Best music and songs of the 1980s, a selection of the most famous hits of this legendary period with author, title, release year and original videos on Youtube.
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
Berthold Auerbach
One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.
Bob Marley
Music – it’s motivational and just makes you relax.
Taika Waititi
The 1980s was an eclectic and transformative decade for music, bringing about new genres, revolutionary production techniques, and iconic artists. Here’s a look at some of the defining elements and best music of the ’80s:
1. Pop Superstars and Dance Pop
Michael Jackson dominated the decade with Thriller (1982), still the best-selling album of all time, with hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.”
Madonna redefined pop with her bold style and edgy sound, releasing hits like “Like a Virgin” (1984) and “Material Girl.”
Prince’s Purple Rain (1984) blended pop, rock, and funk, with songs like “When Doves Cry” and the title track showcasing his talent and unique style.
2. Synthpop and New Wave
Depeche Mode and New Order brought darker, moodier electronic sounds, with songs like “Just Can’t Get Enough” and “Blue Monday.”
The Human League and Eurythmics popularized synthpop with hits like “Don’t You Want Me” and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).”
Duran Duran and A-ha brought visual flair to new wave with their iconic music videos for “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Take On Me.”
3. Hard Rock and Glam Metal
Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction (1987) became one of the best-selling rock albums of the decade, featuring “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle.”
Bon Jovi, Motley Crüe, and Poison became MTV staples, popularizing glam metal with anthems like “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.”
Van Halen’s 1984 album introduced rock hits like “Jump,” blending synthesizers with their guitar-driven sound.
4. Hip-Hop and Rap’s Golden Age
Run-D.M.C. broke into the mainstream with their cover of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” blending rock and rap.
Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) brought socially conscious rap to the forefront, with tracks like “Don’t Believe the Hype.”
Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill (1986) became a breakthrough for white rappers in hip-hop, with party anthems like “Fight For Your Right.”
5. Alternative Rock and College Rock
R.E.M. brought alternative rock to wider audiences with albums like Murmur (1983), leading to hits like “Radio Free Europe.”
The Smiths emerged from the UK with introspective lyrics and jangly guitars, with tracks like “This Charming Man.”
U2 rose to prominence with The Joshua Tree (1987), featuring classics like “With or Without You” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.”
6. Power Ballads and Soft Rock
Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Toto’s “Africa” became timeless anthems.
Phil Collins and Foreigner continued to define soft rock, with hits like “In the Air Tonight” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
Whitney Houston became a superstar with her powerful ballads, including “Greatest Love of All” and “How Will I Know.”
7. Electronic and Dance Music
Pet Shop Boys and Culture Club mixed dance rhythms with clever lyrics, creating songs like “West End Girls” and “Karma Chameleon.”
Janet Jackson’s Control (1986) infused dance-pop with assertive themes, with tracks like “Nasty” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately.”
Donna Summer, a disco queen, carried dance music into the ’80s with hits like “She Works Hard for the Money.”
8. Heavy Metal Surge
Metallica’s Master of Puppets (1986) and Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast (1982) laid the groundwork for thrash and heavy metal.
AC/DC’s Back in Black (1980) became one of the best-selling albums, with powerful songs like “Hells Bells” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
Ozzy Osbourne, after leaving Black Sabbath, rose as a solo artist with his debut Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and the hit “Crazy Train.”
The 1980s music scene was diverse and vibrant, setting the stage for future genres and shaping the sound of popular music for years to come. Whether through the birth of hip-hop or the rise of glam metal, this decade created a long-lasting legacy that still resonates today.
Best music and songs of the 1980s
Lipps Inc. – Funkytown – 1980
George Benson – Give Me The Night – 1980
Lucio Dalla – Balla ballerino – 1980
Delegation – You And I – 1980
Visage – Fade To Grey – 1980
Mireille Mathieu – Je suis une femme amoureuse – 1980
Peter Jacques Band – is it it? – 1980
Lipps – How long – 1980
Mandolay – La Flavour – 1980
Sheila & B. Devotion – Spacer – 1980
Donatella Rettore – Kobra – 1980
Alice – Il vento caldo dell’estate – 1980
Kool & The Gang – Celebration – 1980
The Brothers Johnson – Stomp! – 1980
Rockets – Galactica – 1980
The Blues Brothers – Everybody Needs Somebody to Love – 1980
Ray Parker Jr & Raydio – It’s Time To Party Now – 1980
Kano – I’m Ready – 1980
Blondie – Call me – 1980
Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes – 1981
Grace Jones – I’ve Seen That Face Before – 1981
The Human League – Don’t You Want Me – 1981
Quarterflash – Harden My Heart – 1981
Paolo Barabani – Hop hop somarello – 1981
Men At Work – Down Under – 1981
Pierangelo Bertoli – La Fatica – 1981
Men At Work – Who Can It Be Now? – 1981
Kim Wilde – Cambodia – 1981
Chas Jankel – Glad To Know You – 1981
Aneka – Japanese Boy – 1981
Falco – Der Kommissar – 1981
Stars On 45 – Stars On 45 – 1981
