What bands from the 80’s do you picture the characters each liking? And if Hyde and Jackie (who have totally different tastes) wanted to go to a concert as a date, what would be a good middle-ground band they’d both enjoy?
These lists are written from my understanding/interpretation of the characters. Just because I believe they might not like certain music and why doesn't mean other people can't or don't or shouldn't like that music.
Also, I'm writing this post with the stored knowledge in my head (which is vast but not complete by any means. I'm also not making these lists fully comprehensive (and mostly don't contain one-hit wonders); otherwise, it'll take me all day.
Hyde hates the mainstream '80s music scene with a passion. He listens to the bands from the '70s still putting out music and new underground/ indie bands like Green River and (early) Soundgarden. Black Flag. Run D.M.C. Sonic Youth. Bad Religion. Beastie Boys. But hair metal and new wave are not his scene.
Neither Van Halen nor Guns & Roses do it for him (for many reasons). He might like early Metallica through The Black Album (despite that this is when Metallica began changing its sound to become more marketable) But he'd have to wait to the tail-end of of the '80s when the Seattle music scene starts to blossom. It has the right combination of music and meaning for him. Mainstream different genres of '80s rock are too derivative, too vapid, too soft, too objectifying, too repetitive on subject matter.
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A lot of people think Jackie would be all about Madonna, and she'd probably enjoy songs like "Holiday". But Madonna's different personas and limit-pushing throughout the '80s might not jibe with Jackie's aesthetic or sensibilities. She's a love-song girly, but she also appreciates a good guitar solo -- remember that season 1 moment when she wants to hear that Peter Frampton solo for the umpteenth time? She likes rock that's not too heavy but does have a kick to it.
She'd probably see through the fake drag aesthetic of hair metal (while she appreciated the authenticity of 1970s Bowie on T7S) but would also enjoy those bands' ballads.
Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany. Paula Abdul. Sade. Songs by Cyndi Lauper but not her aesthetic. The Bangles. The Go-Gos. New Kids on the Block. The B-52s, Duran Duran. Blondie. Bon Jovi. George Michael.
Unfortunately, I don't think Jackie and Hyde would like any '80s bands or musicians in common, so they'd go to concerts of bands / music artists that originated in the late 1960s or 1970s that continue to put out albums and tour.
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Donna shares many of the issues with '80s music as Hyde does. But she would like U2, Pat Benatar, Joann Jett. Janet Jackson, Blondie (maybe). Hair metal would piss her off since the majority is copying 1970s Aerosmith, her favorite band. And 1980s Aerosmith would piss her off because it transformed into a hair metal version of itself.
She'd end up, in spite of herself, enjoying some of the new wave bands Eric is into. And probably some Bon Jovi.
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Eric likes U2, R.E.M. ('80s R.E.M. is not the same as '90s R.E.M. musically, but '90s R.E.M. evolved naturally out of '80s R.E.M.), Devo, The B-52s, A-ha, Talking Heads, Van Halen, Tears for Fears. They Might Be Giants.
Beastie Boys (which we would create a "situation" where he tries rapping). Run D.M.C. L.L. Cool J.
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Kelso is into all the hair bands (from Van Halen -- which counts -- to Twisted Sister to Skid Row to Mr. Big). He even tries to form one despite not being able to play an instrument. He thinks he'd be a great front man / lead singer. Jackie realizes that a lot of her makeup is missing, and Kelso is responsible.
He'd also like Devo, the B52s, and some of the more interesting bands Eric enjoys.
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Fez basically listens to what his friends listen to, but he's also a BIG Madonna fan (sings her songs all the time, to the annoyance of his friends). Depeche Mode. Living Color. Menudo. Wham! Boy George (whose presentation would confuse Fez no matter how many times his friends try to explain it. He's not performing artificial drag like hair metal bands do).
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Others will have different opinions, of course. As I stated at the beginning of this post, my lists are based on my understanding / interpretation of the characters. No doubt (pun not intended) some of you might reblog this post and make your own lists. Have at it! 👩🎤
