# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/101 "2020-08-29T16:33:30Z")
I’m glad no one got this one yet. I drove a limo in the 80s. I did a lot of weddings. I can’t tell you how many times (post-wedding, pre-honeymoon) the couple would hand me a tape to play with this song. I’m sure I rolled my eyes every time. It’s worse than Every Breath You Take as a wedding song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EPmTGFg06zA/maxresdefault.jpg "Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - If You Leave (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPmTGFg06zA) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/102 "2020-08-29T17:09:21Z")
Good call, no 80s music thread would be complete without a mention of OMD. And yeah, weird choice for a wedding song, since it’s clearly about a breakup. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/103 "2020-08-29T19:14:56Z")
[terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii) Great list, but two more; the Flashdance theme, and Fame, by Irene Cara. Top Gun came out in 1986, when I was in Japan. For a couple of years every electrical shop that sold TVs had Top Gun clips running on a loop, plus the theme music blasting out. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/104 "2020-08-29T19:18:38Z")
[solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost) Agreed about Dire Straits. They straddle the Seventies and the Eighties. Ditto for Peter Gabriel. I would certainly agree that bands such as Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, OMD, A Flock of Seagulls and the Human League are just so Eighties when you hear them. AFAIK, Duran Duran are still going, but they are a quintessential Eighties band for me. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/105 "2020-08-29T19:21:02Z")
[saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench) Wedding songs? The new classic seems to be Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.” It too will be done to death. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/106 "2020-08-29T19:52:24Z")
I give you ‘AEIOU Sometimes Y’ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FB6iJ4GUkF4/hqdefault.jpg "eBn oZn AEIOU Sometimes Y") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6iJ4GUkF4) Or “Janes Getting Serious” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K2mAQPwYf7A/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGD4gRCh_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLDX6BLMBp1swMB-0OujmPmKxSQJrg "Jon Astley - Jane's Getting Serious (1987)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2mAQPwYf7A) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/107 "2020-08-29T20:16:43Z")
This is another piece that screams '80s to me: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RWdEj5tdpk) I think people have forgotten just how groundbreaking and influential this series was. From the start, it was a cultural phenomenon, a blend of cop show and MTV. In the first 2 1/2 years especially, musicians were clamoring to have their work featured on _ **Miami Vice** _. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/108 "2020-08-29T22:49:03Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > [solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost) > > Agreed about Dire Straits. They straddle the Seventies and the Eighties. Ditto for Peter Gabriel. > > I would certainly agree that bands such as Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, OMD, A Flock of Seagulls and the Human League are just so Eighties when you hear them. AFAIK, Duran Duran are still going, but they are a quintessential Eighties band for me. Human League is still going, and the last time I heard them, they sounded **exactly** like they did in the 80s. As I listened to the song, I kept thinking, "OK, this bit sounds like ‘Don’t You Want Me’, this bit sounds like ‘Fascination’, this bit sounds like ‘The Lebanon’, . . . " Their sound hasn’t evolved at all. Duran Duran at least evolved a tiny bit. > [@terentii](#): > > This is another piece that screams '80s to me: > > I think people have forgotten just how groundbreaking and influential this series was. From the start, it was a cultural phenomenon, a blend of cop show and MTV. In the first 2 1/2 years especially, musicians were clamoring to have their work featured on _ **Miami Vice** _. Speaking of instrumentals, [Axel F](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx2gvHjNhQ0) and [Chariots of Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a-HfNE3EIo) > [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Missing Persons, “Walking in LA”, because Dale Bozzio (may be mildly NSFW): NSFW? Compared with her outfit in the “What Are Words For?” video, that’s a burqa. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/109 "2020-08-29T22:59:41Z")
Duran Duran split up in the late 80s, one half formed _Arcadia_, the other formed _Power Station_ with Robert Palmer. Those lasted a couple of years then they returned, and at various times had different members remaining or storming off in a tantrum. They always had Simon LeBon and at least one person called Taylor in it. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/110 "2020-08-29T23:03:02Z")
Hey, what about Black Coffee in Bed by what’s that group’s name? The same one that did ‘Tempted.’ ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/111 "2020-08-29T23:03:17Z")
Squeeze. Pretty much everything they did was quality. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/112 "2020-08-29T23:03:33Z")
You’re fast. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/113 "2020-08-29T23:36:15Z")
It’s almost impossible to consider 80s music without also considering music videos, isn’t it? Okay, a couple nominations… “One Thing Leads to Anther” by The Fixx [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JHYIGy1dyd8/maxresdefault.jpg "The Fixx - One Thing Leads To Another") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8) “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/El1kgCqD7Xk/maxresdefault.jpg "Paula Abdul - Straight Up (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El1kgCqD7Xk) …and in the “What Were They Thinking” category “Velcro Fly” by Z Z Top [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/F89McWFENTs/maxresdefault.jpg "ZZ Top - Velcro Fly (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F89McWFENTs) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/114 "2020-08-30T00:07:09Z")
My favorite from ZZ Top: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eUDcTLaWJuo/maxresdefault.jpg "ZZ Top - Legs (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUDcTLaWJuo) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/115 "2020-08-30T00:09:21Z")
Yet another instrumental: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Fe93CLbHjxQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe93CLbHjxQ) ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/116 "2020-08-30T00:09:35Z")
My favorite ZZ Top is one that a lot of other fans hate… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Z_4ULKpkLNc/maxresdefault.jpg "ZZ Top - Rough Boy (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_4ULKpkLNc) ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/117 "2020-08-30T00:16:52Z")
Nobody? . [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/118 "2020-08-30T00:30:33Z")
New Order - Blue Monday [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iOEJHNZpeck/maxresdefault.jpg "Blue Monday (2016 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOEJHNZpeck) ---
**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:** [August 30, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/119 "2020-08-30T00:36:24Z")
Who you gonna call? [Huey Lewis:] My lawyer! 😉 Fun thing: Entering “Who you gonna call?” in Google gives you the Ghostbusters theme song as the first hit. And it is not really an instrumental song. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/120 "2020-08-30T03:17:37Z")
OK, since someone mentioned The Fixx, I have no choice but to nominate “Red Skies at Night” (although “Saved by Zero” could be a contender as well). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZCM4_5uB1ww/maxresdefault.jpg "The Fixx - Red Skies") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCM4_5uB1ww) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247.md?page=7)