OT: Best songs of the 80's
- Thread starter RUboston
- Start date
Stand or Fall....The Fixx
Don't Your Forget About Me....Simple Minds
I'll Wait....Van Halen
Promises Promises....Naked Eyes
Little By Little....Robert Plant
Stone Cold....Rainbowl
On The Loose....Saga
Fantasy....Aldo Nova
Burnin for You....Blue Oyster Cult
The One Thing...INXS
Billie Jean...Michael Jackson
Livin on A Prayer....Bon Jovi
When Doves Cry....Prince
Into The Groove...Madonna
Brass in Pocket....The Pretenders
New Years Day....U2
Would I Lie To You....Eurythmics
Edge of Seventeen...Stevie Nicks
Boys of Summer....Don Henley
Cities In Dust....Siouxie and the Banshees
I Love Rock And Roll....Joan Jett
Upside Down....Diana Ross
Magic....Olivia Newton John
Cars....Gary Numan
Dr Feelgood....Motley Crue
Never...Heart
Tainted Love....Soft Cell
Rio....Duran Duran
Don't You Want Me....Human League
Only The Lonely....The Motels
Abracadabra....Steve Miller
Obsession....Animotion
Everybody Wants To Rule The World....Tears For Fears
Rosanna....Toto
Burning Down The House....Talking Heads
Sweet Child O Mine....Guns N Roses
Superfreak....Rick James
Whip It....Devo
Rapture....Blondie
Jessies Girl....Rick Soringfield
What I Like About You....The Romantics
Never Say Never....Romeo Void
Cruel Summer....Bananarama
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me...Culture Club
Lets Dance....David Bowie
Walkin on Sunshine....Katrina and the Waves
Who Can It Be Now....Men At Work
She Blinded Me With Science...Thomas Dolby
Our Lips Are Sealed....Go Gos
Straight Up...Paula Abdul
Kids In America....Kim Wilde
Goodbye to You...Scandal
You Spin Me Round....Dead or Alive
White Wedding...Billy Idol
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic....The Police
West End Girls....Pet Shop Boys
Lies.....Thompson Twins
Another One Bites The Dust....Queen
Safety Dance....Men Without Hats
This post was edited on 4/20 9:52 AM by bac2therac
Don't Your Forget About Me....Simple Minds
I'll Wait....Van Halen
Promises Promises....Naked Eyes
Little By Little....Robert Plant
Stone Cold....Rainbowl
On The Loose....Saga
Fantasy....Aldo Nova
Burnin for You....Blue Oyster Cult
The One Thing...INXS
Billie Jean...Michael Jackson
Livin on A Prayer....Bon Jovi
When Doves Cry....Prince
Into The Groove...Madonna
Brass in Pocket....The Pretenders
New Years Day....U2
Would I Lie To You....Eurythmics
Edge of Seventeen...Stevie Nicks
Boys of Summer....Don Henley
Cities In Dust....Siouxie and the Banshees
I Love Rock And Roll....Joan Jett
Upside Down....Diana Ross
Magic....Olivia Newton John
Cars....Gary Numan
Dr Feelgood....Motley Crue
Never...Heart
Tainted Love....Soft Cell
Rio....Duran Duran
Don't You Want Me....Human League
Only The Lonely....The Motels
Abracadabra....Steve Miller
Obsession....Animotion
Everybody Wants To Rule The World....Tears For Fears
Rosanna....Toto
Burning Down The House....Talking Heads
Sweet Child O Mine....Guns N Roses
Superfreak....Rick James
Whip It....Devo
Rapture....Blondie
Jessies Girl....Rick Soringfield
What I Like About You....The Romantics
Never Say Never....Romeo Void
Cruel Summer....Bananarama
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me...Culture Club
Lets Dance....David Bowie
Walkin on Sunshine....Katrina and the Waves
Who Can It Be Now....Men At Work
She Blinded Me With Science...Thomas Dolby
Our Lips Are Sealed....Go Gos
Straight Up...Paula Abdul
Kids In America....Kim Wilde
Goodbye to You...Scandal
You Spin Me Round....Dead or Alive
White Wedding...Billy Idol
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic....The Police
West End Girls....Pet Shop Boys
Lies.....Thompson Twins
Another One Bites The Dust....Queen
Safety Dance....Men Without Hats
This post was edited on 4/20 9:52 AM by bac2therac
Re: 80's Songs
Talking Heads fan here, bigtime. The album and concert video Stop Making Sense stands the test of time to this day. I'll challenge anyone who isn't a fan to watch the concert and come on here and say their view of the Talking Heads hasn't changed for the better.
