Sweetwater / February 10, 2005 9:51 AM

"If I Had a Rocket Launcher"

Sheila / February 10, 2005 9:53 AM

Elephant Stone by the Stone Roses

Sweetwater / February 10, 2005 9:59 AM

Manchester, eh?
"Age of Consent" by New Order

cd / February 10, 2005 10:03 AM

Fuck all that limey noise.

Prince - Adore, from Sign o the Times

Leah / February 10, 2005 10:07 AM

"Living on a Prayer" Bon Jovi.

Sweetwater / February 10, 2005 10:08 AM

Minneapolis, eh?
"Celebrated Summer" by Husker Du

Joe / February 10, 2005 10:12 AM

My favorite 1980s song is '1999' by Prince. But now that song seems so 20th Century...

salty / February 10, 2005 10:19 AM

Scarecrow People - XTC

(off Oranges & Lemons)

Brandy / February 10, 2005 10:24 AM

Though I spent countless hours with Xtc in the 80's, I gotta say Tainted Love.

amyc / February 10, 2005 10:34 AM

I gotta go with "Promise" by When in Rome, just for the sheer unapologetic 80s-ness of it. The angst, the drama, the swirling synths!

cjb / February 10, 2005 10:40 AM

tainted love is a fine song, but for me it's been run into the ground

I can't stop playing "Cars" by Gary Numan on my iPod.

Ian / February 10, 2005 10:46 AM

Duran Duran - Last Chance on the Stairway
Joy Division - Means to an End
The Wedding Present - Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft!
Billy Ocean - Loverboy
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry

Michael / February 10, 2005 10:49 AM

"Trapped Under Ice" off of Ride The Lightning by Metallica.

Thurston / February 10, 2005 10:49 AM

"Once in a Lifetime" on the Talking Heads' Remain in light LP (1980) captures a lot of the best of the 80s sound, and the lyrics are great.

Though not particularly 80s sounding, "The Jezebel Spirit" on David Byrne and Brian Eno's terrific My Life in the Bush of Ghosts LP (1981) provided a blue print for much of today's electronic music - much of Moby's work on Play is quite obviously inspired by it.

Mike / February 10, 2005 10:51 AM

Ouch, that's too hard.

"Transmission" by Joy Division. No wait, "The Goonies R Good Enough" by Cyndi Lauper! No, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson...

Fuck it, I have no one favorite.

Grant Gryska / February 10, 2005 10:54 AM

Talking Heads - Life During Wartime

A Total Classic!

Gordon / February 10, 2005 11:07 AM

I'm going 2 add 2 the Prince love and say "Kiss." U no it's the best.

Matt Wood / February 10, 2005 11:08 AM

Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey, 1986

"Put your left leg down, your right leg up, tilt your head back and finish the cup."

e_five / February 10, 2005 11:19 AM

It would have to be something you could never get away with today... like "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls, or "Beautiful World" by Devo.

salty / February 10, 2005 11:19 AM

another fave:

It's Like That - Run DMC

salty / February 10, 2005 11:22 AM

I shoulda waited and made a list:

This is the Day - The The

Andrew / February 10, 2005 11:24 AM

"Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes.
"Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake.
"Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads.
"Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen.

Nuxrs / February 10, 2005 11:29 AM

"She Blinded Me Wtih Science" by Thomas Dolby.
"Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart.

Amy / February 10, 2005 11:34 AM

I've just re-discovered 'Uncertain Smile' by The The. Thank you Rhino!! That Left of the Dial box set is unbelievable.

Not to mention...

'Whisper to a Scream' - Icicle Works
'Purple Toupee' - They Might Be Giants
'Walk out to Winter' - Aztec Camera
'Lonely is as Lonely Does' - the dBs
'Minor Character', 'Charlotte Street', 'Lost Weekend' - ok, anything by Lloyd Cole & the Commotions.

'Oranges and Lemons' might just be my favorite 80's album though. Brilliant all the way through.

