What's your favorite song from the 1980s? (1 Viewer)

[El Floppo]

aptly titled for the thread, but I had no idea M's Pop Muzik was from 79' until now.

 

[LOCO]

My favorite quessential 80s new wave

heaven 17 - let me go

peter Godwin - images of heaven. 

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

A few I haven't seen mentioned. All are peak 80s.

Genius of Love - Tom Tom Club

Tenderness - General Public

It's My Life - Talk Talk

Der Kommissar - After the Fire

 

[badmojo1006]

Yep...although only the german version.  The English version kind of ruined it. 

Exactly! You gotta have German version, the English version is lame 

 

[otb_lifer]

Exactly! You gotta have German version, the English version is lame 

much like Mad Dog Russo doppelganger Peter Schilling's "Major Tom" 

 

[TheFanatic]

Don't you forget about me - simple minds

99 luftballons

My two faves in the first few posts and back to back. But the 99 luftballoons HAS to be in German. And I don't even speak German. 

 

[otb_lifer]

has "Safety Dance" been thrown out there yet?  loved it. 

but, what a bizarre lil' video nasty that was ... dancing imps and all

 

[El Floppo]

ok- trying to get on teh "pop" side of this... bigger songs from bigger 80s bands

Rock the Casbah- the Clash

Blue Monday- New Order

Once in a Lifetime- Talking Heads

China Girl- David Bowie

With or Without You- U2

Shock the Monkey- Peter Gabriel

I hate listing it... but another giant 80s cliched tune Mexican Radio- Wall of Voodoo (I liked these guys... had some other great tunes that got overlooked).

more overplayed/cliched (but all still good) 80s singles...

the walls came down- the call

in a big country- big country

under the milky way- the church

the stand- the alarm

running up that hill- kate bush

 

[Captain Quinoa]

For me, nothing was more (early) 80s than the Michael Stanley band. If you were a high school kid in NE Ohio/NW PA at that time, you probably had one or more of their albums. This was one of their better known songs. They were a regional act, selling out show in the Cleveland area for the most part. 

Highlight of my sister's teen years - getting to go back stage at an MSB concert and Michael kissing her on the cheek.

 

[dhockster]

has "Safety Dance" been thrown out there yet?  loved it. 

but, what a bizarre lil' video nasty that was ... dancing imps and all

I love dancing imps. Some of Peter Dinklage's best work was in "this is Spinal Tap" when he danced around Stonehenge

 

[Quint]

"Tainted Love" (already mentioned) is quintessential Pop 80s-ness for me. 

however, "Too Shy" is right there. 

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

ok- trying to get on teh "pop" side of this... bigger songs from bigger 80s bands

Rock the Casbah- the Clash

Blue Monday- New Order

Once in a Lifetime- Talking Heads

China Girl- David Bowie

With or Without You- U2

Shock the Monkey- Peter Gabriel

I hate listing it... but another giant 80s cliched tune Mexican Radio- Wall of Voodoo (I liked these guys... had some other great tunes that got overlooked).

more overplayed/cliched (but all still good) 80s singles...

the walls came down- the call

in a big country- big country

under the milky way- the church

the stand- the alarm

running up that hill- kate bush

That's all good stuff, but only a true music snob would list a Kate Bush song as overplayed pop. 

 

[Mr. Ected]

ok- trying to get on teh "pop" side of this... bigger songs from bigger 80s bands

Rock the Casbah- the Clash

Blue Monday- New Order

Once in a Lifetime- Talking Heads

China Girl- David Bowie

With or Without You- U2

Shock the Monkey- Peter Gabriel

I hate listing it... but another giant 80s cliched tune Mexican Radio- Wall of Voodoo (I liked these guys... had some other great tunes that got overlooked).

more overplayed/cliched (but all still good) 80s singles...

the walls came down- the call

in a big country- big country

under the milky way- the church

the stand- the alarm

running up that hill- kate bush

That's all good stuff, but only a true music snob would list a Kate Bush song as overplayed pop. 

Not one of the overplayed Peter Gabriel songs, but Don't Give Up with Kate Bush was great. Loved the video, with it's being shot in one take, and we should have played it on Monday!!

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Not one of the overplayed Peter Gabriel songs, but Don't Give Up with Kate Bush was great. Loved the video, with it's being shot in one take, and we should have played it on Monday!!

