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With Dylan Jones

The 80s - Music’s Greatest Decade? Series 1
Episode 1 of 4

Music writer Dylan Jones puts the case that the 1980s were the most radical, innovative and creative decade in the history of pop.

Eighties music is often dismissed as a joke - all drum machines and big hair. But - as acclaimed author Dylan Jones argues in this film – the 1980s should be looked on as the most creative, radical and innovative decade in pop.

This was the decade when the world-conquering genres of rap, hip-hop and modern dance music were launched, while guitar-driven indie flourished in a constellation of scenes spread out across the UK that sowed the seeds of Britpop. And a technological revolution was changing how music was made, filling the charts with a starburst of innovative records.

Meanwhile, the launch of MTV turned pop into a visual medium, allowing artists as varied as U2 and Eurythmics to take charge of how they presented themselves.

Featuring interviews with Nile Rodgers, Bananarama, Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie, Mark Ronson, Trevor Horn and Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B.

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58 minutes

Last on

Sat 4 May 2024 00:45
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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    M|A|R|R|S

    Pump Up The Volume

  • 00:00

    N.W.A

    Straight Outta Compton

  • 00:01

    Madonna

    Material Girl

  • 00:01

    The Fall

    Hit The North

  • 00:02

    ³§β€ΝΦ³ζ±θ°ω±π²υ²υ

    Theme From S-Express

  • 00:03

    Buggles

    Video Killed The Radio Star

  • 00:04

    Thomas Dolby

    She Blinded Me With Science

  • 00:04

    Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

    I Love Rock 'n' Roll

  • 00:05

    ZZ Top

    Sharp Dressed Man

  • 00:05

    Culture Club

    Church Of The Poison Mind

  • 00:06

    U2

    New Year's Day

  • 00:06

    Madness

    House Of Fun (Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park)

  • 00:06

    Spandau Ballet

    Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)

  • 00:21

    The Cult

    She Sells Sanctuary

  • 00:22

    Prince

    1999

  • 00:37

    Bronski Beat

    Smalltown Boy

  • 00:30

    The Style Council

    Walls Come Tumbling Down

  • 00:31

    The Specials

    Ghost Town

  • 00:31

    808 State, Ub40

    One In Ten (808 Original Mix)

  • 00:35

    The Specials

    Free Nelson Mandela

  • 00:39

    The Sugarhill Gang

    Rapper's Delight

  • 00:40

    Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

    The Message

  • 00:41

    Έι³ά²Τ‐D.²Ρ.°δ.

    Rock Box

  • 00:08

    Bananarama

    Robert De Niro's Waiting

  • 00:42

    N.W.A

    Straight Outta Compton

  • 00:10

    Duran Duran

    Rio

  • 00:47

    Visage

    Fade To Grey

  • 00:49

    A Guy Called Gerald

    Voodoo Ray

  • 00:10

    Bryan Adams

    Run To You

  • 00:12

    David Bowie

    Let's Dance

  • 00:13

    Duran Duran

    Wild Boys

  • 00:14

    INXS

    Original Sin

  • 00:14

    Madonna

    Like A Virgin

  • 00:15

    ABC

    Poison Arrow

  • 00:18

    Yes

    Owner Of A Lonely Heart

  • 00:54

    Soul II Soul

    Keep on Movin' (feat. Caron Wheeler)

  • 00:55

    Soul II Soul, Caron Wheeler

    Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)

  • 00:57

    Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars

    Uptown Funk

Credits

Writer Dylan Jones
Producer Sebastian Barfield
Editor Nick Robbins
Production Manager Kay Phillips
Executive Producer Siobhan Logue
Production Company Plimsoll Productions

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