# Pop songs of the 80s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319 "2008-12-02T08:18:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/21 "2008-12-02T19:10:11Z")
“No One is to Blame”–Howard Jones “Let’s Go Crazy”–Prince “Kiss”–Prince “Everything else Prince ever did because I love Prince”–Prince “Billie Jean”–Michael Jackson “Rock With You”–Michael Jackson “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”–Whitney Houston “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic”–The Police “Heart and Soul”–T’Pau (astonishingly earwormy) “The Way It Is”–Bruce Hornsby “Allentown”–Billy Joel “Safety Dance”–Men Without Hats “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”–Cyndi Lauper “Whip It”–Devo ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/22 "2008-12-02T19:31:46Z")
_Life In A Northern Town_ by Dream Academy. “A hey-o ma ma ma…” _In A Big Country_ by Big Country. No, that’s not bagpipes you hear. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/23 "2008-12-02T19:52:14Z")
“Tainted Love” by Soft Cell. “White Wedding” by Billy Idol “Careless Whisper” by Wham ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/24 "2008-12-02T19:57:25Z")
Oh, Billy Idol. I’d go for “Rebel Yell” myself. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/25 "2008-12-02T19:58:19Z")
“Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/26 "2008-12-02T20:09:02Z")
I agree with most of the previous about good songs from the '80s, but the greatest pop song of the decade was “Wouldn’t It be Good” by Nick Kershaw. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/27 "2008-12-02T20:21:21Z")
_Uptown Girl_ by Christie Brinkley’s ex. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/28 "2008-12-02T20:34:16Z")
> [@oliversarmy](#): > > I agree with most of the previous about good songs from the '80s, but the greatest pop song of the decade was “Wouldn’t It be Good” by Nick Kershaw. God, I love that song! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/29 "2008-12-02T20:38:00Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > God, I love that song! I’ve never heard that song before, weird. Didn’t really strike a chord with me. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/30 "2008-12-02T21:35:54Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > “No One is to Blame”–Howard Jones > “Everything else Prince ever did because I love Prince”–Prince I came into this thread to say almost exactly this. 'Cause I am funky. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/31 "2008-12-02T22:19:48Z")
**Poison** by, um, I can’t remember what that guy’s name is. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/32 "2008-12-02T22:28:07Z")
> [@torie](#): > > I came into this thread to say almost exactly this. 'Cause I am funky. The great thing about this thread is now my earworm is switching off between “No One is to Blame” and “Kiss.” Much better than my standard dreck. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/33 "2008-12-02T23:09:53Z")
> [@oliversarmy](#): > > I agree with most of the previous about good songs from the '80s, but the greatest pop song of the decade was “Wouldn’t It be Good” by Nick Kershaw. One of my many theme songs. Even though I think in the 80’s my main one was “King of Pain” by the Police. (Read [my story in the unrequited love](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10520175&postcount=24) thread and you’ll know why) ---
**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:** [December 3, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/34 "2008-12-03T13:07:10Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > **Poison** by, um, I can’t remember what that guy’s name is. 😉 Bell Biv Devoe. Yep, that’s the kind of stuff I use up brain cells for. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/35 "2008-12-03T14:18:24Z")
\*\*Change \*\*(the group Luther Vandross sang with before his solo career) is the first group that came to mind when I read the title. The _Glow of Love_ is one of my favorite songs, _Hold Tight, Searching, Paradise, Lover’s Holiday_ are also great. The 80s soul to me was that waaaay over-produced sound of **Kashif** that I happen to love. Themes for the 80s for me are _Africa_ and _Roseanna_ by **ToTo** , **Joe Jackson’s** _Night and Day Album_ - _Stepping Out_ is _ **so** _ the 80s! ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/36 "2008-12-03T20:20:03Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Bell Biv Devoe. > > Yep, that’s the kind of stuff I use up brain cells for. You mean there were two **Poison** s in the 80s!?!! 😃 You see, I was talking about the one that came out in '89 and sung by the gorgeous long black-haired shock rocker guy. The one I’m absolutely obsessed with. His name, I think but I’m not positive, is Alice. 😛😉 But those other fellow’s song was pretty catchy too. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/37 "2008-12-03T20:47:14Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > _Life In A Northern Town_ by Dream Academy. “A hey-o ma ma ma…” > > _In A Big Country_ by Big Country. No, that’s not bagpipes you hear. Yep, and in that vein “And We Danced”. And “(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles” and “C’mon Eileen”. But that’s just one subarea of this great decade! ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/38 "2008-12-04T00:36:05Z")
The Kings this Beat goes on/switching to glide [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Wr8J8faGA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Wr8J8faGA) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/39 "2008-12-04T01:44:27Z")
Turning Japanese - The Vapors Workin’ In A Coalmine - Devo Land down under - Men At Work Cindy Lauper the whole album She’s So Unusual Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cindy Lauper This was released first in the above album. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club Ah! Leah! - Donnie Iris Love is like a Rock - Donnie Iris Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys Cher had a lot of good stuff including her old stuff redone. Believe - Cher Though it’s not my favorite song, you’ll recognise it. Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics A very popular song. Angel of the Morning - Juice Newton Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton had a huge amount of hits in the 80’s. Once upon a Christmas - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton The first Mannheim Steamroller is released. I leave you with these. Some I picked were already listed, so I didn’t. Do You Remember These - Statler Brothers ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319/40 "2008-12-04T02:59:05Z")
Just because it was playing at the West End greasy spoon last night,[West End Girls](http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=uAHfoIfo_7A) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-of-the-80s/475319.md?page=3)