The wailing sax solo was very common in 80's pop songs. You can't find an 80's romantic movie wherein the pinnacle love scene wasn't accompanied by a crescendo of wailing saxophone solo. However, it seems a uniquely 80's thing. The saxophone was not a popular instrument or a well-liked sound in 70's music or 90's music, nor has the trend been seen since. Why was this the case? Why did we all get so hungry for the wailing sax solo in the 80's? You even had horn musicians gaining mainstream world fame as solo rock stars. Kenny G, for instance. I have never listened to Kenny G's music nor paid attention to his career, yet I somehow know that he is a world famous saxophone player. Why do I know this?
I am only wondering why the wailing saxophone solo was such a benchmark of the 1980's. Many 1980's things have since come back into fashion, some only ironically, but we see no modern love for the wailing saxophone. What was it about that decade that permitted us, as consumers, to tolerate such an objectionable, ridiculous musical trope?
List of wailing sax solo songs from 80's pop music:
Careless whisper
You belong to the city
Baker street
Maneater
Who can it be now
Urgent
Smooth operator
Born to run
Caribbean queen
One more night
