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Love it or hate it, the 1980s made for an amazing decade that spawned so many style trends, some of which have managed to even come back (and some of which haven't, thankfully!). Women's shoulder pads, big hair, high-waisted designer jeans, puffy sleeves, and bright pastel colors are only some of the fashion trends that defined the decade. There's a ton of '80s nostalgia, with some of today's most popular TV shows set in the '80s, like Stranger Things, American Horror Story: 1984, and GLOW.
If the 1980s are all the rage, it's only fair if its music also staged a comeback. Music from that era was varied, interesting, and many would say, simply great! It's time some groups from that decade came back! Prepare yourself for some immense nostalgia as we work our way through ten '80s pop stars that we'd very much like to see make a comeback.
Culture Club
One of the most popular British new wave groups in the '80s, Culture Club was fronted by the androgynous Boy George who donned dresses, long locks and makeup. With a blend of reggae, dance, and pop, Culture Club sent hit after hit to the top of the charts with singles like Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, Time, and I'll Tumble 4 Ya. Boy George has battled addiction in the '90s, but the group did manage to release their first album in 20 years, Life, in 2018.
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet was formed in London by brothers Gary and Martin Kemp and became a New Romantics sensation. In 1983, the group shot to international fame with their single True, a soulful take on British synth-pop. The song has become a classic, sampled countless times by hip-hop artists like P.M. Dawn, Lloyd, and Nelly.
Lead singer Tony Hadley announced in July 2017 that he would leave the band. Hope he changes his mind!
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys began in New York City as a punk band, and it wasn't until the group embraced hip-hop elements in 1983 that they started to attract local attention and gain traction. Their 1986 album License to Ill, one of the first releases from Russell Simmons' Def-Jam Recordings, climbed the billboard charts.
It would be pure wishful thinking that they would come back though. In 2012, Adam "MCA" Yauch died of cancer, and the group officially disbanded in 2014.
The Go-Go's
It's easy to remember the Go-Go's as one of the most popular girl-groups of the '80s, but they were also somewhat of a pioneer - an all-female group playing their own instruments and writing their own songs that hit mainstream success.
Their debut album Beauty and the Beat was a massive success in 1981, and with that came hard-partying, sex, and drugs. But the Go-Go's are already experiencing a resurgence these days, with their Broadway show Head Over Heels.
New Order
Before they called themselves New Order, they were Joy Division in the late 1970s. By the time their classic song Love Will Tear Us Apart was released in 1980, frontman Ian Curtis committed suicide and Joy Division was no more.
The remaining members changed their name to New Order and transformed themselves into an electronic dance group, with iconic hits like Blue Monday and Bizarre Love Triangle. Their sound is still as cool today as it was decades ago, though Ian Curtis' absence is certainly tragic and worthy of remembrance.
Duran Duran
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that every teenage girl in the '80s probably had a Duran Duran poster up on her bedroom wall! One of the most iconic groups of the decade, Duran Duran had everything - good looks, wealth, and fame, thanks to their hit-making prowess, with hits like Hungry Like the Wolf and Rio.
They struck gold again in the '90s with songs like Ordinary World and Come Undone, a rarity for an '80s group. The time may be ripe for another comeback, and it definitely seems more than possible with this one!
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode was formed in Essex, England in 1980, and with their brand of electronic pop, achieved huge international success in the decade. They produced a steady stream of hits like See You, Just Can't Get Enough, People Are People, and Enjoy the Silence. Like many young rock stars who experience explosive success, frontman Dave Gahan has struggled with heroin addiction in the '90s.
He's also had to deal with bladder cancer in the 2000s. Here's hoping for Dave's recovery so he can perform with the band again.
Eurythmics
The British duo Eurythmics was the epitome of style and substance in the 1980s. With an incredible vocal range, orange hair, and an androgynous style, Annie Lenox wowed the world with synth-pop hits like Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) and Here Comes the Rain Again.
Annie embarked on a successful solo career in the '90s, but the world is most definitely more than ready for them to reunite again!
Bananarama
The pop trio Bananarama was England's hottest cool girl group in the '80s. Like their American counterpart the Go-Go's, Bananarama also wrote their own music, which is particularly noteworthy. Their hits were influenced by Motown and '60s pop, melded with '80s rhythm and harmonious melodies.
From 1982 to 1988, nine of their singles hit the Top 10 in the U.K. The three original ladies still look gorgeous today, and it's time to hear them sing Cruel Summer again!
Run-DMC
Hip-hop really entered into the cultural mainstream when Run-DMC hit the charts in the 1980s. They also hailed from Def-Jam Recordings, managed by Russell Simmons who happened to be the brother of Joseph Simmons or Run.
Who could forget You Be Illin' or Walk This Way, their collaboration with Aerosmith? Sadly, Jam Master Jay passed away in 2002, but their music and hip urban style live on.
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