80s MusicWhy Albums Got Parental Advisory StickersHave you ever wondered why some music industry packaging includes a "Parental Advisory: Explicit Content" label? The black-and-white sticker is now a familiar feature on albums and movies…
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80s Music
Genre labels untangled, songs explained and the record-industry stories behind the decade's sound.
Latest in 80s MusicNew Wave vs Synth-Pop
When exploring the bumper crop of post-punk bands from the late 70s and 80s, you'll see "new wave" and "synth-pop" often given as genre labels. But what's the difference between the two?
80s MusicWhy Albums Got Parental Advisory Stickers
80s MusicVideo Killed the Radio Star: MeaningThe bugbear of "Video Killed the Radio Star" for most casual listeners is its title and chorus. Is this a real deprivation of radio? A celebration of the rising tide of video? A warning…
80s MusicHair Metal vs Glam MetalRock fans are often confused about the different labels for hard rock and metal that emerged in the 1970s and 80s: "hair metal", "glam metal", and "heavy metal". Are these just three…
80s Music12-Inch Single vs Extended MixA 12-inch single is a record format, while "extended mix," "dub mix," and "remix" are version labels that tell you how a track was changed for club play.
80s MusicGen X vs Xennials ExplainedAre you unclear whether you are a Gen Xer or Xennial born around 1980? You might identify as both. The answer depends on which birth-year range you use—with Gen X commonly defined as…