Ah, the 1980s. Big hair. Florescent colors. Shoulder pads. Did it get any better?
In honor of our upcoming Totally 80s Afternoon performance on September 20th, here are our top 5 recommendations for the ultimate 80s playlist:
The iconic 1983 release of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" carries anti-violence themes which were especially relevant given the rise of gang violence in the 1980s. Winner of 2 Grammy Awards and featuring a legendary guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen, this cross over rock-pop sensation brought people to their feet and defined a type of musical resistance to real world violence.
Here's a very cool string quartet version, courtesy of the Wedding String Quartet:
The 1980s saw the rise of music videos and access to music through television channels like MTV. In fact, this song was the first video ever to be broadcast on MTC on August 1, 1981. Ironic, right?
Released right at the beginning of the decade on The Buggles' debut album The Age of Plastic, the song reflects anxieties about new technology and methods for music consumption—something we in the Classical music world know all too well, especially in the age of Spotify and on-demand cable music channels. The song blends new wave, synth-pop, and electronic effects, creating a quintessentially 80s sound.
This string quartet arrangement, performed by the Dammen Quartet, brings that neo-futurism of The Buggles into the Classical vocabulary of the orchestra.
80s rock icon Joan Jett first heard "I Love Rock and Roll" in 1975, when it was originally recorded by The Arrows. She knew there was a hit there and boy, was she right! The mix of Jett's gritty vocals, raw guitar riffs, and punchy rhythm, "I Love Rock and Roll" perfectly encapsulates the no-frills spirit of rock and roll. Every generation has their rebellious music—Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Grandmaster Flash—and the 80s are no exception with this tough, legendary number.
Performed by PhatStrad, this string quartet number breaks all kinds of barriers and lets us know that even violinists love rock and roll.
Written in 1980 by Queen's bassist John Beacon, "Another One Bites the Dust" is driven by a funky, minimalist bass line blended with disco and funk influences. Freddie Mercury's popular vocal style and the catchy lyrics of the song have become a staple of sports arenas, movies, TV, and other areas of gathering.
Played here by the incredible Vitamin String Quartet, this version gives the cello and viola time to shine with the iconic bass line you'll instantly recognize.
One of the most enduring rock songs of all time, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" is a feel good anthem of perseverance, hope, and chasing your dreams. The introduction is instantly recognizable to generations of listeners and has become a staple not just of the rock genre, but of film, television, and karaoke bars everywehere.
The Dolce Ensemble brings us this string quartet version of a city boy and a small town girl, sure to set your spirits on a midnight train going anywhere.
What are some of your favorite hits from the 80s? Come hear more string quartet versions of music like we've discussed here as well as hits by Madonna, Guns N Roses, Bette Midler, Blondie, and many, many more!
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