Best known for their hits "Big in Japan" and "Forever Young," Alphaville have made synthesizer-based music since 1982. "Forever Young" was on the soundtrack for the 1989 film "Listen to Me" starring Kirk Cameron. The male vocalist Marian Gold is known for his very dramatic style.
Their 1984 stadium rocker "Rock You Like a Hurricane" will go down as one of the top hard-rock anthems of all time. The Scorpions mastered a form of highly emotional, highly polished heavy metal. Though they originally formed in 1969, they had their greatest commercial success in the 1980s. And while not belonging strictly to the 80s, 1990's "Winds of Change" is a philosophical song of longing and questions that should not be overlooked.
One of the most commercially successful pop musicians from Germany of all time, Nena's greatest hit was "99 Luftballons." She recorded the song with her band, also called Nena. Recorded in English as "99 Red Balloons," it is in fact a song written in protest against militarization. It was a hit across the world, and her only hit in the English-speaking world. Her songs have always have a punk edge to them, especially when performed live.
Not technically German, the Austrian performer Falco is among the most successful German-speaking musicians ever. He has classical musical training, but his music is pure pop. His best-known songs in the English-speaking world are "Rock Me Amadeus" and "Der Kommissar." He also wrote the song "Ganz Wein" for the punk band Drahdiwaberl, for which he played bass.
One of the most influential bands ever, the German outfit Kraftwerk have influenced musical styles from rock to techno to rap. Their first hit was "Autobahn" on their 1974 album of the same name. They released their album "Computer World" in 1981. It contained the songs "Computer World," "Computer Love," and "Pocket Calculator." Their influence continues in every genre which features electronic instrumentation.