What song is most synonymous with "the eighties?"

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I say "Obsession" by Animotion. What say ye?

― paul cox (paul cox), Saturday, 3 May 2003 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

material girl

― autovac (autovac), Saturday, 3 May 2003 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"1959" by the Sisters of Mercy
"1969" by Iggy Pop
"1979" by the Smashing Pumpkins
"1999" by Prince

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 3 May 2003 22:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"come as you are" hahaha

― Aaron A., Saturday, 3 May 2003 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

(Of course seeing as how all of those except for "1979" were recorded in the 80's, all the fun has been sucked out of my post.)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 3 May 2003 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Duran Duran's "Notorious"..... employed to great effect in Donnie Darko, I might add.

― maria b (maria b), Saturday, 3 May 2003 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

er, "1969" was recorded in 1969.

― paul cox (paul cox), Saturday, 3 May 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

And the Smashing Pumpkins song was from the 90s.

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 3 May 2003 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Power of Love" Huey Lewis and the News

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 3 May 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel-"White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)"

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Saturday, 3 May 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

"Obsession" was used as the theme song to VH1's "The Big Eighties" in the mid-ninties, so I guess it's considered pretty synonymous.

― Applepie Baseball, Saturday, 3 May 2003 23:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Melt With You"

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Saturday, 3 May 2003 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, it's "Addicted to Love," isn't it? At least it's evocative of a certain kind of eighties": stockbrokers with beers in fern bars and what not.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 4 May 2003 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

'Hip to be Square', surely.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Sunday, 4 May 2003 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)

er, "1969" was recorded in 1969.

whoops, I got "1969" mixed up with "Summer of '69" (it's not every day that that happens you know)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 4 May 2003 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

'sunglasses at night'

― keith (keithmcl), Sunday, 4 May 2003 02:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Heading Alex in NY off at the pass
"Eighties" by Killing Joke

'Hip to be Square', surely.
Only applies to the year 1988

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Sunday, 4 May 2003 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)"
or maybe "Lawyers in Love"

― Evan (Evan), Sunday, 4 May 2003 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

the first thing i thought of was take on me by a-ha
not sure what that says about either me or the eighties

― robin (robin), Sunday, 4 May 2003 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"Electric Dreams."

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Sunday, 4 May 2003 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Borealis youuuuu
and I RAAAAAAAAN
I RAAAN SO FAR AWAYHEYHEY
AND I RAAAAAANN
I RAAAN SO FAR AWAYHEYHEY

two hairdressers and a dude who constantly wears sunglasses. how could anything else even be nearly as appropriate?

― Millar (Millar), Sunday, 4 May 2003 02:59 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sister Christian"

― chris herrington, Sunday, 4 May 2003 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

From my iTunes "Tacking 80s Music" playlist:

Safety Dance
Who Can it Be Now
Dance Hall Days
Relax
Walkin on Sunshine
Come on Eileen
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Video Killed the Radio Star
Voices Carry
She Blinded me from Science
Perfect Way
Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Dancing With Myself
Sweet Dreams
I Ran

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Sunday, 4 May 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't You Forget About Me"

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 4 May 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

To quote a seemingly popular ILM quote...

"A Flock of Seagulls roxx u r all gay!!!!"

;)

(Seriously, though. I'm an AFOS fan. Stop looking at me that way. Please.)

On the original topic at hand, these '80s songs make me think "totally '80s":

Johnny Hates Jazz, "Shattered Dreams"
When in Rome, "The Promise"
Boy Meets Girl, "Waiting for a Star to Fall" (hard to believe they come from the same place Soundgarden come from)
Information Society, "Pure Energy"
The Cure, "Why Can't I Be You?" (LOVE it)
Modern English, "Melt with You"
Scritti Politti, "Wood Beez"
Simple Minds, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (which luna also chose, I've noted, but I'm still including it anyway)
The Vapors, "Turning Japanese"
Alphaville, "Forever Young"
Michael McDonald, "Sweet Freedom"
Bananarama, "Robert De Niro's Waiting"
Gang of Four, "Is it Love"
Heaven 17, "Temptation"
Janet Jackson, "Control" (back when she was, like, totally awesome)
Morris Day & The Time, "Jungle Love"
Prince, "I Would Die 4 U"
The Bangles, "Hero Takes a Fall"

Note: as a huge '80s music fan, I adore all the above songs. I also think the above would make a killer '80s compilation. That's just me, though.

