How 1985 Was a Pivotal Year in Mainstream Music
When it comes to popular music, 1985 may have been one of the most eclectic years ever. While the music was unique, the way we listened to it changed forever too. The Billboard Top 100 Singles from that year was a smorgasbord of sound: not only did we have the chart-topping ballad of Careless Whisper from Wham!, we also had the progressive sound and lyrics of Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule The World. In fact, the year was a big part of the Second British Invasion, which also included the likes of Simple Minds (who performed Don’t You Forget About Me, part of The Breakfast Club movie soundtrack the same year.) Pet Shop Boys (who I was lucky enough to see live last year) also saw success with the first version of West End Girls released in 1985 that topped the charts in the UK.Other legendary pop musicians were cementing their fame in 1985. Madonna had become a household name, while Prince took the music world by storm. Meanwhile, the same year also reminded us of the potential of big pop stars coming together in support of global causes. Live Aid was a benefit concert (held simultaneously in the US and UK) in 1985 to battle famine in Ethiopia, which almost half the world watched on television. The supergroup Band Aid, which released record-topping hits a year prior such as Do They Know It’s Christmas? performed at Live Aid, inspired other charity singles including We Are the World (1985).Guitars briefly dropped to the background in the early to mid 1980’s in favour of synth-pop, although 1985 may have marked their return. One classic example is Money for Nothing by Dire Straits, which showed the world the electric guitar still could bring an audience to its knees.
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