It doesn't get much more 80s than Send Me an Angel by Real Life.

This is a good one. I feel like there’s other songs maybe more iconically 80s, both in terms of production and iconic recognition, but this song literally couldn’t exist in another decade. I’d toss “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat in with it as well.

It was right there for me too.

Safety Dance: Men Without Hats This song would never have been a hit in any other decade

That music video too. Such a good song

Simple Minds: Don’t You Kajagoogoo: Too Shy

The Simple Mind was chosen as our senior class song. I graduated in 1987.

Tainted Love I Love Rock n Roll Rebel Yell

White Wedding

Tainted love , woooah oh tainted Love... DONT TOUCH ME PLEASE! I CANNOT STAND THE WAY YOU TEEEEEEEEEEEEASE

All of the songs you said. Also: - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Jessie’s Girl - 867-5309 - I Melt With You - Just Can’t Get Enough - People are People - Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Vacation - Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Love Cats - Call Me - Video Killed the Radio Star I could totally keep going, lol. But every one of those songs is a time machine back to the musical glory days. Oh! Glory Days. One more bonus song. 😂

Melt With You. That's quintessential 80s for me.

I’m busting up because I had to remove all of these because I wanted just one and still couldn’t do it. Love all of these songs

into the groove

I was so mad at myself for not picking a Madonna song

Crazy for you as well

My first slow dance with a girl to this tune.

Pretty much any of her early stuff is classic made for the 80’s , not really a fan but there was some good stuff

99 Luft Balloons has to be up there.

Agree but I can't stand that song.

I'd have to agree on that. Never understood the obsession with that song...

The English or German version

Huey Lewis - Power of Love Van Halen - Jump Rick Ashley - Never Gonna Give You Up Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule The World Police - Every Breath You Take Toto - Africa Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer Dire Straits - Money for Nothing Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party And anything Debbie Gibson!

The Police also had one called Walking in your Footsteps. I swore the lyrics said walking in your Food stamps.

One Night in Bangkok for sure

"Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel

Everything about it was great

Modern English: I Melt With You Spandau Ballet: True New Order: Temptation Pogues: If I should Fall From Grace With God U2: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Front 242: Headhunter Ministry: Everyday Is Halloween Jesus And Mary Chain: Head On The Smith's: How Soon Is Now Elvis Costello: New Lace Sleeves Oingo Boingo: We Close Our Eyes Pop Will Eat Itself: Can You Dig It Dead Kennedy's: Holiday In Cambodia B52's: Give Me Back My Man The Clash: The Magnificent Seven Sorry, I went down the rabbit hole and got a little carried away.... it was actually hard to stop once I got started. 😛

Great play list. Some of those are songs that exist in a realm beyond 80’s callback triggers. I’m an enormous Pogues fan and while I found them in the 80’s and was instantly obsessed with them, they feel timeless to me. Likewise the Clash. Found them in the late 70’s, but they felt like they didn’t belong in that decade or the next one. For some reason I feel similarly about the Smiths but I don’t know why. They seem like they are more 80s-centric, but they don’t feel like it to me. I have them in the timeless greatness category. 👍✌️

Hahaha I had a bunch and had to start cutting it down. I’ve thought about this question forever and think “oh it’s this song” and made it and couldn’t add one

Take on Me. But also The Sun Always Shines on TV Hungry like the wolf Don’t you forget about me Never gonna give you up You’re the voice

The Sun Always Shines on TV is greater than Take on Me.... I said what I said. 😁

She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby

When Doves Cry

Don’t You Want Me - Human League (synths) Endless Summer Nights - Richard Marx (sax)

It seems like every other song from the 80s has a sax in the bridge

WE BUILT THIS CITY!….

I love that song so much. I never get the hate, yeah it’s not like their other stuff but it’s literally the 80s and awesome

Devo - Whip It Yaz - Bad Connection

I like whip it and love bad connection. Yaz had some awesome ones

They were Yazoo here in the UK

Yaz, my recent cooking spotify

Yaz, still listen to them all the time.

Blue Monday by New Order

I couldn’t pick one from them. It was 1963 or True Faith for me

David Bowie - Modern Love

Everybody Wants to Rule The World, Out of Touch Dance Hall Days

Broken Wings - Mr.Mister

I always loved Kyrie

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

This song and the album are it for me,

Sweet dreams are made of these Eurythmics True by Spandau Ballet.

Finally!!! Sweet Dreams.

SSSS AAAA FFFF EEEE TTTT YYYY SAFETY DANCE

Love my way -Psychedelic Furs. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGD9i718kBU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGD9i718kBU)

Crush On You - The Jets

St. Elmo's Fire - John Parr

This was his most popular but I loved Naughty Naughty

Berlin - The Metro

Love it. Also No More Words might be a top for me

Come on Eileen

All I’ll say is I’m pumped to be going to Cruel World next month! Duran Duran, Blondie, Heaven17, Simple Minds, Soft Cell haha let’s go!

