Recent Study Labels ’80s Music as ‘Boring’
Studies are everywhere telling us something is bad for you one day, only to see a report the next day on its benefits. I give little regard to such research beyond the basic, historically proven facts.
A recent study published by PBS, did, however, demand my attention. It described how computer scientists somehow "proved" that '80s pop music is/was "boring." It should be pretty clear to anyone by now why this got me a little fired up! The headline was glaring, obviously, but they lost me when they got into the detailed, scientific musical jargon to define their findings -- they "blinded me with science."
The thing that stood out most was the word "boring", and what they seem to mean by that is "unevolved." I hate to say it, but when you put it to me that way I can't disagree.
The '60s, for instance, brought about new musical trends, such as girl groups like the Supremes, who influenced a new generation two decades later, led by acts such as Bananarama and The Go-Gos. Daryl Hall & John Oates were openly influenced by the early Motown sound, specifically the Temptations.
The British Invasion of the Rolling Stones, Beatles and others (Disclaimer: I am comparing no one to the legendary Beatles!) inspired a "new wave" of pop acts out of the UK, such as Duran Duran, Men at Work, Human League and A Flock of Seagulls, some of whom also borrowed elements from the disco craze of the '70s.
Bon Jovi, Poison and others who comprised the "hair metal" category are sometimes labeled as imitators of the punk rock style of the '70s.
It wasn't really until around 1991 that another new and truly groundbreaking genre took hold with the grunge/alternative rock sound.
So maybe the music of the 1980's wasn't "evolved," it didn't necessarily bring anything new to the table, but it certainly wasn't boring! Would you agree with this study and my opinion on the subject? What's your favorite decade/genre of music?
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