Now I'm curious if I listen to any current music.

Maggie / February 10, 2005 11:38 AM

The Super Bowl Shuffle by the Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew.

karen / February 10, 2005 12:08 PM

thats easy...

Ah-Ha's 'Take On Me'

Roni / February 10, 2005 12:16 PM

Duh..."Veronica" by Elvis Costello.

ellie / February 10, 2005 12:19 PM

"Our House" -- Madness

winterfresh / February 10, 2005 12:29 PM

Eminence Front, by The Who, 1982. For the longest time, with this song, I couldn't figure out what they were saying, for almost 3/4 or half the song. I could've been hearing anything that I thought popped in my head. Still, the song just sounded cool for an 80's song. What's even more funny, is I just found out the name of the song, the lyrics, and who it was written by, after reading the question on GB Huh, show's my enthusiasm.

brian / February 10, 2005 12:34 PM

At first I thought it was Tainted Love, but that would not be true. It is "Last Day of Our Acquaintance" by Ms. O'Connor.

Steve / February 10, 2005 12:52 PM

All of them, darn near.

Special random merit award to "Touch & Go" by the Cars.

And "Eyes Without a Face."

Glad to see Lloyd Cole getting his props (his solo work is ace), and "Emminence Front" is a'ight as well and earns bonus points for its video, which showed the aging rockers to be, well, aging rockers! And woo hoo to The The as well.

This thread was made for Leelah, wasn't it?

Jen / February 10, 2005 12:55 PM

These lists are giving me flashbacks.
Here's my thoughts

Quintessential early 80’s
Forever Young – Alphaville

late 80’s
Ringfinger – NIN

I have to admit I’ve never really left the 80’s. I’ve prolly got Elvis Costello & XTC in my CD changer just now.

Casey / February 10, 2005 12:57 PM

Hmmm, best 80s song not by Prince . . .

freestyle---AEIOU (and sometimes Y) by Ebn-Ozn
house----Move Your Body by Marshall Jefferson

and finally, the best 80s pop song

17 Days by yes, Prince (the bassline from Rasberry Beret and the synths from When The Doves Cry = his best B-side ever)

kippy / February 10, 2005 1:14 PM

"Under The Milkway" The Church

Toni / February 10, 2005 1:23 PM

High school: "Drive" The Cars
"Tainted Love" Soft Cell
"White Wedding" Mr. Idol

College: "How Soon Is Now" The Smiths
"Bizarre Love Triangle" New Order
Anything by the Chameleons

Grad school: "Love Buzz" Nirvana
"Mandinka" S. O'Connor

Toni / February 10, 2005 1:32 PM

But my real favorite for total cheeseball 80's-ness is "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" by Ultravox.

Toni / February 10, 2005 1:33 PM

But my real favorite for total cheeseball 80's-ness is "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" by Ultravox. I don't think anyone can get away with actually listening to that in the company of others.

Toni / February 10, 2005 1:33 PM

geez, sorry 'bout that...

Eamon / February 10, 2005 1:39 PM

I'm going to be predictable here and say anything off Naked Raygun's "Throb Throb", but I'll also give a tip of the hat to salty: any given The The album is a close second.

Michael / February 10, 2005 1:41 PM

Oh so many of them. The soundtrack of my youth. But if I have to pick only one...

Not "(I Just Died in) Your Arms" by the Cutting Crew.
Not "Voices Carry" by Til Tuesday
Not "Under Pressure" by Queen

But...

"Life in a Northern Town" by Deam Academy

Oh yeah.

daruma / February 10, 2005 1:41 PM

I'm diggin on all the Prince love.
But where are my Culture Club freaks? I can't be the only one.
"Miss Me Blind"
"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
"Time (Clock of the Heart)"

Tim / February 10, 2005 1:42 PM

'Answering Machine', The Replacements, 1984

to many to list....

waleeta / February 10, 2005 1:57 PM

This is a totally unanswerable question!! So here's what I remember now -

"Chains of Love" - Erasure
"Toy Soldiers" - Martika
"Our House" (In the Middle of the Street) - Talking Heads*
"I Got a Man (Whatcha Man Gotta Do With Me?)" - Positive K
"Like a Prayer" - Madonna
"Kiss" - Prince**
"Kiss Off" - Violent Femmes
"Personal Jesus" - Depeche Mode***

You also can't really go wrong with the Cure. No one can.

