THROUGHOUT TIME, MUSICIANS HAVE GRAPPLED WITH IMBUING SOCIAL COMMENTARY INTO THEIR SONGS, THOUGH SOME ARGUE THAT THE ARTISTS OF THE 70s WERE THE FIRST TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS, DAMN THE REPERCUSSIONS, LIFE WAS SIMPLY TOO SHORT.

AS THE 80s ROLLED IN, MORE THAN JUST THE MUSIC REFLECTED A PERIOD OF GREAT INCOME DISPARITY AND A FOCUS ON AFFLUENCE. DRUGS LIKE COCAINE WERE AS COMMON AS CANNABIS IS TODAY, AND IT HELPED FUEL TELEVISION SHOWS LIKE MIAMI VICE AND MOVIES LIKE THAT OF WALL STREET MADE POPULAR BY MICHAEL DOUGLAS’ CHARACTER GORDON GEKKO.

FLAUNTING WEALTH WAS PART AND PARCEL OF THE TIMES AND A DELIBERATE BY-PRODUCT OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN’S TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS. BEACH VOLLEYBALL’S METEORIC RISE MIGHT NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HAPPENED WERE THIS PERFECT STORM OF CIRCUMSTANCES NOT IN MOTION.