A large thing to consider when making an ’80s inspired song is what instruments were synonymous with the times because I believe that every decade there’s something new like Rhythm and blues in the ’50s and rock and roll in the ’60s there’s a new trend every decade and the ’80s has one of the most iconic stages in music.
For example, the drums in the ’80s were very simple and followed a four on the floor drum beat where a drumbeat would be 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and the kick drum would play 1, 3 while the snare wound play 2, 4 the high hats would play 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and to follow a rhythm like a walking pace the same drum pattern can be found in songs like Billie Jean by Micheal Jackson radio ga ga by queen back in black by ACDC there are a lot of songs that use this drum pattern.
Another thing when you listen to a song from the ’80s the most recognizable instrument is the synthesiser although it wasn’t made in the ’80s it grew in popularity in this decade with bands like Queen the electric light orchestra and many others adopting these instruments as either lead parts or synth PAD’s to lift the background and not with black space but when there are areas when the instrument stops you can hear them take that blank space.
Another thing that was carried over from the ’70s was the slap bass a lot of soul and Motown music there was a lot of slap in their bass to give a little funk to their record as well as funk but in Michael Jacksons song get off the floor with Louis Johnson on bass in 1979.
References
AC/DC, 2012. Before you continue to YouTube. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAgnJDJN4VA> [Accessed 7 November 2012].
Louis Johnson, 2021. Before you continue to YouTube. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf8dlp5ev-Q> [Accessed 13 August 2019].
Micheal Jackson, 2016. Before you continue to YouTube. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdYwglFL6iM> [Accessed 4 February 2016].
Michael Jackson, 2009. Before you continue to YouTube. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y> [Accessed 3 October 2009].
Queen, 2008. Before you continue to YouTube. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azdwsXLmrHE> [Accessed 1 August 2008].