Much like the 90s top 20 music article, instead of going through the official top 20 list of the 80s, I will look at the songs most frequently listened to now. I bet that just like the last one, this list will have some interesting and insightful choices. Read on to find out which are the best songs of the 80s people still love listening to.
20. Say You Say Me – Lionel Richie
Good old Lionel Richie, although he was a little before my time, his legacy still lives on. This song was written for the 1985 film White Nights. It was so successful that it hit number 1 on the US charts and on the R&B singles charts.
This was no great achievement for Richie, seeing how this was his 9th song to hit number 1. The song went on to win an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.
19. I Can’t Go For That – Daryl Hall and John Oates
Much like Richie, this pair consisted of two overachievers. I Can’t Go For That reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was their 4th single to make it to number 1, and it stayed at the top for 10 weeks!
Although people assume that the song is about a relationship, it is actually written about the music industry. It was about not letting the mangers and the labels push you around and staying true to yourself.
18. Push it – Salt N Pepa
The song was released in 1987 and made it up to number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although that was pretty good, the song made a comeback when the band played at Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday party. It came back with a vengeance and made it all the way up to number 2.
The song was originally recorded as a radio version and wasn’t placed on the album, but after the unprecedented success, the album was rereleased with the song. It also went on to win a Grammy Award.
17. With or Without You – U2
U2, which I just found out are Irish, released this song in 1987 and it became their first number 1 hit. It stayed at the top of the charts in the US and Canada for 3 weeks. The song was inspired by Bono’s feelings of conflict between being a family man and being a musician.
At first, the band thought the song was awful, as it wouldn’t improve even though they were consistently working on it. They finally broke through their collective block and created the song we know today.
16. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
I don’t know about you, but I can’t say that title without singing it. This song topped the charts in 13 countries and went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song was originally supposed to have a country vibe, but the producer decided it would be better as a dance song, good call.
Shannon Rubicam, the song’s writer, was inspired by the idea of a single person wishing they could find their special someone. It wasn’t about going to the club and finding someone to dance with, but trying to find someone you could dance the dance of life with.
15. When Doves Cry – Prince
This song had worldwide success and stayed at number 1 on the US charts for 5 weeks. It was even the bestselling single of 1989. This song went on to platinum just before they lowered the requirements for that certification, which means this song was more successful than any other song awarded platinum later on.
The song was written because Prince was asked to write a song for a particular section of a movie. However, it’s rumored that the song was actually inspired by his relationship with Susan Moosie, a member of Vanity 6.
14. Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard
Just as their album, Hysteria, was being completed, the producer heard Joe Elliott, the lead singer, playing his guitar. The producer wanted to turn that sound into a new song and add it onto the album, but was hesitant because the release was already delayed.
They decided to pursue the song, so after two weeks they finished it and put it on the album, which was a really good call. The song made it to number 2 on the Billboard hot 100.
13. Walk like An Egyptian – The Bangles
Liam Sternberg, the song writer, was inspired to write the song when he saw people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance. Their walking style reminded him of the way the ancient Egyptians were displayed, and so a song was born.
The song made it all the way to number 3 in the United Kingdom and made it to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It stayed at the top of the chart for four weeks. They also won an MTV Award for their unique music video.
12. Don’t You (Forget about me) – Simple Minds
This song is renowned for playing in the opening and closing for the movie The Breakfast Club. The song was poised to many bands but they all refused, even Simple Minds. They ended up changing their minds with the encouragement of their label.
The song became a number 1 hit in the US, it is their only song to ever make it to number 1 in the states. It also stayed at the top for 3 weeks. Although its position on the charts dropped, it stayed on those charts for two years, which is one of the longest times a song has ever managed to stay on the charts.
11. Sweet Child O’Mine – Guns N’ Roses
This song was the third single on their debut studio album. It made it to number one and was their only song to ever reach number 1 status in the US. The song was created while the band was mucking about. The lead guitarist was randomly jamming while pulling faces at the drummer when he was asked to play the rhythm again.
The band spent the afternoon fiddling with it and came up with the song. Lead guitarist, Slash, is known for not liking the song because they treated it as a joke from the very start. Well, that’s too bad Slash, it still made it to number 1.
10. Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
This song was, in part, inspired by Jimmy James’ song “A Man like Me.” It was also inspired by a childhood relationship Kevin Rowlands was in, because this relationship made him think about sexuality and all the taboo that surrounds it.
His curiosity and exploration led to a song that placed at the very top of the charts in numerous countries, like Australia, America, Ireland, and many more. This song was their second number 1 hit.
9. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
This song was a slow mover; it made it to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and didn’t even place on the United Kingdom’s top 40 chart. But when it was re-released in 2009, it went right to number 6. This increase in success is due to the song’s constant appearance on T.V. It was most commonly used as a rally cry at sporting events.
An interesting fact is the song’s reference to South Detroit, south Detroit doesn’t exist, it’s actually Canada.
8. Hungry like a Wolf – Duran Duran
Another slow mover was Hungry like a Wolf. The song failed to make it in the US market. They had a music video made that was filmed in Sri Lanka and had a ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ vibe to it.
The Video was put into heavy rotation by MTV, which propelled the song into the number 1 positon on the Billboard Hot 100. It also went on to win the first Grammy award for Best Short Form Music Video. Talk about a benchmark.
7. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go – Wham!
George Michael was inspired to write the song when he saw a note by Andrew Ridgeley to his parents saying, “wake me up up before you go,” accidently writing ‘up’ twice. Michael then wrote go twice on purpose, and thus began the creation of a song that would go straight to number 1 in America and the United Kingdom.
6. Take on Me – A-Ha
This Norwegian band wrote this song for their debut studio album. The song was released three times and only then did it chart. It made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and won 6 awards and was nominated for 2 more.
The video used a new method were the band appeared in a pencil sketch form, they then combined this look with live action and it was a massive hit, as you can tell.
5. Sweet Dreams (are made of this) – Eurythmics
This song was the one that broke the duo into the music industry; it was one of their biggest hits. But it wasn’t just the song that was good; it also had a great music video. The Video was played on rotation, which helped the duo secure a number 2 position on the United Kingdom charts and a number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song wasn’t just contained to those two charts, it became an international success, and it eventually went gold with the band becoming a household name.
4. Physical – Olivia Newton – John
This song was meant to be for Rod Stewart, but he turned it down…bad move. The song was instantly a massive success, selling 2 million singles. It went platinum and stayed at the top of the charts for 10 weeks; it was her most successful song.
Her music video managed to cause some controversy, as during the end of the video, the transformed men would leave the gym holding hands, implying they were gay. Because of the time that the video was aired, MTV would, on occasion, cut the ending due to this supposed controversy.
In Canada and the United Kingdom, the video was banned outright because it was deemed to sensual.
3. (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party) – The Beastie Boys
This song was the fourth song on their Debut album; it became their signature and managed to climb up to number 7 on Billboard Hot 100. It was also named one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. Funnily enough, the song was always meant to be ironic.
The song was supposed to be a parody of self-entitled directionless people who only think of short term things, like partying. However, the irony went right over the listeners’ heads. In fact, the band was disappointed in that they endorsed such a culture, when their personal views were the complete opposite.
2. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
This song was their first number 1 hit on the mainstream rock charts and their second number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. The song became their signature song and the album it was on, “Slippery When Wet,” went 12x platinum.
Originally, Bon Jovi did not like the song, but Richie Sambora, who helped write it, convinced them of the song’s worth. They changed the music around and the song stayed at number 1 for 2 weeks. In an act of compassion, when 9/11 occurred, Bon Jovi played an acoustic version of this song at the concert for New York City.
1. I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Although this song was originally recorded in 1975, Joan Jett made this song famous. The song writer, Alan Merrill, said that he wrote the song as a response to the Rolling Stones releasing their song “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
Jett actually recorded the song in 1979 with the Sex Pistols but it never took off. She then re-recorded it with the Blackhearts in 1981, and finally, the song took off, becoming number 1 on the Billboard hot 100 for 7 weeks and sold 2 million copies.
Here we are at the end of this 80s themed road. Did you spot your favorite song on the list? Which song would you have added? Comment below to let me know.
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