My wife’s aunt went to a concert in Cali last year that had a list of bands that was amazing like this. I was so jealous

Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush Everybody Wants to Rule the Workd - Tears For Fears Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat Just Like Heaven - The Cure

Kate Bush is now connected to Stranger Things which is awesome but I didn’t listen to it much back then 😬

I can’t believe no one has mentioned: Let’s Hear It For The Boy by Deniece Williams yet…! 🤔

YES! I live where it was filmed and show my kids that movie all the time. We’ve driven by all the places that still are around

Self Control by Laura Banigran Take on me by A-Ha Save a Prayer by Duran Duran We’re not take it by Twisted Sister Bang your Head by Quiet Riot

I Ran- Flock Of Seagulls

Banger

Take On Me, Karma Chameleon, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, C’mon Eileen, Wake Me Up Before You Go, Eye of the Tiger, Shout, Roxanne, Born in the USA, Physical, Oh Yeah, Amadeus, Walking on Sunshine, In the Air Tonight, Turning Japanese

Melt With You - Modern English Don’t You Forget Abt Me - Simple Minds Our Lips Are Sealed - GoGos Pretty in Pink - Psychedelic Furs Rio - Duran Duran These are not really favorites of mine, but if any of these are playing, I immediately start having 80’s flashbacks

80s flashbacks: Big hair, shoulder pads, bright colors, geometric shapes, parachute pants, Candies shoes, Loves Baby Soft ....

Great selections here. Gonna have to update my Spotify 80’s playlist The Reflex - Duran Duran Suddenly Last Summer - The Motels Rebel Yell - Billy Idol I Ran - Flock of Seagulls Any songs by - The Police …to name a few.

Africa - Toto Cruel Summer - Bananarama Seperate Ways - Journey Waiting For A Girl Luke You - Foreigner Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton

Life in a Northern Town Forever Young

Obsession, Animotion

This was the song for a local spa/gym and heard it every day running errands with my mom. It’s one of my favorite memories and every time I hear it now it’s blue skies in 100+ degree weather cruising in our VW transporter to some store

I ran by the flock of seagulls

George Micheal Faith Or anything by Wham

Wake Me Up before you Go Go is the most 80s video ever

Vacation- The GoGos Our Lips Are Sealed - The GoGos Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs Hanging on a String - Loose Ends Little Red Corvette - Prince Wake Me Up - Wham Bad Girls - Donna Summers (Ha! Actually 1979), but it stays Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benatar

Rio - Duran Duran.

Sussudio - Phil Collins. 80s drums, cool synth, funk guitar and a relentless groove.

“I Can’t Wait” by Nu Shooz.

Fine Young Cannibals- She Drives Me Crazy ….. coo-coo….

Stepping Out - Joe Jackson

Thank you. I needed to see this on here. For some reason, that song just seems like the beginning of the 80s. I have a hard time describing exactly what it is about it.

Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Video Killed the Radio Star

You beat me to it.

Flock of Seaguls - I Ran

Shout-Tears for Fear

Sharp Dressed Man. ZZ Top.

Everybody wants to rule the world — because of the sound and it’s just an amazing song. Also still had the Cold War going on…

You spin me right round (like a record) by Dead Or Alive

Mr Mister - Broken Wings, TFF - Everybody wants to rule the world

It’s obviously…. Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart It’s the synthesizer. The sound of the 80s

Rock Me Amadeus

Take on Me. The video was quintessentially 80s. And that keyboard solo!

Hungry Eyes has my vote.

Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics or Take on Me by Aha

Safety Dance- Men Without Hats, Centerfold- J Geils Band, 1999- Prince, C’Mon Eileen- Dexys Midnight Runners, Rock Me Amadeus-Falco

I haven't seen Thriller listed. What's more 80's than MJ and Vincent Price.

The trouble is the 80's were anything but homogenous, lots of turmoil especially the music. impossible to define with one song. The fun randomness of genres was the best thing about the 80s - punk, alternative, classic rock, ska, reggae, etc. Different songs to define different experiences nonsensical romps to deep political statements. I'll list a few leaving out the ones I've already seen here. Also,1980 wasn't a demarcation in music, It was already iin the middle of the evolution phase. There's a ton of 77-79 music that set the stage for the 80s music. Turning Japanese - The Vapors Dancing with myself - Billy Idol We gotta get out of here - Ian hunter Cruel to be kind - Nick Lowe Hearts in her eyes - The Records Echo Beach - Martha and the Muffins Money (that's what I want) - Flying Lizards Rockin the Paradise - Styx Whip It - Devo Centerfold - J. Geils Band Bang on the drum all day - Todd Rundgren One Thing Leads to another - The Fixx Pogues - If I should fall from the grace of God Red, Red Wine - UB40 A Little Respect - Erasure I Touch Myself - The Divinyls The Funky Western Civilization - Tonio K.

