Top 10 1980’s songs that still rock
Ah, the 80’s… big hair, tonnes of make-up and a lot of spandex. Whether you were a teen in the 80s or born long after, you might have heard a lot of the iconic songs from the crazy-glamorous era of pop and rock ‘n’ roll. Here are the top 10 most diverse, eclectic and flamboyant songs from the 80s that still rock today.
10. You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) is a song from the album Youthquake launched in 1985 by the British pop band Dead or Alive and it was SAW’s (Stock Aitken Waterman production) first UK number-one hit. Since its release in 1984, the record reached number one in only 17 weeks. This song was described as ‘one of the best white dance records of all time’ and it was voted in 2015 as UK’s 17th 1980s favourite no. 1.
9. Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash
Should I Stay or Should I Go was written by Joe Strummer, Paul Simmons, Mick Jones and Topper Headon in 1981 becoming the most popular song performed by the English punk-rock band The Clash. It was featured on their album Combat Rock released in 1982 becoming the band's only no. 1 single on the UK Singles Chart. The song was ranked no. 228 on "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in November 2004.
8. Need You Tonight by INXS
Need You Tonight is INXS’s fourth song from the 1987 album Kick and it’s the band’s only single to reach no.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was re-released a year later in November and was ranked no. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, achieving their highest charting position. Need You Tonight became the band’s signature song and the album Kick was the band’s best-selling album with over seven million copies sold in the US alone.
7. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
Billie Jean is Michael Jackson’s second single from his sixth solo album, Thriller launched in 1982. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the lyrics of this song as it was suggested that the story is based on a real-life experience causing numerous rumours around the artist’s romantic endeavours. In 1983, Billie Jean became one of the best-selling singles worldwide reaching the highest point in both US and UK charts. In 1989, the Rolling Stone magazine placed the song in the 58th place on The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
6. Push It by Salt-n-Pepa
The original version of Salt-n-Pepa’s ‘Push It’ was first released in 1987 reaching the Billboard Top 40 in December ‘87, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. The song was also performed at Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday concert. Along with Let's Talk About Sex, Push it became no. 2 on the UK charts. The reissued album Hot, Cool and Vicious was nominated for the Grammy awards and it sold over 1 million copies worldwide.
5. Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
The story goes that Jon Bon Jovi initially hated the original recording of this song but lead guitarist Richie Sambora convinced him to record the song anyway adding a new bass line – and what a great idea it was! Livin' on a Prayer soon became Bon Jovi's signature song and the second single from the 1986 album Slippery When Wet to reach the top of the charts. In 2013, it was certified Triple Platinum and it has over 300 million views on YouTube.
4. Back in Black by AC/DC
Back in Black is featured on the eponymous 1980 album by AC/DC and it was a tribute to Bon Scott, the band’s former singer who passed away that year. Back in Black was ranked no. 4 on the 40 Greatest Metal Songs of all time by VH1. It peaked in 1981 in the US at no. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and it was no. 51 on Billboard's Top Tracks chart. 31 years later, the song was listed no. 1 on the UK Rock Charts.
3. Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns n’ Roses
Sweet Child O' Mine is a song featured on the famous rock band Guns N’ Roses in 1987 debut album Appetite for Destruction. The lyrics were written by Axl Rose and they were dedicated to his girlfriend who eventually became his wife only to divorce a month later. The song was released in the summer of 1988 and it was the album's third single, becoming the band’s only no. 1 single in the US. The single was re-released in 1989 and it reached no. 6 on the UK Singles Chart soon after.
2. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) by David Bowie
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) is a song written by the legendary singer David Bowie and produced by Giorgio Moroder. It also became the title song for the 1982 film Cat People and later in 2009, the track was used in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Bastards. In December 1982, Bowie re-recorded the song for the album Let's Dance with the famous guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. The single was Bowie’s most popular solo hit in the US since ‘Golden Years’ and it peaked at no. 1 in New Zealand where it stayed for 3 weeks.
1. Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode
This is the kind of song you just can’t get enough of. It was written by Vince Clarke and it was performed by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode Released in 1981, the song became the second single from their debut album, Speak and Spell. It was also the band's first single to be released in the US in 1982. The track quickly reached no. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and was also the band’s first song to get a music video.
