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Throughout the story, Eleanor and her family is plagued by Richie's (the step-father) alcohol and smoking abuse. Richie smokes marijuana and spends all of the family's money on alcohol at the local bar. He is never sober and acts in an abusive manner towards his family. His abusiveness towards his family shapes the entire plot of the story. I chose to research alcoholism and smoking in the 1980's as a way to understand what made Richie so abusive. It helped me understand the story more by giving me some insight as to how easy it was to get alcohol and how expensive it was in the 1980's.

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Throughout the entire book, music is brought up by the two protagonists. They are both interested in a variety of different genres and discuss them earnestly. One band in particular that is repeatedly brought up is The Smiths. To listen to their music, they both use a Walkman with cassettes. Their love of listening to different genres and the cool, old technology made me want to research music in the 80's.

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The eighties are seen by many as a time of excess and extremes. From Boy George to Madonna, metal heads to valley girls, and workout clothes to shoulder pads, many pushed the boundaries of what was was conventional.

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In the 80's smoking and alcohol were extremely common things. There was a smoking section on airplanes and a smoking section in school buildings for teachers and students to use at their leisure. Lots of people didn't know the dangers of smoking back then. Commercials, movies, and tv shows all contained smoking and gave the illusion that it was "cool to smoke". People also drank alcohol frequently. Commercials, movies, and tv shows all contained the consumption of alcohol and made it seem luxurious. The legal drinking age changed in the 1980's which made it harder for people to get alcohol.

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Now, smoking and alcohol consumption has become less popular due to research on how it affects your body. There are no longer designated airplane sections nor smoking spots for teachers and students. You still see smoking and alcohol in commercials, movies, and tv shows but they don't have the same effect as they did in the 80's. In some countries, tobacco companies are forced to print pictures of decimated lungs on cigarette packages to deter people from smoking. There is now medication and treatment for alcoholics and smokers who need and want to quit.

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In the 80's music was a huge part of everyday life. People gathered around their TV screens to watch music videos on MTV, listened to music on the go using cassette tapes and a Walkman, and also listened to music on record players. Pop music consisted of artists like Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. Other music genres like hip-hop, rap, new wave, and hair metal became extremely popular. These singers and entertainers became legends in the eyes of the public.

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Now, music is still a big part of everyday life. People mainly listen to music on the radio and on their phones. Pop music consists of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Demi Lovato. Another very popular music genre is rap. Rap dominated the charts in 2017 and will most likely continue to do so. These artists are constantly posting out on social media and have gained the world's attention with their music.

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Music in the 80's V.S. Music Today

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Music Styles, Bands And Artists during the 1980's

Music in the 1980s was all about image and with the advent and popularity of MTV, the images that accompanied artists became more important than ever. When it came to music during the decade, nothing was understated, not the sound, not the fashion, not even the charity. The 1980s reflected the beginning of a period of great income disparity and a focus on affluence was reflected in the music. There were also several new genres that popped up including, Hip Hop, New Wave and Hair Metal, all of which have influenced music today.

Popular Music Genres of the 1980's

Pop

Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Cher, Hall & Oates, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, John Mellencamp, George Michael, Tiffany, New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson, Wham!

Hip Hop / Rap

Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Grandmaster Flash, Africa Bambaata, LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Salt-n-Pepa, Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy, Biz Markie, Eric B. & Rakim, Ice-T, NWA, Jungle Brothers, Gang Starr

New Wave

Culture Club, Duran Duran, Devo, A Flock of Seagulls, Blondie, Talking Heads, The Cars, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello, The B-52s, The Go-Gos, The Beat, Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, The Police, The Clash, Billy Idol, The Cure, Spandeau Ballet, The Bangles

Hair Metal

Van Halen, Poison, Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Warrant, Cinderella, Europe, Guns n' Roses, Skid Row, Metallica, Anthrax, Ratt, Pantera, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, Aerosmith

Arguably the most important event to influence music during the 1980s was the creation of the cable network MTV (Music Television). MTV was the first network to exclusively showcase music videos, making its debut on August 1st, 1981. The first music video to be played on the channel was, appropriately, the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," as music would forever change and the focus would shift from music and lyrics to fashion and theatrics, at least in the world of pop music. The original concept of the network was to play music videos twenty-four hours a day, every day. And, while this has obviously changed since then, the innovative concept created a whole new breed of pop star.

New Pop Superstars

Pop stars and their music changed in the 1980s with the help of MTV and a greater focus on image. A new breed of mega-stars emerged, becoming iconic mascots for the genre and defining the decade through fashion, talent and persona. Some of the superstars to emerge were Madonna, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Prince. They experienced a level of fame and success not seen since Elvis Presley and the Beatles. These stars influenced fashion through their music videos, giving fans a first hand glimpse into emerging trends. Their songs set the gold standard for what pop music should be, and through constant reinvention they were able to navigate the pop culture world and keep themselves relevant. Thirty years on, they are still the standard that today's pop stars get compared to. There are several reasons they these pop mega-stars emerged, the main one being they were genuinely talented artists. Other reasons include a greater public interest in celebrity gossip, fashion and and increased obsession with pop culture. It also was related to the public having an increased disposable income and a want to imitate celebrity affluence. Changes in technology also contributed to the availability of music (MTV), better ways to listen (CDs and cassettes), and portability of music (the Walkman and boom-boxes). Lastly, a lot of these superstars' success can be accounted for through smart marketed by record companies and the artists' ability to look at themselves as brands.

