Digital Sound Revolution
How music changed and was developed with the use of technology
<span style="font-weight:400;">The image shows a 1980s keyboard that was used to make digital beats found in popular 80s music from bands like Bon Jovi, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, and Elton John. The Digital Sound Revolution was a shift away from mechanical technology to digital electronics such as the keyboard that was one of the most popular items used in music. This was the golden age for new music and the use of synthesizers. The keyboard had a wide range of sounds and could mock real instruments. This influenced modern music and how it is produced today, music today sounds digital with the use of synthesizers and other technological advancements made from the Digital Sound Revolutio. </span>
Yamaha
Google Arts & Culture. “Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C., United States.” Accessed April 25, 2021. https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/smithsonian-american-art-museum.
Deutsche Museum
1983/87
Portable Radio
Evolution of Music
<span style="font-weight:400;">The picture is of a Sony walkman with headphones and of a Kent cigarette packaging to compare the size of the walkman. The Walkman is a portable cassette player that can clip on your clothes and was not overwhelmingly big in size. This became popular in the early 1980s and allows people to listen to their favorite music and artists on the move. Now people could exercise and do homework listening to their own music and not disturb anyone else. This was a step away from vinyl records and not being able to listen to music when you are moving outside of your house or car. The Walkman is a revolutionary design that paved the way for modern iPods and iPhones to listen to music with. </span>
Google Arts & Culture. “Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C., United States.” Accessed April 25, 2021. https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/smithsonian-american-art-museum.
TimeLife
1981
Radio Shows
How talk shows on the radio became popular in the 1980s
<span style="font-weight:400;">The image that is shown was taken in the 1980s and is of the two men responsible for the national known car talk show on the radio, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. The talk show Car Talk was not popular at first and was only on their local radio station WBUR-FM which was located in Boston, MA. Eventually, in 1987 the show got extremely popular over the radio and became a national broadcast all across the country. Car Talk was created by the two brothers and discussed car repairs and other automated things but with a twist of humor that made everyone love them. The 1980s was the era for radio talk shows and how to spread your message to people rather quickly, many talk shows were about politics and this began the idea of nationally addressing issues and bringing them into the light. Other channels including the conservative talk show radio, and liberal radio became wildly popular during this time. This has led to many talk shows being on the radio today and how each show touches on issues and brings to light their opinions like the FOX radio channel. </span>
Car Talk. “The History of Car Talk,” May 23, 2011. https://www.cartalk.com/content/history-car-talk.
Car Talk
1987
Vinyl/Records
What changed with vinyl records
<span style="font-weight:400;">The picture shows all of the vinyl's that WBAP- Tv station in Texas had and would use during air time in 1971. Vinyl records have been around since 1948 and have revolutionized the way people use to listen to music in their homes. Vinyl record players were very popular and could be found in several homes throughout the United States. The records were fragile and bulky even in the 1980s but it was still an important piece of technology. Vinyl records have influenced how we listen to our music today. Records were the first giant CD that had multiple songs on it that could be played anytime you wanted to listen to it, you could also “skip” songs by picking up the needle and moving it to the next line down. This has led to modern stereo players and other musical devices used to listen to songs. </span>
WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex )
Vinyl Record Storage. United States - Texas. UNT Libraries Special Collections. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1606051/.
2-2-1971
UNT Libraries Special Collections.
Bands of the 80s
The significance of Pop Metal music in the 1980s and how the style of clothing and music is still loved today.
<span style="font-weight:400;">This image is of Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora performing at a concert wearing an American Flag as a cape with a crop top and pants with animal print and leather material. The band Bon Jovi had an interesting style when they first emerged in 1983. One of the band’s songs, “Runaway” gave the band a glimpse at fame with their unique keyboard-heavy rock style. This band is associated with the genre of Pop Metal, pop-influenced hooks, and guitar riffs. Pop Metal was influenced by the early 1970s fashion of Glam Metal ( Hair Metal). Bon Jovi became a significant force in the Pop Metal genre due to their creation of powerful ballads, guitar riffs, and interesting melodies. Their music influenced other artists of the 1980s and has had a lasting impact on modern rock music today. Bon Jovi music has maintained prevalence on modern radio stations due to its massive popularity and influence. Bon Jovi also became popular due to their short clips of film during a concert or their music videos which eventually told a story. The hyperlink below is an example of one of their music videos. Another example of this growing popularity of music videos and storytelling is Michael Jacksons' video Thriller. </span>
Google Arts & Culture. “Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C., United States.” https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/smithsonian-american-art-museum.
TimeLife
April 12, 2021
The Importance of Radio
How home radios were used and how they influenced Americans in the 1980s.
The picture consists of a 1980 Sony home radio that could be found throughout homes across America. The radio that is shown has to be plugged into a wall outlet and works with AM/FM radio channels. The picture also shows the volume nob which is on the top right and the bottom nobs are the adjusting and tuning. The normal size of these home radios was 17x14x5 inches.<br />Radios were popular for multiple reasons including news and entertainment purposes. In the 1980s radios became a source for free music and talk shows. This was the time that radio talk shows became more politically invested and shaped the political views of the American people. This is important because people become even more exposed to ADs and political affairs, no matter where someone went they were being bombarded by information from radios. Radios were influential in their commercials and the music they played on certain stations.
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<div class="csl-entry">“Sony Vintage c. 1980 AM/FM Radio - Shopgoodwill.Com.” Accessed March 22, 2021. <a href="https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/83272591">https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/83272591</a>.</div>
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Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region
1/8/2020