# The 80s Prom Soundtrack **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214 "2008-12-21T20:01:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/1 "2008-12-21T20:01:06Z")
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. ---
**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 21, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/2 "2008-12-21T20:17:25Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/3 "2008-12-21T20:37:09Z")
_“We’ve Got Tonight”_ Bob Seger (or Kenny Rogers depending on your preference) ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/4 "2008-12-21T21:18:14Z")
“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. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/5 "2008-12-21T21:35:51Z")
Chicago - You’re the Inspiration ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/6 "2008-12-21T21:53:17Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/7 "2008-12-21T22:04:49Z")
“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 ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/8 "2008-12-21T22:12:59Z")
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 ---
**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:** [December 21, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/9 "2008-12-21T22:14:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/10 "2008-12-21T22:43:44Z")
[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. ---
**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:** [December 21, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/11 "2008-12-21T22:48:42Z")
_Hungry Like The Wolf_~~Duran Duran _Theme From Chariots Of Fire_ ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/12 "2008-12-21T23:19:58Z")
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_ ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/13 "2008-12-21T23:25:10Z")
_ **How Soon Is Now** _ by The Smiths is an absolute must. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/14 "2008-12-21T23:29:19Z")
Oh, Don’t forget something by **Whitesnake**! Slide it in! ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/15 "2008-12-21T23:31:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > ``` > *In The Air Tonight* by Phil Collins (it was the theme of our junior prom (1988)) > > ``` :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 ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/16 "2008-12-21T23:34:26Z")
_Mony Mony_ by Billy Idol {Get Laid Get Fucked} ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/17 "2008-12-22T00:03:16Z")
> [@PastAllReason](#): > > \*Don’t Stop \*by Journey > _Open Arms_ by Journey You listed these two but left out “Faithfully”? Heh. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/18 "2008-12-22T00:12:32Z")
You gotta put something by Michael Jackson in there too, if you want it to be authentic. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/19 "2008-12-22T00:18:55Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > You listed these two but left out “Faithfully”? Heh. Well, ya gotta draw the line somewhere. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214/20 "2008-12-22T00:50:30Z")
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 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-80s-prom-soundtrack/478214.md?page=2)