“Holdin On” is one of the best songs of the decade, and definitely the best on this list. It’s a driving rock song with powerful female vocals. It’s the type of song we need to see more of in our male-dominated rock scene.
“Is This Love” is another great '80s love song. It’s slightly slower than the rest of the songs of the decade, but it feels perfect. The music features the right amount of just about everything, from the vocals to the guitar and the bass. We can’t get enough of this jam!
“Rumors” definitely stands out in the world of '80s music. You’d be hard-pressed to find a vocalist who stands out as much as this band’s lead R&B singer. Sadly, this was their only hit; they broke up shortly after they released this song.
If you get a minute, watch this music video. It’s great. Shot in black and white, it features John Eddie feeling himself a little too much. But seriously, his Elvis-esque vocals make this the perfect song to jam out to.
Sure, it’s got an interesting title, but this song is really one to jam to. It stirs something inside you in an almost religious way. If you haven’t heard it, go back and listen to it again. We promise you’ll love it.
“Let Him Go” is definitely a song to get you pumped up. It’s the type of song to go in the training scene of a Rocky movie. It’s about as '80s glam as you can get, and with the current fixation on all things retro, this song could make a comeback any day now.
From the moment you hear the piano dancing along this song’s intro, you just know it’ll be a great song. It resonates with the cheesy, romantic side of ourselves we all have. Somewhere out there, this is some couple’s “our song.”
“Night Moves” is one of those songs that hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go. Marylin Martin’s vocals are timeless, and when you couple them with an edgy guitar and the perfect amount of drums, she shines. She didn’t record nearly enough songs, but we really wish she had.
“Soul City” sounds exactly how you’d expect. It jumps right in with its groovy bass. The synth comes in, and it’s enough to make this song feel like the good parts of the 80s, not the embarrassing, mullets and neon kind of '80s we all regret. This hit was lost in time, but we’d love to see it put in any of the '80s-themed movies coming out these days.
Nobody knows why, but saxophones do weird things to human emotions. If you don’t believe us, just play this song. The beautiful saxophone part is mixed with typical '80s drums and some completely underrated vocals.
If there’s a song on this list that earned its #1 spot on the Billboard Top 100, it’s this one. This song is super smooth. The bass line is simple and perfect. You’ve got a great guitar riff that reminds us of how well the '80s knew how to handle their guitars. If we could recommend any song on this list, this is it.
If you want to be transported back to the '80s, just listen to this song. It’s a fantastic ballad that inspires both romance and nostalgia. We'd even argue that it was better than Glass Tiger’s other hit, “Don’t Forget Me.”
This song is about as catchy as they get. It feels heavily influenced by Michael Jackson and Fleetwood Mac, and you can’t go wrong with either of those classic artists. It was the band’s only hit, but it shouldn’t be forgotten.
“Don’t Shed a Tear” has some of the best vocals of any '80s hit. They resonate with you in a way few songs do. It’s one of the most underrated songs of the decade.
“Love Changes (Everything)” sounds exactly like the name, and that’s not a bad thing. It was a big hit in 1988 Europe, but it was only decently successful in the U.S.
Phil Collins can do no wrong, even if he thinks he “missed again.” We assure you that this song still hits the spot. It’s got Phil’s voice, saxophones, and a music video with Collins playing air instruments. What’s not to love?
“Hands to Heaven” inspired more romances in the '80s than any other song. If you haven’t heard it in a while, give it another listen. It’s guaranteed to spark the fire in any relationship.
This was the Queen of Disco’s last hit, and it’s a jam if we’ve ever heard one. It’s an upbeat song perfect for dancing and singing along to. And how could you not sing along? Donna Summer has one of the best voices of all time!
These days, everybody sounds the same. It wasn’t like that in the 80s! Mark Hollis of Talk Talk had a unique voice, unlike anything you hear these days. “It’s My Life” highlights his voice in this smooth masterpiece.
“The Way You Love Me” has everything we love about music. It’s an upbeat, funky song with perfect vocals. You just don’t get songs like this anymore.
Scotland may not be a big country, but they know hot to make great music. This song is a near-perfect rock song. This band was even able to tie their culture into this hit. Scottish bagpipes can be kind of annoying, but Big Country managed to remind us of their country’s beloved instrument with their unique electric guitar playing style.
This is the only song on our list that didn’t make it to the Top 40, but it really should have. It was featured in the also forgotten movie Streets of Fire. It’s dramatic, powerful, and energetic. It’s a song to inspire a rebellion.
If you’ve seen the Netflix hit Stranger Things, you know the modern world needs more of the 80s’ edgy songs. “Voyeur” is a perfect fit. Kim Carnes manages to have both a rough and gentle voice that we just can’t get over. The song has that classic '80s-Halloween feel to it, and it works perfectly.
This soulful ballad is the type of song that would play after that temporary break-up that comes in every romance movie. It’s perfect for those “Hey, sorry we fought. I still love you,” moments. It was #6 back in its heyday. It should be remembered as one of the great 80s ballads.
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“I Got You” is a song that takes its listeners all over the place. The verses have the same uneasy feeling you find in the dark corners of being in love, but the vocals showcase all the best parts of having a significant other. It’s a fantastic take on love.
When in Rome purposefully used all of the trademarks of '80s rock when making this song. They may not have landed any other hits, but we love this song. Even if it was a standard song back then, we’re missing good rock these days. This song takes us back to a world that knew how to make music.
Sure, “Enjoy the Silence” was released two weeks after the end of the 80s. It’s still a hit from that time period, though, and we need more of it in our lives. It’s one of those songs that just doesn’t grow old. If you want proof, just ask the 30 million people who’ve watched its music video.
Vocally, the Passions have that beautiful, haunting sound of so many '80s songs. Everything else sounds exceptional and unique with their echoing guitars and subtly driving bass. It’s a fantastic song from the early '80s.
Def Leppard is one of the best hair bands of all time. There’s really no doubting that. This song, “Bringin' on the Heartache,” just reminds us how much we ache for the days of good ole rock and roll.
“Living Years” is a tearjerker if we ever heard one. This ballad is about losing a father without being on good terms. Its lyrics were widely regarded as some of the best of its time.
