80's Music - Reflection of Decade

Though the 1980's did not interest me in a music sense, the messages behind the music did. A major message of the music was that violence, such as the Cold War, was pointless. The anti-war message could be clearly seen through the songs, "Russians" and "99 Balloons". These songs demonstrated the staunch positions held by most individuals, which was that nuclear war and rhetoric served no positive purpose. While the Cold War was a major theme, domestic issues, such as the changes of desegregation, were prominent in various groups including the hip-hop group, NWA. They brought up issues like racism and gang violence occurring in California. They frequently used racial slurs in their songs, as they were not afraid to be controversial or confrontational. NWA’s willingness not to shy away from controversial topics and express their opinions was a new and interesting approach. I believe that they captured the mood of some people during the decade since inequality was still a major problem in the country at the time, which they helped bring attention to.