80s Music

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As a child of the eighties, I still love 80s music. These are some of my favourites.

A Flock of Seagulls - I ran

Their most famous song. It might be the song I most associate with my childhood in the eighties.

I love the electric guitar echo ...

ABC - The look of love

I love this song! The expression on the lead singer’s face is interesting.

“Hip hip hooray ... yippee-i yippee-i ayay ... look of love!”

ABC - Poison arrow

I love this one too – just the sound of the music.

Adam Ant - Ant music

Classic. I like the sound of tapping the sticks at 0:46 and the background singers’ “oh-oh-oh.”

A-ha - Take on me

Amazing video clip. I love stories in videos ... a happy ending too!

Alan Parsons Project - Sirius

This is the intro to a song called Eye in the Sky – very powerful.

Eye in the Sky is a bit disturbing though (“I can read your mind ... I can cheat you blind”). It reminds me of Every Breath You Take by The Police.

Alan Parsons Project - Don’t answer me

I really love the video! They in put cartoon versions of themselves at 3:20.

Alison Moyet - All cried out

Great singing voice.

Alison Moyet - Love resurrection

What an interesting idea for a song. Love the keyboards after she sings the words “divine intervention.”

Alison Moyet - Weak in the Presence of Beauty

More great vocals.

Alphaville - Big in Japan

He gives some weird looks in the video, but a fun sounding song.

Aretha Franklin - I knew you were waiting

With George Michael. I really like the background beat.

Asia - Heat of the moment

A memorable video from my childhood.

Asia - Armenia

Relaxing instrumental.

The Babys - Isn’t it time

Actually from 1977, bit still around in the 80s.

Baltimora - Tarzan boy

I like his version of the Tarzan cry!

Bananarama - Cruel summer

In the original Karate Kid movie. Great guitar in the chorus.

Berlin - No more words

A story video! I like the tune.

Billy Idol - Eyes without a face

Very memorable. They had fun with the electric guitar in some bits.

Billy Idol - Hot in the city

Main song starts at 0:34. I have strong emotional associations with this song. At one point it sounds like bells.

Billy Joel - You’re only human

Very upbeat; I was surprised to see it interpreted as an anti-suicide song.

Billy Joel - Pressure

This song is quite funny to me – telling someone that their world view doesn’t stand up to reality ...

Black Box - Ride on time

Love her voice – “Ah-hah! Aaaah-ah!”

Blancmange - Living on the ceiling

Some interesting sounds in this one.

Bonnie Tyler - Here she comes

I absolutely love this one, mainly because I associate it with the movie Metropolis (with the Giorgio Moroder soundtrack).

Boom Crash Opera - Hands up in the air

If you listen to the words, it turns out to be about swimming safety!

Boom Crash Opera - Onion skin

Very catchy chorus.

Boomtown Rats - I don’t like Mondays

Sad song, but nice piano.

The Buggles - Video killed the radio star

This song really appeals to me ...

The Cars (Ric Ocasek) - You might think

Interesting video!

The Cure - Love cats

Classic! Helps if you like cats.

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

What a fun song! Cyndi has an amazing voice.

Bon Jovie - Livin’ on a prayer

“Wo-wo-woh-woh-woh ...”

Daryl Braithwaite - As the Days Go By

Very memorable tune.

David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes

David Bowie made some striking videos!

David Bowie - Loving the Alien

Another surprising video.

David Bowie - Let’s Dance

Really nice tune. I was surprised the video was set in outback Australia ...

David Bowie - This is not America

Really interesting style of singing.

Deniece Williams - Let’s Hear It for the Boy

Makes me smile. I like her attitude!

Dexy’s Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen

Different!

Don Henley - All she wants to do is dance

Nice bass!

Dragon - Rain

Rain rain rain ...

Duran Duran - Planet Earth

One of my favourite songs. Very eighties ...

Elton John - I guess that’s why they call it the blues

A little sad (obviously!).

Eurogliders - Without you

One of the songs I most strongly associate with the eighties.

Europe - The final countdown

They played this a lot!

Eurythmics - Here Comes the Rain Again

Nice violin sounds (and plucking).

Eurythmics - Would I Lie to You

Song starts at 1:00. Interesting way to say goodbye!

F R David - Don’t go

Lots of appealing sounds.

