35 Hits From the ’80s That We Still Listen to All the Time
From the synths to the melodic ballads, '80s music was, like, totally tubular.
So many hits from these glory days influence the music we hear on the radio now—and it's always fun to relive some of our favorites.
Ready for some serious oldies but goodies? Keep reading for 35 hits from the '80s that we still listen to all the time (in no particular order).
1. 'The Lady in Red' by Chris de Burgh
"The Lady in Red" is your quintessential '80s love song. We can't think of anyone who doesn't get misty-eyed when this gem comes on the radio. Oddly enough, at the time of its release, it received much hatred from critics (we can't understand why!). But clearly it's aged well, because it holds a special place in our hearts today.
2. 'Cold Hearted' by Paula Abdul
In present times, Paula Abdul is most notable for her stint as one of the original judges on American Idol. But take a time travel back to the '80s, and not only was this pop star a former Laker Girl, but she was one of the hottest artists on the charts. Her Forever Your Girl album is one of the most iconic pop releases of all time, and "Cold Hearted" is a song that never gets old.
3. 'The Pleasure Principle' by Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson's "The Pleasure Principle" is not only an incredible song, but the video is legendary for the performer's jaw-dropping dance moves. This hit single came from Janet's Control album, which totally dominated late-'80s dance-R&B.
4. 'True' by Spandau Ballet
"True" is arguably one of the most popular love songs from the '80s. Made especially prevalent thanks to features in a ton of movies (past and present), the one-hit-wonder just can't go forgotten.
5. 'Shake the Disease' by Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode is without question one of our favorite bands of all time. It's really hard to pick just one track to feature in a roundup of best '80s songs, but "Shake the Disease"—a song about a one-sided relationship between a girl and a boy—is well-deserving of a spot on the list. Its thought-provoking lyrics, combined with dark melody are the perfect combination for a hit.
6. 'Make It Real' by The Jets
While this 1987 tear-jerker may sound a little dated, we don't love it any less. A heartfelt tune about unrequited love (something so many of us find relatable), this beautiful ballad makes our hearts break into little pieces with every word.
7. 'How Will I Know?' by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston is one of the most iconic artists of all time. While her life was cut tragically short in 2012, she'll forever live on in our hearts. "How Will I Know?" never fails to get a party started, even all these years later. Its light melody and upbeat lyrics always have us making a beeline straight for the dance floor.
8. 'Major Tom' by Peter Schilling
If you didn't actually know the meaning behind "Major Tom," you'd think this track by one-hit-wonder Peter Schilling is just another song with a pretty melody. But it's actually a follow-up to David Bowie's 1969 "Space Oddity," and continues the story of Major Tom, a fictional astronaut who cuts off ties to Earth and floats into space.
9. 'Forever Young' by Alphaville
Mr. Hudson and Jay-Z sampled this track in their 2009 hit, "Young Forever," but it's the 1984 synth-pop original that we still listen to on the reg. This contemplative track always gets us thinking about the past and the future.
10. 'Free Fallin' ' by Tom Petty
Tom Petty is another artist with too many songs to choose from during this decade—but this carefree track, with plenty of references to our home Los Angeles, is one of a kind. This song, as the title suggests, surely makes us feel like we're free fallin'.
11. 'Catch Me I'm Falling' by Pretty Poison
If you're into '80s dance club music, this track is still a go-to for us. This may be a one-hit-wonder, but Pretty Poison didn't need any additional hits to leave a lasting impression on us.
12. 'I Wanna Be the One' by Stevie B.
If you were into freestyle '80s music (and even if you weren't), there's no denying this song is a gem! The dance-pop melody, the lovey-dovey lyrics—we just can't get enough. It's definitely a song that cues the awws.
13. 'Live to Tell' by Madonna
With a megastar like Madonna, it's hard to pick just one track from the '80s—and while "Live to Tell" wasn't necessarily her biggest hit, it's without question one of her most powerful. This beautiful ballad from then-husband Sean Penn's film At Close Range showcased her serious skills outside of simply singing. She wrote all the lyrics, co-composed the melodies, and co-produced the song. And boy did she nail it.
14. 'Boys of Summer' by Don Henley
This song has been covered numerous times over the decades, and for good reason! The original tells such a visual story, and the guitar-filled melody is unlike any other. We'll never get sick of this song, and we think we speak for everyone when we say no one will.
15. 'Come Go With Me' by Exposé
Another freestyle classic, "Come Go With Me" is just one of many hits from the trio of women known as Exposé. The ladies gave the decade the perfect combo of dance-worthy tracks like this one, but also sprinkled in some hard-hitting ballads.
16. 'Another Day in Paradise' by Phil Collins
Arguably his biggest hit of the decade, the immensely successful Phil Collins' melodic yet socially relevant song that shed light on homelessness continues to soar on our personal playlists to date.
17. 'Waiting for a Girl Like You' by Foreigner
Calling all hopeless romantics! This song is absolutely beautiful, and will tug at the heartstrings whether you're in a relationship or not. Everyone either wanted this song to be about them or they were envisioning someone else—one way or another, it left a major mark. The powerful vocals, synth-y melody and loving lyrics make this a pure classic.
