1984: The Year Pop Stardom Got Supersized

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Forty years ago, the chemistry of pop stardom was irrevocably changed. Nineteen eighty-four was an inflection point: a year of blockbuster albums, career quantum leaps, iconic poses and an enduring redefinition of what pop success could mean for performers — and would then demand from them — in the decades to come.

The indelible albums of 1984 were turning-point releases: Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” among them. Tina Turner reintroduced herself as a bruised but resilient survivor on “Private Dancer.” And Van Halen proved that hard rock could mesh with pop — even synth-pop — on “Jump.” These were pivotal statements from established acts who were decisively multiplying their impact.

1984: The Year Pop Stardom Got Supersized In a peak moment of pop monoculture, synthesizers pumped up songs and MTV forever changed how artists were seen. Here’s how — and why.

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And:

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And:

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And:

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• When writing a sentence, don’t keep your reader waiting. [David Crystal via The Browser]
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• On 30 September 2024, the UK became the first major economy to completely stop generating power by burning coal. [Molly Lempriere and Simon Evans]
• You shouldn’t say ‘hello’ in chat. [NoHello.net]

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