# 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:** 9
**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 3, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/163 "2020-09-03T18:44:09Z")
“Situation” by Yazoo ticks a lot of “Eightie-est” boxes for me. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/b3IZUQeTnVU/maxresdefault.jpg "Yazoo - Situation (Single Version) [Music Video]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3IZUQeTnVU) Still love it. ---
**Author:** ![Acerbic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acerbic/32/3695_2.png) [@Acerbic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acerbic)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/164 "2020-09-03T19:06:30Z")
I remember in the early to mid 1980s when Michael Jackson ruled the world. It’s fascinating that when we think of the quintessential 80s song something by Michael Jackson, Madonna, or Genesis isn’t on most people’s list. I include myself. If you ask me what the eightiest song is I’m not going to point to Thriller, Beat It, or Smooth Criminal. I’m more likely to point to something like “True Faith” by New Order, “Send me an Angel” by Real Life, or even “I Ran” by Flock of Seagulls than I am from much more successful groups or individuals. ---
**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 3, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/165 "2020-09-03T19:38:38Z")
Agreed. I think that’s because the Michael Jackson, Madonna, etc. songs were and still are so overplayed that they’ve never really had a chance to elicit nostalgia. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/166 "2020-09-03T19:45:11Z")
I’m surprised I didn’t think of this one right off the bat: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t039p6xqutU/maxresdefault.jpg ""Weird Al" Yankovic - Christmas At Ground Zero") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t039p6xqutU) ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/167 "2020-09-03T19:57:03Z")
Sting’s “Russians” comes to mind as it addressed the Cold War. Along those lines, Nena’s “99 Red Balloons” (Luft Balons?) also should be considered. My favorite song of the 80’s has got to be Madness’ “Our House”, though. I love the fun piano riff and full horn section. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/168 "2020-09-03T21:43:33Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Speaking of teh Aussie bands, I don’t think this is the most eighties-est song EVER, but it deserves a mention. I’m a big fan of Midnight Oil, although when I think of their '80s stuff, it’s generally the two albums before the one you posted. “Beds are Burning” came from the _Diesel and Dust_ album (1987), but I actually prefer _Red Sails in the Sunset_ (1984) and _10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1_ (1982). The _10,9,8…_ album has legendary status in Australia, where it remained on the album charts for something like 170 weeks, or over three years. For me, the Oils song that I associate most with my '80s childhood is probably “The Power and the Passion,” partly because of its rather vivid descriptions of Australian life. Their music doesn’t really fit too well into the most prominent '80s genres, although I will say that what is often referred to as “pub rock” was big in Australia in the '80s, and is a genre that I associate closely with the period. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/169 "2020-09-03T23:52:29Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Here’s a contender: For the 1780s? 😜 ---
**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:** [September 4, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/170 "2020-09-04T16:06:49Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > Speaking of teh Aussie bands, I don’t think this is the most eighties-est song EVER, but it deserves a mention. > > I’m a big fan of Midnight Oil, although when I think of their '80s stuff, it’s generally the two albums before the one you posted. “Beds are Burning” came from the _Diesel and Dust_ album (1987), but I actually prefer _Red Sails in the Sunset_ (1984) and _10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1_ (1982). The _10,9,8…_ album has legendary status in Australia, where it remained on the album charts for something like 170 weeks, or over three years. > > For me, the Oils song that I associate most with my '80s childhood is probably “The Power and the Passion,” partly because of its rather vivid descriptions of Australian life. Their music doesn’t really fit too well into the most prominent '80s genres, although I will say that what is often referred to as “pub rock” was big in Australia in the '80s, and is a genre that I associate closely with the period. Cool, I’ll have to give more of their catalog a listen, thanks. I picked “Beds are Burning” for this thread because I think that’s the song of theirs that got the most radio play in the U.S. ---
**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 4, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/171 "2020-09-04T16:15:48Z")
Sting’s song “Russians” is timeless. The melody and orchestration is like something from 100 years ago but definitely not like anything you hear in the 80’s or anytime else. Great music and great words. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/172 "2020-09-04T16:16:59Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > > [@GuanoLad](#): > > > > Here’s a contender: > > For the 1780s? 😜 Ha! Good one. ---
**Author:** ![Zelski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c67d28/32.png) [@Zelski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zelski)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/173 "2020-09-04T18:41:05Z")
I remember “Beds are Burning” but I am not really familiar with Midnight Oil. I am posting because you mentioned a 1984 album titled _Red Sails in the Sunset_. For the last few weeks I have been talking with an older guy in my apartment building about my favorite 50s vocal act, The Platters. We talked about their biggest hits and I mentioned a cover song from their greatest hits album that is probably about their 10th biggest hit (closer to 20th in actual chart performance) titled _[Red Sails in the Sunset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sails_in_the_Sunset_(song))_. It is a 1935 song that has been covered by a ton of the vocal acts. I notice that Midnight Oil did _not_ cover it on that album. Well, coincidence over, back on the rails to your regularly scheduled 80s thread. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/174 "2020-09-05T01:38:02Z")
FInally some love for Vince Clarke. Another good option from him would be https://www.youtube.com/embed/x34icYC8zA0?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLx3C-F_vt3dx5uNijJasaX84UlbGAiLGw ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2020, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/175 "2020-09-05T04:55:08Z")
Obsession by Animotion. Requisite cheesy 80s video included. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hIs5StN8J-0/maxresdefault.jpg "Animotion - Obsession") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIs5StN8J-0) ---
**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, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/176 "2020-09-05T05:23:18Z")
Saw em live with Howard Jones. They were the worst live band I have ever heard but this song is catchy. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2020, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/177 "2020-09-05T12:43:38Z")
I feel this really should be included. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/x1U1Ue_5kq8/maxresdefault.jpg "Killing Joke - Eighties") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1U1Ue_5kq8) ---
**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:** [September 5, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/178 "2020-09-05T13:57:27Z")
Yeah, I guess you can’t get much more Eighties than a song called “Eighties”, right? That song is kind of a jam BTW, enjoyed the video. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/179 "2020-09-05T14:23:34Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > Obsession by Animotion. Requisite cheesy 80s video included. Excellent submission. One thing i’ve really enjoyed about this thread is that for a lot of the song video submissions, like this one, i’m well familiar with the song from radio play over the years, but I never saw the cheesy video before now. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/180 "2020-09-05T14:30:25Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > “Situation” by Yazoo ticks a lot of “Eightie-est” boxes for me. …just working my way through some of these recent video postings. Another excellent dose of Eightiesness. What a rich tapestry of musical cheese was 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 5, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/181 "2020-09-05T14:45:40Z")
Rumors by The Timex Social Club [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ADwVvT7-5_0/hqdefault.jpg "Timex Social Club - Rumors (Club Nouveau)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADwVvT7-5_0) And the parody Roaches by Bobby Jimmy and the Critters [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yygrgcOtezM/hqdefault.jpg "Bobby Jimmy & The Critters - Roaches") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yygrgcOtezM) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247/182 "2020-09-05T17:19:01Z")
Were free tickets involved? j/k I searched and didn’t see this song posted yet. Things Can Only Get Better - Howard Jones [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-OO9LloDSJo/hqdefault.jpg "Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OO9LloDSJo) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-eighties-est-song/919247.md?page=10)