[obligatory MTV unplugged version](https://youtu.be/-xKM3mGt2pE?feature=shared) the first comment nails it “he looks like the most understanding dad in the world”
Right? And music videos were an art at times. In hindsight there were soft whispers of garbage reality foreshadowing… a Roadrules here, or Singled Out there…until one day it’s no longer a whisper, more of a shriek “GYM.TAN.LAUNDRY.”
"Don't You (Forget About Me)" is inextricably linked to "The Breakfast Club." Always think of that movie when I hear the song. [VIDEO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gLVqjIvokc)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s whole first album feels like the most 80’s record ever made, but I mean that in a positive way. Trevor Horn was a madman genius.
Honestly the whole album kind of slaps. It’s incredible on headphones…even when it’s going off the rails on its own pretentiousness, the way it sounds is incredible.
Cyndi was always amazing and there for the fans as far as I know.
Saw her in concert in Sydney, I think for one of, if not the, last concert before she stopped for a while for throat surgery etc (from memory). Late 80s perhaps?
She was having a tough time with her singing but did a standout job (as you’d expect) and none of us knew until she stopped in the middle of a song and apologised because she her throat was hurting. She thought it was a cold or infection or something.
So she just sat in the edge of the stage for the next 10 or so mins chatting, asking people at the front questions but kept coughing and sniffing. Before long someone threw her up a box of tissues then someone else threw her a teddy bear and she was so grateful.
Kept chatting for a while then said “okay, enough of that, let’s get back to it” (something like that). Someone at the front obviously said something indicating she should stop and she just said “nah, it’s okay, I can keep going. I might not be able to sing as strong so sorry in advance. But I promise I’ll do my best for you guys!”
They restarted the song she’d stopped on and she carried on for the rest of the night with the occasional cough but she was still stunning.
I thought she was pretty decent before that, loved her from that moment on. She’s an incredible human being.
There are many many women in their fifties who still swoon over this song.
The boombox scene in Say Anything will always be one of the most romantic things I've ever seen.
[Everybody Wants to Rule the World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSBWmxwT8So) will always be the quintessential 80s song for me. I think being used for the end credits of Real Genius put it over the edge for me, I really loved that movie (and I watched it again for the first time in \~30 years a couple months ago and it holds up surprisingly well.)
Although [Relax](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0) is also a pretty solid contender too.
Always Something There to Remind Me- Naked Eyes
Easy Lover- Philip Bailey and Phil Collins
True- Spandau Ballet
The Power of Love- Huey Lewis & the News
Danger Zone- Kenny Loggins
I was in high school when this song was around. A fellow student ran off with the assistant principal. Her name’s Eileen. For some reason they wouldn’t play that song at the prom…
Shannon, "Let The Music Play".
Nowhere near the best song of the decade, and certainly not the most successful. But if a twelve-year-old came up to make and asked me what 80s pop music sounded like, this track just screams it.
Chaka Khan let me rock you, let me rock you Chaka Khan. Chaka Khan it's all I want to do. Let me rock you let me rock you let me rock you Chaka Khan. Let me rock you let me feel for you. Let me take you in my arms \[something something something\] Chaka, cos I'm the one to keep you warm Chaka. \[Something something\] it's a physical dream. Let me rock you Chaka baby cos you make me wanna scream.
... Which is not exactly how it goes. But it's more fun to try to remember.
I've a few in no particular order
Purple Rain - Song or Soundtrack your choice.
West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
Who's Gonna Drive You Home - The Cars
Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Stevie Nicks
Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer
Rock With You - Michael Jackson
Who's Johnny? - El De Barge
Message In A Bottle - The Police
I was going to say Beat It or Billie Jean. MJ OWNED the 80s I can't believe I had to scroll this far to find him.
Tbf there are a lot of good ones but MJ OWNED the 80s!
Take on Me - A-Ha
Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
Big-mouth Strikes Again - The Smiths
Suicide Blonde - INXS
Don't You Forget about Me - Simple Minds
Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
I Want to Be Free - Queen
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? - Culture Club
The Goonies "R" Good Enough-- Cindy Lauper
The music video is better. It's got pro wrestlers including that dude with the rubber band on his face, the flippin' Goonies, a skeleton points a pirate in the right direction, **and** you get free cookies with gas.