*Really, anything by the Talking Heads
**Really, anything by Prince
***Absolutely Anything by Depeche Mode, people.

Mrs. Notifbutwhen / February 10, 2005 2:04 PM

Wasn't "Our House" (In the MIddle of the Street) by Madness?

tjs / February 10, 2005 2:12 PM

"Head On" - Jesus and Mary Chain
"Isn't It Time" - The Babys

going with too many to list...

Joe / February 10, 2005 2:17 PM

>"Our House" (In the Middle of the Street)

That house must have gotten hit by a lot of cars...

waleeta / February 10, 2005 2:27 PM

Talking Heads, Our House

But Madness did it too.

Overwrought / February 10, 2005 2:32 PM

Does this mean what was my favorite song IN the 1980's that also came from the 1980's or my favorite 80's song today?

Because those two lists would look VERY different...think Debbie Gibson...

K. / February 10, 2005 2:35 PM

"Look of Love" by ABC

Hip Hip Hoorayyyy! Yippie Yi, Yippie Yi Yay Yay!

tjs / February 10, 2005 2:41 PM

There will be an 8 page pictorial featuring Deborah in the March issue of Playboy Magazine on newsstands February 11th!

timely, it would seem

Andy / February 10, 2005 2:48 PM

Amy is right about Lloyd Cole -- anything he did could fit on the list.

Plus, "In Between Days" by The Cure, still gives me the same butterflies I had when I heard it in high school.

Andrew / February 10, 2005 3:03 PM

All Music Guide lists no "Our House" by Talking Heads. Lyric sites often have erroneous info, so I'm guessing that's what's going on here.

cd / February 10, 2005 3:04 PM

Zappa time - Baby Snakes

waleeta / February 10, 2005 3:17 PM

Maybe Talking Heads covered it, since I own it....perhaps?

Michael / February 10, 2005 3:30 PM

Are you thinking of the song "Burning down the house"?
http://www.talking-heads.net/speaking.html

I know I used to get these two mixed up.

Jeff / February 10, 2005 3:34 PM

"Bastards of Young" by The Replacements. Or maybe "Swingin' Party." Or maybe "I'll Be You."

Joe / February 10, 2005 3:40 PM

Geez...too many to list. A choice few that capture the essence:

* Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles (was actually 1979, but come on)
* Synchronicity 2 - The Police
* Overkill - Men at Work
* One Thing Leads to Another - The Fixx
* Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics
* Push - The Cure

Oh, and Casey...I'd argue that "She's Always in my Hair" was better than "17 Days," but they both rock. :)

karen / February 10, 2005 3:40 PM

i do have to admit i was a culture club-head. you can't go wrong with a little black money.

Mike / February 10, 2005 3:44 PM

Interesting afterthought: the Pixies were basically an 80s band (if you want to get into the college radio/early "alternative" labyrinth). Come on Pilgrim, Surfa Rosa and Doolittle were all released between '87 and '89.
Still, no one thinks of them as "80s music".

daruma / February 10, 2005 3:45 PM

Thank you Karen! That's what I'm sayin.

paul / February 10, 2005 3:47 PM

Da Da Da, by Trio

The entire album "Soul Mining" by The The

My Life In the Bush of Ghosts was probably the coolest album from the 80's

I could go on and on with Kraftwerk, Joy Division, Skinny Puppy, A Popular History of Signs, Men Without Hats...

