The 10 best songs from the 80’s

that is one of the five I just thought of which I'd like to swap into my list, but best leave it.

The 90s was easy; the 80s...hoo boy. Lets see:

Pretenders - Tattooed Love Boys
Rickie Lee Jones - Living it Up
Nona Hendryx - Keep it Confidential
Cyndi Lauper - All Through the Night
Go-Go's - Head Over Heels
Tears For Fears - The Working Hour
Til Tuesday - Coming Up Close
Tommy Keene - Underworld
Prince - Electric Chair
Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)

xpost: Cool list! I mean 'The Message" is imho one of the most undeniable songs from the decade and it placed #10 for the 20th century and #2 for the 80's on that ILM poll (ILM POLLS THE 20TH CENTURY'S BEST TRACKS ››› YOUR RESULTS THREAD ‹‹‹), so I think most people around here have it in high regard.

For quite some time I'd have considered "A Forest" my #1 Cure song, but it's actually 'close to me' the one that I can't seem to get enough of nowadays.

Tom Tom Club and Pet Shop Boys songs from your list should be runner-ups for me too. Also King Sunny Ade! Great choice... I actually first heard him via 'Aura' - I know weird intro since most people get introduced to him via 'Juju Music' - and became obssesed with 'Ogunja' and 'Iro' so I'd probably consider one of those my favorite song of his, but if I were to vote in a poll I'd 100% use a vote for 'Ja Funmi'.

I just realized while taking a quick re-listen to "Iro" that Thom Yorke definitely stole the 'black swan' riff from it.

oh no wait I think it's "harrowdown hill" the one I'm thinking of... not sure but it's definitely reminding me of something off 'the eraser'.

The 90s was easy; the 80s...hoo boy.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko),

wait 'til we get to the 70's

going chronologically, my list got filled up by 1982 just going with obvious choices


Talking Heads - Once In a Lifetime (1980)
The Cure - A Forest (1980)
Laurie Anderson - O Superman (1981)
Romeo Void - Never Say Never (1981)
New Order - Temptation (1982)
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (1982)
Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock (1982)
Prince - 1999 (1982)
The Clash - Rock the Casbah (1982)
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message (1982)

early 80s except had to go to 84 to get When Doves Cry

Talking Heads – Crosseyed and Painless
Psychedelic Furs – Run and Run
Pretenders – Mystery Achievement
X – Some Other Time
Rickie Lee Jones – Living It Up
REM – Radio Free Europe
Prince – When Doves Cry
B-52s – Private Idaho
New Order - Temptation
Feelies – Moscow Nights

foreigner - waiting for a girl like you
madonna - into the groove
d-train - you’re the one for me
mr fingers - can you feel it
lou reed - the blue mask
mary jane girls - all night long
evelyn “champagne” king - love come down
daryl hall and john oates - i can’t go for that
miharu koshi - l’amour toujours
diana ross - it’s your move

1980-1983

1. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Refugee
2. Japan – Ghosts
3. ABC – The Look of Love
4. Prince – Little Red Corvette
5. New Order – Temptation
6. Roxy Music – Same Old Scene
7. Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Something
8. Evelyn King – Love Come Down
9. Patrick Cowley ft. Sylvester – Do You Wanna Funk
10. A Flock of Seagulls – Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)

Full list..

1. Shannon – Give Me Tonight
2. Madonna – Open Your Heart
3. Prince and the Revolution – I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
4. Def Leppard – Hysteria
5. Alexander O’Neal – Criticize
6. Noel – Silent Morning
7. Janet Jackson – The Pleasure Principle
8. Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock – It Takes Two
9. Stevie B – Spring Love (Come Back to Me)
10. New Order – The Perfect Kiss (Extended Remix)

Full list.

Tullio de Piscopo - Stop Bajon

this is such a jam. Don Cherry!

Glad to see "Love Come Down" being listed. Heard it all my life p much but just past couple years it really hit me how great it is.

I'll have to take a listen to the ones in brimstead's list I'm not familiar with (such as the Diana Ross) because the rest of the list is 🔥

ALL
THE WAY
DOWN

I think Dolly Parton could do a great cover of “it’s your move”.

