Severalpopmusicsongs released in the 1980s went on to define the era. The ’80s were a transitional period in music as thepop genre was evolvingand taking over the industry. It was one of the earliest times that musicians started moving away from real instruments and started experimenting with synthesizers.
’80s pop would shape the way pop music is made today, as many hits are still taking inspiration from the decade. As much as bubblegum pop was a dominant genre in the ’80s, synth pop and alternative pop were also making waves. No matter how much time passes, however, the following songs' legacies continue on, defining the decade entirely.
11"Thriller" By Michael Jackson
Thriller (1982)
Michael Jackson changed the game when he released “Thriller” on his album of the same name in 1982. The song was officially released as a single a year later, along with its groundbreaking music video.Jackson changed music forever during hisThrillerera, transitioning into a pop star and taking home eight Grammy Awards in 1984, includingAlbum of The Year.
Michael Jackson set out to reinvent himself with “Thriller” and it worked out beyond his wildest dreams. He became not only the biggest artist of the ’80s, but also the biggest star in the world.Over 40 years later, the legacy of “Thriller” lives on, especially around Halloween.
10"Like A Virgin" By Madonna
Like A Virgin (1984)
While Michael Jackson is known as theKing of Pop, Madonna is often referred to as the Queen of Pop due to her reign in the ’80s. The pop star had a series of iconic songs throughout the decade, but"Like A Virgin" is surely one of the most groundbreaking.
While the song received mostly positive reviews from critics, Madonna also faced some backlash from those who found the song inappropriate. However,the controversy surrounding “Like A Virgin” only made it that much more iconic. While music is a lot more provocative these days, in 1984, Madonna’s hit was a big deal.
It only made matters worse when she performed the hit at the MTV Video Music Awards. Rolling around on the VMA stage while dressed in a wedding gown did not go over well with some audiences, and this was decades beforeSabrina Carpenter’s “Juno” poses. However, it didn’t stop Madonna’s success, and only made “Like A Virgin” a bigger hit.
9"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" By Cyndi Lauper
She’s So Unusual (1983)
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” was a girl-power anthem in the ’80s, and its legacy lives on today. The song represents theimportance of women having freedom and living life on their own termsinstead of carrying the responsibilities put on women in previous generations. It speaks to how the roles of women evolved in the 1980s.
Cyndi Lauper turned it into a pop hit and changed some lyrics to give it a feminist spin.
The song was originally written by Robert Hazard as a rock song, but Cyndi Lauper turned it into a pop hit and changed some lyrics to give it a feminist spin.Lauper’s unconventional fashion, showcased in the song’s music video, also helped define the decade, making “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” an unforgettable hit of the ’80s.
8"Everybody Wants To Rule The World" By Tears For Fears
Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
“Everybody Wants To Rule The World” introduced a new sound in the mid-’80s, defined as “new wave” and “synth pop.” The song was also especially relevant at the time and continues to be, as itfocuses on the human desire for power. The song was released during the Cold War and is often referred to as a Cold War anthem.
However, it also touched on other political topics. While pop songs of the ’80s are often catchy and lighthearted, Tears for Fears took things in a different direction, and it ultimately worked out for them.Its synth sound defined the genre in the ‘80sand continues to inspire pop music to this day.
7"I Wanna Dance With Somebody" By Whitney Houston
Whitney (1987)
Whitney Houston would become a massive star in the ’80s, but in 1987, she would release one of her biggest songs that remains a hit at weddings and parties today. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is considered one of Houston’s signature songs and is said to havecemented her as a global icon.
The dance-pop anthem is one of the most fun songs of the decade and transformed the once gospel singer into a pop superstar. Its catchy melody and production areexactly what comes to mind regarding ’80s pop, and it’s since been listed in several publications, such asRolling StoneandBillboard, as one of the best songs of all time.
6"Video Killed The Radio Star" By The Buggles
The Age Of Plastic (1979)
While many artists contributed to the success of MTV in the ’80s, “Video Killed The Radio Star” was the first music video ever played on the network. It defined the era oftransitioning from audio to videoas music videos became a massive part of pop culture.
The ’80s are often thought of as the decade where music videos really took off, and The Buggles’ hit is thought of as one of the first music videos as we know them today. While the song was released in 1979, it went on to succeed throughout the ’80s andkicked off the new decade with an important message.
While we might be widely familiar with visual media today, the song warns of howtechnology can potentially destroy what we once loved. The song’s legacy lives on, especially in today’s society, as technology has taken on new life.
5"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" By Wham!
Make It Big (1984)
Wham!’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” is not just a catchy pop song that has withstood the test of time, but it was also a massive success when it was released. The song became their first UK and US number one hit andlaunched George Michael into the spotlight.
The song remains a classic to this day and is as irresistibly catchy as it was when it was released.
Its upbeat melody is the definition of catchy pop, the kind that gets stuck in every listener’s head until it becomes annoying. However, the song remains a classic to this day and is as irresistibly catchy as it was when it was released in 1984.
4"When Doves Cry" By Prince
Purple Rain (1984)
While Michael Jackson was defining ’80s pop music, so wasJackson’s rival Prince.“When Doves Cry” is one of Prince’s biggest songsof the decade and defined the experimental pop genre. It was a much different direction than what other ’80s pop stars were going in and helped Prince stand out.
The song spent five weeks at number one in the US and appeared onRolling Stone’s 2021 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The song helped shift ’80s music,creating a market for songs that weren’t so bubblegum popand allowing them to succeed amongst the pop genre.
3"Never Gonna Give You Up" By Rick Astley
Whenever You Need Somebody (1987)
In the 2000s, during the early days of YouTube,the “Rick Roll” trend took over the internet. It was one of the earliest forms of internet trolling when a video would claim to be about something, but then would actually be a clip from Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” music video.
However, decades earlier, the song was a massive hit. While the singer doesn’t have many other popular songs,“Never Gonna Give You Up” made him a big star in 1987. The song was the best-selling UK single of the year of its release and is one of the most well-known love songs of the ’80s.
Like other songs of the decade, it’s incredibly catchy despite being annoyingly repetitive. However,its repetitiveness is what makes it so impossible to get out of your headto this day and what made the “Rick Rolling” era so iconic.
2"Take On Me" By A-ha
Hunting High And Low (1985)
A-ha’s “Take On Me” was another song that contributed to the rise in synth pop and offered an alternative to the typical bubble gum pop that the genre became known for. The original version was released in 1984 and didn’t see much success.
However,the 1985 re-release with new production became a massive successand is one of the most well-known songs of the ’80s. The song reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, which was mostly due to the popularity of its music video. The video received a lot of promo on MTV and won six awards at the MTV Video Music Awards.