Hoover / February 10, 2005 4:06 PM

Anything by the Housemartins and Madness. I'll also nominate the Who for "Another Tricky Day." Plus I'll confess to continued fondness for the Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" and "Freakazoid" by Midnight Star.

Wait a minute--is this a list of the best songs from the 80s? Or favorite guilty pleasures from the 80s? Or does it matter?

Roxana / February 10, 2005 4:17 PM

McSweeney's thinks "Our House" was by Madness, and it was very traumatic for its inhabitants.

Mike-TS / February 10, 2005 4:48 PM

random songs that come to mind:
Tom's Diner - DNA version
Deep Ocean Vast Sea - Peter Murphy
I Still Haven't Found... (with the choir)- U2
Every Breath You Take - Police
Talk Dirty to Me - Poison
Is She Weird - Pixies
Check it Out - Mellencamp
I'm Free - Soup Dragons
that chant song by Enigma

p.s.: 80's = 1981 - 1990
I think I got a couple 1990 ones there, but it makes it

christian / February 10, 2005 5:20 PM

Just a few.

Kill Surf City, Bo Diddley is Jesus - Jesus and Mary Chain

No New Tale to Tell, Kundalini Express, Motorcycle - Love And Rockets

Stigmata - Ministry

Leelah / February 10, 2005 5:37 PM

I can't pick just one!!!!

"When You Were Mine" Cyndi Lauper
"Dancing with Myself" Billy Idol
"Just Like Honey" JAMC
"Somebody" Depeche Mode
"Inbetween Days" the Cure
"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" The Smiths
"Bizarro" - the entire album by The Wedding Present, but I have to pick one track, I'll go with "Brassneck"

and that "Anyway you want it" song by Journey...

christian / February 10, 2005 5:38 PM

I just found a mix tape siting next to the 'puter.

GoGo's - Vacation, Our lips are sealed
Bronski Beat - Why? (remix)
Dead or Alive - You spin me round (like a record)
T'Pau - Heart and soul (remix)
Adam Ant - Goody two shoes
Stray Cats - Sexy & 17
Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Love missile F1-11
Soft Cell - Tainted love/ Where did are love go?
Animotion - I engineer

That was side one, side two is The Primitives - Lazy 86-88

Also I forgot:

Coldsweat - The Sugarcubes
Who do you love - Jesus and Mary Chain
Never let me down again - Depeche Mode

chicagomonkey / February 10, 2005 5:50 PM

sister christian

minnie / February 10, 2005 6:57 PM

George Michael, "Faith"

Brian / February 11, 2005 8:17 AM

Favorite msuic video of the 80s:
A-ha "Take On Me"
(I first saw it on Music 66. Anyone remember Music 66?)

I can't narrow it to just one song, so here's my Top 5 Favorite Songs of the 80s:
5. Talking Heads "Road To Nowhere"
4. The Cure "Same Deep Water As You"
3. The Smiths "Handsome Devil"
2. New Order "Blue Monday"
1. Violent Femmes "Kiss Off"

Matt / February 11, 2005 9:01 AM

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

marbles / February 11, 2005 9:35 AM

Jockey Full of Bourbon -- Tom Waits
Radio Free Europe -- R.E.M.
Hot For Teacher -- (the real) Van Halen
Poison -- Alice Cooper
Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La-La) -- The Ramones
All of My Senses -- Grant Hart
Run to the Hills -- Iron Maiden

Jen / February 11, 2005 9:57 AM

I'm surprised no B-52s on the list yet...
How about Rock Lobster?

e_five / February 11, 2005 10:24 AM

I forgot Big Audio Dynamite "Medicine Show."

e_five / February 11, 2005 10:30 AM

I'm Casey Kasem, and we're counting down the greatest hits of the 80's. You know, sometimes, music seems to say things a lot better than words can, and that's what our long distance dedications are all about... like this one, from a listener named Laura in Detroit. She writes: "Dear Casey, about a year ago, I was feeling really down..."

Kris / February 11, 2005 11:08 AM

This Fuel question is going to cost me a lot of money at iTunes, I can tell.

