In a peak moment of pop monoculture, synthesizers pumped up songs and MTV forever changed how artists were seen. Here’s how — and why.

Four decades later, we celebrate the year 1984, the greatest, most colorful, and most influential year in pop music history.

See photos of Cyndi Lauper, Madonna and other big pop stars at MTV's inaugural VMAs in 1984.

The artists you'll see on this list of 1984's 40 Most Awesome Music Videos rose to the challenge in some very creative ways. 40. Judas Priest, "Freewheel Burning" ...

The landscapes of pop, rock, R&B and rap changed forever 40 years ago. Here are Paste's picks for the 30 greatest albums of 1984.

The Pointer Sisters, Minutemen and more sounds from a landmark year in pop music.

Josh Landon explores the iconic of the year 1984 and the impact it carried in the City of Detroit.

To celebrate that moment in music history, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame created the exhibit “1984,” which is running through March at the downtown Cleveland tourist attraction.

Behind The Music: 1984 If you have VH1, you'll probably be sick of the Eighties by now, especially the naff TV version of that decade which involves all the crap old videos the producers can get ...

What was the greatest decade in pop music? Well, we think that’s easily the ’60s. Motown, the Beatles, and psychedelic rock, are all game-changing moments in popular music.