― Dee the Semi-Lurker (Dee the Lurker), Sunday, 4 May 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Also anytime I hear John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band "On the Dark Side," *bam*, I'm back in high school.

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 4 May 2003 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

i neeeeeeeeeeed your loooooooooooooooooooove oooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooawhoa ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 4 May 2003 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Heading Alex in NY off at the pass
"Eighties" by Killing Joke

Goddammit!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 4 May 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Sly Fox - "Let's Go All The Way" is the only correct answer to this question.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 4 May 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

It's Kids In America and you are all a stupid tortoise.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 4 May 2003 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"livin' on a prayer"

― Tad (llamasfur), Sunday, 4 May 2003 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael D is OTM really but I do want to put in a word for Sherriff's "When I'm With You".

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 4 May 2003 22:25 (twenty-two years ago)

the real answer is, of course, "your love" by the outfield.

― Tad (llamasfur), Sunday, 4 May 2003 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I just listened to Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats for the first time in something like fifteen years, having at last stumbled across a copy recently used, and "Intro/Walk on Water" might just be the best song from all those ten years of that decade that nobody knows about.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 4 May 2003 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

happy birthday by altered images

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 4 May 2003 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Nobody's said "Money for Nothing" yet?

― Dan I., Monday, 5 May 2003 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"Too Shy" - Kajagoogoo

"I'm Still Standing" - Elton John

"Take On Me" - A-Ha

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Seriously, though. I'm an AFOS fan
Did the record stores ever resolve the biggest debate in the eighties... where to file A Flock of Seagulls, under A or F?

― Roman (Roman), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd file them under A, like A Certain Ratio

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Toto Coelo "I Eat Cannibal"!!!!!
Swing Out Sister "Breakout"!!!!!
The Look "I Am The Beat"!!!!!
Balitmora "Tarzan Boy"!!!!!
Kane Gang "Gun Law"!!!!!
Black "Wonderful Life"!!!!!
Latin Quarter "Radio Africa"!!!!! (Oh, and their hideous cover of Toyah's "America For Beginners!!!!)
Toyah "I Wanna Be Free"!!!!!
China Crisis "African and White"!!!!!
Japan "Life In Toyko"!!!!!
FR David "Words"!!!!
Jan Hammer "Crockett's Theme"!!!!
The Bangles "Manic Monday"!!!!
Cliff Richard "Wired For Sound"!!!! (A song about Walkmans for flips sake!!!)
Erm, I'm out of ideas!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Monday, 5 May 2003 11:05 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm gonna write a song called '1989'

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 5 May 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

clearly there's a niche just waiting for to be filled...what do you think it should sound like? should i include references to 'Gorky Park' and solitary whistling ala Scorpions' 'Wind Of Change'?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 5 May 2003 11:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Either "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell or "Don't You Want Me" by Human League.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 5 May 2003 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

The early 80s that is, for the late 80s, that would be "The Final Countdown" by Europe.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 5 May 2003 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Geir, you horrify me, but in a good way.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 5 May 2003 12:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, "The Final Countdown"?????? RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 5 May 2003 12:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Funny you should say that- "Run for the Hills" by Iron Maiden is also a good 80s song!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Monday, 5 May 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Here's some more!!!!

Huey Lewis & The News "Power of Love"!!!!!!!!
Pat Benatar "Love Is A Battlefield"!!!!!!
Johnny Hates Jazz "Turn Back The Clock"!!!!!!!
Ryan Paris "Dolce Vita"
Living In A Box "Living In A Box"!!!!!!
Heaven 17 "Temptation"!!!!!!!
Kim Wilde "Kids In America"!!!!!!
Paul Hardcastle "N-N-N-N-Nineteen"!!!!!!
J. Geils Band "Centerfold"
The Stranglers "Golden Brown"!!!!!!
Spagna "Boys Boys Boys"!!!!!
Cock Robin "The Promise You Made"!!!!!
Freeez "IOU"!!!!!
Falco "Rock Me Amadeus"!!!!!!
Erm, I'm out of ideas again!!!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Monday, 5 May 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, if we're splitting up the decade, I'd say early 80s="We Got the Beat" and late 80s="Welcome to the Jungle". Cause I'm in an LA state of mind.