Old Pop Stars and Their New Solo Careers

One trend in pop music during the decade was the re-emergence of older musicians who had once been popular as a part of a group or duo into their own solo careers. Some examples include Diana Ross, Cher, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney. These artists had already experienced success during the 1960s and 1970s and a few of them had even tried becoming actors during that time. They also came into successful solo careers after adapting to the new musical landscape. Cher, Tina Turner and Diana Ross all updated their looks to keep up with fashion, Lionel Richie made memorable music videos and adapted his soulful sound into the new style of pop music and Paul McCartney collaborated with other successful musicians to keep himself relevant. Part of the reason these artists were successful had to do with the fact that the Baby Boom generation was coming into adulthood and had an influx of disposable income to spend on the records of artists they had grown up listening to. They brought a sense of nostalgia for the good old days of music and yet their songs and styles were updated, combining the best of both worlds.

One Hit Wonders

The eighties was the decade of one hit wonders, where an artist would achieve massive success with one or two extremely popular songs and then seemingly fade away, never able to re-create their success. Part of this had to do with the expansion of the music industry, facilitated by MTV and technology. Record companies could now make just as much money by manufacturing one-hit artists in succession while not having to invest the time and money that would make a mediocre musician into a star with more longevity. Trends were also changing more quickly and many artists could not keep up and adapt fast enough. As the world's society became more globalized, the pool of talent became bigger, making it easier to move onto the next new artist. The changes in technology and societal attitudes also meant that consumers' attention spans got shorter. Some of the most memorable one hit wonders from the decade include, a-ha's "Take On Me," Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," Toni Basil's "Mickey," Nena's "99 Luftballoons," and Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Come On Eileen."

Hip Hop/Rap music originated in African American communities in New York City in the 1970s and became more mainstream and part of popular culture in the mid to late 1980s. Hip hop music originally had a difficult time breaking into the mainstream due to MTV's reluctance to show music videos of black artists. After much criticism, the network started to embrace black musicians like Michael Jackson, whose videos were amongst the most popular, paving the way for hip hop artists like Run DMC and LL Cool J to usher in the era of commercialized rap music. As the genre gained traction on MTV, it gave the white middle class a glimpse into inner city culture and many conservative parents of the time were disapproving of the genre that had been called the "new rock n' roll." Key elements of the genre include sampling old records, rapping lyrics, fun sounds with an underlying message, beat-boxing and electronic sounds. Hip hop music sounded like nothing that had been heard before in mainstream music and the late 1980s was thought of as the Golden Age, were everything seemed original and innovative. By the end of the decade MTV started airing the program "Yo! MTV Raps" making the hip hop and rap music a global phenomenon. Important hip hop acts like Run DMC and LL Cool J made the genre commercial and were style icons, the Beastie Boys made the music "white friendly" and added elements of rock music, and Salt-n-Pepa were female pioneers of the genre.

Hair Metal had its roots in the 1970s Glam Rock. Popular bands in the genre often came from the L.A. Sunset Strip music scene and the United Kingdom. Hair metal bands would pull influences from heavy metal, punk rock, and traditional rock music to develop their sound. Lyrically, songs had catchy hooks and a pop sensibility. Songs were often party anthems or power ballads and would focus on themes of being an outlaw, drugs and women. Groups from this genre were called "Hair Bands" because members of these male-dominated bands would often have long and big-styled hair and would wear makeup and spandex clothing, creating an androgynous look. Bands in this genre fell on large spectrum from being almost pop music/soft rock to a heavier and grittier sound and nearly all of them had a flamboyant and outgoing lead singer. Hair metal bands were also associated with a hard-partying lifestyle, groupies and drug-use. Notable hair bands from the decade include Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Guns n' Roses, and Poison.

Charity Music

As many pop stars became excessive and affluent during the eighties, they wanted to show that they could be generous and have a serious purpose by taking up causes. The best way for many of them to do so was to create or contribute to charity concerts and recordings. These were bigger and better than ever during the decade and there were plenty of causes from which to choose. Musicians would organize these songs and televised concerts and contribute the profits to the cause. Others would hold the concerts solely to increase public awareness of an issue. Bob Geldof's "Band Aid" super-group recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and subsequent "Live Aid" concert were amongst the most memorable and arguably the largest of these charitable events. Both Band Aid's recording and Live Aid's July 13th, 1985 concert aimed at raising funds for victims of famine in Ethiopia. The group featured mainly British artists which would influence its American equivalent, USA for Africa, created by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. USA for Africa recorded the charity song "We Are the World" and their May 25th, 1986 benefit was called "Hands Across America," both aiming to raise money for victims of famine, poverty and homelessness in African countries. Another notable musical charity event during the decade was hosted by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. It was held on September 22nd in 1985 and was called Farm Aid. The concert was held to raise money for struggling farmers in the United States. There were various other charitable events formed by musicians in the 1980s and the enduring popularity and seemingly effective outcomes of these events have made them a lasting fixture in public charity.

