The SOUNDTRACK of Our Youth

The music that defines "Growing Up GenX"

Dear Reader— This post is an excerpt of my work-in-progress book dedicated to fellow nostalgists like me. It’s my love letter to Generation X. Please make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter to receive updates and future excerpts. Here are links to additional excerpts I have shared:

GROWING UP IN "THE EIGHTIES" - What it was really like

The Ninja Invasion of The 1980s

GET BACK HOME BEFORE DARK

RIP Saturday Morning Nostalgia

These are the thirteen most quintessential songs of the 1980s and 1990s— 

—ahem, let's start with a primer first and I'll share the special thirteen at the end of this chapter.

Everyone knows 80s music is the best music. If they don't, get rid of them, you don't need that kind of negativity in your life!

The music of the 1980s is so special and unique that it continues to permeate media in our society. It still appears in modern movie soundtracks, commercials, in sporting events, and even in video games! 

Why is that? Why has the music previous to the 1980s not impacted culture as profoundly as 80 music has today?

We can all agree that 80s music was pure fun. Let’s compare it to the second best decade for music, the 1990s. While 90s music is special, and incredible bands were still emerging, music was changing. It was moodier, scratchier, and I’d say there were more bands that were an acquired taste. Still, the 90s was an incredible decade for music. I mean, no one can deny that 90s RnB was absolute magic. Oh, and let’s not forget, Freestyle Music!

1980s music was light in tone and much like 80s films and their unique look, 80s music had that 80s sound, which can be attributed to the Yamaha DX7 keyboard. I like to believe that the timeless quality of our music can be attributed to more than the innovative sound from synthesizers. It is also because it was cutting edge, consumed by so many through innovative and enjoyable programs, television shows, including MTV, and because of its wide range of genres, appealed to various audiences. All of these things together made the songs and the artists more memorable. 

Also, and it would be irresponsible of me to not mention, even our cartoons from the 80s and 90s showcased incredible musical beats and talent! I mean, you can’t listen to the intro track of Jayce and The Wheeled Warriors and not think our music was on another level.

For those of us who grew up in the 80s, our music was the backdrop of our lives. It was a stark departure from our parents' music, marking a clear generational divide. While our parents had their Beatles and Rolling Stones, we had our Tears for Fears and Guns N’ Roses. The 80s sound was our rebellion and became our identity.

I can't really stand much of the music today. I honestly can't. I sound old right now, don’t I?

To be fair, there is still good music being made, but it's few and far between. Most modern music sounds amateurish and forgettable.  I can’t really name a modern band that would have the staying power like the ones from our generation do. Can you? There are a few very talented solo artists, but they are mostly drowned out by all the noise.

I WANT MY MTV

Remember how much MTV changed the world of music? Even though Spotify brought innovation in delivery of music and executed it better than even Apple, I would argue, MTV was truly groundbreaking. It wasn’t a software, it was infused within our culture.