Falco - Der Kommissar

(In German). One of my all time favourite songs!

Feargal Sharkey - You little thief

Pretty passionate.

Feargal Sharkey - A good heart

Looking for love ...

Fine Young Cannibals - Good thing

He has a unique voice.

The Flying Lizards - (I want your) money

Bizarre song!

Flying Pickets - Only You

Touching song, mostly a cappella.

Foreigner - Urgent

Love the guitar, and the keyboards in the chorus.

Foreigner - Cold as ice

Memorarable ... strong beat.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two tribes

Cold war era song.

GANGgajang - Sounds of then

Very Australian, with lots of familiar images ...

Genesis (Phil Collins) - In the air tonight

Memorable drum solo at 3:16.

Glenn Frey - The heat is on

From the movie Beverly Hills Cop.

Glenn Frey - You belong to the City

Nice beat. Changes after 0:37.

Hall & Oates - Private eyes

Pretty fun song!

Hall & Oates - Out of touch

Another memorable one by Hall & Oates.

Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F

Instrumental, named for Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop. Love this tune!

The Hooters - All you zombies

Interesting lyrics for a band that isn’t Christian!

Howard Jones - What is love anyway

One of my favourites, with a great video too. I recognise some of those places in Paris.

Huey Lewis and the News - The power of love

Very catchy ... in the movie Back to the Future (song starts at 2:15).

Human League - Don’t you want me

One of my favourites, just from the memory of when I first heard it.

Human League - Human

A fairly gentle song.

Hunters and Collectors - Holy grail

Recent discovery for me. I like it!

Icehouse - Great southern land

Pretty evocative song about Australia. References to aboriginals and how they were treated.

Icehouse - Hey little girl

Some awesome sounds in this song.

Icehouse - No promises

Lots of Australian scenery in this video!

Icehouse - You’re so strange

“You’re weird, man ...”

Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel) - Cheap wine

Interesting attitude ...

Joan Armatrading - Drop the pilot

The only song I know with the word “mahout”!

Joe Jackson - Is she really going out with him

“Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street ...”

John Farnham - Take the pressure down

I listened to this as a teenager when I felt pressure!

Kate Ceberano (I’m Talking) - Love don’t live here anymore

Powerful but sad.

Kate Ceberano (I’m Talking) - Brave

Inpiring.

Kids In the Kitchen - Bitter desire

Love the guitar ... and the keyboards ... and the rest too ...

Kids In the Kitchen - Current Stand

Another great song.

Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

Sounds amazing, especially the keyboards.

Kim Wilde - Cambodia

Really talented, but most of her songs are sad ...

Kim Wilde - Kids in America

One of her few non-sad songs!

Koo De Tah - Too young for promises

Unique singing style.

Lionel Richie (The Commodores) - Night shift

A very reflective song.

Little Heroes - One perfect day

Really nice piano.

Lloyd Cole (The Commotions) - Lost weekend

Catchy tune!

M - Pop Muzik

Memorable video ... walking feet!

Madness - Our house

A very English band.

Men at Work - Land down under

A very Australian song! It even has a vegemite sandwhich ...

Men at Work - Who can it be now

Feeling paranoid?

Men Without Hats - Safety dance

This song appeals to me, even though it’s a bit silly!

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

He likes dancing ...

Mike and the Mechanics - All I need is a miracle

A story video!

Mike and the Mechanics - Silent Running

Science fiction themed ...

Mi-sex - Computer games

Very eighties! (Even though it came out in 1979).

Mister Mister - Broken Wings

Lovely sounding tune.

Mister Mister - Kyrie

“Kyrie eleison” means “Lord, have mercy.”

The Motels - Only the lonely

Sad song!

Murray Head - One night in Bangkok

Well someone had to make a song about chess ...

Naked Eyes - Always something there to remind me

Nice drums.

New Order - Blue Monday

Great beat.

New Order - True faith

Bizarre video.

Nick Kershaw - Wouldn’t it be good

My favourite song for a long time (starts at 0:33).

Nick Kershaw - The riddle

He admitted the lyrics don’t really mean anything ...

Noiseworks - No Lies

Love these guys!

Noiseworks - Touch

“Reach out and touch somebody ...”

Oingo Boingo - Stay

Some interesting sounds.