Mekons — I Am Crazy
De La Soul — Eye Know
New Order — All Day Long
Anita Baker — Caught Up in the Rapture
Lucinda Williams — Side of the Road
Slick Rick — Children’s Story
Evelyn “Champagne” King — Love Come Down
The Chameleons — Soul in Isolation
Eric B. & Rakim — Follow the Leader
Bad Brains — Sailin’ On

and yet: Borderline

I think I might be the only one who prefers Barry Biggs version of Love Come Down.

this is such a jam. Don Cherry!

― brimstead

Barely missed my top 10. I should probably reconsider because it is indeed a jam.

Glad to see a track from Lucinda Williams. Her self-titled album is excellent.

I keep forgetting Mr. Fingers is from the 80’s, so ahead of its time.

now am thinking about the mid 80s and the late 80s

Oh always thought Barry Biggs version of Love Come Down was the original, not the Evelyn King one. Even though I do prefer the disco/reggae version by Biggs it’s a great song. Didn’t expect so much love for it over here.

Is everyone familiar with the Biggs version? If not please listen to it! It’s awesome too.

David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock
The Go-Go's - Vacation
Missing Persons - Destination Unknown
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Madonna - Borderline
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force - I Wonder If I Take You Home
Sonic Youth - Starpower

1. Associates - Party Fears Two
2. The Blue Nile - The Downtown Lights
3. The B-52's Topaz
4. Cameo - Candy
5. Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination
6. Pet Shop Boys - Left To My Own Devices
7. Soft Cell - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
8. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
9. Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper
10. Sylvester - Don't Stop

Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
The Go-Betweens - Cattle and Cane
Chris Knox - Not Given Lightly
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Mission of Burma - Academy Fight Song
Eric B & Rakim - Follow the Leader
The Cramps - Garbageman
Loose Joints - Tell You (Today)
Rammelzee & K-Rob - Beat Bop

Aerosmith - let the music do the talking
Aerosmith - angel
Aerosmith - love in an elevator
Aerosmith - rag doll
Aerosmith - jailbait
Aerosmith - my fist your face
Aerosmith - dude looks like a lady
Aerosmith - young lust
Aerosmith - bitch’s brew
Aerosmith - Joanie’s butterfly

foreigner - waiting for a girl like you
madonna - into the groove
d-train - you’re the one for me
mr fingers - can you feel it
lou reed - the blue mask
mary jane girls - all night long
evelyn “champagne” king - love come down
daryl hall and john oates - i can’t go for that
miharu koshi - l’amour toujours
diana ross - it’s your move

I’ll steal Alfred’s split again to put 10 more songs in:

1980-1983

1. Kraftwerk - Computer Love (1981)
2. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - The Message (1982)
3. Mariah - 心臓の扉 (Shinzo No Tobira) (1983)
4. Young Marble Giants - Final Day (1980)
5. Killing Joke - Change (1980)
6. Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon (1983)
7. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat (1981)
8. Shriekback - My Spine is the Bassline (1982)
9. The Cramps - Garbageman (1980)
10. Blurt - The Fish Needs a Bike (1981)

1984-1989

1. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Out of Touch (1984)
2. Kate Bush - Cloudbusting (1985)
3. Arthur Russell - This Is How We Walk on the Moon (1984)
4. Q Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses (1988)
5. The Cure - Close to Me (1985)
6. Womack & Womack - Teardrops (1988)
7. A.R. Kane - Lollita (1987)
8. The Jesus & Mary Chain - Never Understand (1985)
9. Samantha Gilles - Let Me Feel It (1985)
10. Virgo - Take Me Higher (1989)

Man, streaming has really caused me to not get familiar with so much stuff I stumble upon. Have no memory of hearing that Biggs version of Love Come Down, yet it's already in my cover songs playlist.

Besides the 1st and last picks, Josefa's list is like omg sooooo 80s if u know what I mean. Love it.

Now you’ve piqued my interest and you need to share that covers playlist.