Okay, let's see:
"Take on Me"
"Sowing the Seeds of Love," Tears for Fears
Pretty much all of Kick by INXS

This is too hard. I'll go out on a limb, though, and say I'm probably the only person here who'd put "Sara" by Starship on my list. Storms were brewing in her eyes, y'all.

gsh / February 11, 2005 12:26 PM

"Welcome to the Boomtown", David + David
"Los Angeles", X
"How Soon is Now?" The Smiths
"Fool's Gold", Stone Roses

Alex / February 11, 2005 12:27 PM

There is no possible way I could pick only ONE, damnit!

"Treason" by Naked Raygun
"M" by The Cure
"Suffer Little Children" by The Smiths
"I Want the One I Can't Have" by The Smiths
"If I Was UR Girlfriend" by Prince
"Look of Love" ABC
"Not Me" by This Mortal Coil

Diamond Dog / February 11, 2005 12:53 PM

Modern Love - David Bowie

Lizzie / February 11, 2005 1:20 PM

"Major Tom (I'm Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling

Eric / February 11, 2005 1:45 PM

I remember Music 66! The first video I saw (barely, due to bad reception) was Herbie Hancock's Rockit.

Got MTV in '84, which is when you'd have seen (over and over):
Oh Sherri by Steve Perry
Take on Me
Whirly Girl by OXO
Boys of Summer by Don Henley

Favorite Song from the '80s: Hungry Like the Wolf

Margaret / February 11, 2005 1:46 PM

"Tempted" - Squeeze
"Rio" - Duran Duran
"Only the Lonely" - The Motels

so many more...

thbbt. / February 11, 2005 2:07 PM

i don't like mondays -- boomtown rats

eep / February 11, 2005 2:30 PM

"Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo. Whenever those horns kick in at the very beginning, it just makes me happy.

joe / February 11, 2005 3:20 PM

Welcome to the Jungle -- G 'n R;
One -- Metallica;
Hysteria -- Def Leopard;
The Wall (yeah, the whole album) -- Pink Floyd;
Hot for Teacher -- Van Halen;

Admit it, everyone. My list rocks.

bryan / February 11, 2005 3:38 PM

Go-Go's: "Head over Heels," especially Charlotte Caffey wearing her "Look, I'm not on smack!" suburban-mom outfit in the video then rocking out the best piano solo of the 80s.

Altered Images: "I Could be Happy" Always filled the floor at O'Hooleys in Athens, OH.

The Wedding Present: "My Favorite Dress" Reunion show at the Double Door next month woot!

U2, "A Day Without Me" Remember When U2 were only a *little* full of themselves?

Joan Jett: "I Love Rock and Roll." C'mon people! No one said that yet?

matt. / February 11, 2005 4:29 PM

Just a few off the top of my head...

"Voices Carry" - Til Tuesday
"Why Can't I Be You?" - The Cure
"Blasphemous Rumours" - Depeche Mode

So much quality..... so much crap.

Leelah / February 11, 2005 5:29 PM

Hooray for all the Wedding Present votes!

The Wedding Present reunion show is on David Gedge's birthday!

DJ / February 11, 2005 7:54 PM

Dire Straits, "Skateaway"
The Sparks, "Music That You Can Dance To"
Fine Young Cannibals, "She Drives Me Crazy"
Tom Petty, "Free Falling"
Billy Idol, "Mony Mony"
Classix Nouveau, "Guilty"
The Polecats, "Make a Circuit with Me"
Icehouse, "Icehouse"
Wall of Voodoo, "Mexican Radio"

Somebody help me, I can't stop....

Brandy / February 12, 2005 9:21 AM

Steve -
"Touch & Go"

Word.

Lauren / February 12, 2005 12:28 PM

Definitely Cory Hart with "I Wear My Sunglasses At Night"

Robert / February 12, 2005 3:40 PM

This is Chicago, People! So it's gotta be Farley Jackmaster Funk and Jessie Saunders and Diva Darryl Pandy with that "Love Can't Turn Around" remix from 86. WORK! WORK YOUR BODY! WORK! WORK YOUR BODY!

