When you think of the 80s, you might think of Michael Jackson’s original transformation. You might think of the big, wild hair or the big shoulder pads. You might think of the Reagan administration. But, I’m here to share with you some of the great music from that retro decade you might not know or remember.
Music videos first became popular in the 1980s, ushering in a new era in experiencing this music. When you compile a list of the 500 greatest songs of the 1980s, of course you have to include Madonna’s best, Michael Jackson’s own “Beat It”, and many songs by such great artists as Phil Collins or Richard Marx. These were the songs that defined the era.
I remember staying up late and seeing an info-mercial selling a collection of the 100 best songs of the ’70s. It was disappointing. They weren’t offering every song by every great artist of that era. So, I set off on a quest to build my own collections of the songs I remembered hearing on the radio. Many were songs from the ’70s, and many were songs from the ’80s. I decided to split the two, and I started finding some great music I had only heard samples of that I desperately wanted.
Here is the first sample of a wide-spread collection of songs from an era that changed the sound of rock n’ roll. It was also an era that brought about the creation of pop and hip-hop songs. Included in this collection is the fun dance music of Erasure, the great rock sounds of Journey, and the soothing sounds of Sting & The Police. They may not be the throbbing sounds of Busta Rhymes or the heavy self-deprecating sounds of Nirvana, but these songs are a must-have if you have any desire to live or relive the 1980s.
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
302) Oh Sherrie by Steve Perry
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Male Rock Voices of All Time written by Christi Bowers
303) Oh Shiela by Ready For The World
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
304) Old Time Rock And Roll by Bob Seger
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Bob Seger written by Vince Martin
305) On My Own by Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
Check out Associated Content, The Truth About Feminists
306) One on One by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Check out Associated Content, Hall and Oates New CD Our Kind of Soul written by Faith Antonioni
307) One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
308) Only In My Dreams by Debbie Gibson
Check out Associated Content, A Look At Teen Idols Throughout the Years written by Lilith
309) Only The Young by Journey
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Journey written by Krista Jansen
310) Open Arms by Journey
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Male Rock Voices of All Time written by Christi Bowers
311) Open Your Heart by Madonna
Check out Associated Content, The Life of Madonna written by Katy Alberts
312) Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) by Pet Shop Boys
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
313) Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul
Check out Associated Content, Paula Abdul – Little Known Facts About written by Kassidy Emmerson
314) Our House by Madness
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
315) Owner of A Lonely Heart by Yes
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
316) Panama by Van Halen
Check out Associated Content, The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time by M S Savo
317) Papa Don’t Preach by Madonna
Check out Associated Content, The Life of Madonna written by Katy Alberts
318) Paradise City by Guns ‘N Roses
Check out Associated Content, The Top Ten Songs by Guns ‘N Roses written by Moonshadow68
319) People Who Died by the Jim Carroll Band
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
320) Pink Cadillac by Bruce Springsteen
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Bruce Springsteen written by Marissa Lee
321) Private Eyes by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Check out Associated Content, Hall and Oates New CD Our Kind of Soul written by Faith Antonioni
322) Prove Your Love by Taylor Dayne
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
323) Rag Doll by Aerosmith
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Aerosmith written by Heather Michelle
324) Raise Your Hands by Bon Jovi
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Bon Jovi written by Heather Michelle
325) Rapture by Blondie
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Blondie written by Eve Lichtgarn
326) Real Love by The Doobie Brothers
Check out Associated Content, The Doobie Brothers – the Very Best of Review written by James McQuiston
327) Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
Check out Associated Content, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Billy Idol: A Comparison of Three Music Icons written by Katie E. Frank
328) Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80’s written by Melody Jones
329) Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx
Check out Associated Content, Top 20 Not-So-Loved Love Songs written by Lana
330) Rio by Duran Duran
Check out Associated Content, Duran Duran Discography: 25 Years and Still Going Strong written by Anelehmaria
331) Rock and Roll Fantasy by Bad Company
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
332) Rock Lobster by the B-52s
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
333) Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
334) Rock Steady by The Whispers
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
335) Rock The Casbah by The Clash
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by the Clash written by Timothy Sexton
336) Rockin’ Into The Night by 38 Special
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
337) Roll With It by Steve Winwood
Check out Associated Content, Steve Winwood–The Finer Things written by Mike Mosier
338) Roll With The Changes by REO Speedwagon
Check out Associated Content, Reo Speedwagon is a Great Band written by todd parks
339) Rosanna by Toto
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Pop Rock Songs About Travel written by Roy Barnes
340) Roxanne by Sting & The Police
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Sting written by Stephanie H. Dray
341) Runnin’ Down A Dream by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Tom Petty written by Heather Michelle
342) Rush Rush by Paula Abdul
Check out Associated Content, Paula Abdul – Little Known Facts About written by Kassidy Emmerson