High five to everyone who has Taana Gardner’s Heartbeat on their lists. Such a smooth song and one of the greatest vocal hooks of all time. Also those synths and bass, sounds like the palette from which West Coast Hip Hop came from.

Do you live in Vice City?

Do you live in Vice City?
― calstars

Do you live in the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster®?

Covers play list is apple music tho
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/covers/pl.u-zPyL1DRFZBV0zJ

(Haven't tried to curate it. Just add songs as I hear em)

Abba - The Day Before You Came
Fun Fun - Baila Bolero
George Benson - Give Me the Night
Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm
Imagination - So Good So Right
Jamie Principle - Your Love
Lil Louis- French Kiss
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
Sha-Lor- I'm In Love
Tullio de Piscopo - Stop Bajon (Primavera)

Honourable mentions
Joey Beltram - Energy Flash, Kate Bush - Cloudbusting, Madonna - Live to Tell, Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly, Prince - Mountains, New Order - Dream Attack, Genesis - That's All, Psyche - Elements, Tangerine Dream - Love on a Real Train

Covers play list is apple music tho
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/covers/pl.u-zPyL1DRFZBV0zJ

― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger)

Seeing some great choices in there and several that I want to hear for the first time.

Note: “after midnight” is originally by JJ Cale so that one is not actually a cover.

Forgot:

Olivia Newton John - Magic

I was wondering about the Cale! I think maybe I added it cause I was more familiar with a cover version and wanted to listen to his original again. But now I can't remember who did the cover.

Eric Clapton did the most well-known version. Clapton also covered “Cocaine” by him. JJ Cale’s originals are way better imho, but Clapton’s are the more popular versions.

Simple Minds - I Travel
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
AR Kane - A Love From Outer Space
Cybotron - Clear
The Associates - Party Fears Two
Pet Shop Boys - Kings Cross
Kate Bush - Hello Earth
Prince - Purple Rain
Frankie Knuckles, Satoshi Tomiie, Robert Owens - Tears
Manuel Gottsching - E2-E4

I always thought E2E4 was late 70s, almost picked Sueno Latino tho

(and would've picked e2e4 had I realised, if that's not implicit)

Both superb, Heartbeats also excellent obv.

Overall this is a lot more interesting than I thought it would be tbh. My kneejerk reaction now is generally “80s? Heard it.” It’s very hard to pick the best though! So many classics, maybe more than any other decade in my book.

Tullio de Piscopo - Stop Bajon

this is such a jam. Don Cherry!

This is Don Cherry? Mind blown.

I don’t think I’ve seen any Tom Waits yet? He’s definitely one of the most beloved 80s artists in my social circle.

Not much industrial/EBM either I don’t think? I would definitely have to include either Skinny Puppy, Thrill Kill Kult, or Psychic TV. Or Ministry maybe? Their best stuff is probably from the 90s in the early NIN era.

Pet Shop Boys West End Girls (UK 1984)
JJ Fad Supersonic (USA 1988)
Accept Metal Heart (Germany 1985)
Mr. Fingers Can You Feel It? (USA 1986)
Slayer Angel Of Death (USA 1986)
Kate Bush Running Up That Hill (UK 1985)
Technotronic Pump Up The Jam (Belgium 1989)
New Order Blue Monday (UK 1983)
Sisters Of Mercy Marian (UK 1984)
Savage Only You (Italy 1984)
Golden Earring Twilight Zone (Netherlands 1982)
Sheila & B. Devotion Spacer (France/USA 1980)

There’s Running Up That Hill. I thought it might get passed over, seems like Cloudbusting is the consensus choice. Supersonic is a fine selection too.

Wayne Smith - Under Me Sleng Teng

Fuck guess I’ll have to do a proper list now.