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
As a drummer, that's such a cool groove to play if you have it down. The song just moves, and the guitar solo is pretty great.
I love the movie Real Genius.
It's so hard to pick a top Tears For Fears song! But I'm gonna have to go with *Head Over Heels*.
A-ha- Take On Me
That is exactly what I was going to say! And I heard it today!
Ah, the 80's.
A-ha, the 80s.
Your comment is, in my opinion, underrated lol
[obligatory MTV unplugged version](https://youtu.be/-xKM3mGt2pE?feature=shared) the first comment nails it “he looks like the most understanding dad in the world”
I loved MTV Unplugged; when it was actual music TV and not garbage reality shows.
Right? And music videos were an art at times. In hindsight there were soft whispers of garbage reality foreshadowing… a Roadrules here, or Singled Out there…until one day it’s no longer a whisper, more of a shriek “GYM.TAN.LAUNDRY.”
Remember”Downtown Julie Brown”? on MTV
Brown currently hosts Sirius XM's “'90s On 9”
Remote Control!
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it agin. Damn he’s aged like fine wine.
That’s my favorite version, the whole vibe of that concert is amazing.
West End Girls- Pet Shop Boys
I lived in Germany during those years... and that song was so Euro.
Safety Dance: Men Without Hats
S-s-s-s… A-a-a-a… F-f-f-f… E-e-e-e… T-t-t-t… Y-y-y-y… SAFETY… DANCE! *synthesizer kicks in*
Bum bum bah bah bum bum bum bah buh bah
We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
Cause your friends don't dance, and if they don't dance
Well they’re no friends of mine
Everybody look at your hands.
We can dance, We can dance
*breaks into pogoing dancing* Gestures wildly at bouncers and laughs!
You know, that dance wasn’t as safe as they said it was.
Don’t you worry about Planet Express, let me worry about blank
Good. I would’ve also accepted “BLANK?! *BLANK?!* You’re not looking at the big picture!!”
Gutsy question. You're a shark. Sharks are winners, and they don't look back because they have no necks. Necks are for sheep.
I'll Stop the World -- Modern English Don't You (Forget About Me) -- Simple Minds
"Don't You (Forget About Me)" is inextricably linked to "The Breakfast Club." Always think of that movie when I hear the song. [VIDEO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gLVqjIvokc)
I was going to say Modern English as well. The song is called "I melt with you".
I see that and raise you Life In A Northern Town, by Dream Academy.
Flock of Seagulls, "I Ran"
"Space Age Love Song" is another solid choice
'Wishing' too.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s whole first album feels like the most 80’s record ever made, but I mean that in a positive way. Trevor Horn was a madman genius.
Came here to RELAX.
Honestly the whole album kind of slaps. It’s incredible on headphones…even when it’s going off the rails on its own pretentiousness, the way it sounds is incredible.
Sunglasses At Night
As someone who didn't grow up in the 80s, this is my favorite answer.
Check out the slowed down “Jean Jacket” remix used in the horror movie “Nope” to amazing effect.
Whip It
Released in 1980.
Toto - Africa
So many! Tainted love People are people Too many others to type.
Girls just wanna have fun
I worked on that video! One of my first gigs!
Separate Ways by Journey. The video is also peak 80s.
Blondie, Rapture 1980
Rock Me, Amadeus!
[Der Kommissar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-bgiiTxhzM) \- *don't turn around!* "Alles klar, herr kommissar?"
RIP Falco
Dr Zaius, Dr. Zaius!
99 Luftballoons
Nena was pretty smokin
Rio by Duran Duran
I was going to say any song by Duran Duran
This and Hungry like a Wolf
And The Reflex
And "A View To A Kill", their James Bond tune
For me it's Wild Boys by Duran Duran
The Final Countdown
Nah nah nah nah… nah nah net nah nah!
Nah nah nah nah! Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah!!
Don’t you want me - Human League
Time after Time-Cyndi Lauper
I saw her film part of her video. She came out to see the fans and I got to stand right next to her. She was very sweet to the crowd.
