From Michael Jackson to MTV, test your knowledge of the iconic music of the 1980s.
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The 1980s was the decade that changed how the world consumed music. MTV launched in 1981 and transformed pop stars into visual icons overnight. Michael Jackson's Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, while Madonna reinvented herself album after album, becoming the undisputed Queen of Pop. Prince blurred the lines between rock, funk, and pop with his Purple Rain era.
New wave and synth-pop dominated the airwaves with bands like Depeche Mode, The Cure, and Duran Duran bringing electronic sounds to mainstream audiences. On the heavier side, hair metal bands like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Guns N' Roses filled arenas worldwide, while thrash metal pioneers Metallica and Slayer pushed the genre to new extremes.
Hip-hop emerged from New York's streets to become a global force, with Run-DMC's collaboration with Aerosmith on 'Walk This Way' breaking racial barriers on MTV. Whitney Houston's powerhouse vocals redefined pop ballads, and Live Aid in 1985 proved that music could mobilize the world for a cause. From The Smiths' indie melancholy to Bruce Springsteen's heartland anthems, the 1980s produced a staggering range of sounds that continue to influence artists today.
