# 80's songs that make you happy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927 "2015-05-27T01:09:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/21 "2015-05-27T15:24:40Z")
“Walk Like an Egyptian” used to get my whole family up and bouncing around back in the day. One of my favorite family home ‘movies’ is of my husband and two sons dancing around to this song. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/22 "2015-05-27T16:02:52Z")
I like “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” by Wham!. Also “Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car” by Billy Ocean. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/23 "2015-05-27T16:46:10Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > My favorite running songs: > > [Here I Go Again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oohFGOmcxuo) from Whitesnake Agree, except for the remixed studio version where they added a whole bunch of bombastic and unnecessary crap to the song. **[The Stroke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69fPof-ZTnU)**, Billy Squier still gets me doing air guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/24 "2015-05-27T16:49:26Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. There has never been a song quite like it and it conjures up the 80’s like nothing else, to me. I love songs in a minor key. That’s a good one but for me it’s not quite ‘80’s’. And by that I mean quinticentially (sp) 80’s. It kind of falls in with the Motels stuff for me. Speaking of which I would add “Suddenly Last Summer” to my list. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/25 "2015-05-27T16:55:54Z")
Just looked up Bette Davis Eyes on Youtube…there’s a Miley Cyrus/ Ariana Grande version of “Don’t Dream it’s Over”? well ok. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/26 "2015-05-27T17:14:36Z")
**Your Love** - The Outfield **Relax** - Frankie Goes To Hollywood **Africa** - Toto **Kyrie** - Mister Mister **Only Time Will Tell** - Asia **Eye In The Sky** - Alan Parsons **Fantasy** - Aldo Nova \*\* Don’t Look Back\*\* - Boston And lots more… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/27 "2015-05-27T18:36:46Z")
I’m tempted to say “all of them”: the 80’s (specifically, from about 1982 through 1985) was my prime time for listening to and enjoying the songs that were currently popular on the radio and video channels. I agree with many of the songs already mentioned, and could add to the list: **New Song** - Howard Jones **The Longest Time** - Billy Joel **Girls Just Wanna Have Fun** - Cyndi Lauper **Eat It** - Weird Al Yankovic **Come Dancing** - The Kinks **Radio Ga Ga** - Queen **Sitting at the Wheel** - The Moody Blues **Down Under** - Men At Work **Mr. Roboto** - Styx **Samson and Delilah** - Bad Manners **Say Say Say** - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson **Fascination** - Human League **Somebody’s Watching Me** - Rockwell and many more, including > [@oliversarmy](#): > > **Our House** By Madness. I just always like it. Also **Wings of a Dove** , **It Must Be Love** , **House of Fun** , and others. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/28 "2015-05-27T19:31:07Z")
Too many to list. U2 was in their prime. Sunday Bloody Sunday New Year’s Day Pride (In The Name Of Love) Where The Streets Have No Name I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For With Or Without You Bullet The Blue Sky Rush put out quite a few good tunes in the 80s. Closer to the Heart The Spirit of Radio Limelight Tom Sawyer Subdivisions New World Man Distant Early Warning Red Sector A Time Stand Still The Moody Blues had a comeback: The Voice Blue World Your Wildest Dreams I Know You’re Out There Somewhere Sitting at the Wheel (Already mentioned) As did Deep Purple: Knocking at Your Back Door Perfect Strangers John (Cougar) Mellencamp: Rain on the Scarecrow Small Town Paper in Fire Check It Out Cherry Bomb That’s the sort of stuff I was into in the 80s. Still a good decade for music. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/29 "2015-05-27T19:40:17Z")
[Kid Creole and The Coconuts singing My Male Curiosity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UWU2X7fk_8) ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/30 "2015-05-27T19:46:34Z")
If this thread were a fastball, I’d hit it into the stadium parking lot, 'cause it’s right in my wheelhouse. Heck, I’m not sure if there are any 80’s songs that _aren’t_ feel good. I wish I could scrub my brain of some of these music videos, though. [And We Danced](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB1Q-PfUvN0) - The Hooters [My Kinda Lover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYYpJaI-m9g) - Billy Squier [Closer to the Heart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEgXe-gQxX4) - Rush [Our House](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjPJohh8lOc) - Madness [Feeling Hot Hot Hot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhZba-P7R18) - Buster Poindexter [I Love L.A.