Blue Feather – Let’s Funk Tonight – 1981
Miguel Bosé – Bravi ragazzi – 1982
Imagination – Just an Illusion – 1982
Culture Club – Do You Really Want To Hurt Me – 1982
The Alan Parsons Project – Mammagamma – 1982
Frida – I Know There’s Something Going On – 1982
Michael Jackson – Beat It – 1982
The Flirts – Passion – 1982
Giuni Russo – Un’estate al mare – 1982
Gruppo Italiano – Tropicana – 1983
Righeira – Vamos a la playa – 1983
Lu Colombo – Maracaibo – 1981
David Christie – Saddle Up – 1982
Chicago – Hard To Say I’m Sorry – 1982
Misa Criolla Gloria – Fuego – 1982
Toto – Africa – 1982
Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra – 1982
Indeep – Last Night A DJ Saved My Life – 1982
Ad Visser & Daniel Sahuleka – Giddyap A Gogo – 1982
Payolas – Eyes of A Stranger – 1982
Marcella Bella – Nell’aria – 1983
Donna Rouge – Fake – 1983
Irene Cara – Flashdance – What a Feeling – 1983
Pat Benatar – Love Is A Battlefield – 1983
Billy Idol – Eyes Without A Face – 1983
Phoebe Cates – Paradise – 1982
Shannon – Let The Music Play – 1983
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun – 1983
Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart – 1983
Ivan Cattaneo – Bang Bang – 1983
Rufus and Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody – 1983
Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time – 1983
The Police – Every Breath You Take – 1983
Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy – 1983
Vasco Rossi – Vita spericolata – 1983
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon – 1983
Lionel Richie – All Night Long – 1983
Laid Back – Sunshine Reggae – 1983
Paul Young – Love of the Common People – 1983
Greg Kihn Band – Jeopardy – 1983
Mike Oldfield ft. Maggie Reilly – Moonlight Shadow – 1983
Tony Esposito – Kalimba de Luna – 1984
Alphaville – Sounds Like A Melody – 1984
Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Relax – 1984
Russ Ballard – Voices – 1984
Nena – 99 Luftballons – 1984
Laura Branigan – Self Control – 1984
Talk Talk – Such A Shame – 1984
Talk Talk – It’s My Life – 1984
Tears For Fears – Shout – 1984
Our Playlist of best music and songs of the 1980s
Mike Oldfield – To France – 1984
OPUS – Live Is Life – 1984
Gary Low – La Colegiala – 1984
Novecento – Movin On – 1984
Prince – Purple Rain – 1984
Eros Ramazzotti – Terra promessa – 1984
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – The Power Of Love – 1984
Katrina and the Waves – Walking on Sunshine – 1983
Savage – Don’t Cry Tonight – 1983
Righeira – No tengo dinero – 1983
Bryan Adams – Summer of ’69 – 1984
Queen – I Want To Break Free – 1984
Amii Stewart – Friends – 1984
Laura Branigan – Self Control – All Night Fuji – 1984
Sandy Marton – People From Ibiza – 1984
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In the Dark – 1984
The Flirts – Helpless (You Took My Love) – 1984
Alphaville – Forever Young – 1984
Luis Miguel – Noi, ragazzi di oggi – 1985
The Smiths – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out – 1985
Jennifer Rush – The Power Of Love – 1985
Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – 1985
Sandra – In The Heat Of The Night – 1985
Duran Duran – A View To A Kill – 1985
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U – 1985
Sandra – Maria Magdalena – 1985
Tina Turner – We Don’t Need Another Hero – 1985
Paul Hardcastle – 19 (The Final Story) – 1985
TXT – Girl’s Got A Brand New Toy – 1985
Bad Boys Blue – You’re A Woman – 1985
Limahl – Neverending Story – 1985
Modern Talking – Cheri Cheri Lady – 1985
Elton John – Nikita – 1985
Propaganda – Duel – 1985
A-ha – Take On Me – 1985
Baltimora – Tarzan Boy – 1985
Bryan Ferry – Slave To Love – 1985
Madonna – La isla bonita – 1986
Pet Shop Boys – Suburbia – 1986
The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian – 1986
The Communards – Don’t Leave Me This Way – 1986
Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero – 1986
Off – Electrica Salsa (Baba Baba) – 1986
Spandau Ballet – Through the Barricades – 1986
Berlin – Take My Breath Away – 1986
Samantha Fox – Touch Me – 1986
Tracy Spencer – Run To Me – 1986
Luciano Pavarotti – O sole mio – 1986
Europe – The Final Countdown – 1986
Desireless – Voyage Voyage – 1986
Modern Talking – Atlantis Is Calling – 1986
The Bangles – Manic Monday – 1986
The Go-Go’s – Vacation – 1982
Blondie – The Tide Is High – 1980
Sylvester – Do You Wanna Funk? – 1982
Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance – 1982
Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams – 1983
Bananarama – Venus – 1986
Pet Shop Boys – Always on my mind – 1987
Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth – 1987
Sabrina Salerno – Boys – 1987
Sandra – Heaven Can Wait – 1987
Laura Branigan – The Power of Love – 1987
Pet Shop Boys – It’s A Sin – 1987
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love – 1987
The Communards – Never Can Say Goodbye – 1987
Ebony – The Locomotion – 1987
Spagna – Easy Lady – 1987
Level 42 – Lessons In Love – 1987
Black – Wonderful Life – 1987
Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo – 1987
Patti Smith – People Have The Power – 1988
Eddy Grant – Gimme Hope Jo Anna – 1988
Tanita Tikaram – Twist In My Sobriety – 1988
Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine – 1988
Ivan Cattaneo – Una zebra a pois – 1988
Tom Hooker – Looking for love – 1988
Eighth Wonder – I’m Not Scared – 1988
Roxette – Listen To Your Heart – 1988
Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam – 1989
The Bangles – Eternal Flame – 1989
Kaoma – Lambada – 1989
If you love music and songs you can also visit:
Best music and songs of the 1960s
Best music and songs of the 1970s
Best music and songs of the 1980s
Best music and songs of the 1990s
Best music and songs of the 2000s
