The 80s - Music's Greatest Decade?
Eighties music is often dismissed as a joke - all drum machines and big hair. But - as acclaimed author Dylan Jones argues in this film - the 1980s should be looked on as the most creative, radical and innovative decade in pop.
- 2021-2021
- 1 season
- Documentary, Music
Eighties music is often dismissed as a joke - all drum machines and big hair. But - as acclaimed author Dylan Jones argues in this film - the 1980s should be looked on as the most creative, radical and innovative decade in pop.
Season 1 Episode Guide
4 Episodes 2021
Episode 1
With Dylan Jones
Music writer Dylan Jones puts the case that the 1980s were the most radical, innovative and creative decade in the history of pop.
Episode 2
True Originals
Dylan Jones celebrates some of the stars who created the timeless legacy of the 1980s, from Prince to Madonna and Duran Duran to Sade.
Episode 3
Alternative Voices
The 1980s was a time when artists in both the UK and US were delivering powerful social commentary in their songs. Dylan Jones selects some of the finest alternative voices from this era. From The Cure on Top of the Pops at the beginning of the decade to The Stone Roses' debut TV performance in 1989, this episode takes a comprehensive look at the alternative music of an entire era. It also features powerful live performances from Billy Bragg, Tracy Chapman, Bronski Beat and The Selecter. In addition, there are archival gems from Pixies, The Smiths, Suzanne Vega, The Fall, REM and many more.
Episode 4
Hip-Hop to House
The 1980s was an era in which a fusillade of new genres emerged, and many are still with us today, such as hip-hop and house. Dylan Jones has mined the archives to select some of the most crucial tracks in the rise of these two genres. From a young Kurtis Blow making his Top of the Pops debut to the sonic bombardment of Public Enemy and the sampling skills of Bomb the Bass, this episode showcases the evolution in rap and house music across the decade. There are rare archival interviews and stellar performances from Run-DMC, Salt 'N' Pepa, S'Express, Cookie Crew and Neneh Cherry, as well as iconic videos from Herbie Hancock, The Beastie Boys, M/A/R/R/S, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and many more.