80s Influence

The decade of the 80s began with a backlash against disco music in the United States, and a movement away from the orchestral arragements that had characterized much of the music of the 1970s. Music in the 1980s was characterized by unheard of electronic sounds accomplished through the use of synthesizers and keyboards, along with drum machines. This made a dramatic change in music.

With the transition from soul and disco to R&B (which can also be called urban pop) in the early to mid 1980s, we see a new genre of music form. This newer style combines elements of soul, funk and dance. A major star of this Michael Jackson, who is known as the "King of Pop" and continues to have an influence on the music we have today. Female R&B singers such as Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Tina Turner became very popular during the second half of the 1980s.

Also in the second half of the 1980s teen pop has its first wave. Bands and artists include New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Tommy Page, New Edition, Stacey Q, The Bangles, Madonna and more.

Considering MTV was just formed, fans could see what was in fashion according to their idols. Madonna was titled the "Material Girl" and many teenage girls looked up to her for fashion statements. She first emerged on the dance music scene with her "street urchin" look--short skirts over leggings, necklaces, rubber bracelets, fishnet gloves, hairbows, long layered strings of beads, bleached, untidy hair with dark roots, head bands, and lace ribbons. Michael Jackson also inspired teenagers to replicate his "Thriller" look, inspired by his record breaking album, Thriller. This look included matching red/black leather pants and jackets, one glove, sunglasses, and jheri curl. Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" video and other dance-themed television shows and movies created a dancewear fashion sense--professional dancewear, such as leggings and leg warmers, were word as streetwear. We can see now that the fashion from that era is inspiring our era today.

Sources:
http://www.fashion-era.com/fitness_fashion_after_1960.htm
http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id14.htm
http://www.liketotally80s.com/80s-pop-music.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance-pop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980s_in_fashion