That's a great song.

 

[El Floppo]

That's all good stuff, but only a true music snob would list a Kate Bush song as overplayed pop. 

if you're going to list one Kate Bush tune... that's the one. and it was a big one. of course she has other great tunes... but that's the one that always got played.

 

[Brony]

Oh, you wanted my one favorite pop song from the 80's?   Here you go...

Highway Star - Deep Purple
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Working Man - Rush
Lemon tree - Peter Paul and Mary
Wang dang sweet poontang - Ted Nugent
Take the "A" Train - Duke Ellington

 

[Buzzbait]

I had a huge crush on Patty Smyth back in the 80s. Whenever Goodbye To You popped onto MTV homework would stop for the next 3:32.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I had a huge crush on Patty Smyth back in the 80s. Whenever Goodbye To You popped onto MTV homework would stop for the next 3:32.

Great song. I like the layering of the guitars at the beginning. Cool keyboard work too.

 

[TheFanatic]

"Tainted Love" (already mentioned) is quintessential Pop 80s-ness for me. 

however, "Too Shy" is right there. 

That's a great one

 

[TheFanatic]

Somebody else that stands up still today is Pat Benatar. 

 

[Tin Cup]

Going to see Huey at the Idaho Fair tomorrow.

Saw him in Wrigley last month opening for Jimmy Buffett.

It was like being right back in the 1980s..one hit after another, all songs you know.  And unlike a lot of other, "older" bands, they had energy and seemed to have a good time and didn't just mail it in.

Enjoy the show!

 

[Buzzbait]

Under Pressure has aged very well.

Queen was my favorite band in the 80s (and still love them today). They had so many hits in the 80s:

Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Another One Bites the Dust
Save Me
I Want to Break Free
Hammer to Fall
Radio Ga Ga

This list goes on. Just a fantastically talented band.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Another One Bites the Dust

Such a perfect yet stripped down song.

 

[TheFanatic]

Queen was my favorite band in the 80s (and still love them today). They had so many hits in the 80s:

Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Another One Bites the Dust
Save Me
I Want to Break Free
Hammer to Fall
Radio Ga Ga

This list goes on. Just a fantastically talented band.

If I could see any band perform, alive or dead it would be Queen. Over anybody. Saw a recording of them in Montreal in maybe 81 or something a couple months ago. So friggin talented. 

My kids know all the words (and where to bang their heads) to "Thunderbolts of Lightning" One day I'll tell them the real name of the song!

 

[El Floppo]

Somebody else that stands up still today is Pat Benatar. 

was just thinking about her... good post.

still prefer Joan

 

[TheFanatic]

was just thinking about her... good post.

still prefer Joan

Joan was great but her biggest hit was a cover and I don't think she had as many hits as Pat, but I could be wrong. I was exactly 7 when the 80's started so the first few years of that decade are lost to me

 

[rockaction]

I would say that @El Floppo's In A Big Country was one of the worst songs of the thread because now that guitar lead has been in. my. head. all. day. 

 

[SWC]

outfield your love bromigos take that to the bank 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I would say that @El Floppo's In A Big Country was one of the worst songs of the thread because now that guitar lead has been in. my. head. all. day. 

True, making a bagpipe app for the electric guitar was not as good of an idea as some may have thought.

 

[Buzzbait]

If I could see any band perform, alive or dead it would be Queen. Over anybody. Saw a recording of them in Montreal in maybe 81 or something a couple months ago. So friggin talented. 

I had the opportunity to see that tour (The Game) but my Mom wouldn't let me go.  I was a Freshman in HS and a neighborhood friend was a Senior and had 4 tix. I don't think she like the idea of me going with three other Seniors but the main reason was the Who tragedy was still pretty fresh and I lived in Cincinnati where it happened. It didn't matter that these were assigned seats vs festival seating. I begged and begged to no avail.  :(

I've did see them later with Pail Rodgers and while still a fantastic show it certainly wasn't the same. Brain May was absolutely brilliant live.

 

[rockaction]

True, making a bagpipe app for the electric guitar was not as good of an idea as some may have thought.

I kind of do love the song, though, Leroy.  

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I kind of do love the song, though, Leroy.  

It does stick with you, like it or not.

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Somebody else that stands up still today is Pat Benatar. 

