1981 was the year of the New Romantic. With its frilly shirts, deft make-up, and yards of scarves, New Romantics were so flamboyant, had so much flair, and were so incredibly photogenic, that swiftly the movement caught the attention of even the daily papers.

Culture Club

Culture Club were one of the biggest pop bands of the 80s, racking up seven straight Top 10 hits in the UK and nine Top 10 singles in the US.
They were harbingers of the so-called "new pop" that swept through the UK charts in the early 80s. Central to the band's appeal was the flamboyant front man Boy George, whose cross-dressing and heavy make-up created an image which was completely unique on the pop scene.

With dreadlocks and eccentric dress, even by modern fashion standards where anything goes and who cares, he stood out as a kind of unisexual figure. Some people even thought he was a girl. The voice was so good, the makeup was perfect too. But the 'Boy' in his name was taken as significant of his gender. George was also noted for his biting wit and frequently came up with cutting quips that won Culture Club media exposure on both sides of the Atlantic.

Although they drew influence from the 'New Romantic' movement, Culture Club were also inspired by the music and fashion of 'Northern Soul', which helped to create a broader appeal.

Culture Club grew out of the ashes of 'Sex Gang Children', formed by George and bassist Mikey Craig. Drummer Jon Moss and guitarist Roy Hay came on board, and by 1981 the band had been renamed. Early in 1982 a deal was signed with Virgin Records. Success eluded them until the release of their third single in the autumn, the massive breakthrough hit 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me'. This song put them on the world map. It ran right against everything else in the charts. The band was firmly established as one of the most popular new acts in the country.

Shortly after this Culture Club's debut album 'Kissing To Be Clever', climbed to No.5 on the UK charts, while another non-album single 'Time (Clock Of The Heart)' reached No.3. The band's US success followed early in 1983 with the album and both singles riding high in the charts. The launching of MTV in the USA ensured that many UK acts were infiltrating the American charts and the colourful persona of George, coupled with the irresistible charm of Culture Club's melodies, effectively broke them Stateside early in 1983.

Their second album 'Colour By Numbers' spawned 'Karma Chameleon' a transatlantic No.1, which sold over five million copies worldwide. Meanwhile the album was kept off the US No.1 spot for six consecutive weeks by Michael Jackson's record-breaking 'Thriller'. However the band's third album, 1984's 'Waking Up With The House On Fire', failed to repeat their earlier success with the critics and on the charts. Its lead single 'The War Song' was widely criticized for its simplistic politicizing. It was their final Top 10 hit of the decade on both sides of the Atlantic.

George began a long battle against drug dependence, confirming the group's break-up in 1987. That year he released his first solo single, a cover of the reggae classic 'Everything I Own', which rode a wave of public sympathy that culminated in a UK No.1.
In 1989 George embarked on a new dance orientated career having several hits across Europe with Jesus Loves You, which led on to him becoming established as one of Britain's leading club DJs.
Duran Duran

Duran Duran's debut single, 'Planet Earth' was an eye opener for people. Released at the end of March 1981, the song danced its way up to No.12 in the UK chart. The band's self-titled debut album remained in the chart for a breathtaking 118 weeks. Nick Rhodes (keyboard), John Taylor (Guitars), Roger Taylor (drums), Andy Taylor (guitars) and Simon LeBon (vocals) had arrived.
By this time, MTV was now beginning to have an impact. The Durans owe much of their success to this channel, that favored rotation of their catchy, provoking video clips.

Their second album 'Rio' (1982) was successful and by 1983 Duran Duran had become a phenomenon in the US also. With the release of their third album ' Seven and the Ragged Tiger', and it's No.1 hit single ('The Reflex') in both the US and the UK, Duran Duran had become the biggest pop sensation since the Beatles, and the incontestable New-Romantic icon worldwide. And because every good thing must end, in '85 John and Andy Taylor decided to form The Power Station with singer Robert Palmer, and their debut was quite a success.

So it happened that in February 1985, the Power Station made their live debut on Saturday Night Live, then John and Andy flew back to Britain to receive the Best British Music Video award at the BRIT's for "Wild Boys." In 1986 it looked like the fall down of Duran Duran, as the trio Nick Rhodes, Simon LeBon and Roger Taylor released 'Notorious', with pop trash material signaling the end of an era. This album was an odd hybrid of funk and pop. At the end of 80's 'Big Thing' came out with more noise, more experimentation, more boldness in it. It also marked drastic change in Duran Duran's make-up.

Tears for Fears

The "Tears For Fears" name was derived from the book "Primal Scream" by Arthur Janov, "tears as a replacement for fears". This duo of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith was heavily influenced by Janov's book. His primal scream therapy, and his theories were evident throughout their debut, 'The Hurting' (1983). Driven by catchy, infectious synth-pop, it became a big hit in their native England, setting the stage for international stardom with their second album, 1985's 'Songs from the Big Chair'. Just because of the Janov's form of mental therapy it wasn't surprising that one of their biggest hits was titled Shout.

On the strength of the singles Everybody Wants To Rule the World and Shout, the record became a major hit, establishing the duo as one of the leading acts of the second generation of MTV stars. In 1989 'The Seeds of Love' was released. The songs constantly draw parallels between the personal and the political, and it was exciting that such thought-provoking music was undoubtedly so widely heard. The singles Sowing The Seeds Of Love and Woman In Chains became hits.

But trouble, both professional and personal, was brewing between Roland and Curt by 1989. They went through a difficult break up after the Sowing the Seeds Of Love Tour wrapped. At the time, Curt was also going through a divorce from his first wife, Lynn. Roland continued with the Tears name.

	Tento článok bol vytlačený zo stránky https://referaty.centrum.sk

British music of 1980s