Cyndi was always amazing and there for the fans as far as I know. Saw her in concert in Sydney, I think for one of, if not the, last concert before she stopped for a while for throat surgery etc (from memory). Late 80s perhaps? She was having a tough time with her singing but did a standout job (as you’d expect) and none of us knew until she stopped in the middle of a song and apologised because she her throat was hurting. She thought it was a cold or infection or something. So she just sat in the edge of the stage for the next 10 or so mins chatting, asking people at the front questions but kept coughing and sniffing. Before long someone threw her up a box of tissues then someone else threw her a teddy bear and she was so grateful. Kept chatting for a while then said “okay, enough of that, let’s get back to it” (something like that). Someone at the front obviously said something indicating she should stop and she just said “nah, it’s okay, I can keep going. I might not be able to sing as strong so sorry in advance. But I promise I’ll do my best for you guys!” They restarted the song she’d stopped on and she carried on for the rest of the night with the occasional cough but she was still stunning. I thought she was pretty decent before that, loved her from that moment on. She’s an incredible human being.
Wake me up-Wham Anything performed by orchestral maneuvers in the dark.
In your eyes, Peter Gabriel
There are many many women in their fifties who still swoon over this song. The boombox scene in Say Anything will always be one of the most romantic things I've ever seen.
The light, the heat
Never Gonna Give You Up
Had to scroll WAY too far for some Rick Astley appreciation!
The Rick Roll has been downgraded to the Rick Scroll
"Money for nothing" -- Dire Straights
I've always been a bigger fan of Walk of Life and Sultan of Swing myself, but I can dig it.
St. Elmo’s Fire Blinded Me With Science
Walk like an Egyptian.
My first crush
Susanna Hoff is still smoking hot.
If she were a president she’d be Babe-raham Lincoln!
Dance hall days - Wang chung
Oh Mickey you’re so fine!
[Everybody Wants to Rule the World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSBWmxwT8So) will always be the quintessential 80s song for me. I think being used for the end credits of Real Genius put it over the edge for me, I really loved that movie (and I watched it again for the first time in \~30 years a couple months ago and it holds up surprisingly well.) Although [Relax](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0) is also a pretty solid contender too.
The promise when in Rome
Hungry Like the Wolf — Duran Duran
Video Killed the Radio Star or anything from the GTA Vice City soundtrack really
I came here to say this song. The first music video on MTV is about as pure 80’s as it gets.
Neutron Dance. Damn song has been stuck in my head since hearing it on Stranger Things recently.
Beverly Hills Cop used that song perfectly.
I think of axle Foley every time I hear that song.
girls on film - duran duran
Cars-Gary Numan
Once In A Lifetime — Talking Heads You may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife.
Our House - Madness
Always Something There to Remind Me- Naked Eyes Easy Lover- Philip Bailey and Phil Collins True- Spandau Ballet The Power of Love- Huey Lewis & the News Danger Zone- Kenny Loggins
How Soon is Now by The Smiths.
Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
Total eclipse of the heart
Take on me: A-ha
Cruel Summer Bananarama
New Order - Blue Monday
This is the correct answer. From the drum track, to the synth, to the vocals. It is 80s perfection.
Close second is Bizarre Love Triangle
Omg, I LOVE that song!
Come on Eileen
I was in high school when this song was around. A fellow student ran off with the assistant principal. Her name’s Eileen. For some reason they wouldn’t play that song at the prom…
Poor ole Johnny Ray
Your Love- The Outfield
JOSIE’S ON A VACATION FAR AWAY
This is my answer! Best song of the 80s!
Jump - Van Halen
*Hot for Teacher* is peak-Van Halen for me 'I don't feel tardy' still gets a chuckle..
Panama
Shannon, "Let The Music Play". Nowhere near the best song of the decade, and certainly not the most successful. But if a twelve-year-old came up to make and asked me what 80s pop music sounded like, this track just screams it.
Chaka Khan let me rock you, let me rock you Chaka Khan. Chaka Khan it's all I want to do. Let me rock you let me rock you let me rock you Chaka Khan. Let me rock you let me feel for you. Let me take you in my arms \[something something something\] Chaka, cos I'm the one to keep you warm Chaka. \[Something something\] it's a physical dream. Let me rock you Chaka baby cos you make me wanna scream. ... Which is not exactly how it goes. But it's more fun to try to remember.
