Few songs are as instantly associated with the exuberance of the 1980s as “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung. Released in 1986, the…
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The early 1980s were filled with colorful fashion, adventurous music, and artists eager to challenge convention. Few bands embodied that spirit more completely than…
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Instrumental songs rarely dominate popular music charts. Even fewer become cultural landmarks that remain instantly recognizable decades later. Yet “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis…
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The early 1980s produced no shortage of unusual songs, but few were quite as delightfully odd as “Earthquake Song” by Little Girls. Never intended…
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Following the unprecedented success of Thriller was one of the toughest assignments in music history. Michael Jackson had created the biggest-selling album of all…
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James Bond movies have produced some of the most memorable theme songs in popular music history, but only one has ever reached the top…
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Language has rarely been a barrier for great music, and “99 Luftballons” proved that in spectacular fashion. Released in 1983 by the German band…
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When Lionel Richie left The Commodores to pursue a solo career, there were plenty of questions about whether he could match the success he…
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Some songs enjoy instant success. Others take a more surprising path before becoming classics. “Valerie” by Steve Winwood falls into the second category. Originally…
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Summer songs usually celebrate romance, road trips, and carefree afternoons. The Go-Go’s took a different approach with “Vacation.” Released in 1982 as the title…
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Long before Tom Petty became one of America’s most beloved rock icons, “Refugee” announced that he and The Heartbreakers were a band that couldn’t…
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Released in 1983 as the second single from Uh-Huh, “Pink Houses” became one of John Cougar Mellencamp’s signature songs and one of the defining…
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Rock music changed dramatically during the early 1980s, but few songs captured that transformation better than “Photograph” by Def Leppard. Released in 1983 as…
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Few songs from the 1980s are as instantly recognizable as “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister. With its soaring chorus, polished production, and unforgettable melody, the…
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Some songs become so closely associated with a movie that it’s easy to forget they have a life of their own. “I Can Dream…
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By the mid-1980s, Steve Winwood had already enjoyed an extraordinary career. He had been the teenage voice behind the Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some…
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By 1983, Eurythmics had already captivated audiences with the synth-pop phenomenon “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Rather than trying to duplicate that success,…
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Bruce Springsteen has written songs about factory workers, dreamers, lovers, soldiers, and small-town America, often blending deeply personal stories with universal truths. Yet one…
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Bright hair. Vintage clothing. An unmistakable voice. A personality that seemed to burst through the television screen. When Cyndi Lauper arrived in the early…
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Not every great hit begins as an instant classic. Sometimes, an overlooked song finds new life in the hands of another artist who discovers…
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By 1984, The Cars had already established themselves as one of the most influential rock bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their…
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By the mid-1980s, Janet Jackson was determined to step out from the enormous shadow cast by her famous family. While she had already released…
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When people think of Dire Straits, songs like “Sultans of Swing,” “Money for Nothing,” or “Brothers in Arms” often come to mind first. Yet…
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By the mid-1980s, Madonna had already become one of the biggest stars in the world. She had built her reputation on fearless reinvention, provocative…
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There are songs that entertain, songs that inspire, and songs that quietly change the way people think about their own lives. “The Living Years”…
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Every so often, a debut single arrives with such confidence and energy that it immediately announces the arrival of a major new star. That…
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When two of the biggest stars in music history decide to record together, expectations couldn’t possibly be higher. In 1983, Paul McCartney and Michael…
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