The 80s Music Collection Everyone Should Have
The 80s were a decade of innovation and creativity that was implied through the decade’s rocking music. We turn on the radio, hear a few of the best 80s songs and we’re immediately taken back to a time when big hair was the norm, neon colors had their prime, and rock ruled. There were so many iconic groups from this time period that it’s difficult to choose just ten catchy songs from the 1980s. Here is a list of 10 of THE BEST 80s songs to take you back in time when rock and roll was king.
These ten songs were chosen based on their combination of catchy tunes and iconic power, as well as how much we all enjoy them today — take a listen and be transported back to the future.
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
- Genre: Pop, Rock
- Year released: 1982
Billie Jean is one of Michael Jackson’s most recognizable songs and an easy candidate for the best 80s song. It’s a smooth tune with awesome bass lines, synth riffs, and solos by both Slash of Guns N’ Roses and Eddie Van Halen.
Billie Jean was released as the second single from Michael Jackson’s sixth studio album Thriller. It marked a significant departure from his previous work, as it begins with a synthesizer and uses lighter R&B sounds.
This is one of the best songs from the 1980s and arguably, all time. It’s an upbeat track with a catchy beat that has stood the test of time for almost 35 years now.
Why is this on the list?
This is an iconic song from the 80s that has always been in our top 100, and for good reason. It’s one of the most recognizable songs in music history and no matter what decade you’re in, chances are someone will recognize this song when they hear it.
Beat It – Michael Jackson
- Genre: Pop, Rock
- Year released: 1983
Beat It is an iconic song from the King of Pop himself—and it’s no surprise that this track was included in Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” as well as VH1’s list of greatest songs of the 80s.
Beat It is one of the most popular songs from the 80s music collection, specifically from Michael Jackson’s sixth studio album Thriller, which sold more than 3000 million copies worldwide. The song was written by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones using an extract from Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo in “Beat It or Fight It.”
The scratchy guitar tune combined with driving drums makes this one of the top songs from the 80s. It takes us back to a time when drums and synthesizers were all we needed, and it’s still just as awesome today.
Why is this on the list?
This song topped charts in North America and other parts of the world, which earned it a place on our best 80s songs list. It’s one of the greatest songs from Michael Jackson and arguably the greatest song on Thriller, which is widely considered to be Michael Jackson’s best album.
Every Breath You Take – The Police
- Genre: Pop, Rock
- Year released: 1983
The Police are arguably one of the most notable groups of the 80s. The band consisted of Sting (lead vocals, bass), Andy Summers (guitar), and Stewart Copeland (drums). They released five albums over a 10 year period from 1977 to 1987, including Outlandos D’Amour (1978), Reggatta de Blanc (1979), Zenyatta Mondatta (1980), Ghost in the Machine (1982), and Synchronicity (1983).
Every Breath You Take is a rock ballad that was released as the lead single from The Police’s fifth studio album Synchronicity. Written by Sting, the song is one of The Police’s best-known and most successful songs.
Every Breath You Take debuted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming The Police’s second number-one single in the U.S. It was also topped charts in 25 other countries including Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
Why is this on the list?
This is one of Sting’s most recognizable 80s songs and it’s all about that bass line that you can’t help but sing along to. It was also included in VH1’s list of “100 Greatest Songs of the 80s”, which gives it instant iconic status. We couldn’t agree more.
I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
- Genre: Pop, Soul
- Year released: 1984
I Just Called To Say I Love You was written by Stevie Wonder and recorded for the soundtrack of the film The Woman in Red. It was also included as a track on some editions of Wonder’s 18th album Characters (1984). The song is considered one of his best-known songs that brought Stevie Wonder worldwide fame.
It is a piece of 80s synth-pop that features guitar, synthesizer, drum machine, horns, and other electronic instruments. It was produced by Stevie Wonder and recorded in the U.S., Germany, and The Bahamas from 1982 to 1983 while he was on tour.
