Just what is it about the 80s?

Artrockers,

It is interesting to note that one of the biggest winners in today's RAJAR figures is Absolute 80s. Interesting to me anyway. So what's behind this station's success? Has it had a massive PR and advertising push? If it has it's passed me by. Did someone pretend to threaten it with closure, producing an outcry from big gobs and the most effective free publicity campaign ever for a radio station that wasn't really under threat at all (see 6 music)? No, you couldn't pull that trick twice, once was enough...More than enough, and it worked, we can still enjoy the flabby crap that is 6 music today - hurrah for that eh?

No, it seems that Absolute 80s has simply grown by word of mouth. But what is it about 80s music that allows Absolute 80s to soar while Absolute 90s nosedives?

Could it be that 80s music was simply better than 90s music? Could it be that 80s music was better than the music of today? Could it be that the 80s were the last decade of truly great pop music? And the last time the pop fan actually felt an excited involvement via the video boom? Or maybe it's simply an aging population desperately trying to regain their youth? Maybe it's all down to the legendary 50 quid man?

Or maybe you have an idea why it's so successful? If so please let me know. In the meantime I'm listening to it now on my trusty DAB for the first time - Two Tribes is playing so I'm going to have to leave this and shuffle around the room.

Seems I love the 80s too.

Tom Artrocker