Part 2 - I Love the 80's? - Music

At times it pains me to see advertising for "80's Retro". It seems like yesterday. I did a little research for the music of the 80's and here's what I found...

• MTV was lauched in the 80's

• New Wave Pop, or Synthpop reigns the 80's, also bringing with it the sounds of new technology, synthesizers and electronic keyboards, along with drum machines, that lend an electronic, distinct sound to most 1980s records. Early eighties groups such as Devo and Duran Duran are pioneers.

• The Hip hop scene evolves to become a powerful musical force, bringing with it several dance styles. Hip hop also brings artists like Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and N.W.A. to the forefront; hip hop's spread outside of New York City, especially to Los Angeles, accelerates and then takes off beyond America's shores.

BTW, that's Vin Diesel break dancing to Kurtis Blow!

• Heavy Metal, later known as hair metal, became extremely popular in 1980s, and became one of the most dominating music genres of the late 1980s. Bands such as Van Halen, Twisted Sister, Poison, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Cinderella, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot, Bon Jovi, Guns 'N Roses got heavy airplay.

• Thrash Metal becomes underground sensation originating in the Bay Area, California. Bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer are popular.

• Indie Rock is born, with bands such as The Smiths, Sonic Youth and Pixies as pioneers.

• Top-charting artists of the 1980s include The Police, Pat Benatar, Lionel Richie, The Go-Go's, Dire Straits, Van Halen, Foreigner, Phil Collins, Huey Lewis and the News, Bryan Adams, Queen, U2, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beastie Boys, and Bon Jovi.

Here's some questions to start the ball rolling. You don't have to answer each one or anything, their just questions to get you thinking...

What genre was your favorite? Which band do you know all the lyrics? What group do you think should never have made it beyond their garage? What group do you think was totally underated and should have been made into superstars? What was your favorite 80's concert? And did you throw your panties? ;)