In 1981, music was evolving and reshaping in significant ways, according to an analysis published by American Songwriter. These are three one-hit wonders from 1981 that changed modern music forever.
The Bottom Line
- Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love” blended rock and disco to create an enduring template, notably utilized by Mariah Carey in 1995.
- Soft Cell’s 1981 rendition of “Tainted Love” popularized the synthesizer, cementing it as an instrument that would dominate the decade.
- Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309/Jenny” captured a cultural artifact of memory that continues to boggle the minds of music fans.
Tom Tom Club Bridges Rock and Disco With Genius of Love
Formed by husband-and-wife duo Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth—who were also members of the rock outfit Talking Heads—Tom Tom Club released their self-titled album in 1981. The record yielded “Genius of Love,” a single that combined rock and disco.
The track’s influence expanded through sampling by myriad artists, most notably Mariah Carey on her 1995 hit tune “Fantasy.”
Soft Cell Establishes Synthesizer Dominance Through Tainted Love
The 1980s might just be the most unique time period for music in the past 100 years. Soft Cell popularized the synthesizer with their 1981 rendition of “Tainted Love,” featured on the album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.
The song is a classic 1980s pop hit that is somehow brooding and catchy. Anchored by synths, the track features the instruments that would dominate the decade.
Tommy Tutone Captures a Bygone Era of Memory in 867-5309 Jenny
Released on the album Tommy Tutone 2 in 1981, the single “867-5309/Jenny” persists as a track that will continue to boggle the minds of music fans in the year 3026 that people used to know telephone numbers by heart. The track immortalized a phone number attributed to Jenny.
Back in the 1990s, most people knew dozens of phone numbers. Today, you’re lucky if you remember your own. The track endures as a jukebox staple that prompts music fans to laugh and wonder out loud if people really knew each other’s telephone numbers.
| Artist | Track Title | Album | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Tom Club | “Genius of Love” | Tom Tom Club | 1981 |
| Soft Cell | “Tainted Love” | Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret | 1981 |
| Tommy Tutone | “867-5309/Jenny” | Tommy Tutone 2 | 1981 |
The legacy of these three 1981 releases remains visible.
