What Song Most Encapsulates the 1980s? (1 Viewer)

[BarBar]

 

[Hoodoo]

Later in the 80's, these were more my style when going to dance clubs.

Long live Razzy's/The Beach Club!!

IS & Rob Base would absolutely rock the 18" subs and tweak the highs back in the day.

 

[Hoodoo]

 

[Cage1]

Over 5 pages and no G&R?

So again, while every opinion is equally valid (even the ones posting songs from the 1970s for some reason) this is another example of one I considered to have transcended "80s" music and just made good rock

 

[tenordas]

I think the OP nails it with "Don't You Forget About Me."

However, I'll throw in two for "honorable mention"



"Don't You Forget About Me" is the quintessential 80s song, but Talking Heads is the quintessential 80s band.



To me, the ultimate 80s music video. "Big Time" is just a wild hodge-podge of claymation and crazy shots, a snapshot of how every director was trying to push experimental limits with videos of rock songs. I like it a little better than "Sledgehammer" because that song is subtle as a train wreck. "Big Time" isn't subtle, either, but it isn't busy trying to see how many innuendos it can fit into any given second. I don't think they spent the outrageous budgets that "Thriller" or "Beat It" did, but they came up with a wilder, more memorable product IMHO.

 

[sfidc3]

And Skateaway

Yup, that's a good one....

Henry Rollins was a manager at a local D.C. Haagen-Daaz ice cream shop.

He was also a neighbor of one my best friends (RIP Kevin) growing up in Bethesda.....he was a very well none a-hole and bully as a kid/teenager.....

 

[MarylandWHODAT]

This is the song that, in my opinion, is the 80's....

 

[Hoodoo]

Man, started listing a few songs and the rabbit hole is unending. So much great music & a lot of it. Just too much to keep posting videos, but here are a couple that I never could get enough of.

Police - Every Breath you Take
Van Halen - Panama
Cars - Drive
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Journey - Don't Stop Believin
Commodores - Night Shift
AC/DC - Back in Black
Ozzy - Crazy Train
Back in the High Life - Steve Winwood
Simply Red - Holding Back the Years
Toto - Africa
INXS - Need you Tonight
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
Bruce Hornsby & the Range - The Way it Is
Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary

I've gotta stop... Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

 

[Saintman2884]

Man, started listing a few songs and the rabbit hole is unending. So much great music & a lot of it. Just too much to keep posting videos, but here are a couple that I never could get enough of.

Police - Every Breath you Take
Van Halen - Panama
Cars - Drive
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Journey - Don't Stop Believin
Commodores - Night Shift
AC/DC - Back in Black
Ozzy - Crazy Train
Back in the High Life - Steve Winwood
Simply Red - Holding Back the Years
Toto - Africa
INXS - Need you Tonight
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
Bruce Hornsby & the Range - The Way it Is
Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary

I've gotta stop... Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

You forgot Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" theme song from the film Rocky III. That song where ever its played, has this "feel", " aura", and visceral intensity to it that Ive seen seemingly mild-mannered men and women at bowling alleys, gyms, playing pickup basketball, they turn into almost superhuman, unstoppable maniacs hearing the song.

It's one of those songs where if you're boxing someone, you can be bloody, tired, your body is worn-down, that song pops in your head, it's like a placebo adrenaline shot that makes you get off the mat, and fight like a complete, uncontrollable, vicious animal. You will make the unfortunate souls who forked with you realize that was the worst decision of their respective lives.

 

[LonghornSaint]

Man, started listing a few songs and the rabbit hole is unending. So much great music & a lot of it. Just too much to keep posting videos, but here are a couple that I never could get enough of.

Police - Every Breath you Take

I really really didn't like them when they first came out. Something about their style, just can't put my finger on why it didn't sit well with me.

And now I really like them.

A perfect example of how tastes can change over time.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I’ve noted before, but the 80s are EASILY the best era for music white guys can dance to - and no other era comes close
And yet too many are posting basic rock songs
I’ve now become sad thinking that the synthesizer offered a paint by numbers approach to dancing and many of y’all still didn’t take advantage

*sad face*

 

[Hoodoo]

You forgot Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" theme song from the film Rocky III. That song where ever its played, has this "feel", " aura", and visceral intensity to it that Ive seen seemingly mild-mannered men and women at bowling alleys, gyms, playing pickup basketball, they turn into almost superhuman, unstoppable maniacs hearing the song.

It's one of those songs where if you're boxing someone, you can be bloody, tired, your body is worn-down, that song pops in your head, it's like a placebo adrenaline shot that makes you get off the mat, and fight like a complete, uncontrollable, vicious animal. You will make the unfortunate souls who forked with you realize that was the worst decision of their respective lives.

I'll be honest, thats one I never really cared much for outside of the context of the movie. It always felt campy to me for some reason. I do like it for nostalgia-sake and get a chuckle when my kids sing it.

 

[faceman]

Over 5 pages and no G&R?



Welcome to the Jungle always kind of summed up the no-holds-barred approach many of us took to life in the 80’s. Right foot flat on the floor, throttle wide open all the time both figuratively and literally.

There was not one bad song on that whole album. All of them kicked arse. My favorite was Mr. Brownstone.
A not so subtle message from Axl to the rest of the group you're getting out of control.

 

[Hoodoo]

I’ve noted before, but the 80s are EASILY the best era for music white guys can dance to - and no other era comes close
And yet too many are posting basic rock songs
I’ve now become sad thinking that the synthesizer offered a paint by numbers approach to dancing and many of y’all still didn’t take advantage

*sad face*

The hell you say...