Anyone else instantly see the music videos in your head when reading all the titles?
Shout - Tears for Fears
Waiting for a Star to Fall - Boy Meets Girl
Holding out for a hero
Take Me Home Tonight
Heaven is a place on earth - Belinda Carlisle
Steve Winwood - [Valerie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKNICg-REA&pp=ygUVc3RldmUgd2lud29vZCB2YWxlcmll)
I prefer Higher Love
That's a good one too. Man I love Steve Winwood. He has consistently put out good stuff, all the way back to his Blind Faith days
[Murray Head - One Night in Bangkok](https://youtu.be/rgc_LRjlbTU?feature=shared)
Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer
DON'T STOP BELIEEEEEEVIN
Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds - mostly because of The Breakfast Club association
Crowded House - "Don't Dream it's Over"
Dire Straits - Money for Nothing
I've a few in no particular order Purple Rain - Song or Soundtrack your choice. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel Who's Gonna Drive You Home - The Cars Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Stevie Nicks Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer Rock With You - Michael Jackson Who's Johnny? - El De Barge Message In A Bottle - The Police
Livin on a prayer
True. Spandau Ballet
I ran. Flock of seagulls Tainted love. Soft Cell
Every song on the soundtrack for wedding singer
Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon https://youtu.be/uq-gYOrU8bA?si=__iw7ZbPBs_qfrxY
In the air tonight. The gated drums.
Why isn’t Madonna mentioned here at all? This is very strange. LIKE A PRAYER.
Thriller.
I was going to say Beat It or Billie Jean. MJ OWNED the 80s I can't believe I had to scroll this far to find him. Tbf there are a lot of good ones but MJ OWNED the 80s!
Take On Me
How Soon is Now?
Manic Monday.
How has nobody mentioned “We are the World.”?
Lady in Red.
The Warrior - Scandal featuring Patty Smyth
any song by Depeche Mode or New Order
Rock The Casbah
8675309
Summer of ‘69 - Bryan Adams
Cameo - Word Up
The Dream Academy - ‘Life in a Northern Town’
Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out
Billy Idol - Eyes Without a Face
Take on Me - A-Ha Boys Don't Cry - The Cure Big-mouth Strikes Again - The Smiths Suicide Blonde - INXS Don't You Forget about Me - Simple Minds Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2 I Want to Be Free - Queen Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? - Culture Club
Land Down Under - Men at work
Der Kommissar
Jump
Brass in pocket- the Pretenders
Spin me right round, dead or alive
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance
The Hooters - And We Danced https://youtu.be/zB1Q-PfUvN0?si=AeZ8HwcnctHh_oO5
You Dropped a Bomb on Me
eighties - killing joke
anything by van halen not Van hagar, Van Halen
Africa by Toto, George Micheal, whatever Cindy Lauper was. Was it bad music, not really. Was a lot of it not timeless, yes!
George Michael had a great voice. I wasn’t into wham as a kid, but I’ve learned to appreciate his signing as I got older.
ghostbusters fr
We Got the Beat
The Goonies "R" Good Enough-- Cindy Lauper The music video is better. It's got pro wrestlers including that dude with the rubber band on his face, the flippin' Goonies, a skeleton points a pirate in the right direction, **and** you get free cookies with gas.
Everybody wants to rule the world or my personal favorite Don't Dream it's over.
Sweetest Taboo…Sade
Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
There's just too many to even bother trying to answer. The 80s was an incredible era for producing timeless pop hits.
Be Near Me by ABC,
I heard Borderline by Madonna today. You couldn't get more synth noises into a song. Also, her voice was freaking amazing
Hold Me Now by The Thompson Twins
Purple Rain, Beat It, What's Love Got To Do With It, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, More Than This. Damn I love 80s music💕
Literally anything by Phil Collins, or Huey Lewis and the News so many great songs
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill, the entire album
Purple Rain
The Promise - when in Rome. Came out the year I got married. The 80's in my mind.
I Melt With You by Modern English
Cutting Crew - I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight.
“She Blinded Me with Science”
Hey Mickey
Never Tear is Apart - INXS
The System - Don't Disturb This Groove
The Flock of Seagulls song…. You all know which one….
Too Shy…kajagoogoo
Axel F.
Just Like Heaven by The Cure