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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