Why Does 80s Music Seem To Have Such Longevity?

29 years after the decade’s final day, clubs have '80s nights, digital TV has a host of '80s Music channels, and the radio is full of tunes by Madonna, Wham and Prince. Why does that material have so much longevity. The beginning of the 80s was an austere time. Visions of Duran Duran in Miami Vice suits dancing on yachts in the Bahamas seemed unobtainable. But as the 80s wore on the economy started to boom, bringing newfound wealth, hope and inspiration to the middle classes. Musicians of the 80s seemed to experiment with all genres of music, instead of sticking to the tried and tested formulas of bands from the past. Most of the artists within bands could really play. Artists rejected by record labels were told they simply weren’t good enough. These days anybody with a PC and an Internet connection can put out a catalogue of music, with varying unjuged results. Fantastic for talented innovators but detrimental to the overall quality of content put out to the public, who have to navigate a sea of sub-par sludge. While today’s music is entertaining and I believe a real music fan will find something they like in an era, I have no doubt that '80s music is still able to slap the publics cheeks to attention more than any other decade before or since. Whether it's listening to Prince’s “1999,” Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer,” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” or Bonnie Tylers “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” the end result is that you’ll always be dancing around your living room with your earphones on full blast mouthing, 'why can't they make music like this anymore'.