Actually, there are three girls at Ridgemont who have cultivated the Pat Benatar look.

 

[TheFanatic]

I had the opportunity to see that tour (The Game) but my Mom wouldn't let me go.  I was a Freshman in HS and a neighborhood friend was a Senior and had 4 tix. I don't think she like the idea of me going with three other Seniors but the main reason was the Who tragedy was still pretty fresh and I lived in Cincinnati where it happened. It didn't matter that these were assigned seats vs festival seating. I begged and begged to no avail.  :(

I've did see them later with Pail Rodgers and while still a fantastic show it certainly wasn't the same. Brain May was absolutely brilliant live.

Better than me. The only time I saw them live was the Live Aid show on a 1980's television with 1980's speakers.

I remember him jamming the half microphone stand into his crotch and thrusting his hips back and forth and my Aunt saying, "Oh, that's why they call the band Queen." I had no idea what that meant 

 

[El Floppo]

Joan was great but her biggest hit was a cover and I don't think she had as many hits as Pat, but I could be wrong. I was exactly 7 when the 80's started so the first few years of that decade are lost to me

oh sure... Joan was never as big as Pat. Not even close. but I love Rock and Roll... that was a cover? I don't remember that... Crimson and Clover, definitely. 

I just posted her because she kicked (and still kicks) ###.

 

[shifty]

oh sure... Joan was never as big as Pat. Not even close. but I love Rock and Roll... that was a cover? I don't remember that... Crimson and Clover, definitely. 

I just posted her because she kicked (and still kicks) ###.

I like them both , but Pat is arguably the best female rock singer so far.

 

[El Floppo]

Better than me. The only time I saw them live was the Live Aid show on a 1980's television with 1980's speakers.

I remember him jamming the half microphone stand into his crotch and thrusting his hips back and forth and my Aunt saying, "Oh, that's why they call the band Queen." I had no idea what that meant 

I've told this story in a couple of threads... 

my first real concert was Queen, tour '80- oakland col. my parents let me and a friend go solo... they were my favorite band for a few years. 

the next day I was excited to read the review in the SF chronicle, which of course was nothing but raves. I had to stop midway through and ask my english teacher mom "what does phallus mean?". I'm lucky they let me go to any more concerts after that.  

 

[rockaction]

oh sure... Joan was never as big as Pat. Not even close. but I love Rock and Roll... that was a cover? I don't remember that... Crimson and Clover, definitely. 

I just posted her because she kicked (and still kicks) ###.

I'd heard that so I looked it up. It was written by a guy named Alan Merrill who recorded it for the Arrows back in '75. It makes sense, given the huge riffage in the song.  

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

I would say that @El Floppo's In A Big Country was one of the worst songs of the thread because now that guitar lead has been in. my. head. all. day. 

I really like that song. 

 

[El Floppo]

I'd heard that so I looked it up. It was written by a guy named Alan Merrill who recorded it for the Arrows back in '75. It makes sense, given the huge riffage in the song.  

 good stuff- thanks.

I still love Bad Reputation... my favorite of hers off the top of my head.

and yeah- benatar has bigger, better pipes. joan still kicks more ###.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

 good stuff- thanks.

I still love Bad Reputation... my favorite of hers off the top of my head.

and yeah- benatar has bigger, better pipes. joan still kicks more ###.

That song actually rocks.

 

[wikkidpissah]

I really like that song. 

HA!

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

HA!

I'm not joking. 

 

[lardonastick]

Switchin' To Glide - The Kings

Our Lips Are Sealed - Go Go's

Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads

 

[jon_mx]

No mention of Cyndi Lauper?  She is about as 80's as they come. 

 

[El Floppo]

Switchin' To Glide - The Kings

Our Lips Are Sealed - Go Go's

Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads

love the Funboy 3 version.... or original? of Our lips.

and when I saw your first one, I thought it was just King. my 1986 doppleganger.

 

[El Floppo]

No mention of Cyndi Lauper?  She is about as 80's as they come. 

totally. 

was just in a discussion with the wife about what her quintessential and longest-lasting hit was... we disagreed.

thoughts?

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Threads like this drive me crazy because of my own OCDish categorization of 80s musical acts/genres.   

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Threads like this drive me crazy because of my own OCDish categorization of 80s musical acts/genres.   

This post is a genuine surprise.

 

[El Floppo]

what's the word?