MovieChat Forums > The Goldbergs (2013) Discussion > What was your favorite '80s music?

What was your favorite '80s music?

posted 9 years ago by jefgg
30 replies | jump to latest

Who were your favorite '80s music groups and solo acts? I am a big music fan so it is really hard to narrow it down.

Groups
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Squeeze
The Smithereens
The Bangles
The Cult

Solo artists
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Prince
Billy Idol

My bro got me into Squeeze and I got him into The Smithereens. When they played a gig together at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, NJ I thought we were going to plotz. We got second row seats and knew every word to every song. I was a big Lenny Kravitz fan. His debut album came out in 1989 so I don't really consider him an 80s act. I discovered the band King's X in 1990, a couple years after their debut album.

[–] Jokers_Wilde 9 years ago

I am a big music fan so it is really hard to narrow it down.

You too, huh? I agree. It's tough to narrow it down for me, too.

I liked all the synth-pop groups -- probably because I was taking keyboard/organ lessons at the time.
I was a BIG Bryan Adams fan (still am). I played the heck out of my "Reckless" cassette. 

It was at a time where music had no boundaries for me. That is, no rap, rock, heavy metal, pop....it was all MUSIC.

I was a big Lenny Kravitz fan. His debut album came out in 1989 so I don't really consider him an 80s act.

Co-worker of mine would love to hear that. She is a BIG Lenny Kravitz fan, too. I enjoy his early work.
BTW, he covered "American Woman". Easily...the WORST cover EVER. That, along with "I Fought The Law" covered by The Clash.

I discovered the band King's X in 1990, a couple years after their debut album.

LOVED the song "Summerland". They also did a good cover of "Here Comes The Sun" -- originally done by The Beatles.

Joker's Wilde

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Buddy Burger. Have us scrape one off the grill..so YOU don't have to scrape one off the road!

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

There have been many covers much worse than Lenny Kravitz's version of "American Woman". Take ABBA's cover of Lead Belly's "Pick A Bale Of Cotton" ... please.

When did King's X cover "Here Comes The Sun"? I think the best known cover of that song was by the late Richie Havens.

[–] Jokers_Wilde 9 years ago

There have been many covers much worse than Lenny Kravitz's version of "American Woman". Take ABBA's cover of Lead Belly's "Pick A Bale Of Cotton" ... please.

True. As well, it is bad when one is labeled a 'one-hit wonder'. It's even worse if your one hit...is a cover of someone else's hit!

Just ask Alien Ant Farm (Smooth Criminal) and Save Ferris (Come On Eileen). 

When did King's X cover "Here Comes The Sun"? I think the best known cover of that song was by the late Richie Havens.

I can't remember where I found it. There must have been a link I found somewhere.

Joker's Wilde

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Buddy Burger. Have us scrape one off the grill..so YOU don't have to scrape one off the road!

[–] Gordon_Gartrelle 9 years ago

Single
Lionel Richie
Belinda Carliey?

Group
Wham!

It is very hard to narrow it down.

I didn't start listening to cassettes until the 1990's.

All vinyl or radio.

I don't let anyone hot-comb out my HAIRitage!

[–] billymac72 9 years ago

Ha! I think most people tend to idealize the music from their own era, but I absolutely hated 80s music!

Let me walk that back a teensy bit, however. I very much enjoyed a lot of early '80s music. It all seemed to change around '83 or '84. It moved away from the guitar-driven, arena rock type stuff, which I loved (Styx, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, etc). As a high schooler, I started to play guitar and drifted towards metal. But that got really lame too once Motley Crue made it huge and virtually every band seemed to try to copy the Los Angeles Scene template. The only band that seemed unaffected by all that was Metallica. I was also a giant Stevie Ray Vaughan fan who, even today, is not someone I think of as an "80s artist," but he was, all the same.

I grew up listening to my dad's old 45s, which was early rock & roll (Bill Haley, Little Richard, Fats Domino, etc.). From an early age in the '70s, I discovered the Beatles and my parents were listening to a steady rotation of country music (Waylon, Willie, etc.). So, all through the 80s, I was listening to older music, by and large. I probably listen to more "new" music today than I did then. When I look back, the feeling I remember is one of resistance!

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

I grew up on vocal groups and classic oldies. Then I graduated to classic rock and heavy metal, but never lost touch with my musical roots. I wanted this thread to focus on '80s music because "The Goldbergs" is a show about the '80s.