Fern / February 17, 2005 1:09 PM

Being Boiled Human League

rosie / February 20, 2005 9:02 AM

now how can we pick just one its impossible. my list it may be long but hey ............

anything off of def leppard hysteria
anything off of any duran duran album
anything off of any culture club album
anything off of prince purple rain
anything off of any depeche mode
anything off of inxs kick
anything off of any john(cougar)mellencamp
most of any u 2

aerosmith - angel
a ha - take on me
asia - heat of the moment
baltimora - tarzan boy
bangles - hazy shade of winter
berlin - the metro
blondie - the tide is high
bryan adams - heaven ( you know you like it)
cheap trick - the flame
corey hart - never surrender
david bowie - china girl
david bowie - modern love
debbie gibson - in my dreams(just admit it)
dexy's midnight runners - come on eileen
dream academy - life in a northern town
eddie money - take me home tonight
elton john - i'm still standin
erasure-always (but add 2 the anything list)
expose - december
fleetwood mac - 7 wonders (remeber 80s only)
glass tiger - dont forget me when i'm gone
go gos - head over heals
greatful dead - touch of grey
hall & oats - out of touch
heart - these dreams
howard jones - things can only get better
jeff healy band - angel eyes
joan jett - i hate myself for loving you
kenny loggins - danger zone
kenny loggins - meet me half way
level 42 - lessons in love
madness - our house
madonna - live to tell
martika - toy soldiers
men at work - overkill
metallica - one
midnight oil - beds burning
modern english - melt with you
moody blues - wildest dreams
murray head - one night in bangkok
new order - blue monday
night ranger - sister christian
omd - if you leave ( you know it dont hide)
outfield - your love
pat benetar - all fired up
pet shop boys - opportunities
peter gabriel - in your eyes
peter schilling - major tom
phil collins - in the air tonight
phil collins - throwing it all away
poison - every rose has its thorn
psychedellic furs - heartbreak beat
real life - send me an angel
reo speedwagon - keep on loving you
robert palmer - didnt mean to turn you on
rod stewart - young turks
scorpions - wind of change
simple minds - alive and kicking
skid row - i'll remember you (admit it)
soft cell - tainted love (you know now)
soul to soul - back to life
stevie nicks - edge of 17
talk talk - its my life
talking heads - wild wild life
tears for fears - shout
the cure - why cant i be you
the hooters - and we danced
the police - king of pain
the poilce - every breath you take
thompson twins - hold me now
timex social club - rumors
toto - africa
toto - i'll be over you
violent femmes - add it up
wham - edge of heaven
when in rome - the promise
yaz - situation

ok now that i got that out lol i know i have missed a bunch and there are always some goodies that at 9 am when i havent slept yet i have missed. but thats a list for ya guys.
DO NOT SEND ME YOUR MP3 BILL L M A O

jerry / February 25, 2005 4:58 PM

'Screaming in the Night' - Krokus

Alicia Clark / July 13, 2005 11:46 AM

My vote goes to "If You Leave" by OMD-a.k.a. "Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark".

Jamie / August 9, 2006 5:52 PM

In ninth grade all my friends and I would listen to "Head Over Heals" on my walkman in class over and over again.

Ashton / August 9, 2006 5:55 PM

Haha same here the GoGos were really big with me. Although I liked "Head over Heals" I still think "Our lips are sealed." Is a very very good song.

ZACK / September 11, 2006 1:22 PM

level 42 - somethinb about you
stevie winwood - higher love
hall and oates - maneater
duran duran - hungry like wolf
animotion - obsession
j giels band - angel is the centerfold
the news - power of love
tommy tutone - 867 - 5309
crowded house - hey now, hey now
reo speedwagon - keep on lovin you
squeeze - tempted