonna - Like A Prayer