I missed that gem...which somehow made it to Billboard #15 and spent 7 weeks in the top 40 in early 1984
Being that my musical wheelhouse is mid 70's to mid 80's I will make the following comment (and I understand that music is extremely personal and every one has a right to their opinion): there is a lot of really average stuff being listed here, songs that while good are not worthy of being included among the best of a decade. There are even a few whose inclusion is down right embarrassing. There are of course also many very good choices.
time does not permit me to really put some thought into the subject but I will nominate one that I don't think has been listed. It's a song that addressed a real issue of the times (though an issue that was not felt as much in NJ as in some other Big ten states): (Rain on the) Scarecrow by John Mellancamp.
I nominate this not that I think its the best some of the decade - it is not but it is a really good song and I'm going to see him tonight at Carnegie Hall.
time does not permit me to really put some thought into the subject but I will nominate one that I don't think has been listed. It's a song that addressed a real issue of the times (though an issue that was not felt as much in NJ as in some other Big ten states): (Rain on the) Scarecrow by John Mellancamp.
I nominate this not that I think its the best some of the decade - it is not but it is a really good song and I'm going to see him tonight at Carnegie Hall.
Metal/Hard Rock Edition
"No One Like You", "The Zoo"- Scorpions
"Rapid Fire", "The Hellion/Electric Eye"- Judas Priest
"Hallowed Be Thy Name", "The Trooper", "Two Minutes to Midnight"- Iron Maiden
"Four Horsemen", "Creeping Death", "Damage, Inc.", "The Frayed Ends of Sanity"- Metallica
"Caught in the Mosh", "Anti-Social"- Anthrax
"Failing to Pieces", "The Real Thing"- Faith No More
"Forever"- Y&T
"Holy Diver", "Holy Diver", "Last In Line"- Dio
"Diary of a Madman", "Bark at the Moon"- Ozzy
"Outlaw"- Riot
"Still of the Night"- Whitesnake
"Midnight Mover"- Accept
"Ace of Spades"- Motorhead
"Everybody Wants Some", "And the Cradle Will Rock", "Mean Street"- Van Halen
Almost anything off of Appetite for Destruction- GnR
This post was edited on 4/20 11:32 AM by famousbill19
"No One Like You", "The Zoo"- Scorpions
"Rapid Fire", "The Hellion/Electric Eye"- Judas Priest
"Hallowed Be Thy Name", "The Trooper", "Two Minutes to Midnight"- Iron Maiden
"Four Horsemen", "Creeping Death", "Damage, Inc.", "The Frayed Ends of Sanity"- Metallica
"Caught in the Mosh", "Anti-Social"- Anthrax
"Failing to Pieces", "The Real Thing"- Faith No More
"Forever"- Y&T
"Holy Diver", "Holy Diver", "Last In Line"- Dio
"Diary of a Madman", "Bark at the Moon"- Ozzy
"Outlaw"- Riot
"Still of the Night"- Whitesnake
"Midnight Mover"- Accept
"Ace of Spades"- Motorhead
"Everybody Wants Some", "And the Cradle Will Rock", "Mean Street"- Van Halen
Almost anything off of Appetite for Destruction- GnR
This post was edited on 4/20 11:32 AM by famousbill19
Ok then my 80' life:
AC/DC-Shook Me All Night Long, Back in Black, Who Made Who, plus others. I will also add Money Talks and Thunderstruck which came out in 1990.
Guns & Roses-Paradise City-you can argue others but I got turned off by them
Def Leppard-The two obvious are Rock of Ages and Pour Some Sugar on Me, but there were others. Amazingly with such a popular band Gods of War is a very underrated hairband song.
VH-Jump, Panama plus others. Really like Top of the World too.
Twisted Sister-We're Not Gonna Take It
Quiet Riot-Cum on Feel the Noise
Judas Priest-Living After Midnight-I really liked alot of Priest but everybody loved this song including me
Ozzy-My god his list would be huge but Crazy Train is one of the greatest songs of all time.
This post was edited on 4/20 1:44 PM by seels2662
AC/DC-Shook Me All Night Long, Back in Black, Who Made Who, plus others. I will also add Money Talks and Thunderstruck which came out in 1990.
Guns & Roses-Paradise City-you can argue others but I got turned off by them
Def Leppard-The two obvious are Rock of Ages and Pour Some Sugar on Me, but there were others. Amazingly with such a popular band Gods of War is a very underrated hairband song.
VH-Jump, Panama plus others. Really like Top of the World too.
Twisted Sister-We're Not Gonna Take It
Quiet Riot-Cum on Feel the Noise
Judas Priest-Living After Midnight-I really liked alot of Priest but everybody loved this song including me
Ozzy-My god his list would be huge but Crazy Train is one of the greatest songs of all time.
This post was edited on 4/20 1:44 PM by seels2662
Two can play at that gameOriginally posted by DJ Spanky:
Ah, but it didn't hit #1 until February 16th, 1980, so it falls into the timeframe!Originally posted by famousbill19:Released in 1979. Had to leave it off.