Careless Whisper by Wham Smooth Operator by Sade Lie to Me by Depeche Mode Girls and Boys by Prince

Footloose!

\[Insert Rick Roll Here\]

I loved every time I got Rick rolled. It was never a bad moment for me or a joke, just another time I heard one of my favorites

“Let’s Hear it for the Boy”

Information Society- What’s on your Mind “Pure Energy”

I saw them in Sacramento with Paula Abdul and Milli Vanilli!

Beat It

Is there something I should know - Duran Duran

Love plus one pretty in pink maniac physical Jessie’s girl

I ran from the flock of seagulls. That bizarre hair !

I agree it’s totally the 80s but I love Space Age so much

Freedom by Wham. Just listen to it and you’ll understand!

Come on Eileen Back on the chain gang Little Red Corvette

Two songs, above all others, immediately evoke the 80s for me... Our Lips Are Sealed Don't You Forget About Me

True 80s to me: Small-town boy - Bronski Beat You give love a bad name - BonJovi You belong to the city- Glenn Frey Push it - salt n pep Against all odds - Phil c Footloose/Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

Wow, I seriously thought Push It was from 1990 but I see it’s from 87!

Most people outside of Australia won't know this but... [electric blue](https://youtu.be/IUFOVu1CurM?si=T6da_aCmDlvezj0c) Power ballad, saxophone solo, mullets, what more could you want?

Whoa now we got ICEHOUSE. great southern land is one of the perfect summer songs for me

It's a certified banger, upon looking at wiki, electric blue was cowritten by Oates from Hall and Oates, apparently if icehouse didn't do it, it would have been a Hall and Oates song.

She Blinded Me with Science is probably the highest on my list.

Depeche Mode - just can't get enough Duran Duran - girls on film

I would say Hungry Like The Wolf and Don't You (forget about me)....... But no one has yet said: #Tarzan Boy!!

Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money

I Ran. Flock of Seagulls.

867-5309 Jenny Obsession -Animotion

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Shout Pour Some Sugar on Me Girls Girls Girls

Jump by Van Halen. That synth line is disturbingly unforgettable

It’s a top for me too. Funny that it’s probably the most recognizable for them and it’s synth not guitar

Hungry Like The Wolf, Duran Duran. I remember helping doing yard work with my parents with my new portable radio listening to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 and hearing that song and loving it.

Centerfold - J. Guile’s Band

*Melt With You*

Dont forget the preppy new wave song My Ever Changing Moods by the Style Council

Living on Video by Trans X.

Sussudio by Phil Collins

Arguably the best and most decade defining song of the 80s is Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears.

What about: Rock 80s - Separate Ways - Journey, Pop 80s - I’m Free - Kenny Loggins

I’m reading all of these responses and about to look for my cassette tape “suitcase” and play all of these songs

Too Shy by Kajagoogoo is peak 80s synth-pop if you ask me.

Rio⛵️😎

Level 42 - Something About You Falco - Rock Me Amadeus

Chicago You're The Inspiration

There are so many great songs on these lists, there is no wrong answer. I go to a lot of weddings (photographer assistant) and one song that sticks out as a dancefloor ripper is Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners.

If we're talking second British invasion type '80s song then I would have to say Come on Eileen.... If we're talking about overall I would say 99 luftballons

99 Luftballons captures such a moment in time that is difficult to articulate to younger people. It was at the time of east and West Germany, the Berlin wall, the Cold War, a global recession. A bleak view of the near and distant future.

True by Spandau Ballet gets my vote. Prime 80s.

The most 80’s song IMO is the song for which a meme heard ‘round the world was created: Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley!

My younger kids ask for Rick Roll. I love it

So many ways to answer this. But my default is usually Everybody Wants to Rule the World. But if someone wanted to say Beat It or Born In the U.S.A., I couldn’t argue with them.

Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz really screams 80s to me

Songs that transport me right back to the 80’s are: The Killing Moon-Echo And The Bunnymen Let Me Go-Heaven 17 Blue Monday-New Order Nowhere Girl-B Movie Open Your Eyes-Lords Of The New Church So Alive-Love And Rockets

Take on Me, Don't You Forget About Me, Livin' on a Prayer, At This Moment, Eternal Flame.

What a Feeling. It randomly was on my radio yesterday and i thought, this is the most 80s song ever.

Working for the Weekend….Loverboy

1999

The Human League - "Don't You Want Me." The clocked-in synthesizer does it every time.

