Okay, there’s a 30th B-Day coming up within our circle of friends. The theme selected has been a Prom - 80s Style (why that’s appropriate I have no idea. I’m one of only two attendees at the party old enough to have actually had a Prom in the 80s, but whatever). For a variety of reasons, I have been selected to provide the music. I do have a fairly substantial collection of period music and can get more if needed. So, the question before the group is “What songs can I simply NOT leave out?” I’m not at my normal computer right now, but as soon as I am, I’ll post a list of my must-includes, but for now, the floor is open.
I’m going to offer up some make-out/slow dance music for you.
True by Spandau Ballet
Almost Paradise by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
Too Shy by Kajagoogoo
Human Nature by Michael Jackson
Crazy for You by Madonna
Time Will Reveal by ?
True Colors by Cyndi Lauper
Hello by Lionel Ritchie
Arthur’s Theme by Christopher Cross
Sara by Starship
You Are by Lionel Ritchie
Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins
Against the Odds by Phil Collins
Slave to Love by Bryan Ferry?
More later…
“We’ve Got Tonight” Bob Seger (or Kenny Rogers depending on your preference)
“Heaven” by Warrant (I think, or maybe it was some other hair metal band)
“Forever Young” by Alphaville
“Angel” by Aerosmith
“Secret Lovers” by Atlantic Star (I think that’s what they were called - or was it Midnight Starr? )
“Hard Habit to Break” by Chicago
“Eternal Flame” by the Bangles - I requested this one at my prom, because my date was the guy I had an unrequited crush on. The DJ never played it, and my date never got the hint, or chose not to act on it if he did. 
I think “Time Will Reveal” was by DeBarge.
Chicago - You’re the Inspiration
The theme from Ice Castles (it was the theme of our senior prom(1989))
In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins (it was the theme of our junior prom (1988))
Wild, Wild West by Escape Club
Locomotion by Kylie Minogue
Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds
“I Melt With You” by Modern English
“Rio” and “Save A Prayer” by Duran Duran
“Just Like Heaven” by The Cure
“Somebody” by Depeche Mode
And for the fun stuff:
“Rock Lobster” by the B-52’s
“Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
“Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco
“99 Luftballoons” by Nena
“One Step Beyond” by Madness
“Mexican Radio” by Wall of Voodoo
“Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo
“Party at Ground Zero” by Fishbone
Here’s an 80’s mix I made for a friend:
Don’t You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Let’s Dance - David Bowie
Just Can’t Get Enough - Depeche Mode
Need You Tonight - INXS
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
Everybody Wants To Rule The World -Tears For Fears
In a Big Country - Big Country
Rio - Duran Duran 
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
Take On Me - a-ha
Radio Ga Ga - Queen
Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
You Might Think - The Cars
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Round and Round - Spandau Ballet
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
Dancing With Myself - Billy Idol
Don’t forget the theme song from “Greatest American Hero”. Scuse me while I puke into this nearby trash can…
We had a thread here a year or two ago about the most quintessentially 80s song, but I’m not able to find it via search.
[QUOTE=JavaMaven1;10602400"Party at Ground Zero" by Fishbone[/QUOTE]
I don’t actually remember this one, but the title sure hasn’t aged well.
You should also have some Prince, perhaps 1999, for that anachronistic feel.
Hungry Like The Wolf~~Duran Duran
Theme From Chariots Of Fire
Ok, at my School Dances, the playlist would be incomplete without AC/DC and Ozzy (What can I say, we had some headbangers). Maybe, You Shook Me All Night Long and Hell’s Bells by AC/DC and something off Osbourne’s The Ultimate Sin.
You also need some Rick James, Bitch- Super Freak! Ah ah ahah owww!
Beastie Boys- Fight For Your Right to Party and Brassmonkey
Classic ELO- Telephone Line
REO Speedwagon- I can’t fight this Feeling- Keep on Loving you- Take it on the Run
Foreigner- I wanna Know what Love is- I’ve been waiting for a girl like you- Feels Like the First Time
How Soon Is Now by The Smiths is an absolute must.
Oh, Don’t forget something by Whitesnake!
Slide it in!
:eek:
So adding onto the list based mostly on popularity at the time and the likelihood that you’d get a group singing along as well as trying to avoid some already mentioned:
Heat of the Moment by Asia
*Don’t Stop *by Journey
Open Arms by Journey
*Mony, Mony *by Billy Idol
*Ballroom Blitz *by Sweet
*Hazy Shade of Winter *by The Bangles
Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran
Livin on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi
Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
Roxanne by The Police
Never Tear Us Apart by INXS
Sweet Dreams by the Eurhythmics
Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley
*867-5309 (Jenny) *by Tommy Tutone
Tainted Love by Soft Cell
Stop Dragging My Heart Around by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty
I Want Your Sex by George Michael
*Faith *by George Michael
I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock of Seagulls
Don’t You Want Me by The Human League
The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
With or Without You by U2
*I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For *by U2
Steppin Out by Joe Jackson
Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Joe Jackson
Mony Mony by Billy Idol
{Get Laid Get Fucked}
You listed these two but left out “Faithfully”? Heh.
You gotta put something by Michael Jackson in there too, if you want it to be authentic.
Well, ya gotta draw the line somewhere. 
Don’t Stop Believing - Journey
Forever Young - Alphaville
Take On Me - Ah Ha
It Takes Two - Rob Base
With or Without You - U2
American Girl - Tom Petty
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
Stand - REM
Love Bites - Def Leppard