GAWD I Love the 80's
- Thread starter MadonnaLove
- Start date
OK before I get to my top 10 I have a few honourable mentions. First is Forever Young by Alphaville. OK so it had little chart success but you cannot deny it's influence. it's probably been played at every grade school graduation in the western world since it was released in 1984.
#10 Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
OK I know this will make some people gag but if you go back to the 80's one of the popular themes at that time was US flexing it's superpower muscle in order to win the Cold War. Movies like Rocky IV and songs like this piggybacked on that sentiment. Has made both Rolling Stone's top 500 songs of all time as well as RIAA's list of top songs of the 20th century.
OK I know this will make some people gag but if you go back to the 80's one of the popular themes at that time was US flexing it's superpower muscle in order to win the Cold War. Movies like Rocky IV and songs like this piggybacked on that sentiment. Has made both Rolling Stone's top 500 songs of all time as well as RIAA's list of top songs of the 20th century.
#8 Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
Sadly this was Marvin Gaye's last hit song before he was shot dead by his father in 1984. Reached #1 on Hot R&B singles chart where it spent a record 10 weeks. Won 2 Grammy awards and I'm sure was responsible for the conception of many 1980's baaaaaabies
Sadly this was Marvin Gaye's last hit song before he was shot dead by his father in 1984. Reached #1 on Hot R&B singles chart where it spent a record 10 weeks. Won 2 Grammy awards and I'm sure was responsible for the conception of many 1980's baaaaaabies
#7 Jump - Van Halen
Surprisingly was the group's only song to hit #1 on the Billboard charts. This song was massive in 1984 you couldn't turn the radio on without hearing it at least 5 times a day. The synthesizer was very prominently featured on this song which was not typical for hard rock bands at that time. Kudos to them.
Surprisingly was the group's only song to hit #1 on the Billboard charts. This song was massive in 1984 you couldn't turn the radio on without hearing it at least 5 times a day. The synthesizer was very prominently featured on this song which was not typical for hard rock bands at that time. Kudos to them.
#6 Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
Duran Duran were ubiquitous in the 80's and yes even I had a Duran Duran poster in my bedroom - although it was not of Simon Le Bon but rather John Taylor. In my mind one of the best bass guitarists of all time. The fact that my grade 6 crush was a huge Duran Duran fan sort of influenced my decision
But in all seriousness, this was their best song and put Duran Duran on the map as a powerhouse rock group. It reached #3 on the Billboard charts and got huge airplay. Also boasted a pretty cool video for that time (1982).
Duran Duran were ubiquitous in the 80's and yes even I had a Duran Duran poster in my bedroom - although it was not of Simon Le Bon but rather John Taylor. In my mind one of the best bass guitarists of all time. The fact that my grade 6 crush was a huge Duran Duran fan sort of influenced my decision
But in all seriousness, this was their best song and put Duran Duran on the map as a powerhouse rock group. It reached #3 on the Billboard charts and got huge airplay. Also boasted a pretty cool video for that time (1982).
#5 True - Spandau Ballet
Can't believe this song didn't make it to #1 on the Billboard charts (it did make #4). Such a quintessential 80's ballad with a uber recognizable chorus, guitar riff and boasts an amazing sax solo. Man I miss the use of the saxophone in modern day music. And yes I'll admit it one of my personal favourite songs of the decade. My mom loved it too, god rest her soul.
Was most notably sampled by PM Dawn's #1 hit song Set Adrift on Memory Bliss in 1991.
Can't believe this song didn't make it to #1 on the Billboard charts (it did make #4). Such a quintessential 80's ballad with a uber recognizable chorus, guitar riff and boasts an amazing sax solo. Man I miss the use of the saxophone in modern day music. And yes I'll admit it one of my personal favourite songs of the decade. My mom loved it too, god rest her soul.
Was most notably sampled by PM Dawn's #1 hit song Set Adrift on Memory Bliss in 1991.
#4 Every Breath You Take - The Police
Topped the Billboard charts for a record 8 weeks in 1983. Ranks #84 on Rolling Stone's greatest songs of all time. Has been recognized a hugely influential song by many publications and organizations including the RRHOF which names it as one of the songs that shaped the history of Rock n Roll. Notably sampled by P Diddy on I'll Be Missing You, a tribute to his murdered friend, rapper Notorious BIG. While not being overly fond of this song, I have to give credit where it's due.
Topped the Billboard charts for a record 8 weeks in 1983. Ranks #84 on Rolling Stone's greatest songs of all time. Has been recognized a hugely influential song by many publications and organizations including the RRHOF which names it as one of the songs that shaped the history of Rock n Roll. Notably sampled by P Diddy on I'll Be Missing You, a tribute to his murdered friend, rapper Notorious BIG. While not being overly fond of this song, I have to give credit where it's due.
#3 Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N Roses
Hugely influential track that was GNR's first and only #1 single. Renowned for it's guitar including ranking as the #37 best guitar solo & #1 riff of all time by Guitar World. Ranks #198 on Rolling Stone's greatest songs of all time. I personally prefer Welcome To The Jungle to it but I digress.
Hugely influential track that was GNR's first and only #1 single. Renowned for it's guitar including ranking as the #37 best guitar solo & #1 riff of all time by Guitar World. Ranks #198 on Rolling Stone's greatest songs of all time. I personally prefer Welcome To The Jungle to it but I digress.
#2 When Doves Cry - Prince
The top selling single record fo 1984 shipping 2 million units in the United States. Topped the Billboard chart for 5 weeks straight. Rolling Stone ranks song #52 all time. VH1 ranked it #5 song of the 1980's. Definitely my favourite Prince song he played all the instruments on the track. Super talented guy, just an oddball.
Sorry no youtube link, Prince's legal team pulls all uploads of his songs. Found this link instead.
[video]http://www.mojvideo.com/video-prince-when-doves-cry/63806cee6342494500af[/video]
The top selling single record fo 1984 shipping 2 million units in the United States. Topped the Billboard chart for 5 weeks straight. Rolling Stone ranks song #52 all time. VH1 ranked it #5 song of the 1980's. Definitely my favourite Prince song he played all the instruments on the track. Super talented guy, just an oddball.
Sorry no youtube link, Prince's legal team pulls all uploads of his songs. Found this link instead.
[video]http://www.mojvideo.com/video-prince-when-doves-cry/63806cee6342494500af[/video]
#1 Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
No surprise here. Top selling song on the top selling album of all time sealing MJ's status as an international pop icon. Was also the song he used to popularize the moonwalk. Ranked #1 for 9 straight weeks. Won 2 Grammy awards, ranks #58 on Rolling Stone's greatest songs of all time. Hear this at a club or party today and it is sure to pack the dance floor. I'm sure I've heard this song in its entirety over 1,000 times during my life.
No surprise here. Top selling song on the top selling album of all time sealing MJ's status as an international pop icon. Was also the song he used to popularize the moonwalk. Ranked #1 for 9 straight weeks. Won 2 Grammy awards, ranks #58 on Rolling Stone's greatest songs of all time. Hear this at a club or party today and it is sure to pack the dance floor. I'm sure I've heard this song in its entirety over 1,000 times during my life.