And another one you missed: One On One by Hall and Oates
Billy Preston & Syreeta
I could go on forever but here are my highlights:
Love Will Tear Us Apart: Joy Division
Ever Fallen in Love: Buzzcocks
Train in Vain: The Clash (and anything else from London Calling)
E=MC(squared): Big Audio Dynamite
Radio Free Europe: REM
Holiday in Cambodia: Dead Kennedys
That's When I reach for my Revolver: Mission of Burma
Police on my back: The Clash
Planet Earth: Duran Duran
Save it for Later: English Beat
Los Angeles: X
(We don't need this) Facist Groove Thang: Heaven 17
Could You Be the One: Husker Du
Blue Sky Mine: Midnight Oil
I will Dare: Replacements
Green Thoughts: Smithereens
Love Will Tear Us Apart: Joy Division
Ever Fallen in Love: Buzzcocks
Train in Vain: The Clash (and anything else from London Calling)
E=MC(squared): Big Audio Dynamite
Radio Free Europe: REM
Holiday in Cambodia: Dead Kennedys
That's When I reach for my Revolver: Mission of Burma
Police on my back: The Clash
Planet Earth: Duran Duran
Save it for Later: English Beat
Los Angeles: X
(We don't need this) Facist Groove Thang: Heaven 17
Could You Be the One: Husker Du
Blue Sky Mine: Midnight Oil
I will Dare: Replacements
Green Thoughts: Smithereens
Sirius First Wave radio. It's like I never left the '80s. Although they do overplay Morrisey at times.
Whisper to a Scream - Icicle Works
Pretty in Pink - Psychedelic Furs
Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
Take on me - Aha
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
Debaser - Pixies
Whisper to a Scream - Icicle Works
Pretty in Pink - Psychedelic Furs
Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
Take on me - Aha
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
Debaser - Pixies
This thread reminds why I listened to classic rock from the '60's & the '70's when I was in school in the '80s. The '80's must be the worst decade in the history of recorded music.
I'll try...though I know I'll forget some:
most...if not all of the material from the 80s of U2, The Clash, REM, the Smiths, Joy Division,and the Cure
Clubland, New Lace Sleeves, and Tramp The Dirt Down by Elvis Costello
Patience, Welcome To The Jungle, and Sweet Child O Mine by Guns 'N Roses
The River, No Surrender, Downbound Train, Dancing In The Dark, Brilliant Disguise, and One Step Up by The Boss
Redemption Song, Stiff Necked Fools, and Buffalo Soldier by Robert Nesta Marley
Jersey Girl, On The Nickel, and Downtown Train by Tom Waits
Waiting On A Friend and Almost Hear You Sigh by the Rolling Stones
Call It A Loan and For America by Jackson Brown
More Than This and Avalon by Roxy Music
Rockin In The Free World by Neil Young
Impressed by Tonio K
It's All Mine by World Party
Opiated by the Tragically Hip
The Boys Of Summer by Don Henley
Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits
Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs
Tyler by UB40
Stepping Out by Joe Jackson
Tempted by Squeeze
Don't You Want Me by the Human League
Brass in Pocket by the Pretenders
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil
Every Breath You Take by the Police
Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
China Girl by David Bowie....with Stevie Ray
Dear God by XTC
Troy by Sinead O'Connor
This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads
Sanctuary by the Cult
What's The Matter Here by 10,000 Maniacs
In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
All You Zombies by the Hooters
Welcome To The Boomtown by David and David
International Lover by Prince
Unsatisfied by the Replacements
You Got Lucky by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Dirty Pool by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
The Hedonism Blues by Eric V. Fields
This post was edited on 4/20 4:55 PM by Kbee3
most...if not all of the material from the 80s of U2, The Clash, REM, the Smiths, Joy Division,and the Cure
Clubland, New Lace Sleeves, and Tramp The Dirt Down by Elvis Costello
Patience, Welcome To The Jungle, and Sweet Child O Mine by Guns 'N Roses
The River, No Surrender, Downbound Train, Dancing In The Dark, Brilliant Disguise, and One Step Up by The Boss
Redemption Song, Stiff Necked Fools, and Buffalo Soldier by Robert Nesta Marley
Jersey Girl, On The Nickel, and Downtown Train by Tom Waits
Waiting On A Friend and Almost Hear You Sigh by the Rolling Stones
Call It A Loan and For America by Jackson Brown
More Than This and Avalon by Roxy Music
Rockin In The Free World by Neil Young
Impressed by Tonio K
It's All Mine by World Party
Opiated by the Tragically Hip
The Boys Of Summer by Don Henley
Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits
Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs
Tyler by UB40
Stepping Out by Joe Jackson
Tempted by Squeeze
Don't You Want Me by the Human League
Brass in Pocket by the Pretenders
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil
Every Breath You Take by the Police
Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
China Girl by David Bowie....with Stevie Ray
Dear God by XTC
Troy by Sinead O'Connor
This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads
Sanctuary by the Cult
What's The Matter Here by 10,000 Maniacs
In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
All You Zombies by the Hooters
Welcome To The Boomtown by David and David
International Lover by Prince
Unsatisfied by the Replacements
You Got Lucky by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Dirty Pool by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
The Hedonism Blues by Eric V. Fields
This post was edited on 4/20 4:55 PM by Kbee3
lol, been too busy worrying about my post count transferring to the new site. So, my first comment is that WHTG (106.3) was the best commercial radio station on the planet for about 16 years, from 1984, when Rich Robinson engineered the change in format from beautiful music to alternative music, to 2000, when the family-owned station was sold to Press Communications and WHTG ceased to exist (although its weak sister, "G-Rock" went on for a few years). It's where Mr. Matt Pinfield really launched his career as program director and DJ (after years of DJ-ing on WRSU and at the Melody Bar, both of which he continued to do, even while at WHTG), eventually moving to MTV from WHTG. There's even a FB page for WHTG...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/413467425487503/
With regard to 80s music, here are some of my faves, mostly culled from an old tape I made in 1991 called "Punky Brewster."
