# Most Eighties-ish Eighties Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210 "2006-03-13T18:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/21 "2006-03-13T20:59:27Z")
Lots of hair metal stuff back then too, perhaps something from Ozzy Osbourne (“Crazy Train”), Guns N’ Roses (“Welcome to the Jungle”) or Motley Crue (“Girls, Girls, Girls”)? ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/22 "2006-03-13T21:00:59Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Lots of hair metal stuff back then too, perhaps something from Ozzy Osbourne (“Crazy Train”), Guns N’ Roses (“Welcome to the Jungle”) or Motley Crue (“Girls, Girls, Girls”)? Stadium rock!! Van Halen back in the day, that would have been something to see. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/23 "2006-03-13T21:03:08Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > Funny how usually folks think of goofy synth-pop or hair metal when they think of the 80s. I think of REM and the million bands they spawned. Jangly guitars, mumbled vocals, paisley shirts. I also think of the hardcore scene. People in the know reviled the kitsch that people seem to now so fondly remember as “80s music” “People in the know”? Pretty baldly elitist; sounded like you only like REM because it made you cool. That’s so cool. I worked in a record store from 1983 through 1994. Personally, I didn’t much like REM and their sycophants because they were so self-importantly artsy and _serious_. Their music seemed, to me, to be a “we’re so cool” reaction to the synthpop fun of the day. It’s my opinion that art driven by a search for coolness is rarely worth a whole lot. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/24 "2006-03-13T21:10:48Z")
Do you mean ealry 80s or late 80s? For early, the B52s _Rock Lobster_, along with Soft Cell _Tainted Love_, etc. Mid 80’s there was the glam metal scene, and I’d go with Quiet Riot _Metal Health_ Late 80s I’d think more of Industrial, like Ministry _Twitch_ or Thrill Kill Kult _A Daisy Chain for Satan_. Just to keep the parents scared, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/25 "2006-03-13T21:12:02Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Stadium rock!! Van Halen back in the day, that would have been something to see. It was! With David Lee Roth, was the best concert I’ve ever seen, circa 1982 I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/26 "2006-03-13T21:19:56Z")
If you’re talking about 80’s music, you can’t go this long without mentioning, _Rock Me Amadeus_, by Falco. It is what epitomizes the 80’s for me. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/27 "2006-03-13T21:30:35Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > My nominee is “Don’t You Want Me” by the Human League. _Lots_ of great choices in this thread, but I agree that this one qualifies as a true distillation of eighties-ness. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/28 "2006-03-13T21:43:09Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > _Lots_ of great choices in this thread, but I agree that this one qualifies as a true distillation of eighties-ness. Whoa. If **Biffy** agrees with me on a musical question, I must be right. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/29 "2006-03-13T21:46:05Z")
I’ll second “Take on Me”, possibly one of the five best videos ever made. But I also always think of Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy” as so relentlessly 80’s it makes me want to put my hair in a ponytail on the side of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Logan\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Logan\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logan_5)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/30 "2006-03-13T21:47:21Z")
the catch-all of “eighties” is so difficult for me. I loved lots of eighties tunes, but each within its genre (new wave, alternative, hard rock, metal, industrial, punk) so in the absence of such and referring to the original post’s “style over substance” I have to say Eddie Murphy’s “Party All The Time”. of course now it will be going though my head for days. rats. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/31 "2006-03-13T21:49:30Z")
> [@Logan 5](#): > > I have to say Eddie Murphy’s “Party All The Time”. of course now it will be going though my head for days. rats. I had forgotten that song existed … until now. Dammit. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/32 "2006-03-13T21:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > I nominate “Melt with You” by Modern English. Agreed! ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/33 "2006-03-13T22:02:26Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I play in an 80s cover band, and perhaps the song that we do that screams “the 80s” the most to me is Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds. It has the added benefit of being _the_ song from one of the quintisential 80s movies as well. I think the question has now been definitively answered. Snyth-pop? Check. Soul-less? Check. Movie tie in? Check. MTV-ready? Check. Goofy clothes and hair? Check. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/34 "2006-03-13T22:05:24Z")
I’m amazed, considering this is an American board, by how many Brits there are in this list. Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls, Soft Cell, Eurythmics, Culture Club, Dead or Alive, Billy Idol, Adam and the Ants, Human League, Men Without Hats, Simple Minds (well, they’re Northern Irish). We truly were the cheese of the century. For me, it’s got to be Duran Duran’s _Rio_. I’d choose Adam and the Ants but they were just too good, and IMO stand the test of time. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/35 "2006-03-13T22:37:43Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > “People in the know”? Pretty baldly elitist; sounded like you only like REM because it made you cool. That’s so cool. > > I worked in a record store from 1983 through 1994. Personally, I didn’t much like REM and their sycophants because they were so self-importantly artsy and _serious_. Their music seemed, to me, to be a “we’re so cool” reaction to the synthpop fun of the day. It’s my opinion that art driven by a search for coolness is rarely worth a whole lot. YMMV. And your insinuation is pretty baldly…wrong. People in the know was meant as in not many people knew about REM and such at first. And the whole “cool” thing is pretty laughable. Getting called a faggot for listening something other than Lynrd Skynrd in a little redneck town wasn’t a very good strategy for being “cool” back then. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/36 "2006-03-13T22:42:58Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > And your insinuation is pretty baldly…wrong. People in the know was meant as in not many people knew about REM and such at first. And the whole “cool” thing is pretty laughable. Getting called a faggot for listening something other than Lynrd Skynrd in a little redneck town wasn’t a very good strategy for being “cool” back then. Yeah, cuz “cool” and “outsider” never overlap. –lissener, who got called a faggot for having red zigzags dyed in my hair. Which was very cool. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/37 "2006-03-13T22:52:34Z")
Well, maybe you liked that sort of thing, but I didn’t. I didn’t look different or mope around or think other people were beneath me. And there was literally only 2 other people in my town who listened to that sort of stuff, and one of them was my brother, so there was noone to try to be cool _for_. But we’re really not going anywhere with this, because it’s really just a matter of taste. I didn’t like dumb fun music except for maybe the Rezillos; most people didn’t like music that aspired to anything other than dancing or mating assistance, which is fine, just not my cuppa. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/38 "2006-03-13T22:54:19Z")
I nominate **“She Blinded Me With Science”** by **Thomas Dolby**. Also, I think you need a **Thompson Twins** song, just for the bizarro 80s hair and fashion, maybe **"Hold Me Now"** ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/39 "2006-03-13T22:58:11Z")
The early 80’s was all about the Go Gos for me: Our Lips are Sealed, We Got the Beat, Vacation. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210/40 "2006-03-13T23:09:26Z")
Billy Idol’s been mentioned here, but I’d have to specifically say Billy’s “Cyberpunk” album tops almost all of his other efforts. Synthesisers, references to recreational drug use, backlash against the ‘system’ and corporate-greed mentality of the era. It’s cheesetastic! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-eighties-ish-eighties-song/348210.md?page=3)