I Just Called To Say I Love You has been covered by a number of artists including Justin Timberlake, Michael McDonald, Lady Antebellum, and the cast of Glee. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award in 1985 but it lost to Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.
Why is this on the list?
This 80s song is iconic because it was one of the biggest hits in 1984 and continues to remain popular today. The single sold 1 million copies within two weeks of release—that’s how popular this track is.
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Genre: Rock
- Year released: 1982
Eye of the Tiger is a song that was written by Jim Peterik for the movie Rocky III. It was recorded by the American band Survivor and quickly rose to global popularity. The song topped music charts around the world including Billboard’s Top Tracks, U.S., Billboard’s Top Singles, Canada, and Cash Box Top 100.
The song has been used as music for other blockbuster movies including The Karate Kid, Rocky IV, and The Avengers. For the movie Rocky III, Sylvester Stallone wanted a strong hard-driving song to represent his character’s underdog situation and he got it in Eye of the Tiger.
Today, the track from the 80s music collection is still popular and receives significant radio airplay. It is listed at number 25 on VH1’s list of 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s.
Why is this on the list?
This was one of the biggest tracks in music history not just because it was written for a very popular movie but also topped charts around the world. Plus, it’s also been used as the soundtrack for a lot of other popular movies.
Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson
- Genre: Pop, Soul
- Year released: 1988
Man in the Mirror was written by Glen Ballard & Siedah Garrett and produced by Quincy Jones. It was recorded for Michael Jackson’s eighth studio album, Bad (1987). It peaked at number one on Billboard Hot 100. Man in the Mirror was considered the best-selling single of 1988 and one of Jackson’s most critically acclaimed songs.
When it first came out, there were some who thought that the song was about them. This is not surprising given how much it spoke to so many people. When you listen to the lyrics, it’s easy to see why this was such a popular hit and why it’s still one of the greatest songs of the 80s.
Why is this on the list?
Man in the Mirror was one of Michael Jackson’s most successful singles during his career and topped charts around the world. It remains an iconic song from the 80s music collection that represents an important time in music history and has been covered many times by other artists.
The song charted in several countries including Spain, Ireland, France, and Germany.
The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson
- Genre: Pop, Soul
- Year released: 1987
The Way You Make Me Feel was written by pop star Michael Jackson and recorded for his seventh studio album, Bad (1987). The lyrics were inspired by a romantic encounter with Tatiana Thumbtzen, who worked as a dancer on the singer’s tour. The single is considered one of his most notable works.
The music video for the song was set in a subway station and featured Jackson performing an elaborate dance sequence with backup dancers. It received three nominations at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards including Best Choreography, Best Dance Video, and Video of the Year. Many artists have covered this track but none were able to match the original.
Why is this on the list?
The Way You Make Me Feel was one of Michael Jackson’s most successful albums during his career. It topped music charts around the world and remained popular for years after its release. This 80s song, in particular, is credited with being one of his best songs that still receives significant radio airplay today.
Purple Rain – Prince & the Revolution
- Genre: Rock, Pop, Soul
- Year released: 1984
Purple Rain was composed by Prince and produced by Prince and The Revolution for the soundtrack of the same name. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score in 1985. To date, it has sold over 25 million copies worldwide making it one of the best-selling singles in music history.
Prince won a total of four Grammy Awards for the song including Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Instrumental Performance, and two awards for Best Purple Rain as a single and soundtrack.
Why is this on the list?
Purple Rain was not only popular when it came out but also throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s. Prince was one of the most popular musicians in history and this song is a great example of his talent.
From pop ballads to rock anthems there’s something for everyone on this 80s list of music collections so be sure not to miss out on these classics. Whether you’re going back in time or just want some nostalgic tunes playing at your next party, you will surely love these songs.
From carefree love songs to classic dance tunes, everyone has a song from this era that they love so get ready to jam!