THE CURE: JUST LIKE HEAVEN
DRAMARAMA: ANYTHING ANYTHING
VIOLENT FEMMES: BLISTER IN THE SUN
R.E.M.: IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD…
THE SMITHS: THIS CHARMING MAN
HOUSEMARTINS: HAPPY HOUR
GENERAL PUBLIC: TENDERNESS
ENGLISH BEAT: TEARS OF A CLOWN
BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE: E=MC2
THE WONDERSTUFF: UNBEARABLE
HOODOO GURUS: LIKE WOW WIPEOUT
REPLACEMENTS: I WILL DARE
TALKING HEADS: THIS MUST BE THE PLACE
U2: I WILL FOLLOW
NEW ORDER: TEMPTATION
THE JAM: TOWN CALLED MALICE
MADNESS: ONE STEP BEYOND
PRIMITIVES: CRASH
DEPECHE MODE: JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH
CROSSFIRE CHOIR: WHAT’S IT TO YA?
THE CLASH: LONDON CALLING
TOM TOM CLUB: GENIUS OF LOVE
PSYCHEDELIC FURS: LOVE MY WAY
JOY DIVISION: LOVE WILL TEAR US APART
MEN WITHOUT HATS: SAFETY DANCE
YAZ: DON'T GO
MODERN ENGLISH: I MELT WITH YOU
ROMANTICS: WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU
PROCLAIMERS: 500 MILES
TEENAGE RIOT: SONIC YOUTH
EVER: LEMONHEADS
EVERYDAY IS HALLOWEEN: MINISTRY
KILLING MOON: ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN
TAKE THE SKINHEADS BOWLING: CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN
DEBASER: THE PIXIES
THIS IS THE DAY: THE THE
I WANNA BE ADORED: STONE ROSES
SMALLTOWN BOY: BRONSKI BEAT
RISE ABOVE: BLACK FLAG
After reading this thread I know why a song like Uptown Funk would be listed as the worst song. Just a matter of demographics.
I shall add..
Never Say Never - Romeo Void
PS.. links don't seem to look visually different than text on my screen. Is it up to me to color it and underline it in this message system?
Never Say Never - Romeo Void
Never Say Never - Romeo Void
PS.. links don't seem to look visually different than text on my screen. Is it up to me to color it and underline it in this message system?
Never Say Never - Romeo Void
make that Electric Slide.....a big hit when it was played at the Knight Club on Thursday nights
Nope. The song's name is Electric Boogie, the dance done to it is the Electric Slide.
My first reaction to seeing this topic was to pass. Then I started thinking. Always dangerous. Without getting into too many specific songs, there were some outrageously good albums in the 80s. A by no means complete list:
Paul Simon - Graceland
John Mellencamp - The Lonesome Jubilee
Dire Straits - Making Movies & Brothers in Arms
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp
Bruce Hornsby The Way it Is
Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
Paul Simon - Graceland
John Mellencamp - The Lonesome Jubilee
Dire Straits - Making Movies & Brothers in Arms
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp
Bruce Hornsby The Way it Is
Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
One of my all-time faves, but it came out in 1979. Joe Jackson's Look Sharp tour was my first "New Wave" concert ever at the old Tower Theater in Philly in 1979. All my HS friends were stoners/classic rock guys (and I love that music too) and they generally hated anything punk or new wave, so it took me awhile to "escape" their influence.
