Some of the music of the '80s, such as heartland rock and roots rock, feels like it could have happened during any decade, perhaps because of the naturalistic nature of those genres. Other styles, however, could have only emerged during the '80s, in a very special window of time. That's probably the case for synth pop, often considered one of the key subgenres of new wave but really more of an independent movement of its own. Dependent on a highly specific visual style incorporating copious makeup and often impeccable fashion, synth pop and its New Romantic niche certainly defined the look of early '80s music a great deal. Musically, it provided a distinctly modern spin on pop that emphasized the relatively new, unexplored technology of the synthesizer. The cold, distant sound of the genre emerged as a commentary on modern culture before Duran Duran pepped things up and ushered synth pop into wider circulation by the mid-'80s. Check out my Profile of Synth Pop for an introduction to one of the signature musical styles of the '80s that continues to exert influence on the pop and alternative scenes of today.