Was R&B after the 1980's really evolution?

Unknown Soldier · 05-23-2011, 03:38 PM

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Originally Posted by VocalsBass

British Soul artist like George Michaels & Sade made an impact in the states during the '80s, adding sophistication to R&B/Soul music in my opinion. George Michaels '87 release of the album Faith, is one of my favorite from that era, along with Sade's music too.
New Wave artist, had some nice basslines to their music during the 80s, and produced a lot of "one hit wonders", and good music like "A Ha's-Take On Me" for instance, which implicated contemporary R&B in their music.
I would suggest in my opinion, that R&B/Soul evolved in a big way during the '80s.(Wouldn't evolution in music be a constant ongoing process)? And best defined by music genealogy.

A-ha were hardly a one hit wonder and were huge in the UK, Europe and most of the world.

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Originally Posted by VocalsBass

I will suggest the band Depeche Mode, as being a good example of that.

Depeche Mode were big in America as well.

Necromancer · 05-23-2011, 03:53 PM

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Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Depeche Mode were big in America as well.

Not as big as were/are in other places.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

A-ha were hardly a one hit wonder and were huge in the UK, Europe and most of the world.

I was really only using A Ha as being an example of good music from the 80s, verses their popularity. They didn't seem all that big to me.

FRED HALE SR. · 05-23-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

A-ha were hardly a one hit wonder and were huge in the UK, Europe and most of the world.

Depeche Mode were big in America as well.

A-HA is consistently on most top 100's for one hit wonders. What were the other big hits they are escaping me?

Unknown Soldier · 05-23-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VocalsBass

Not as big as were/are in other places.

I was really only using A Ha as being an example of good music from the 80s, verses their popularity. They didn't seem all that big to me.

I`ve travelled around the world quite a bit and everybody I`ve ever met knows who A-ha are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

A-HA is consistently on most top 100's for one hit wonders. What were the other big hits they are escaping me?

The Sun Always Shines on TV, Living Daylights, Touchy, Cry Wolf, Train of Thought, Hunting High and Low, I`ve Been Losing You, Manhatten Skyline, Crying in the Rain all reached the Top 20 in the UK plus they had 4 albums that also reached the top 20 in this time period of which three of them reached number 2.

Then we`ve got all the stuff since they reformed as well.........

I was growing up when they were big in the UK and everbody in the UK knows who A-ha are, they`re about on the same level in terms of popularity as say Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club etc which were huge bands in the Uk in the 80`s.

FRED HALE SR. · 05-23-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I`ve travelled around the world quite a bit and everybody I`ve ever met knows who A-ha are.

The Sun Always Shines on TV, Living Daylights, Touchy, Cry Wolf, Train of Thought, Hunting High and Low, I`ve Been Losing You, Manhatten Skyline, Crying in the Rain all reached the Top 20 in the UK plus they had 4 albums that also reached the top 20 in this time period of which three of them reached number 2.

Then we`ve got all the stuff since they reformed as well.........

I was growing up when they were big in the UK and everbody in the UK knows who A-ha are, they`re about on the same level in terms of popularity as say Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club etc which were huge bands in the Uk in the 80`s.

Thats where its lost on me, i live in the USA. Duran Duran and Culture Club were more then one hitters here, but Spandau Ballet really only had True.

Necromancer · 05-23-2011, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

A-HA is consistently on most top 100's for one hit wonders. What were the other big hits they are escaping me?

Depeche Mode and A Ha are in no way big as other artist like Peter Gabriel or Inxs for example. The Cure and Tears For Fears had more positive reviews and notoriety here in the states. I guess it would all depend on what you are suggesting as being BIG.

Unknown Soldier · 05-23-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VocalsBass

Depeche Mode and A Ha were in no way big as other artist were like Peter Gabriel or Inxs were for example. The Cure and Tears For Fears had more positive reviews and notoriety here in the states. I guess it would all depend on what you are suggesting as being BIG.

And when you say nowhere near as big you need to define where exactly, I`m guessing you are talking solely about the USA here?

All the bands that have been mentioned were huge in the UK and to decide who were bigger than others, it really would be just a question of adding up album and singles sales figures, because all of these are household names here unless people were too young to remember these bands.

FRED HALE SR. · 05-23-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VocalsBass

Depeche Mode and A Ha were in no way big as other artist were like Peter Gabriel or Inxs were for example. The Cure and Tears For Fears had more positive reviews and notoriety here in the states. I guess it would all depend on what you are suggesting as being BIG.

Depeche Mode was GIGANTIC in the States. They sold out the freaking ROSE BOWL and had over 120,000 people at the show i attended in 88. Right from the get go with Speak And Spell they were pretty noteworthy and had regular airplay at clubs i would go to. Some Great Reward wasn't long after and People are People skyrocketed them into superstar status. I agree with AHA not really being noteworthy in the States, but Depeche Mode was extremely popular.

Unknown Soldier · 05-23-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Depeche Mode was GIGANTIC in the States. They sold out the freaking ROSE BOWL and had over 120,000 people at the show i attended in 88. Right from the get go with Speak And Spell they were pretty noteworthy and had regular airplay at clubs i would go to. Some Great Reward wasn't long after and People are People skyrocketed them into superstar status. I agree with AHA not really being noteworthy in the States, but Depeche Mode was extremely popular.

Your opinion about Depeche Mode, is largely consistent with what I`d always heard about their popularity in the USA. It seems like VocalsBass is losing here by 2-1

FRED HALE SR. · 05-23-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Your opinion about Depeche Mode, is largely consistent with what I`d always heard about their popularity in the USA. It seems like VocalsBass is losing here by 2-1

While they are far more popular with women, I always found them to be very entertaining live. And being popular with the women always made the live shows very nice to look at. I'd say some of the most fun i've had at shows has been Mode shows.

I think we are straying from the topic as Mode has nothing to do with RNB.