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b5LzCOc98E) - Randy Newman [Things Can Only Get Better](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OO9LloDSJo) - Howard Jones [Run Runaway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHoPYLQvnQM)- Slade [Jump](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM&list=RDGy3At8fkYS4&index=7) - Van Halen [Faith](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu3VTngm1F0) - George Michael [Touch of Grey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YSTeJOxiaw) - Grateful Dead [Orinoco Flow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTrk4X9ACtw) - Enya [Good Times](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqdNcAjj9p4)- Jimmy Barnes & INXS [Every Little Thing She Does is Magic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aENX1Sf3fgQ) - The Police [Walk of Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838) - Dire Straits [Rhythm of the Night](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAQSZhazYk8) - El Debarge [All Night Long](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAvFx3NxUM) - Lionel Richie [Borderline](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSaC-YbSDpo) - Madonna [Caught up in You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg21Rkew874) - 38 Special Technically 80’s music, but not _really_ 80’s music: [Late in the Evening](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57RIlznOpDM) - Paul Simon [Turn it on Again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StfLy3pzno0) - Genesis [Runnin Down a Dream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1D3a5eDJIs) - Tom Petty [Closer I Am to Fine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgwM1Ky228) - Indigo Girls [Celebration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M) - Kool & The Gang ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/31 "2015-05-27T19:53:45Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Subdivisions > … > Red Sector A > … > Rain on the Scarecrow You must have a different definition of “happy”. I mean, I like those songs (Rush, especially) but they are about 1) the dead-end life of modern teenagers, 2) the Holocaust\* and 3) the disappearance of the lifestyle of family farms. The good depressing song thread is two doors down. 🙂 \*or perhaps, alien invader or Skynet death camps. “Are we the only human beings to survive” sounds more science fiction-y than Nazi-y. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/32 "2015-05-27T19:58:46Z")
Ooh, and [The Breakup Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLFfSDEA26o). ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/33 "2015-05-27T19:59:42Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > Ooh, and [The Breakup Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLFfSDEA26o). ^ Like! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/34 "2015-05-27T20:01:45Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > You must have a different definition of “happy”. I mean, I like those songs (Rush, especially) but they are about 1) the dead-end life of modern teenagers, 2) the Holocaust\* and 3) the disappearance of the lifestyle of family farms. > > The good depressing song thread is two doors down. 🙂 > > \*or perhaps, alien invader or Skynet death camps. “Are we the only human beings to survive” sounds more science fiction-y than Nazi-y. Good point! I just like good, well-written songs. Every song on that list would make me happy if it came on the radio. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/35 "2015-05-27T20:05:06Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Tracey Ullman’s version of : They Don’t Know About Us > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > She-Bop Ooh, good ones. I’ll add: Paul Young’s **Come Back and Stay** Hall & Oates: **Private Eyes** , \*\*Method of Modern Love \*\*(and the rest) Kate Bush’s **Running Up That Hill** \*\*Heart and Soul \*\*by T’Pau **Ah! Leah!** by Donnie Iris **One Night In Bangkok** , Murray Head ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/36 "2015-05-27T20:06:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Every song on that list would make me happy if it came on the radio. 😃 I’m with you there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/37 "2015-05-27T20:18:04Z")
[Roam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNwC0sp-uA4) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/38 "2015-05-27T20:26:33Z")
Rio by Duran Duran ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/39 "2015-05-27T20:56:38Z")
**Amadeus** , by Falco **Everybody Wants to Rule the World** , Tears for Fears ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927/40 "2015-05-27T21:22:57Z")
**Cynical Girl** by Marshall Crenshaw **Legal Tender** by the B52s **Fantastic Day** by Haircut One Hundred **Faron** by Prefab Sprout **Amplifier** by the dBs **Oblivious** by Aztec Camera **Make up with Me** by Let’s Active **She’s an Angel** by They Might Be Giants **My Baby She’s Alright** by Scruffy the Cat **Kiss Me on The Bus** by the Replacements **Put the Message in the Box** by World Party **Genius of Love** by the Tom Tom Club **Cool Places** by Sparks and Jane Wiedlin **This is the Day** by The The Tried not to double up on artists or mention songs previously mentioned. Most of these bands have tons of stuff that make me feel great. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-that-make-you-happy/720927.md?page=3)