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Top 10 European Artists of the '80sAt the risk of being a bit ethnocentric, it’s difficult to evaluate European artists in the '80s outside the context of success in Britain or America. Not many artists from mainland Europe (and Iceland) were able to make that jump into the English-speaking markets, and the ones who did often were saddled, unfairly or not, with the condescending one-hit wonder tag. Even so, here are 10 of the most notable European artists of the '80s, and without them the decade wouldn’t have been the same. 1. ScorpionsThis German band almost achieved world domination in the early and mid-'80s, taking its twin guitar attack and fist-pumping arena sound to never-before-scaled heights. 1984's Love at First Sting stands as a major hard rock album regardless of decade, fueled by a number of unforgettable anthems, including the ballad “Still Loving You” and the mid-tempo gem “I’m Leaving You” as well as the ubiquitous “Rock You Like a Hurricane”. American fans couldn’t get enough of these Teutonic warriors.
2. Golden EarringBy the time the '80s rolled around, this Dutch rock band had long been veterans of the rock scene in Europe and had also enjoyed quite a hit in Britain and America with 1974's “Radar Love”. But that somewhat annoying, almost-novelty tune was nothing compared to the intensity and mainstream rock appeal of 1982’s rocking “Twilight Zone”. It’s one of the few songs of the decade that really doesn’t sound dated in the least, and if it’s a one-song '80s legacy the band retains, it’s a solid one.
3. a-haAlthough it tends to inspire a love-it-or-hate-it response among listeners, the glossy synth pop classic “Take on Me” really made a splash in America in 1985, riding the wave of a joyful keyboard riff and an innovative, memorable video clip all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. The Norwegian band that delivered the song valiantly tried to maintain its popularity in America on the heels of that one monster hit, but it was probably an impossible feat to match for a European act.
4. FalcoAustria’s biggest rock star achieved worldwide stardom by sheer force of will and a playful, flamboyant approach to making commercially viable music. His “Der Kommissar” introduced an early-'80s Teutonic rap to the varied pop music stew, and Falco was one of the few European artists with enough clout and gumption to forge American hits in his native tongue. “Rock Me Amadeus” employed the singer’s best feature, his sense of light-hearted daring, to claim a No. 1 U.S. pop hit.
5. KrokusThis Swiss metal band became huge stars worldwide in the mid-'80s by bringing a singular but undeniably mainstream style to hard rock. Along with a couple of other artists on this list, the former progressive rock band pioneered what came to be known as power metal or Euro metal, categories that referred to the prevalence of high-pitched, soaring vocals and epic, slightly symphonic arrangements that defined the subgenre. “Screaming in the Night” is a bona fide hard rock classic.
6. NenaThough many remain unaware of the fact, German singer Nena Kerner was but a member of quite an impressive band that became her namesake. Even so, she and she alone became a major '80s icon, aided by her unique sense of style and stunning good looks matched perfectly with the burgeoning phenomenon of MTV. However, the band’s signature tune, "99 Luftballoons", remains not only an important relic of '80s pop culture but retains significant power as a Cold War document of unease and doubt.
7. SugarcubesThis Icelandic band, led by the striking looks and vocals of Bjork, took it upon themselves to inject a fresh, much-needed amount of oddity into '80s music at the end of the decade. After all, by then even the controlled strangeness of some new wave acts had faded away entirely, and New Kids on the Block had become the pop gold standard. So, to say the least, the frenetic, anguished delivery of Bjork and Co. on “Motorcrash” amply filled the niche of “something just a little bit different.”
8. EuropeAt the risk of getting my meta ya-ya’s out a bit too much, this poppy Swedish band belongs on this list if only for the delicious over-the-top nature of, well, pretty much all the music they recorded, and frontman Joey Tempest’s blustery name and blond locks. But really, the music has its merits in very catchy melodies and an appropriate fusion of epic, symphonic tendencies with light hard rock. If “The Final Countdown” is like nails on a chalkboard to you, try the soaring ballad “Carrie”.
9. VangelisThis Greek electronic composer had enjoyed a long and varied career for nearly two decades before his soundtrack for the 1981 Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire shot him to international stardom. By 1982, the film’s main theme had forced Vangelis' way forever into the memories of children and teenagers, who surely imitated the slow-motion running scene from the film in droves when they made spectacles of themselves in public during the early '80s. OK, well, maybe that was just me.
10. Jan HammerOur lone Czech on the list is another soundtrack specialist, in his case making a memorable sonic impression on the small screen. Hammer’s accompaniment for the heavily stubbled Crockett and suave, soft-spoken Tubbs on Miami Vice was nothing short of transcendent, providing moody atmospherics at the proper dramatic junctures but mostly shining through as one of the decade’s top TV themes. Oddly enough, Hammer had previously been a pretty major jazz-fusion musician before stardom beckoned.
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