The best electronic music of the 80's (2023)

From new wave to hip hop, from industrial to techno, these are the best electronic tracks from the 80s that will make you dance.

introduction

The 1980s saw the rise of electronic music and some of the genre's most well-known artists. This decade was a golden age for electronic music, with new styles and innovative sounds being created every year. From classic synth-pop to cutting-edge techno, the 1980s produced some of the most influential and popular electronic music ever made.

In this article, we're going to list the best of electronic music from the 80's and highlight the main tracks and artists of this unforgettable decade.

The birth of electronic music

The best '80s electronic music isn't complete without a little history. Electronic music has its origins in the 19th century with pioneers such as Thaddeus Cahill and Leon Theremin. But it wasn't until the 20th century that electronic music really took off with the introduction of new technologies like the synthesizer.

The first half of the 20th century saw a number of important developments in electronic music, with composers such as Erik Satie, Edgar Varèse and Karlheinz Stockhausen creating notable works. But it wasn't until the 1950s that electronic music really took off with the advent of musique concrete and the first commercial synthesizers. This new wave of electronic music grew in popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with artists such as Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder helping to popularize the genre.

The 1980s was a golden age for electronic music, with artists such as Depeche Mode, New Order and Tears for Fears achieving massive success. The decade also saw the rise of house and techno music, with artists such as Frankie Knuckles and Juan Atkins helping to push these new genres forward. The Best of '80s Electronic Music is truly a diverse and rich body of work that still sounds fresh and exciting today.

The first wave of electronic music

In the early 1980s, a new form of music known as electronic dance music (EDM) emerged. This new style of music was influenced by many genres including disco, house and techno. EDM quickly became popular in nightclubs and on the radio.

In the mid-1980s, EDM evolved into a new genre called acid house. This new style of music was characterized by the use of synthesizers and drum machines. Acid house was incredibly popular in Britain, where it spawned the "rave" culture of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In the United States, EDM became known as 'techno' in the late 1980s. Techno was characterized by heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines. It quickly became popular in Detroit, where it emerged from the city's underground club scene.

As EDM evolved in the late 1980s and early 1990s, new subgenres emerged. These new genres included trance, jungle, and drum & bass. All of these genres would become hugely popular on their own.

The second wave of electronic music

In the 1980s, electronic music became more popular and mainstream with the emergence of synth-pop, new wave and industrial music. This was the second wave of electronic music, led by bands like Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, New Order, Duran Duran and Tears for Fears. These bands were able to achieve mainstream success thanks to their use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments.

The third wave of electronic music

The third wave of electronic music refers to a time in the 1980s when electronic music artists began experimenting with synthesizers and samplers to create new and innovative sounds. This period is often referred to as the golden age of electronic music, as it spawned numerous subgenres and produced some of the genre's most influential artists.

Some of the most popular subgenres to emerge during this period are house music, techno, acid house, dubstep and trance. These genres would dominate the electronic music scene for decades to come. Many of the artists who helped develop these sounds are still active today, and their influence can still be felt in music today.

The fourth wave of electronic music

In the early 1980s, a new wave of electronic music began to emerge. This fourth wave built on the sound of previous waves but with a more polished production style. The result was a sleek, polished sound that dominated the charts well into the 1980s.

The most famous artists of this fourth wave include Depeche Mode, New Order, Kraftwerk and Duran Duran. These groups used new technologies to create a sound that was modern and accessible to a wide audience. The result was a sound that defined an entire decade.

Depeche Mode was one of the most successful groups of the 1980s, selling over 100 million records worldwide. The group's signature sound was a blend of electronica and pop sensibilities, which proved to be a winning formula for commercial success.

New Order was another hugely successful group of the 1980s, selling over 30 million records worldwide. The group's sound was influenced by post-punk and disco, giving their music a unique blend of styles. Their most successful single, "Blue Monday", is one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Kraftwerk pioneered electronic music, and their influence can be heard in the works of many subsequent artists. The group's innovative use of technology helped shape the sound of popular music in the 1980s.

Duran Duran was one of the most popular bands of the 1980s, thanks in part to their sophisticated use of electronic instruments. The group's catchy melodies and catchy rhythms helped them achieve widespread commercial success.

The fifth wave of electronic music

The fifth wave of electronic music began in the early 1980s and peaked in the late 1990s. This wave is characterized by a return to the use of synthesizers and drum machines, as well as a renewed interest in dance music styles such as house and techno. This wave also saw the rise of digital audio technologies, leading to the development of new genres such as IDM and breakbeat.

The sixth wave of electronic music

The sixth wave of electronic (or post-disco) music was a particularly prolific and innovative period in the history of electronic dance music, with great cross-pollination between different genres leading to the birth of countless new sounds and subgenres. It was also during this period that electronic dance music's first true superstars emerged, with artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and Whitney Houston becoming global icons.

It is often assumed that the sixth wave began with the 1977 release of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", which was one of the first disco songs to make extensive use of synthesizers. The track was produced by Giorgio Moroder, who would go on to become one of the most important figures in electronic dance music in the 1980s. "I Feel Love" was followed by a series of other influential disco tracks that utilized synthesizers, including "Le Freak" ( 1978) by Chic, "Love Is the Message" (1979) by MFSB and "Upside Down" by Diana Ross. (1980).

The advent of synthesizer-based disco led to a new wave of electronic music producers in the early 1980s, influenced by both disco and Kraftwerk. These include Italian producer Giorgio Moroder, who has worked extensively with Donna Summer; American producer Nile Rodgers, founder of Chic; German producer Klaus Dinger, co-founder of NEU!; and British producer Trevor Horn, who later formed The Buggles and produced hits for Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Grace Jones.

The synth-pop genre also took off in the early 1980s, with singles such as Gary Numan's "Cars" (1979), Icehouse's "Great Southern Land" (1982) and Duran Duran's "Planet Earth" (1981). Synth-pop became one of the most successful genres of the 1980s, with artists such as Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Yazoo and A-ha gaining worldwide fame.

Diploma

Conclusion: The 80's were a great decade for electronic music. Many new genres and subgenres were born and the song continues to influence artists to this day. If you're an electronic music fan, you should definitely check out some of the songs and albums from this decade.