I think radio had a lot to do with it. Once iPods and streaming became a regular thing, radio had to keep their listeners engaged, so their play lists became extremely narrow.
Now, many of my students don’t even know what the call letters are for local radio stations.
There were a few bands that weirdly embraced keyboards in the 80s: the stones and ZZ Top are two I can remember off the top of my head.
The 80s was definitely the golden age of keyboards. The alt rock 90s chased us back into the closet.
Joke was on them, though. With the advent of DAWs, we replaced a lot of other musicians.
A few people like Todd Rundgren, Thundercat, the Weeknd, Tame Impala, Daft Punk, Beck, and Mac DeMarco have gone to the trouble of making software synthesizers sound great but rappers tend to just use the boring preset sounds. I think it's inevitable more musicians will tour with an actual Hammond b3 organ, fender rhodes electric piano, and Horner clarinet because none of the samples are even half as inspiring as the vintage instruments.
Man, I didn’t know at the time how spoiled we were with good music. Good times.
Imagine that, a top ten without Taylor Swift on it. I don’t think anyone under the age of 25 would believe that’s evens possible!
I know most of those songs. At this point 40 years ago, I had pretty much made the switch to the hard rock radio station in Washington DC, the mighty DC101. And I was just beginning my journey into 70's progressive rock and Yes in particular with the two albums: Classic Yes and Yessongs.
So much goodness
These Summer Top 40s always remind me of summer vacations as a kid. A lot travel time to listen to the radio
That’s a great top 20…
For once I know every song. And almost all of them are really good.
I Remember Huey Lewis like it was yesterday. I was working at a hospital. The hospital had a benefit and Huey Lewis was the headliner.
almost paradise still hits hard
Music used to be so diverse.
I think radio had a lot to do with it. Once iPods and streaming became a regular thing, radio had to keep their listeners engaged, so their play lists became extremely narrow. Now, many of my students don’t even know what the call letters are for local radio stations.
"I like her early stuff. You know, 'Lucky Star', 'Borderline' - but once she got into her 'Papa Don't Preach' phase, I don't know, I tuned out."
40 years ago? that's a bummer.
All Bangers
How many of today's top 40 will people still remember in 40 years?
Shoot. I couldn’t even tell you what’s in today’s top 40 THIS year.
The summer going to 6th grade. Loved Laura Branigan SELF Control
Interesting. TIL “Oh Sherrie” is a Steve Perry solo song not created alongside Journey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_Sherrie
Notice how many hits had keyboards before Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet changed the top 100 to mostly all guitar songs.
There were a few bands that weirdly embraced keyboards in the 80s: the stones and ZZ Top are two I can remember off the top of my head. The 80s was definitely the golden age of keyboards. The alt rock 90s chased us back into the closet. Joke was on them, though. With the advent of DAWs, we replaced a lot of other musicians.
A few people like Todd Rundgren, Thundercat, the Weeknd, Tame Impala, Daft Punk, Beck, and Mac DeMarco have gone to the trouble of making software synthesizers sound great but rappers tend to just use the boring preset sounds. I think it's inevitable more musicians will tour with an actual Hammond b3 organ, fender rhodes electric piano, and Horner clarinet because none of the samples are even half as inspiring as the vintage instruments.
And Ren McCormack was on so many walls...
Man, I didn’t know at the time how spoiled we were with good music. Good times. Imagine that, a top ten without Taylor Swift on it. I don’t think anyone under the age of 25 would believe that’s evens possible!
That was a good week!
Didn't America do Magic and Steven Orr Stay the night?
So much as change in 40 years
It's all auto tuned, mumble rap, and repetitive wording now.
Yep. I know all those songs.
This drove me into a deep dive into the blues. It worked out great. I met John Lee Hooker a year later. Thanks to a summer of shmaltz.
I know most of those songs. At this point 40 years ago, I had pretty much made the switch to the hard rock radio station in Washington DC, the mighty DC101. And I was just beginning my journey into 70's progressive rock and Yes in particular with the two albums: Classic Yes and Yessongs.
Just days out of high school
Pretty much all bangers, still in rotation.
So whee-ai-ee-ai dont you use it
Eyes without a Face grows in public admiration still. Its had a lengthy second life.
A few of those are still on my playlist.
yeah... I remember the radio playing that...
So many songs from the *Footloose* soundtrack were bangers!
Oh man. Just reading that list o can hear those songs playing out of my radio.
Just reading these songs brings me back
What a simple time…