Featured Image by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
BY AISHWARRYA NAIR
With the introduction and subsequent popularity of MTV in 1981, the focus shifted from the rhythm and lyrics to the overall aesthetic of the music video. When it came to the music of the ‘80s, absolutely nothing was understated- not the sound, not the fashion, not the choreography. Eighties’ music is thus almost synonymous with everything over-the-top and that’s what creates a part of the massive appeal associated with the music of the decade. Here’s a list of 12 of my favorite songs from this iconic era.
Bryan Adams- Summer Of ’69
Summer of ’69 is a song recorded by the Canadian musician Bryan Adams, from his fourth album, Reckless. The song is about a dilemma between settling down and trying to become a rock star. The song was written by Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. “It was released in June 1985 as the fourth single from Reckless. In its 2005 list “The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born”, Blender ranked the song
70th and commented that “the song makes people, who haven’t yet had either a first love or a first band, nostalgic for the experience”.
https://youtu.be/eFjjO_lhf9c
The Bangles- Eternal Flame
One of the most famous songs from their 1988 album “Everything”, ‘Eternal Flame by The Bangles’ was famously inspired by an eternal flame at the gravesite of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. The harmonies in the song was largely influenced by other bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys and the entire song was meant as a tribute to them. Sadly though, the band announced their split on September 21, 1989, less than six months after ‘Eternal Flame’ had topped the US charts on April 1.
https://youtu.be/PSoOFn3wQV4
The Beach Boys- Kokomo
‘Kokomo’ is a song written by John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, Mike Love, and Terry Melcher and recorded by American rock band the Beach Boys. Its lyrics describe two lovers taking a trip to a relaxing place on Kokomo, an invented idea of an island off the Florida Keys. It was released as a single on July 18, 1988, and became a No. 1 hit in the United States, Japan, and Australia (where it topped for about two months). The single was released to coincide with the release of Roger Donaldson’s film Cocktail and its subsequent soundtrack.
https://youtu.be/fJWmbLS2_ec
George Michael- Careless Whisper
Contrary to popular belief, this pop ballad wasn’t based on an actual event from George Michael’s high school dating belief. He came up with the whole thing while boarding a bus when he was merely 17. The song reached number one in nearly 25 countries, selling about 6 million copies worldwide- 2 million of them in the US.
https://youtu.be/izGwDsrQ1eQ
Queen- Another One Bites The Dust
Written by bassist John Deacon, ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ featured on the group’s eighth studio album “The Game” (1980). The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, from 4 October to 18 October. The song is credited as Queen’s best- selling single, with over 7 million copies sold worldwide. It was also ranked at number 34 on Billboard’s All-Time Top Songs
https://youtu.be/rY0WxgSXdEE
Guns N’ Roses- Sweet Child O’ Mine
‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ appeared on their debut album “Appetite for Destruction”. The song was released in August 1988 as the album’s third single, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band’s only
number 1 US single. Billboard ranked it the number 5 song of 1988. Re-released in 1989, it reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
https://youtu.be/1w7OgIMMRc4
U2- With Or Without You
This song was the third track on their fifth studio album “Joshua Tree” and was the group’s most successful single at the time, becoming their first number one hit in both the United States and Canada and topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, with a further three weeks at number two.
https://youtu.be/ujNeHIo7oTE
Wham! – Last Christmas
Written and produced by George Michael, one half of the popular English duo, “Wham!”, ‘Last Christmas’ reached No. 1 in Denmark, Slovenia and Sweden. It was the most played Christmas song of the 21 st Century in the UK until 2015. ‘Wham!’ donated all the royalties from the song to the Ethiopian Famine.
https://youtu.be/E8gmARGvPlI
Bon Jovi- Livin’ On A Prayer
‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ is the popular American rock band’s signature song, topping fan-voted lists around the world although it has been decades since its original release. Released in late 1986, the song gave the band their first No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and they’re second consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit.
https://youtu.be/lDK9QqIzhwk
Michael Jackson- Billie Jean
‘Billie Jean’ is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, released on January 2, 1983, as the second single from Jackson’s sixth studio album, “Thriller” (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by
Jackson and Quincy Jones. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart within three weeks and became Jackson’s fastest-rising number one single since 1970. It
remained at number one for nine weeks on the chart.
https://youtu.be/Zi_XLOBDo_Y
AC/DC- Back In Black
‘Back In Black’ by Australian rock band AC/DC was released on 21 December 1980 as the lead single from their seventh album of the same name. The song was written as a tribute to their former singer Bon Scott, who died in February 1980. In 1981, it reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2012, it reached number 65 in Australia and number 27 in the United Kingdom.
https://youtu.be/pAgnJDJN4VA
Prince- Purple Rain
‘Purple Rain’ is a song by American musician Prince and his backing band “The Revolution”. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, starring Prince, and was released as the third single from the album. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks. Following Prince’s death in April 2016, Purple Rain rose to No. 1 on the US and UK iTunes Charts, allowing it to re-enter the Billboard Hot 100, where it reached No. 4. It is ranked at No. 144 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
https://youtu.be/S6Y1gohk5-A
Here’s a playlist of all the songs mentioned in this article.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/40ZMHxEpaB7T1bC2loYkR8