(ok technically Supersonic is 1987 but it was a hit in 1988)

Would now like to submit a best of the 80s list that is just Moments in Love played 10 times in succession

Ignoring post-punk & disco and sticking with the hits that scream "80s" to me that I sincerely enjoy:

Dazz Band – Let It Whip
The Gap Band – You Dropped A Bomb On Me
Shannon – Let the Music Play
Yes – Owner of a Lonely Heart
A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran (So Far Away)
Don Henley – The Boys of Summer
Icehouse – Electric Blue
38 Special – Caught Up In You
The Cars – Drive
New Order – Blue Monday

honorable mention: ZZ Top – Sharp Dressed Man

Even choosing 10 #1 billboard hits from 80-89 is hard:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_number-one_singles_of_the_1980s

1. H&O - Out of Touch
2. Olivia Newton John - Physical
3. Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
4 Tears for Fears - everybody wants to rule the world
5 Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
6 Prince - Kiss
7 Blondie - Rapture
8 INXS - need you tonight
9 Bananarama - venus
10 Human League - Don't you want me

Gardening At Night is maybe my favorite REM song, maybe because it was first

Oh, human league

out of touch is such a monster, love it

It’s one of the most perfect pop songs of all time.

Bummed I forgot Lone Justice's "Ways to Be Wicked."

no idea what a full list would look like for me, but it would definitely have:

kate bush - 'running up that hill'
the cure - 'a forest'
public enemy - 'fight the power'
eric b. + rakim - 'eric b. is president'

otherwise, no idea where to even begin. i'm equally as likely to say something like "nerve pylon" by the lines as i am to say "out of touch." really just no clue how to even begin to narrow it down.

Let’s get some Mexican songs in here:

80’s Mexico top 10

Casino Shanghai - Cuerpos Huecos
Caifanes - Viento
Flans - Las Mil y Una Noches
Menudo - Claridad
Emmanuel - La ultima luna
Rocio Durcal & Juan Gabriel - Dejame Vivir
Tropicalisimo Apache - Ojitos Mentirosos
Los Tigres del Norte - la puerta negra
Yuri - Osito Panda de Chapultepec
Daniela Romo - mentiras

Without watching other people's lists

Jali Musa Jawara - Yekeke
Talking Heads - This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
Fingers Inc. - Can You Feel It
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Samba Mapalanga - Malako
The Smith - There is a light that never goes out
The Sound - I Can't Escape Myself
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
Loose Joints - Is it all over my face (female version)
Meredith Monk - Biography

And because I find it even more impossible than the 70s, honorable mentions aka second list:

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Cannons
Throwing Muses - Hate My Way
Gregory Isaacs - Report to Me
The Dicks - Hate the Police
Wipers - No Fair
Steve McQueen - Appetite
Universal Two - Dancing Heart
Japan - My new career
The Chameleons - Second Skin
Thione Seck - Bamba

(Prefab Sprout obviously)

Is this nabisco? I’m out of the loop sorry.

It’s a great list. If I was being honest about my favorites I would have included the Naive Melody too.

Yekeke sounds like it has similar vocals to Mory Kante’s Yeke Yeke, I wonder if there’s a connection?

No I'm just myself :P Yeah there's a connection, they're maternal half-brothers :D

I should have included a Rail Band song in the 70s thread... Mansa probably, or Kaira.

Mansa sounds like a dembow beat at points. But those vocals, wow!

Exactly 10 songs:

Beastie Boys "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun"
Black Sabbath "Neon Knights"
Bruce Springsteen "Tunnel of Love"
Dinosaur Jr "Raisans"
Funky 4 + 1 "That's The Joint"
Hall & Oates "Say It Isn't So"
Jungle Brothers "I'll House You"
Metallica "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
Michael Jackson "Human Nature"
My Bloody Valentine "Drive It All Over Me"
Neneh Cherry “Buffalo Stance”
Nu Shooz "I Can't Wait"
Patrice Rushen "Forget Me Nots"
Prince "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
Psychedelic Furs "Love My Way"
T'Pau "Heart and Soul"
Tears For Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule The World"
Til Tuesday "Voices Carry"
Tracy Ullman "They Don't Know"
Van Halen "Unchained"

Mansa sounds like a dembow beat at points. But those vocals, wow!
― recovering internet addict/shitposter (viborg), Sunday, October 10, 2021 10:03 PM (four days ago) bookmarkflaglink

Sorry, I just realized you probably went on Spotify and listened to the first one listed. You need to listen to the 12-minute original version (on the Belle Époque comps). It's a slow burner that builds patiently and eventually releases a pure energy flow of scorching trumpet, djembe, bass, and guitar.