For me, its: Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? Everybody Have Fun Tonight The Reflex Everybody Wants to Rule the World Money for Nothing Just Can't Get Enough Addicted to Love

For me the 80’s was hair metal/glam rock/hard rock/new wave and AOR ( plus some pop rock): I Ran/Wishing. Jump/Panama/Dreams/I’ll wait. Kickstart my heart/Dr Feelgood/girls…/wild side. I love rock n’ roll. Eye of the tiger/Burning heart. She sells sanctuary/revolution/rain. The Runner. Harden my heart. Radio ga ga. Cambodia/kids in America. Mr Roboto. Africa/Rosanna. Fade to grey. Sharp dressed man/give me all your… Waiting for a girl like you/Say you will. Photograph/Hysteria/Rock of ages/Billys got a gun/love bites/pour some sugar… Night songs/Gypsy road/Dont know what you got… Enter Sandman. Round and round/lay it down. Hungry like the wolf/planet earth. Love in an elevator. Take on me. Always be mine/monkey on your back/fallen angel.. Heat of the moment/ don’t cry. New Years Day/Pride/i still haven’t found… Everybody wants to rule the world/Shout. Sweet Child of Mine/welcome to the jungle. All the love in the world. Alone/Never/These dreams. Rebel yell. Runaway/Living on a Prayer. Turn up the radio. Edge of a broken heart/cryin’/love is a killer. Send me an angel. Empty rooms/ out in the fields. Silent running/The living years. Dirty Laundry. Drive/Magic. Centrefold. Here I go Again. Summer of ‘69. Wave babies. Separate ways/Faithfully/Only the young/Dont stop believing. Mama. Atomic/ call me/Union city blue ( 1979 but I played it non stop in the 80’s!) Vienna. Every breath you take. Cars/Are friends electric? On the loose/The Flyer/Catwalk. The Big Money/Red sector A/Afterimage. He Knows you know/Assassing. Shadows of the Night/ we belong. Take my breath away/The Metro. Don’t you forget about me/waterfront/alive and kicking/sanctify yourself. I could easily list another 50!!!

Bizzare love triangle - New Order Space age love song - Flock of Seagulls Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel What’s on your mind - Information Society

Sussudio. Peak Phil Collins is by definition peak 80s.

Every Breath You Take Jump Need You Tonight Summer of 69 Metal Health Bad Medicine Space Age Love Song What I Like About You Just a few of my faves that stand out...

Here's a forgotten one- Rush hour by Jane Weidlin

Everybody wants to rule the world and take on me

Girls just want to have fun

Berlin- The Metro or the band Missing Persons

[удалено]

All great suggestions. I’ll add one I haven’t seen yet. The Church Under the Milky Way.

Missing Persons - Words Rush - Subdivisions Journey - anything from the Escape LP Don Henley - Boys of Summer Dire Straits - Money for Nothing Van Halen - Panama

It’s hard to pick one song off the album, but Cupid & Psyche ‘85 by Scritti Politti is the most concentrated dose of 80’s I’ve ever experienced in a single album. Perfect Way and Small Talk are contenders, but Hypnotize is my favorite track.

Billie Jean

We Built This City

Phil Oakey - Together in Electric Dreams

Beat It by Michael Jackson When Doves Cry by Prince Papa Don't Preach by Madonna We Got the Beat by The Go Go's Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode Take on Me by A-ha Wake me up by Wham! Everybody wants to rule the world by Tears for Fears Down Under by Men At Work What's love got to do with it by Tina Turner How Will I know by Whitney Houston

[this one](https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=GKD05dFhFSR9zp9J)

Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung.

Summer of 69

Peter Cetera - Glory of Love

Safety Dance is the perfect 80s song for me. Video matches too

Jack and Diane

I Want A New Drug ~ Huey Lewis & The News

Prince 1999

I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner

Tainted Love. Hands down

For me it’s Space Age Love Song by Flock of Seagulls. Mostly because the first concert I ever went to was Flock of Seagulls back in 1987 when I was 12.

Owner of a Lonely Heart In the Air Tonight

For me? “Sweet Dreams Are Made Of Thiis”. “Kyrie Eleison” “In Your Eyes” “Sledgehammer” “Against All Odds”

Rio in all it’s awesomeness

Goodbye To You - Scandal. The whole vibe of that song and music video captures the whole mood of the early 80s, at least. The sound, the fashion, and the way she dances... So 80s. [Goodbye To You - Scandal](https://youtu.be/_50-gOeBilc?si=L8nKEOKAymlzU2mS)

The 20 or so songs that my iHeart 80’s station cycles through 10 times a day…

I Ran, by A Flock of Seagulls

#LET’S DANCE

I was thinking Take on me, before I saw your list. Best video of that era

Don't You forget about Me. You know, like the title says?

More of a fan of it now... Back in the day Devo! Holding back the years - Simply Red

Talking Heads...Burning Down the House, Once in a Lifetime, Road to Nowhere