Pat Benatar - Love is a battlefield

Great song with an interesting video.

Pat Benatar - Hit me with your best shot

The lyrics have been misheard as “hit me with your pet shark” ...

Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls - Dumb things

Very catchy.

Paul McCartney (Wings) - Goodnight tonight

He has light hearted approach ...

Pete Townshend - Face the face

Memorable intro.

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

Dancing chickens!

Philip Bailey - Walking on the Chinese wall

Sounds nice, but not sure what it’s trying to say ...

The Promises - Baby it’s you

Dramatic chorus!

Pseudo Echo - Listening

Love this one.

Pseudo Echo - Love an adventure

Some awesome sounds in this song.

Pseudo Echo - Don’t go

Punchy!

Queen - Radio ga ga

Love this one. The video has clips from the movie Metropolis.

Queen - Somebody to love

Appears in the movie Ella Enchanted.

Rockwell - Somebody’s watching me

Paranoia!

Roxy Music (Bryan Ferry) - Avalon

Love this one. Strongly associated with my teenage years ...

Sade - Smooth operator

Really distinctive style.

Sharon O’Neill - Maxine

I feel compassion for the woman this song is about.

Simple Minds - Don’t you forget about me

Amazing band.

Simple Minds - All the things she said

Classic special effects in this video!

Simple Minds - Promised you a miracle

I love this song, but it’s hard to understand the words. Something about a guinea pig ...

Simply Red - Money too tight to mention

So catchy.

Soft Cell - Tainted love

Very eighties ...

Spandau Ballet - Communication

Love how these guys sound.

Split Enz - Six months in a leaky boat

About the journey to Australia (or New Zealand, since that’s where the group is from). Song starts at 1:30.

Split Enz - Message to my girl

Serious words ...

Squeeze - Cool for cats

Very English accent!

Steve Winwood - Higher love

Makes me think of God’s love. “Think about it - there must be higher love ...”

Stevie Nicks - I can’t wait

Originally a member of Fleetwood Mac.

Sting (The Police) - If you love somebody set them free

Great song, in spite of the grammar!

Sting (The Police) - Message in a bottle

A picture of loneliness and isolation.

Stranglers - Golden brown

Pretty soothing ...

Stranglers - Skin deep

“You’ve only got two hands to lend ...”

Supertramp - It’s raining again

Processing his lost love ... the compassionate look from the woman at 0:38 touches me.

Supertramp - The logical song

“Then they sent me away, to teach me how to be sensible ...”

The Swingers - Counting the beat

A very English band!

Talk Talk - Life’s what you make it

They like animals in their videos!

Talk Talk - Talk talk

A bit negative, but a nice tune.

Talking Heads - Road to nowhere

Great sounding, but cynical ...

Talking Heads - Once in a lifetime

Fits perfectly with the movie The Family Man.

Tears for Fears - Shout

This song spoke to me a bit as a teenager.

Tears for Fears - Everybody wants to rule the world

Lovely intro. Song starts at 0:34.

Tears for Fears - Pale shelter

I don’t think you should dive into a swimming pool with a crocodile!

Thompson Twins - Hold me now

Great song, but a bit sad.

Thompson Twins - King for a day

“You say you hunger for something you can’t get at all ... and love is not enough anymore ...”

Thompson Twins - Lay your hands on me

Now I need a hug!

Tina Turner - We don’t need another hero

From the movie Mad Max 3. She sings very passionately.

Tina Turner - What’s love got to do with it

A great tune, but sad song! And lots of hair.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don’t come around here no more

I love the tune – so many cool sounds. “Hey!”

Toto - Africa

One of my absolute favourites.

U2 - New year’s day

Powerful song.

UB40 - Red, red wine

Relaxing song, pity about the message!

Ultravox - Love’s great adventure

I think they had fun making this video.

Van Hallen - Jump

Pretty upbeat song!

Visage - Fade to grey

I really love this one (even though the words are a little depressing!).

Wang Chung - Dance hall days

I like the old clips in the video.

The Waterboys - The whole of the moon

I hear a kookaburra at the start ...

Wax - Bridge to your heart

The “hold it” at the beginning is funny!

Yazoo - Only you

A really touching song.

Yes - Owner of a lonely heart

I like the sudden changes ...

10cc - Dreadlock holiday

Great reggae song.



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