Umbababrumba - Jorge Ben
New Sensations - Lou Reed
The Hawk (El Galvian) - Marianne Faithfull / Mark Isham
Your Secret's Safe With Me - Michael Franks
Kid Fears - Indigo Girls
Obsession - Animotion
A Solid Bond in Your Heart - The Style Council
Welcome to the Pleasuredome - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Cracking - Suzanne Vega
Faded Flowers - Shriekback

Umbabarauma is a 70’s song.

“Decade of impact” rule?

Les Rita Mitsouko - C'est comme ça (1986)
should be on my list

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGZRVGlGZ6A

Heard Cube - Concert Boy on a dj set and what an underrated gem of a track.

Dj also dropped Whodini - freaks come out at night and the crowd really vibed to both.

Rest of the set was more modern and I didn’t identify most of it but she did a stellar job. Been a while since I loved a live dj set as much.

I guess she was mixing with other tracks because the Whodini track sounded remixed with something else but it sounded amazing.

I'll take a crack:

Japan - Ghosts
Sonic Youth - Shadow of a Doubt
Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
Throwing Muses - Hate My Way
Scritti Politti - Absolute
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Spellbound
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
M/A/R/R/S - Pump up the Volume
Laurie Anderson - O Superman
Janet Jackson - Control

This list is nearly impossible for me, but it occurred to me today that I'd be tempted to put "Overkill" by Men At Work on it.

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" just squeaks in as an 80s song.

Arguably it's not even the best Joy Division song, let alone one of the best songs of the decade.

I'd go for Blue Monday over LWTUA.

Realised my list didn't have room for Into the Groove. Or anything off Graceland. This is too hard!

Arguably, sure. I'd argue the opposite. No objection to "Blue Monday," I'd probably put it on the list as well.

NME has "Blue Monday" at 1 and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" at 2.

“Overkill” slays

xps

Xp I can see an argument for Joy Division being more important as a '70s band and New Order as an '80s band. Transmission (which is vastly superior to Love Will Tear us Apart imo) would have to rank among the top songs of the '70s.

IMHO, their combined influence on music, both in the 80s and after, cannot be overstated. It's difficult for me to think of Joy Division as a 70s band, since they had as big a hand as anyone at defining the sound of the 80s.

"Transmission" is a banger, to be sure.

Yeah, good point. I guess the same could be said about Wire, who released their trio of best records in the '70s but were so far ahead of the curve they now read more as an '80s band.

Lol never heard Transmission described as banger before but you're not wrong!

I saw Peter Hook play it back in August and it still fucking rocks.

One from each year that I only heard for the first time at some point over the last ten years

Paul McCartney - Waterfalls
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Into The Light
Antena - Camino Del Sol
Kissing The Pink - Desert Song
Virna Lindt - Underwater Boy
Rare Silk - Storm
Scribble - Lowdown
Geoffrey Landers - Say You'll Say So
Thomas Dolby - Budapest By Blimp
The Durutti Column - Love No More

Here’s a quick try (without thinking very hard):

George Michael - Father Figure
Madonna - Into the Groove
Prince - When You Were Mine
Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
Haircut 100 - Love Plus One
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
Miaow - When It All Comes Down
Black Flag - TV Party
Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistible
Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days

(first wag who posts “Should’ve thought harder” gets FP’d)

I’ve never been so happy with my choices (from Sept 2021) as from any other poll

Never thought I'd see Black Flag and Robert Palmer together on a list!

The first time I heard Addicted to Love was the Ciccone Youth cover. I thought it was pretty bad until I heard the original.

They should've covered Simply Irresistible.

Which track appears here the most? “Once in a Lifetime”? (Looks like Prince gets severely vote-split…)

Perhaps. Or Cloudbusting.