Popular Songs Each Year in the 80's

Popular songs from the Eighties Decade, arranged by year but in no particular order. Do you remember listening to these songs on the radio?

Some hits from the 80's

Coward Of The County Kenny Rogers 1980
Imagine John Lennon 1981
Ebony & Ivory Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder 1982
Come On Eileen Dexy's Midnight Runners 1982
Eye Of The Tiger Survivor 1982
Billie Jean Michael Jackson 1983
Karma Chameleon Culture Club 1983
I Just Called To Say I Love You Stevie Wonder 1984
Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid 1984
We Are The World USA For Africa 1985
Dancing In The Street David Bowie & Mick Jagger 1985
Who's That Girl Madonna 1987
Desire U2 1988
One Moment In Time Whitney Houston 1988
A Groovy Kind Of Love Phil Collins 1988

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1980s Music History including Eidhties Styles, Bands And Artists

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Music Styles, Bands And Artists during the 1980's Music in the 1980s was all about image and with the advent and popularity of MTV, the images that accompanied artists became more important than ever. When it came to music during the decade, nothing was understated, not the sound, not the fashion, not even the charity.

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In the 80's people depended on phones to contact each other. They used several different varieties of phones to get in touch with people. They used cord phones, cordless phones, and car phones (in the late 80's). People also used fax machines and pagers to send each other messages. People still sent handwritten letters to each other in the mail.

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Now, people depend on cell phones, email, video calling (ex. FaceTime and Skype), social media, and texting to get a hold of each other. Texting, social media, and emailing are by far the most common form of communication in our digital world. I personally get about 12 emails a day and at least 20 texts and that's a small amount compared to other people. Almost everyone uses social media to get into contact with each other especially businesses and celebrities. Today's form of communication is more impersonal but quicker than communication in the 80's.

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Communication in the 80's V.S. Communication Today

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Exciting events happened throughout the 1980s. The Berlin Wall fell, Nintendo was invented, and Madonna invaded the new music channel MTV. With the widespread excitement and busy attitude of Americans, several new technologies rose in popularity as a means to keep people connected to the happenings of the decade and to each other.

Car Phones

While bulky cellular phones were invented in the late 1980s, the car phone was the standard for portable telephone communications during the decade. The phone received a better signal because it was hardwired to the car's battery and used signals connected to landline telephone towers. The device came standard on many luxury vehicles, but it could be installed on most vehicles separately typically in the center console.

Cordless Telephones

The pain and frustration of getting wrapped up in the long phone cord connecting the base to the receiver was finally alleviated with the birth of the cordless phone. The first cordless phone occupied a frequency at the 27 MHz range, and only allowed the user to walk within 100 feet of the transmitter. The first cordless phones also had issues with static and interference. As the technology became more mainstream, the FCC allowed other frequencies to be used for cordless phone transmissions, such as the 47-49 MHz, and finally in 1990, the 900-MHz range, which was used by many for a decade.

Fax Machines

The use of telefacsimiles, or fax machines, in the business world rose dramatically between 1983 and 1989, from 300,000 to 4 million worldwide. A fax basically scans a document and creates an electronic representation of the data, which is then sent to a second party. In the 1980s, this was accomplished through the use of land-based telephone lines. While the technology was originally developed in the 1960s, fax machines' popularity in the 1980s was attributed to a faster global economy and a smaller design model developed by Xerox.

One-way pager

Emergency personnel, doctors and even IT specialists could be seen wearing a one-way pager in the 1980s. A sender calls the telephone number of the page and is then prompted to enter a phone number. The receiver would then need to call the party back to find out about the situation. The limited functionality of the device made it a novelty of the decade, eventually being displaced by cellular phones and two-way pagers in the 1990s, which could receive both phone numbers and short messages.

About the Author

Based in Memphis, Tenn., Elizabeth Link has been a professional writer since 2008. Her work has appeared locally and regionally in publications such as "Emerald Coast Bride Magazine," "DeSoto Magazine" and "Romantic Destinations Magazine." Link holds a Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Memphis.

Photo Credits

David De Lossy/Photodisc/Getty Images

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Communication Devices in the Decade of the 1980s | Synonym

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Exciting events happened throughout the 1980s. The Berlin Wall fell, Nintendo was invented, and Madonna invaded the new music channel MTV. With the widespread excitement and busy attitude of Americans, several new technologies rose in popularity as a means to keep people connected to the happenings of the decade and to each other.