Having been born in ’81, I grew up with 80’s music playing in my house all the time. We even had vinyls of our favourite bands. There are so many bangers to have come out of this decade that I had a real hard time deciding on just 20. I put them in order, but really, a good few of these can be inter-changable depending on my mood. I may look at this list next month and say “what was I thinking??”, but this is how I feel right now. I won’t be adding songs that were written for movies, so no Disney songs or anything like that.

20 – I Walk the Line by Alien Sex Fiend

I’m sure there aren’t a lot of people that would add this one in their top 20, and it almost didn’t make mine, but I just really like this song, hehe.

19 – The Passion of Lovers by Bauhaus

So many great ones by Bauhaus, but I had to go with this one. I just love Peter Murphy’s voice!

18 – Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart

Oh my lord, did I have a crush on Corey Hart when I was a wee one. I wanted to marry him when I was 5 years old, hehe. It’s no wonder I fell in love with Jensen Ackles when Supernatural came out, they really do look similar!

17 – Love Like Blood by Killing Joke

I can’t honestly say I know a whole lot of Killing Joke’s music, cause I just never looked into it, but if it’s anywhere near as good as this song is, I’m really missing out!!

16 – Lovesong by The Cure

I love a lot of The Cure’s music, but this has to be the best one to come out of the 80’s. Incidentally, it was my “first dance” at my wedding!

15 – Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

There have been many, many covers of this song (my favourite among them being the one by HIM), but the OG remains the best. And how sexy is this video??

14 – True Faith by New Order

New Order is one of only 2 artists (the other being Bowie) that has 2 songs on the list, simply because I couldn’t leave either of them out. I don’t think I’d ever actually seen this video before now. The 80’s were weird, man!

13 – Thriller by Michael Jackson

I don’t think anyone is surprised to see this on my list. Not only is it a great song, but the video is simply epic. Michael always went all out on his videos, but this one takes the cake. Still has some of the best makeups to ever hit the screen. Thanks Rick Baker. Plus, bonus Vincent Price!

12 – Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode

So many great songs by Depeche Mode, but this is the best one to come out of the 80’s.

11 – How Soon is Now? by The Smiths

And now for a little depression brought to you by The Smiths. Morrisey’s voice is like butter (and boy does he ever know it, what a douche… lol).

10 – Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds

The Breakfast Club is one of my favourite films to come from the 80’s (which I criminally forgot to add to my “Top 30 Films of the 80’s”), and this banger was the perfect end to the movie. I had a massive crush on Judd Nelson in this. But the video… does he know his suit is 3 times too big..?

9 – Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order

Boy, do I love synth-pop when it’s done right. And this one is near perfect! Sometimes I wish I were older so I could have experienced going out in the 80’s.

8 – Lucretia My Reflection by Sisters of Mercy

Probably the best goth song ever written. I love a lot of Sisters’ music, but this was the first one I heard, and remains my favourite.

7 – Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie

David Bowie probably has one of my favourite voices in the business. It’s a good thing that I decided to not put songs written specifically for movies, otherwise a good chunk of my list would be songs from Labyrinth (shout-out to Within You, though, that song always gets me). This song is my favourite of his outside of movie music.

6 – Still Loving You by The Scorpions

One of my all-time favourite love songs. It’s literally the only song I know by The Scorpions (I think), but his voice is just wonderful. This song is poignant, so full of longing, it hits me in the feels. Funny side note, did you know they are a German band and barely spoke english at the time? I don’t know if they’ve learned since then, but really, you could have fooled me.

5 – I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock of Seagulls

Sometimes you listen to these one hit wonders and the song is so bloody good that it literally makes you angry that there aren’t more albums. This is one of those songs. And the singer’s kinda cute, in a weird way. That hair, though…

4 – In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

And here, the best love song ever. May be cliché, but it’s popular for a reason. Hold up a boombox and play it for your girl. She’ll melt, I guarantee it!

3 – Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie

I’m not a huge Queen fan, but I can’t deny the man had some crazy pipes. This song with Bowie is a perfect mix of each other’s styles. Not only one of my favourite 80’s songs, but one of my favourite songs, full stop. Bowie’s solo at the end of the song gives me chills every time.

2 – Take On Me by a-ha

Everything about this song is perfect; the music, the video, and the singer. Morten Harket has one of the most unique, beautiful faces in the business. And that voice! I love to sing along to this song, but I stop just before that part. You know the one.

1 – Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division

And finally, we have the ultimate goth anthem. Such an amazing, poignant song, Ian Curtis’s voice giving it that extra gravitas over the almost joyful music. It’s such a shame, he was so tortured, and took his own life at 23, just a month before the album that would define a whole subculture would be released.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my list! I hope I was able to turn you on to some new music, or to revisit songs you haven’t heard in decades. What are your favourite 80’s songs? Let me know!

M.