# Anyone want to recommend some 80s dance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771 "2006-05-07T16:51:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/1 "2006-05-07T16:51:06Z")
I’m DJing at a party shortly, and my repertiore has always been very retro; so I’m looking for suggestions to expand it. Where better to look than the SDMB? I’m looking for quite upbeat danceable 80s music - bands, tracks, anything you choose to name. Not too techno-ish, or slow and sentimental. Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/2 "2006-05-07T17:49:04Z")
Blue Monday - by New Order I’m So Excited - by Pointer Sisters Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - by Wham Billie Jean - by Michael Jackson Hungry Like the Wolf - by Duran Duran Things Can Only Get Better - by Howard Jones Really, almost anything by most of those acts would be fun … (I’m just waiting to see how long before I get mocked for these suggestions!) Remember people - he didn’t ask for GREAT music - he asked for DANCE-FRIENDLY music! ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/3 "2006-05-07T18:14:24Z")
Cyndi Lauper or The Bangles are great for dancing to. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/4 "2006-05-07T19:04:45Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > Remember people - he didn’t ask for GREAT music - he asked for DANCE-FRIENDLY music! Very true. Quality of music in the aesthetic sense is totally irrelevant! 😃 Wham; check (already playing Wake Me Up) MJ; check Duran Duran; check (got HLtW) Bangles; check (Manic Monday) ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/5 "2006-05-07T20:30:18Z")
Seriously, at least one selection by New Order is a must … maybe Bizarre Love Triangle … ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/6 "2006-05-07T20:56:57Z")
I’ll third New Order. Also: Pet Shop Boys Erasure ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/7 "2006-05-07T21:00:43Z")
White Lines by Grandmaster Flash Tainted Love by Soft Cell Legs, ZZ Top I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow Rock Lobster by the B-52s Mony Mony by Billy Idol I Melt With You by Modern English Whisper to a Scream by Icicle Works Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood Cruel to be Kind by Nick Lowe Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo Head Over Heels by the the Go-Gos (people usually go for We Got the Beat for a Go-Gos dance track, but I think this is more fun) Dominatrix – who the heck did this one? It’s hard to google for. It’s techno, but that cute early pop techno. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/8 "2006-05-07T21:20:11Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I’ll third New Order. Also: > Pet Shop Boys > Erasure _New World Man_ by, Rush, I think. _The Future’s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)_ _Theme From Miami Vice_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/9 "2006-05-07T21:21:50Z")
_Centerfold_ by J. Geils _Saint Elmo’s Fire_ ---
**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 7, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/10 "2006-05-07T21:22:56Z")
Gotta have Prince! also … The Time (and Morris Day solo) Billy Ocean 2Live Crew Beastie Boys Run DMC Midnite Star SOS Band Sade Adam Ant Gap Band Kool and the Gang George Clinton Jonzun Crew Art of Noise Egyptian Lover Kraftwerk Miami Sound Machine Michael Jackson Culture Club Hall & Oats Lionel Richie Phil Collins Soft Cell Kenny Loggins Talk Talk Atlantic Starr Falco Talking Heads ZZ Top Cameo Sheila E Kurtis Blow Hashim Soul Sonic Force Eric B and Rakim MC Shy D Bobbie Brown Club Nouveau The System Afrika Bambaataa Force MDs off the top of my head anyways… I’ll check my old DJ lists if you still need more artists ---
**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 7, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/11 "2006-05-07T21:30:13Z")
Those are all artists, btw. For individual song choices (what was popular, etc…) google the artist for a discography or for hits. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/12 "2006-05-07T21:41:25Z")
Im not a fan of most of her stuff, but the remix of Madonna’s “Holiday” is a great song to dance to. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/13 "2006-05-07T22:43:17Z")
I’d also add: Venus - Bananarama Come on Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners You Spin Me Round - Dead or Alive You Keep Me Hangin’ On - Kim Wilde Super Freak - Rick James ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/14 "2006-05-07T22:47:26Z")
Throw in a little: DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince Run DMC NWA (might want to stick with more radio friendly tracks like Express Yourself) Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/15 "2006-05-07T23:14:38Z")
Here are a few that I don’t think have been mentioned which aren’t necessarily all dance but could be fun to dance to: Loverboy - Turn Me Loose Corey Hart - Sunglasses at Night Blondie - Heart of Glass Queen - Another One Bites the Dust INXS - Need You Tonight Pat Benatar - Heartbreaker Kool & the Gang - Celebrate Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - I Love Rock and Roll David Bowie - Let’s Dance Men Without Hats - Safety Dance, Pop Goes the World Tears for Fears - Shout Bananarama - Venus Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer U2 - Where the Streets Have no Name George Michael - I Want Your Sex; Faith Sway - Hands Up Man, does this cause a re-living of my teens and early 20s. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/16 "2006-05-08T00:19:28Z")
This kept the dance floor busy back in the day: 2 Unlimited - No Limit, Tribal Dance, Twilight Zone Bel Biv Devoe - Do Me Baby, Poison Bizarre Inc. - I’m Gonna Get You Black Box - Ride On Time, Strike It Up Bomb the Bass - Beat Dis C & C Music Factore - Everybody Dance Now Captain Hollywood Project - More and More Cathy Denis - Touch Me (All Night Long) Ce Ce Penniston - Finally Dee Lite - Groove Is In The Heart Expose - Point of No Return La Bouche - Be My Lover Maestro Fresh Wes - Let Your Backbone Slide Man to Man - Male Stripper Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations MARRS - Pump Up The Volume S-Express - Theme From S-Express Snap - I’ve Got The Power, Rythm Is A Dancer Technotronic - Move This, Pump Up the Jam ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/17 "2006-05-08T01:59:35Z")
These are all very danceable, and you probably have quite a few of them. (Or can get them quickly on compilations.) Information Society - What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) Missing Persons - Words M - Pop Musik Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now or Down Under Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy Was (Not Was) - Walk the Dinosaur Devo - Whip It The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star Cars - Gary Numan The Cars - Hello Again, Magic, Shake It Up Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself Taco - Puttin on the Ritz Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) or any number of other songs Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noize Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart Styx - Mr. Roboto Corey Hart - Sunglasses at Night Nena - 99 Luftballoons General Public - Tenderness Laid Back - White Horse Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F Madonna - Lucky Star Prince - When Doves Cry The Bangles - Manic Monday The Go Gos - Vacation, Our Lips are Sealed, We Got the Beat The B52s - Roam and Loveshack Bananarama - Venus Timbuk 3 - The Future’s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades) Several of the artists that **Dante** names are from the early to mid '90s. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/18 "2006-05-08T02:26:18Z")
Tom Tom Club - “Genius of Love” is **always** a hit ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/19 "2006-05-08T17:44:05Z")
If you are going to play some Eurythmics, “Sweet Dreams” is fine but “Missionary Man” is quite tasty too! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771/20 "2006-05-08T18:07:16Z")
Oingo Boingo. You’d be surprised how many songs of theirs you know, that maybe you don’t know you know. Ya know? Dead Man’ Party Only a Lad Little Girls Weird Science Wild Sex (the song the Geek danced to at the dance in Sixteen Candles) Goodbye (from Fast Times at Ridgemont High) Gray Matter Aint this the Life Oy, the list goes on and on… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-want-to-recommend-some-80s-dance/355771.md?page=2)