4 Songs That Helped the 80s Define Its Musical Identity
Four songs helped establish the 1980s’ musical identity as the sounds of the previous decade gave way to new styles. Their success showed how synthesised production, New Wave and pop could reach broad audiences and shape the decade’s sound.
Gary Numan’s “Cars”, released in 1979 but gaining traction in the US in 1980, introduced listeners to his synth-led approach. Kim Carnes reworked Jackie DeShannon’s 1974 song “Bette Davis Eyes” into a keyboard-driven hit, while Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” blended power pop and New Wave in 1981. In 1982, the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” helped bring Britain’s synth-pop sound to American audiences.
In short
- “Cars” helped bring synth-led music to US listeners.
- Kim Carnes reshaped a 1974 song into an 80s hit.
- The Human League helped synth-pop cross the Atlantic.
Explained simply
The late 1970s and early 1980s brought changes in how pop music was made and heard. Cheaper electronic instruments made synthesised sounds more prominent, while New Wave blended elements of punk, pop and electronic music.
These four songs came from different artists and approaches. Gary Numan built “Cars” around synthesiser; Kim Carnes recorded a new version of a song first released by Jackie DeShannon; Rick Springfield combined catchy pop with New Wave influences; and British group the Human League made synth-pop.
Their reach showed that electronic sounds and New Wave could find large audiences in the United States as well as Britain. Together, they help explain the range of sounds that became associated with 1980s pop.
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