18. 'I'm on Fire' by Bruce Springsteen
Given how many hits Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen released in the '80s, this is definitely one of his most underrated. But that doesn't mean it isn't his best. The brooding, alluring melody with lyrics about desire is the perfect combo for a classic. It's also a change of pace from his louder, more amped-up hits.
19. 'Allentown' by Billy Joel
We love Billy Joel. He's one of the most talented artists of all time, so it's hard to pick a standout track. But we're gonna go with "Allentown," a song that's oddly about the steel industry in Pennsylvania, but with an upbeat, cheery melody that keeps our feet moving.
20. 'I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues' by Elton John
Much like the aforementioned, Elton John is one of the biggest musicians ever, and the '80s were quite the decade for his success. "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is our personal favorite, and we're touched by the music video, which tells the story of two 1950s-era young lovers who are separated when the man is forced to leave for National Service, depicting the trials and tribulations he experiences there. The pair finally reunites at the end of the song.
21. 'Careless Whisper' by George Michael
George Michael was known for making a statement. His provocative music videos and lyrics caught everyone's attention in the '80s, but "Careless Whisper" was his melodic, gentle ballad about playing the field. While the actual story behind the song isn't so great, there's no taking away from the beauty of the tune.
22. 'Right Here Waiting' by Richard Marx
In case you haven't noticed, we're suckers for a good love song, and "Right Here Waiting" is no exception. We still get teary-eyed over the mushy lyrics and beautiful melody. The song feels so pure and special. How can we not love it?
23. 'Take My Breath Away' by Berlin
"Take My Breath Away" is one of the most iconic tracks to come from a movie soundtrack. Tom Cruise will forever be associated with this beautiful single from Los Angeles-based sextet Berlin. While the band went on to release a few other singles, this track will forever be one of the biggest love songs of the decade.
24. 'Wind Beneath My Wings' by Bette Midler
We can't tell you how many father-daughter dances during which we've swayed to this song. As if the lyrics don't make you tear-up enough, the powerful ballad was also featured on the heartbreaking Beaches soundtrack, so if you lived through the '80s, this song really struck a chord (pun intended).
25. 'Under the Milky Way' by The Church
The '80s had a thing with dark yet beautiful melodies, and "Under the Milky Way" was one of our favorites. Featured in the 2001 psychological thriller Donnie Darko, this one-hit-wonder really had us wishing for more from this Aussie band.
26. 'Love Come Down' by Evelyn 'Champagne' King
Few songs from this decade liven us up quite like "Love Come Down." We still hear this classic at the occasional pool party and it gives us all those summertime feels. With hints of sounds from the '70s, this track feels like the perfect transition from one decade to the next.
27. 'Faithfully' by Journey
Journey is known for a bit heavier of a sound, so when they released monster-ballad "Faithfully," everyone took note. We can't think of more earnest, loving lyrics than the ones right here—and they still warm our hearts to this very day. Now we just need to find our soulmate!
28. 'Shake Your Love' by Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson epitomized fun in the '80s. No GNO began without a little dose of this blonde babe. We especially dig "Shake Your Love," and we'd be lying if we said it doesn't still make its rounds on our party playlists today.
29. 'Romeo and Juliet' by Dire Straits
"Money for Nothing" was Dire Straits' huge hit from the '80s, but "Romeo and Juliet" is the one that has our hearts. The storyline suggests a situation that sees the "Juliet" figure abandon her "Romeo" after finding fame and moving on from the rough neighborhood where they first encountered each other. The song was played in the '90s film Empire Records, though it unfortunately didn't make it to the movie's critically acclaimed soundtrack.
30. 'I Can't Wait' by Nu Shooz
Another one-hit-wonder, this dance-pop classic needs no introduction. Sampled and covered by many, and still played at plenty of parties, skating rinks, you name it, we've got nothing but love for this upbeat tune by Portland, Oregon-based Nu Shooz.
31. 'In Your Eyes' by Peter Gabriel
If you've seen Say Anything (and of course you have because duh!), you know that few movie moments compare to that of Lloyd Dobler blasting this heartwarming song on his boombox outside of Diane Court's window. This is such a touching track, and we'd seriously melt to mush if someone played this for us.
32. 'Can You Stand the Rain' by New Edition
Whitney Houston was a huge star in the late '80s, but her hubby Bobby Brown had plenty of musical clout in his heyday as well. He was the lead singer of New Edition, a wildly popular R&B group, and "Can You Stand the Rain?"—a song about sticking it out with someone through the tough times—epitomized the glory days of this genre.
33. 'Don't Wanna Lose You' by Gloria Estefan
While the extremely talented Gloria Estefan found massive success with her Miami Sound Machine, she excelled perfectly well on her own. "Don't Wanna Lose You" was a heartfelt ballad that took a step aside from her usual Cuba-inspired upbeat tunes.
34. 'London Calling' by The Clash
At the forefront of '80s punk rock, The Clash paved the way for so many artists to come. While "Rock the Casbah" brought them mainstream success, "London Calling" really speaks to more of their signature sound. The song, which is based on the BBC World Service's station identification during World War II, also just so happens to be excellent all around.
35. 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' by The Smiths
The Smiths—whose lead singer Morrissey later branched out as a solo act—was a critically acclaimed British alternative rock band, and they released a slew of hits during the '80s. "There Is a Light Never Goes Out" is morbidly heartwarming, and that's part of why we love it so much.
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