You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi
Rock music was overflowing with big guitars, towering choruses, and larger-than-life personalities by the mid-1980s, but few songs captured the spirit of the era…
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Who’s Crying Now – Journey
Long before power ballads dominated rock radio, Journey had already mastered the art of combining soaring melodies with heartfelt storytelling. While the band was…
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What Have You Done for Me Lately – Janet Jackson
Before Janet Jackson became one of the most influential entertainers in popular music, she was known primarily as the youngest member of the famous…
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Voices Carry – ‘Til Tuesday
Every decade produces songs that perfectly capture the emotional tensions of their time, and “‘Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry” stands among the finest examples of…
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Open Your Heart – Madonna
By 1986, Madonna had already become one of the biggest stars in popular music, but she showed no signs of slowing down. Following the…
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Lucky Star – Madonna
Before Madonna became the undisputed Queen of Pop, she was a determined young artist fighting to establish herself in a rapidly changing music industry.…
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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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Good Thing – Fine Young Cannibals
During the late 1980s, pop music was filled with polished production, synthesizers, and dance beats, but few bands managed to blend soul, rock, funk,…
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Bryan Adams – Summer of 69
Certain songs become much bigger than the era that produced them. Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69” is one of those rare recordings. Although it…
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Batdance – Prince
During the summer of 1989, few movies generated more excitement than Tim Burton’s Batman. Anticipation for the film reached extraordinary levels, with fans eager…
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867-5309 (Jenny) – Tommy Tutone
Almost everyone who grew up in the 1980s can recognize the opening guitar riff or instantly complete the famous telephone number in the chorus…
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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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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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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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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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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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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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A View to a Kill – Duran Duran
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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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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Refugee – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
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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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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Photograph – Def Leppard
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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