[–] cinsmith1 9 years ago

I was pretty much a goth/punk girl:

The Cure
The Smiths/Morrissey
Duran Duran
Bauhaus
Dead Kennedys
Fugazi
Black Flag
Minor Threat
Agnostic Front
Bad Brains
Circle Jerks
Squeeze

Didn't really like a lot of solo artists unless you count Morrissey.

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

I wasn't into a lot of "alternative" groups or whatever you want to call it. I liked Talking Heads, Thompson Twins and Eurythmics. I discovered Thompson Twins by accident after my bro won free tickets to their Radio City concert. Chris Isaak opened for them and stunk up the joint. He was more focused on cracking lousy jokes and shaking his tuchus than making music. Opening acts are overrated. I wish more bands would not bother with opening acts and play a little longer. If they needed to take an intermission that would be fine with me.

[–] billymac72 9 years ago

Been to many concerts, but never saw Chris Isaak. I always liked him, so that's too bad he stunk.

For the most part, I think you're correct about opening acts, but I've seen a few really good ones. They can surprise on occasion.

I saw Tommy Shaw open up for Rush on their "Hold Your Fire" tour (1987?). He really energized the place. I also saw Metallica open for Ozzy Osbourne in 1986. They were touring for Masters of Puppets. They were by FAR much better than Ozzy was. I also saw the late Jeff Healey open for the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. That was a very entertaining double-bill.

[–] speedy1383 9 years ago

I recall my first record I bought was Dumb Ditties. Fun album. Had a song called "Martian Hop" that was fantastic. After that I think I got "Business As Usual" from Men at Work.

I wasn't a huge music fan until my brother honestly forced me to like metal. So I did start liking it.

Groups/Artists-I just combined them in here.
Men at Work
Iron Maiden
Dokken
Cinderella
Bon Jovi-I loved their first album and Slippery When Wet. After that I didn't really follow them.
Dio-My fav singer of all time. First saw him on the Sacred Heart tour around '86.
Ozzy-Got into Sabbath as well, but Sabbath with Ozzy was a 70s thing. Sabbath with Dio was a 80s thing so there's that.
Asia-Still love them. Saw them a few yrs ago. Awesome concert. Glad I got to see them before Steve Howe left.
Queensryche-Still like them even with the new singer
Survivor-Yes I had a softer side. I played Vital Signs constantly when I was in high school.
Tom Petty-First concert was with him on The Southern Accents tour.
Doors-Became a huge Doors fan in high school. They of course were a 60s/early 70s band though.
Frehley's Comet-Really liked this off shoot for Ace. The guy who sang with him was pretty good.
Eddie Money-Really liked him. I've seen him a couple of times in recent yrs and he puts on a great show. Very talented guy.

[–] aluminum_foil 9 years ago

My musical taste was a lot like Adam's. I could totally see myself buying Chicago from Columbia House.

My favorite was Billy Joel, and I frequently recorded music from the soft rock stations on my clock radio/cassette recorder.

I love Weird Al, but didn't buy anything of his until 1989 or so.

[–] Ihatesleazyshows 9 years ago

For me definitely Punk/New Wave.

Duran Duran
U2
REM
The Cure
Depeche Mode
INXS
The Clash

And on and no. Never much into the lamebrain teen pop that dominated by the late 80's nor did I care for the soft rock of the early 80's. Some hair metal was okay at first but it got old very quick. Once I discovered a local station was playing alternative at night I never listened to top 40 again (which I hated unless they were playing what we now call alternative).

[–] Yorke71 9 years ago

For me definitely Punk/New Wave.

Duran Duran
U2
REM
The Cure
Depeche Mode
INXS
The Clash

Good list. I listened to all of them except for the Clash (though Rock the Casbah was great).

[–] LDSjess 9 years ago

I was obsessed with Bon Jovi in the 80s. I had posters of Jon Bon Jovi all over my room. I also remember the first album I bought which was Michael Jackson Thriller. Other favorites included:
Madonna
Duran Duran
Journey
Bangles
Heart (I saw them in concert last summer and they were amazing!)
Van Halen
Tears for Fears

...and I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I loved Debbie Gibson and Tiffany!

[–] chrisa289 9 years ago

Nothing wrong with Debbie Gibson...Have you seen this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzqcoXo0OwA