343) Sacrifice by Elton John
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Elton John written by Lisa Davis
344) Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
345) Sailing by Christopher Cross
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Romantic Songs from the 1980’s written by Roy Barnes
346) Sara by Starship
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
347) Satisfied by Richard Marx
Check out Associated Content, Top 20 Not-So-Loved Love Songs written by Lana
348) Saved By Zero by The Fixx
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
349) Say You Will by Foreigner
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Foreigner written by Terry Edwards
350) Seasons Change by Expose
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
351) Self Control by Laura Branigan
Check out Associated Content, Singer Laura Branigan Will Be Missed written by Lilith
352) Send Her My Love by Journey
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Journey written by Krista Jansen
353) Separate Ways by Journey
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Journey written by Krista Jansen
354) Sex As A Weapon by Pat Benatar
Check out Associated Content, The Biography of Pat Benatar written by Kassidy Emmerson
355) Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye
Check out Associated Content, Top 10 Songs by Marvin Gaye written by Eric Williams
356) Shadows Of The Night by Pat Benatar
Check out Associated Content, The Biography of Pat Benatar written by Kassidy Emmerson
357) Shake It Up by The Cars
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
358) Shake You Down by Gregory Abbott
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
359) Shakin’ by Eddie Money
Check out Associated Content, A Conversation with Eddie Money written by Carol Anne Carroll
360) Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top
Check out Associated Content, The Top 10 Music Videos of 1984 as Found on YouTube written by Erin Snap
361) Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
362) She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
363) She Bop by Cyndi Lauper
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Cyndi Lauper written by Kerschie Byerly
364) She Works Hard For The Money by Donna Summer
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs of Donna Summer written by Yona Williams
365) She’s A Beauty by The Tubes
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
366) Shining Star by The Manhattans
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
367) Should I Stay, or Should I Go by The Clash
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by the Clash written by Timothy Sexton
368) Should’ve Known Better by Richard Marx
Check out Associated Content, Top 20 Not-So-Loved Love Songs written by Lana
369) Shout by Tears For Fears
Check out Associated Content, Tears for Fears–A Thin Line Between Genius and Mediocrity
370) Shower Me With Your Love by Surface
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
371) Simply Irresistable by Robert Palmer
Check out Associated Content, Top Five Videos of 1986 as Seen on YouTube written by Erin Snap
372) Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Peter Gabriel written by MM Lyons
373) Sleeping Bag by ZZ Top
Check out Associated Content, The Top 10 Music Videos of 1984 as Found on YouTube written by Erin Snap
374) Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Michael Jackson written by Jeannette Murray
375) Smooth Operator by Sade
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
376) So Alive by Love And Rockets
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
377) So Far Away by Dire Straits
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
378) Sold by Ashford & Simpson
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
379) Some Guys Have All The Luck by Rod Stewart
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Rod Stewart written by Angela Shiflett
380) Some Like It Hot by Robert Palmer
Check out Associated Content, Top Five Videos of 1986 as Seen on YouTube written by Erin Snap
381) Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
382) Something Happened On The Way to Heaven by Phil Collins
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Phil Collins written by Abe
383) St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) by John Parr
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
384) Stay The Night by Chicago
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Chicago written by Terry Edwards
385) Still Of The Night by Whitesnake
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
386) Stone Cold by Rainbow
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
387) Stop To Love by Luther Vandross
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Luther Vandross written by Angela Coleman
388) Straight Up by Paula Abdul
Check out Associated Content, Paula Abdul – Little Known Facts About written by Kassidy Emmerson
389) Stray Cat Strut by Stray Cats
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
390) Street of Dreams by Rainbow
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
391) Stuck With You by Huey Lewis & The News
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Huey Lewis and the News written by Jack Oceano
392) Suddenly Last Summer by The Motels
Check out Associated Content, The Eighties: Greatest Era of Music written by Diane Green
393) Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams
Check out Associated Content, Bryan Adams’ Summer of 69: Nostalgia for a Dreamtime written by A. Bertocci
394) Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart
Check out Associated Content, Music of the 80’s: Iconic written by PenGlide
395) Sunset Grill by Don Henley
Check out Associated Content, Don Henley’s Actual Miles–The Miles Are Actually Pretty Accurate
396) Surrender To Me by Heart with Ann Wilson and Robin Zander
Check out Associated Content, It Happened in the 80’s written by Sherri Granato
397) Sussudio by Phil Collins
Check out Associated Content, Top Ten Songs by Phil Collins written by Abe
398) Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns ‘N Roses
Check out Associated Content, The Top Ten Songs by Guns ‘N Roses written by Moonshadow68
399) Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by The Eurythmics
Check out Associated Content, The Greatest Cover Songs Found in YouTube Videos written by Ever Odessa
400) Sweet Lies by Robert Palmer
Check out Associated Content, Top Five Videos of 1986 as Seen on YouTube written by Erin Snap
301) Obsession by Animotion
