Which decade of the 20th century do you think was the most creative for pop music?

Question

And why? Give examples.

Answer 1

My CD collection spans 1905 to 2006 so I feel I can say something here. Here's how I rate the decades in rank order:

1960s - This decade encompassed probably more variety and creativity than any other decade. Rock was still new and radio stations were not afraid to play just about anything. This decade encompassed everything from doo-wop to heavy metal and everything in-between like crooner vocals, psychedelic, folk, you name it. Sixties oldies radio today does not even come close to an accurate portrayal of this decade. The Beach Boys, Beatles and the Supremes was not everything this decade was about. The sixties was the most amazing period in the history of recorded music.

1990s - This decade comes in close to the sixties not so much because what was on pop radio but what was happening in alternative rock. This decade was a hotbed of creativity! You had everything: synth rock and rap rock to grunge and even 40's influenced swing. After all, this was the decade that alternative rock moved into the mainstream. It’s no surprise that the ideas and influence from this genre spilled over into pop, country, and just about everything else.

1980s - This decade was like a musical renaissance after having to live through what I call the lame decade of the rock era. Alternative rock (although it wasn’t known as such until 1987) was beginning to blossom and much of it especially in the early-mid part of the decade got air play on the pop stations. It was like the ‘80s picked up where the ‘60s left off. It was such a refreshing change from the predictable music that played so much not too long before.

2000s - This decade is incomplete from today’s vantage point but is definitely off to a great start. What remains between now and the end of 2009 will influence whether I bump the rating of this decade up or down. Again it’s the alternative rock that is contributing the bulk of the creativity to the music of this decade. There are sub-genres that I find fascinating and as of yet I don’t completely understand. I think I finally got a handle for what reggaetón is. Another sub-genre is “emo”. I’m told that some of my CD’s are emo but even that information isn’t sufficient to give me a good feel for it. However, I must be a great emo fan because I like what it is that they call "emo". Anyway, I’m having fun going through the process of figuring out what this decade will end up being all about.

1950s - This decade would surely rank much higher If I were judging it based on just the rock and roll that evolved during this time. However the first part of this decade was dominated by the increasingly formula driven music from the dying throes of the big band era and it’s associated vocal and crooner styles. Not to say that there weren’t a few gems from this older genre it’s just that they weren’t plentiful. So it was the rock music that saved this decade and helped boost it well above the 1940s. Electric guitars and saxophones were dominant instruments in this decade’s rock music. Also vocals in the form of doo-wop (the first wave of New York street music –rap was the second) became one of the dominant music forms. The 50's rock music (in stark contrast to the big band/crooning styles) was extremely creative and high on spontaneity. You could tell that these early rock bands were having a blast playing their music. You felt it! You had squealing saxophones, twanging guitars and singers doing vocal pyrotechnics. This is what made this decade truly amazing!

1970s - This is the lame decade of the rock era. Except for some of the hard rock, the early pioneers of alternative rock and a few other odds and ends this decade was a musical desert which reached it’s trough in on 1977. This was mainly due to the fact that after the great successes that brought rock to the mainstream in the 1960s the big corporations moved in and, in my opinion, practically dictated every note each band would play. Much of the music of this decade is stilted and still doesn’t hold up today.

1920's - This decade was right smack in the middle of the Jazz era and it has got to be the best decade of the pre-rock era. This period in jazz was much like the 1950s of the rock era. Creativity, spontaneity and experimentation were at a high point. I personally believe a good part of the reason for this was that recorded music was finally coming of age as the technology stabilized and became available to the masses. You had talent coming in droves to record their songs and I can only presume that the record labels were not as prejudiced as to what they thought would or would not sell so the variety was very good. If you listen to any of the classics like “Button up your Overcoat” or “Five Foot two Eyes of Blue” you’ll find the originals to be a little rougher (not to mention fidelity problems) but much higher in spontaneity than you’d find on the more sterile renditions you’d probably recognize from more recent recordings. To get a feel for this decade you’ve got to listen to songs and versions actually recorded during this decade. CD’s from this decade are extremely difficult to find because almost no one even cares about it. However that’s largely because of ignorance. If I run across any CD I don’t have from this decade I snatch it up while I have the chance!

1930s - This was also a great decade in jazz though there was a major influx of the “more polished” artists who, though they were more accomplished singers, began to organize their musical styles into a more formula driven manner. It’s also a time when the big bands began to move in. This decade produced a lot of classics.

1940s - This was the decade of the big bands and the crooners. Much of this decade was formula driven and moved the music to a near standstill that became the bane of the early 1950s. Though there were still some good things happening in the jazz genre the big bright spot of this decade was the dawn of rock and roll. Yes, about 10 years before Elvis, there were songs recorded that have much more in common with the rock era than the jazz era in which they existed. This early rock was done only by black artists and didn’t get wide distribution. The difference between these songs and the popular songs at that same time was like being in a dank stuffy cellar and then stepping out into the fresh air in the light of day. These songs were the signs of great things to come. There are almost no radio stations anywhere today that play these songs. To get any sense for what these songs were like you’re going to have to buy CD’s.

1910s - This was an early period in which many of the hits were in whatever style, opera, military marches, ragtime, etc. I’m sure that phonographs at this time were mostly relegated to the higher classes and the market wasn’t fully developed. Consequently, just about anything sold because sound recordings were still a novelty. There are some songs I’d call interesting but don’t even come close to all the great stuff that happened in later decades.

1900s - Again there are a few songs I’d call interesting if not, in many ways, for their amateurishness that makes them laughable. The recording industry was in it’s infancy and I’m sure that much of what was recorded had more to do with who had access to recording equipment than who had talent. I admit I almost never play any of the stuff from this decade other than to let a friend hear (for historical reasons) what this decade was like.

Answer 2

The 70's. Why? There were soooo many great songs and bands back then. The songs had lyrics that meant something. Examples: The music of Eric Clapton (Leyla, Forever Man,), The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Led Zeppelin (Stairway to Heaven).
Hall & Oates, Todd Rundgren(Hello its Me). David Bowie, The Rolling Stones(Jumping Jack Flash), Genesis (Stay with Me, Lonely Man on the Corner, Abacab), Sting aka (The Police), Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen(All of his songs- Born to Run, Brilliant Disguise, Dancing in the Dark, Human Touch) and on and on. There is no comparison between the junk you hear on the radio today and the music back then.

Answer 3

The 80`s . You had a variety of music that was considered pop. You had groups like the Go Go`s , Madonna, Flock of Seagulls, Quiet Riot, Bon-Jovi, Mr Mister, Tiffany etc. All pop and all different kinds of pop. Bubble gum pop,Tech-no pop, Rock pop and so on. Variety back then and today`s music is the same stuff over and over. Rap , Rap rock, Metal and it`s all the same thing.

Answer 4

The 80's. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Tears for Fears, A-ha, Pet Shop Boys etc. . .

Answer 5

I think the 70s is when the genres really started branching out. Look at Queen and "Bohemian Rhapsody". Look at the beginnings of metal with Ozzy and Black Sabbath, etc. Look at Billy Joel and piano rock. Look at Janis Joplin and "Bobby McGee."

Answer 6

80's for sure!

Duran Duran Madonna, Michael Jackson, Howard Jones etc. etc.
It was the most awesome decade for music. You can't beat it!

Answer 7

The 70's.... where would the music industry be without david bowie's 70's stuff?

Answer 8

70's. Pop/rock went in all different directions. War-related, psychedelic, disco, bubble gum, heavy metal, top 40...pick your direction.

Answer 9

that 80s like madonna and stuff like that