Shapersofthe80s

We celebrate vintage videos that inspired or emerged from the Swinging Eighties, the last time British youth culture made it hip to like pop.

This sub-cultural decade ran six years, 1978-1984. In the UK an exceptionally young generation of musicians and managers, artfully dressed Blitz Kids and New Romantics swept aside the dinosaurs of adult-oriented rock to create imaginative Pure Pop music: witty, ironic, soulful, observant and sexy... It drew playfully from the past. Back came melody and lyrics that played games with words, delivered by some astonishing vocalists.

The birth of MTV in 1981 relied on stylish videos from the UK. For young Americans who craved ''image bands'' of their own age, MTV ended the stranglehold of music radio aimed at their parents. 1983 saw 18 new British acts in the US Billboard top 40... More than 140 fresh new British bands hit the UK singles charts in the five years from 1980.

Shapersofthe80s @ YouTube also features Eighties revival bands since 2009.