Why Can’t This Be Love – Van Halen
Rock fans knew something significant had changed the moment they heard the opening synthesizer chords of “Why Can’t This Be Love.” Released in March…
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Year
Sailing – Christopher Cross
Every so often, a song comes along that seems to exist outside of time. Christopher Cross’s “Sailing” is one of those rare recordings. Released…
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Run to You – Bryan Adams
By the mid-1980s, Bryan Adams had already established himself as one of rock’s fastest-rising stars, but it was Reckless that transformed him into an…
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Open Arms – Journey
Power ballads became one of the defining sounds of the 1980s, but few have achieved the lasting popularity of Journey’s “Open Arms.” Released in…
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Lost in Your Eyes – Debbie Gibson
By the close of the 1980s, Debbie Gibson had accomplished something few teenage artists ever achieve. Not only had she become a chart-topping pop…
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Longer – Dan Fogelberg
Beautiful love songs often endure because they capture emotions that never go out of style. Dan Fogelberg’s “Longer” is one of those rare recordings.…
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I Want Your Sex – George Michael
Few pop songs of the 1980s generated as much controversy before listeners had even heard them as George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex.” Released…
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Holding Back the Years – Simply Red
Long before Simply Red became one of the most successful soul-pop bands in the world, Mick Hucknall wrote a deeply personal song about growing…
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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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Cherish – Madonna
By the end of the 1980s, Madonna had already established herself as one of the most influential artists in popular music. She had built…
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Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy
In an era dominated by synthesizers, electric guitars, and increasingly elaborate studio productions, Bobby McFerrin achieved something almost unimaginable. In 1988, he released “Don’t…
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Woman in Love – Barbra Streisand
When Barbra Streisand released “Woman in Love” in 1980, she was already one of the most accomplished entertainers in the world. She had conquered…
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That’s What Friends Are for – Dionne & Friends
Charity singles have produced some of the biggest hits in music history, but few have matched the emotional warmth and enduring legacy of “That’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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Patience – Guns N’ Roses
When most people think of Guns N’ Roses, they picture blistering guitar solos, explosive performances, and hard-rock anthems like “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Paradise…
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One Moment in Time – Whitney Houston
Certain songs become forever linked to a single event, yet somehow grow beyond it to take on lives of their own. “One Moment in…
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Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers
Great songs often emerge from unexpected collaborations, and “Just the Two of Us” is one of the finest examples in modern music. Released in…
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I’m on Fire – Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen has built his career on writing vivid stories about ordinary people chasing extraordinary dreams. His songs often feature restless characters searching for…
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Give It Up – KC & the Sunshine Band
Disco’s decline in the early 1980s left many artists scrambling to reinvent themselves, and few bands faced a steeper challenge than KC & the…
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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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Do You Really Want to Hurt Me – Culture Club
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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Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
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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Earthquake Song – Little Girls
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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Bad – Michael Jackson
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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99 Luftballons – Nena
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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You Are – Lionel Richie
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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Valerie – Steve Winwood
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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Vacation – The Go-Go’s
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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Pink Houses – John Mellencamp
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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Kyrie – Mr. Mister
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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I Can Dream About You – Dan Hartman
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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Higher Love – Steve Winwood
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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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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Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen
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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Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
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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Everytime You Go Away – Paul Young
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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You Might Think – The Cars
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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When I Think of You – Janet Jackson
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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Walk of Life – Dire Straits
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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True Blue – Madonna
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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The Living Years – Mike + the Mechanics
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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Tell It to My Heart – Taylor Dayne
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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Say, Say, Say – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
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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Part-Time Lover – Stevie Wonder
Few artists have been able to reinvent themselves as successfully as Stevie Wonder. After dominating the 1970s with groundbreaking albums like Talking Book, Innervisions,…
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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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