Always on My Mind – Pet Shop Boys
Some songs seem destined to find new life with each generation. “Always on My Mind” had already become a country hit for Brenda Lee,…
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– SynthPop
When Smokey Sings – ABC
By 1987, ABC had already carved out a unique place in pop music history. Emerging from the British new wave movement with their landmark…
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Together Forever – Rick Astley
In the late 1980s, few artists burst onto the international music scene as successfully as Rick Astley. With his remarkably deep, soulful voice and…
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Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
Few songs capture the quirky creativity of the early 1980s quite like “The Safety Dance.” Released at the height of the synth-pop explosion, the…
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Girlfriend – Pebbles
By the late 1980s, dance-pop and contemporary R&B were undergoing a major transformation. New Jack Swing was beginning to dominate the charts, electronic production…
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Tarzan Boy – Baltimora
Every decade has a handful of songs that instantly transport listeners back to a specific moment in time, and “Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora is…
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Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me
Few songs have captured the feeling of paranoia quite like “Somebody’s Watching Me.” Released in 1984, the song became an instant sensation thanks to…
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Self Control – Laura Branigan
Some songs become inseparable from the decade that made them famous, and Laura Branigan’s “Self Control” is one of those recordings. Released in 1984,…
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(Keep Feeling) Fascination – Human League
The Synth-Pop Masterpiece That Proved Lightning Could Strike Twice Released in April 1983, “(Keep Feeling) Fascination” confirmed that The Human League were far more…
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The Look – Roxette
The Swedish Pop Explosion That Took Over the World Released in January 1989 as the third single from Look Sharp!, “The Look” transformed Roxette…
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Obsession – Animotion
The Synth-Pop Smash That Defined Mid-’80s Dance Music Released in 1984 as the debut single from Animotion’s self-titled album, “Obsession” became one of the…
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Human – Human League
The Sophisticated Ballad That Reinvented The Human League Released in August 1986 as the lead single from Crash, “Human” marked a dramatic shift in…
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What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy) – Information Society
By the late 1980s, electronic music was becoming impossible to ignore. Synthesizers had evolved from futuristic novelties into essential instruments, and a new generation…
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The Promise – When in Rome
Some songs become closely associated with an era. Others somehow manage to escape it. “The Promise” by When in Rome belongs to the second…
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St Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion) – John Parr
The 1980s produced countless movie theme songs, but only a select few managed to take on a life of their own. “St. Elmo’s Fire…
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One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head
When people think of songs inspired by Broadway or London’s West End, they usually imagine sweeping ballads or elaborate show tunes. “One Night in…
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Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
Very few songs have managed to become chart-topping hits, cultural touchstones, internet phenomena, and beloved classics all at the same time. Rick Astley’s “Never…
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Miami Vice Theme – Jan Hammer
Very few television themes become hit records. Even fewer manage to top the music charts. Yet in 1985, an instrumental composed by Jan Hammer…
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I Can’t Wait – Nu Shooz
Released in 1985 and becoming a worldwide hit in 1986, “I Can’t Wait” transformed Nu Shooz from a little-known Portland, Oregon duo into international…
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Heart and Soul – T’pau
Released in 1987 as the debut single from Bridge of Spies, “Heart and Soul” introduced the world to British rock band T’Pau and their…
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The Reflex – Duran Duran
Released in 1984 as the third single from Seven and the Ragged Tiger, “The Reflex” became the biggest hit of Duran Duran’s career. Already…
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Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins
Pop music in the 1980s was filled with memorable love songs, but few balanced emotional vulnerability and irresistible hooks as gracefully as the Thompson…
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Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
Certain songs become so closely associated with a film that it’s nearly impossible to think of one without the other. “Don’t You (Forget About…
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Carrie – Europe
When Europe released The Final Countdown in 1986, most listeners expected more hard-hitting rock anthems like the album’s explosive title track. Instead, one of…
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Too Shy – Kajagoogoo
The early 1980s produced countless synth-pop hits, but only a handful managed to capture the era’s infectious energy while remaining fresh decades later. Kajagoogoo’s…
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She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby
The early 1980s were filled with futuristic sounds, synthesizers, and musicians eager to explore the possibilities of new technology. While many artists embraced electronic…
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Everybody Have Fun Tonight – Wang Chung
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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Here Comes the Rain Again – Eurythmics
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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Mr. Roboto – Styx
Love it or hate it, “Mr. Roboto” by Styx is impossible to ignore. Released in 1983 as the lead single from the band’s ambitious…
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Puttin’ on the Ritz – Taco
Every once in a while, a song from another era finds new life in a completely different musical landscape. That was exactly what happened…
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Listen to Your Heart – Roxette
Not every international hit is destined for success from the beginning. Sometimes a song quietly builds momentum, crossing borders one listener at a time…
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Axel F – Harold Faltermeyer
Released in 1984 as the instrumental theme from the blockbuster film Beverly Hills Cop, “Axel F” became one of the most recognizable electronic recordings…
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Sunglasses at Night – Corey Hart
Released in January 1984 as the lead single from Corey Hart’s debut album First Offense, “Sunglasses at Night” became one of the defining songs…
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Maniac – Michael Sembello
Released in May 1983 as the lead single from the Flashdance soundtrack, “Maniac” became one of the defining songs of the 1980s. Driven by…
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Hands to Heaven – Breathe
Released in July 1988 as the third single from All That Jazz, “Hands to Heaven” became the breakthrough hit that introduced millions of listeners…
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I Ran (So Far Away) – A Flock of Seagulls
When people think of the sound of the early 1980s, a handful of songs immediately come to mind. Among them is A Flock of…
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Cars – Gary Numan
Long before synthesizers dominated pop music, one song showed the world what the future could sound like. Gary Numan’s “Cars,” released in 1979 and…
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Don’t You Want Me – Human League
Few songs have done more to define the sound of the early 1980s than “Don’t You Want Me.” Released in late 1981 as the…
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West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys
Some songs become instant hits because of an infectious melody. Others leave a lasting mark because they capture the mood of an entire era.…
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Tainted Love – Soft Cell
Every so often, an artist takes an overlooked song and completely transforms it, creating a version so distinctive that it overshadows the original. That’s…
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