# What's the "Eighties-est" song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 28, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247 "2020-08-28T14:52:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/183 "2020-09-05T17:22:01Z")
In fairness to Animotion, Obsession is a good catchy song. Its just the rest of their songs weren’t nearly as good. Man. Obsession brings back memories of our local New Wave radio station KROQ. ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/184 "2020-09-05T18:12:34Z")
This song is a pastiche but in my opinion encompasses everything (good) about the 80s. It fooled me the first time. ([Chairlift - Amanaemonesia (Video) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98XRKr19jIE)) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/185 "2020-09-05T18:17:31Z")
That reminded me of this nightmare for an editor (when no editing computers were common yet!) **Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight** [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BoXu6QmxpJE/maxresdefault.jpg "Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoXu6QmxpJE) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/186 "2020-09-06T00:05:32Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gL378Cwz4zE/hqdefault.jpg "Big Country - Wonderland") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL378Cwz4zE) Big Country was an earnest leftest band. It was very 80s. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/187 "2020-09-06T00:32:02Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/V1d4r9awjKE/maxresdefault.jpg "Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Everyday I Write The Book") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1d4r9awjKE) Im not sure that this qualifies as 89ist but IMO its one of the best songs of the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/188 "2020-09-06T00:35:08Z")
And 19 by Paul Hardcastle [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0sajngb0W6I/hqdefault.jpg "Paul Hardcastle - 19 (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sajngb0W6I) ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/189 "2020-09-08T14:27:00Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > Were free tickets involved? j/k > > I searched and didn’t see this song posted yet. > > Things Can Only Get Better - Howard Jones I find “Something About You” (1985) from Level 42 pairs extremely well with this song [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_eUi7G4NonE/maxresdefault.jpg "Something About You (7" Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eUi7G4NonE) Sorry I can’t find the music video version on YouTube (Where they’re on a train). I swear it used to be on there. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/190 "2020-09-08T14:39:08Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Rumors by The Timex Social Club > > And the parody Roaches by Bobby Jimmy and the Critters Where the parody exceeds the original (imo). ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/191 "2020-09-08T14:44:11Z")
Nice selection Ashtura. Very eighties. Here’s the video where they’re on the train. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K8UF8clusR4/hqdefault.jpg "Level 42 - Something About You (Rockamerica Remix)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8UF8clusR4) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/192 "2020-09-08T15:48:06Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nUQgXaoZ8yI/hqdefault.jpg "Sparks- Eaten By The Monster Of Love") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUQgXaoZ8yI) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/193 "2020-09-08T18:43:20Z")
My Sparks choice would be Cool Places with Jane Wiedlin [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WNKIba_yZJo/hqdefault.jpg "Sparks with Jane Wiedlin - Cool Places (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNKIba_yZJo) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/194 "2020-09-09T01:18:57Z")
I think it’s very hard to summarize a decade in a song. Or even a sound, or a group…a lot of things don’t last ten years. Loved this one, still do: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/J9gKyRmic20/maxresdefault.jpg "Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9gKyRmic20) ETA or go live, segue into “Landslide.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3zdbwt18J7U/maxresdefault.jpg "Fleetwood Mac ~ Don’t Dream It’s Over/Landslide ~ Neil Finn vocals ~ New Orleans ~ 2/16/2019") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zdbwt18J7U) ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/195 "2020-09-09T01:35:47Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I find “Something About You” (1985) from Level 42 pairs extremely well with this song > > Sorry I can’t find the music video version on YouTube (Where they’re on a train). I swear it used to be on there. What an awesome song. Totally reminds me of the 80’s and walking along the beach by a beach bar in Mexico on our honeymoon back in 1990. Ah the good old days. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/196 "2020-09-09T08:33:30Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > I think it’s very hard to summarize a decade in a song. Or even a sound, or a group…a lot of things don’t last ten years. > > Loved this one, still do: > [Crowded House song video snipped] See, although I love that song, I don’t think it is particularly eighties. It lacks the big synths and gated reverb on the drums that makes eighties songs stand out. This video is interesting. It talks about how the eighties drum sound came about. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Bxz6jShW-3E/maxresdefault.jpg "How a recording-studio mishap shaped '80s music") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxz6jShW-3E) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/197 "2020-09-09T08:43:08Z")
I’ve just finished watching the above video and recommend it highly. You never quite know what you’re going to get with YouTube, but that was a quality production. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/198 "2020-09-09T09:01:48Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Missing Persons, “Walking in LA”, because Dale Bozzio (may be mildly NSFW): From the same festival, least 80’s song: > **[PureVolume Exclusive: Divinyls — "Boys In Town" (Live At the Us Festival,...](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1kuyeb)** > > PureVolume Exclusive: Divinyls — "Boys In Town" (Live At the Us Festival, 1983) ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/199 "2020-09-10T02:28:17Z")
I haven’t read the entire thread yet but my nomination is “Bizarre Love Triangle”. It screams “80s!” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/200 "2020-09-10T02:41:13Z")
So, just asking, are we gonna vote on these or what? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/201 "2020-09-10T02:56:38Z")
The one song I can think of that actually _says_ it’s the Eighties: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mXHWDhk7Hok/hqdefault.jpg "Rocket Packs - Daniel Amos") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXHWDhk7Hok) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/202 "2020-09-10T05:10:11Z")
I cant believe that I forgot one of the most memorable 80s songs ever. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iWa-6g-TbgI/maxresdefault.jpg "Eddie Murphy - Party All the Time") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWa-6g-TbgI) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247.md?page=11)