MY 50 ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 80s

"DO THEY KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS?" - BAND AID
SINGLE, RELEASED 1984

Song that makes me want to believe in Christmas.

"UNDER PRESSURE"
TRACK NUMBER 11, RELEASED 1982

Such an uplifting song. You can almost hear Mercury's heart along the bass line.

"MAN IN THE MIRROR"
TRACK NUMBER 7, RELEASED 1987

Michael Jackson made a song that's as overpowering as his iconic status is. "Man in the Mirror" reaches out into the heavens.

"I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS" - BOB GELDOF & JOHNNY FINGERS
TRACK NUMBER 6, RELEASED 1981

Originally from the 1979 Boomtown Rats album "The Fine Art of Surfacing," Geldof and pianist Johnny Fingers performed it live for Monty Python/SPOB in 1981, the result: an emotional tour de force I consider as one of the best live vocal performance ever.

"BILLY JEAN"
TRACK NUMBER 6, RELEASED 1982

Perenially in the 100 greatest song ever written. "Billy Jean" is the epitome of the pop song. Moonwalk anyone?

"BAD"
TRACK NUMBER 7, RELEASED 1984

What makes U2 songs so great is the control Edge gives his guitar parts. "Bad" is a fine example of it. Every line, every word of the lyrics Bono sings come crystal clear.

"THE PROMISE"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1988

"The Promise" is a carefully constructed song, darkly melodious.

"COME ON EILEEN"
TRACK NUMBER 10, RELEASED 1982

The multi-instrument, intricately melodious, time-shifting "Come On Eileen" is a new wave one-hit wonder that really doesn't suck when being too enjoyable. There's sophistication here.

"BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE"
TRACK NUMBER 6, RELEASED 1986

New Order's synthesizer-heavy, dance floor friendly bizarre love song defined the new wave era.

"SWEET CHILD O'MINE"
TRACK NUMBER 9, RELEASED 1987

One of the most recognizable guitar intro, GNR ushered in an era of heavy metal bad ass accessible to all almost single-handedly.

"ANGEL OF DEATH"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1986

The theme song of the apocalypse.

"MASTER OF PUPPETS"
TRACK NUMBER 2, RELEASED 1986

"Master of Puppets" is a masterpiece. This is metal orchestra from the biggest metal band in the world.

"I LOVE ROCK N ROLL"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1981

The mother of GRRL power.

"REDEMPTION SONG"
TRACK NUMBER 10, RELEASED 1980

A song you can play anywhere and get the same vibe. This song is made for the human spirit.

"FOREVER YOUNG"
TRACK NUMBER 6, RELEASED 1984

Lyrically beautiful, haunting, mesmerizing the nerves.

"ETERNAL FLAME"
TRACK NUMBER 5, RELEASED 1988

How can The Bangles not be one of the best female bands? They play their own instruments, have a knockout lead singer and a love song that moves in on you with the sensuality of a lover who only wants to hold you tightly in her arms.

"(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1980

Turn of the decade song and a reunion to recording with Yoko Ono. The first track of the album--listening to this song, even over and over, always refreshing.

"LIVIN ON A PRAYER"
TRACK NUMBER 3, RELEASED 1986

You're driving alone in your car in the highway, when suddenly this song comes on the radio. A minute later you're singing your lungs out to the chorus.

"PARADISE CITY"
TRACK NUMBER 6, RELEASED 1987

Is there a more energetic rock n roll song?

"ALWAYS WITH ME, ALWAYS WITH YOU"
TRACK NUMBER 4, RELEASED 1989

If you want to get a girl, go buy a guitar and play her "Always With Me, Always With You."

"LESSONS IN LOVE"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1987

Catchy song with an infectious groove by band leader and super bassist Mark King. But the part of the song that always get to me is when keyboardist Mike Lindup sings the high melody of the bridge. Cue to the hair on my back rising.

"BEAT IT"
TRACK NUMBER 5, RELEASED 1982

Even the hardest, most callous fool wouldn't resist dancing to "Beat It."

"TIME AFTER TIME"
TRACK NUMBER 4, RELEASED 1983

While Madonna have more of the hits, Cyndi Lauper has "Time After Time."

"DON'T DREAM ITS OVER"
TRACK NUMBER 4, RELEASED 1986

The Aussie band's socio-political-induced anthem is a song for the era. A timeless pop song.

"ALONE"
TRACK NUMBER 2, RELEASED 1987

The ultimate female karaoke song. Period.

"NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US"
TRACK NUMBER 2, RELEASED 1987

Irresistable not to sing. Uplifting cheesiness. But we're only human.

"PRIDE IN THE NAME OF LOVE"
TRACK NUMBER 2. RELEASED 1984

This demonstrates the raw power of a U2 song.

"INSPECTOR MILLS"
TRACK NUMBER 4, RELEASED 1982

On the surface, "Inspector Mills" sounds like a cheesy radio-friendly love song--a product of classic folk 80s rock. Listen closely, it has a wide range of melody that builds up to a story.

"ALL OUT OF LOVE"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1980

Air Supply created some of the most popular (and excruciatingly singable, karaoke love songs of all time), and top hits upon top hits, 3 of them even in one single album. It would've been a lonely world without Air Supply.

"HEAD OVER HEELS"
TRACK NUMBER 7, RELEASED 1985

Builds to a joyous crescendo, "Head Over Heels" is a song experience you go back to ever so often.

"WOMAN"
TRACK NUMBER 10, RELEASED 1980

Its hard to separate "Woman" and "Starting Over." The two go together in the double fantasy of Lennon's love for Yoko.

"IN BETWEEN DAYS"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1985

The soundtrack to each waking life of every 80s teen.

"GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA"
TRACK NUMBER 4, RELEASED 1987

Not the best Smiths song according to everyone, but no two Smiths fan are alike.

"APRIL SKIES"
TRACK NUMBER 6, RELEASED 1987

You're in your teens and a band comes along calling themselves "The Jesus & Mary Chain" you'd immediately say its going to be your favorite band.

"ALREADY YESTERDAY"
TRACK NUMBER 3, RELEASED 1985

Chilling, inspiring and evokes a kind of childhood sentimentality or a longing to be somewhere, some place out of an acid-trip dream. Such a great melody and such saloon-great hairstyle!

"FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS"
TRACK NUMBER 3, RELEASED 1984

One of the most played Metallica song during concerts and for good reason. A bass-propelled crowd-pleaser synonymous with the word heavy.

"RAINING BLOOD"
TRACK NUMBER 10, RELEASED 1986

"Raining Blood" reigns supreme in the headbanging category.

"TWO RIVERS"
THE ADVENTURES
FROM THE ALBUM
"THEODORE AND FRIENDS"

The melody is catchy, the song is quite singable, yet few may remember the song.

F

"IS IT OKAY IF I CALL YOU MINE? - PAUL McCRANE"
TRACK NUMBER 6, RELEASED 1980

The saddest song every made. By a man who isn't really a musical artist.

"YOUR LOVE"
TRACK NUMBER 2, RELEASED 1985

Never raise your eyebrows on a great pop song.

"CRAZY FOR YOU"
SINGLE & TRACK NUMBER 1 (VISION QUEST ALBUM), RELEASED 1984

There are parts in Madonna's well-loved love song that makes you ache, really ache for a soon to be broken heart.

"CRAZY TRAIN"
TRACK NUMBER 2, RELEASED 1980

The best Ozzy-Randy collaboration is just plain godlike crazy guitar playing.

"DON'T YOU WANT ME"
TRACK NUMBER 10, RELEASED 1981

"Don't You Want Me", the music, the video, and the fashion epitomize an era lost in time. Just don't go too far like the guy wearing high heels.

"DUEL"
TRACK NUMBER 4, RELEASED 1985

Some happy songs makes you dance in wild abandon.

"SOMEWHERE IN MY HEART"
TRACK NUMBER 5, RELEASED 1987

They wanted to be Michael Jackson, Axl Rose, Eddie Van Halen, Sting....I just wanted to be Roddy Frame.

"TEENAGE RIOT"
TRACK NUMBER 1, RELEASED 1988

Indie awesomeness.

"DEAR GOD"
SINGLE, RELEASED 1987

So agnostic.

"EBONY AND IVORY"
TRACK NUMBER 12, RELEASED 1982

McCartney's duet with Stevie Wonder is a wonderful song about peace, equality and brotherhood.

"SHE SELLS SANCTUARY"
"LOVE ALBUM" TRACK NUMBER 9, RELEASED 1985

In the midst of the new wave explosion, the Cult released a seminal heavy rock tune in all its glory.

"PEACE SELLS"
TRACK NUMBER 3, RELEASED 1986

Addicting bass line intro. "Peace Sells" is both dirty and groovy and really, just show-offy.