SAM Sounds of the 80's
Every decade has a distinct identity, recalled through cultural moments as well as art, technology, fashion, film, and especially sound. Because of sound’s deep ties to emotion and memory, something as simple as a song, a catchy jingle, or even a nostalgic product sound can instantly evoke an era. Inspired by this idea, we put together a short series of articles where we’ll explore the sounds that defined different decades, beginning with the unforgettable 80’s.
The 1980’s were arguably one of the greatest decades for sound. The rise of personal computing and digital communications created high demand for product sounds — everything from household electronics to video games. Even popular music, advertising, and soundtracks were defined by the satisfying and synthy clicks, boops, and beeps of this digital decade.
What is particularly charming about product sounds of the 80’s is their simplicity. Without today’s computer processing power and storage capabilities, sound had to utilize minimal space, often resulting in a single tone or accent. That isn’t to say the music itself lacked complexity. Rather, there simply wasn’t enough memory on a circuit board to store it, so audio was often reduced to 8-bit. While this perhaps did not showcase the music in all its glory, it created a unique palette of sounds that have become an iconic symbol of the era.
Brand music also took on a distinctly 80’s sound, often out of necessity. The decade’s bold aesthetic and penchant for excess meant brands had to be louder, brighter, and more memorable to break through. As a result, many leaned into catchy, pop-inspired jingles and unmistakable hooks that were impossible to ignore — sonic identities that remain instantly recognizable to this day.
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We asked around at SAM to see what 80’s sounds were most memorable to our team. The more we reminisced, the longer the list grew, but we did our best to pare it down to the following. Throw on your favorite pair of shutter shades and take a listen to your favorite sonic brands and jingles including HBO, Wendy’s, Pac-Man, Filmation, Lite-Bright, Dallas, Top Gun, Super Mario Bros., Cheers, and more.
For all of these sounds and more, it’s easy to hear why the 80’s was a decade like no other. If this is music to your ears, check out The Sound of Nostalgia for a deeper dive into the science behind music, emotion, and memory.