― Arthur (Arthur), Monday, 5 May 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/memo/memo48.GIF http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/memo/memo48.GIF http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/memo/memo48.GIF http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/memo/memo48.GIF

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 5 May 2003 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"87 and Cry" Bowie

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 5 May 2003 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"advertise beer"

Has anyone heard the Flock of Seagulls: "this bud's for you" song. New wave never sold beer better. (this is a co-post with the What do you want music to do? thread)

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 5 May 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw the video for "Nightmares" last night; who knew A Flock Of Seagulls was so balls-out creepy?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 5 May 2003 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

hurrah for the return of Old Fart! (please add to my Bobby O thread of months ago)

I say 'Always on my mind' by PSB for most 80s song.

― Ian SPACK (Ian SPACK), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Must...stop...watching...Time/Life...80s...informercial.

― dleone (dleone), Monday, 5 May 2003 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

It is either "Radio Free Europe" or "Crazy Train", probably according to whether to took shop or art classes.

― earlnash, Monday, 5 May 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

For my money, the song most synonymous with the 80's is "Billie Jean" by you-know-who. I don't like the song, mind you, but when I think "80's", that's the music the band in my head starts playing.

― Davlo (Davlo), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

where to file A Flock of Seagulls, under A or F?

I now file A Flock of Seagulls under clowns.

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, "The Final Countdown"?????? RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!

Well, you can take that as a statement from me about what I thought about the late 80s. "The Final Countdown" was typical of the late 80s. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 5 May 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Final Countdown" still gets played at Detroit Pistons games. But it wasn't even the best song on that album. That would be Ninja.

How bout the Go-Go's "We Got the Beat"?

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Monday, 5 May 2003 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Van Halen-"Jump"

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Monday, 5 May 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I just listened to Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats for the first time in something like fifteen years, having at last stumbled across a copy recently used, and "Intro/Walk on Water" might just be the best song from all those ten years of that decade that nobody knows about.

I heart Men W/o Hats! They've been treated very poorly by history. Ivan just keeps popping up in the oddests of places in Montreal music history.

Sadly as great as New Wave was (Animotion's 'Obsession' has been used by CITY/Much Music as a theme song since the 80s which I had previously mistaken on this bitch for a section of a Pet Shop Boys 'Always On My Mind') I'm more with picking 'Thriller' or 'Born In The USA' for purely big black all knowing monolith status they held.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 5 May 2003 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"1979" by the Smashing Pumpkins
"1999" by Prince

I blame David Bowie and Van Halen using up all the 1984 hype with Tina Turner throwing in a cover of 1984 during 1984 as well.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 5 May 2003 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, there's some good answers in this thread (the first one I ever asked no less!)...

Worst '80s production?

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Monday, 5 May 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)

you broke it.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 5 May 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

""The Final Countdown" still gets played at Detroit Pistons games. But it wasn't even the best song on that album. That would be Ninja."
-Dude! You're forgetting "Cherokee"! And "Rock the Night"!

― Conor (Conor), Tuesday, 6 May 2003 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow. I saw the video for Animotion's "My Obsession" was on VH1 Classic last night. All I can say is... wow. I don't remember seeing it back in the day. But, let me just say now, it wins. Hands down. Imagine every single "80s thing" you can think of crammed into one 4-minute video. Wow.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 13:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw the video for "Strange But True" by nauseating duo Time Two last night, almost singularly embodying everything that was abjectly rancid about mid-to-late 80's pop. Blecchh!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The girl singer in Animotion had those venetian blinds sunglasses, a pony tale, AND was wearing all pastel and lots of blush on her cheeks. The guy was all Miami Vice and had BIG hair and was all snotty looking. THEN in the next scene the girl was dressed up in a gold lamé Egyptian-looking outfit. It was unreal.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Animotion's 'Obsession' is great, it's true... b-b-but where's the love for Belouis Some's 'Imagination'??

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it might be "It's the end of the world as we know it" maybe

― g (graysonlane), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

'True' by Spandau Ballet

― ss, Tuesday, 13 May 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Promises, Promises" by Naked Eyes is the quintessential 80's tune for me.

btw, stevem, there already is a song called "1989" by Tityo

― blutroniq, Tuesday, 13 May 2003 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

the good, the bad and the ugly

an 80s compilation released tomorrow:

Back to the 80s (Sony)

1. I'm Your Man-Wham

2. Prince Charming-Adam & The Ants

3. Fascination-Human League

4. Hold Me Now-Thompson Twins

5. I Owe You Nothinh-Bros

6. Frankie-Sister Sledge

7. Never Gonna Give You Up-Rick Astley

8. Sun Always Shines On TV-Aha

9. If You Let Me Stay-Terence Trent D'Arby

10. Love Plus One-Haircut 100

11. You Spin Me Round-Dead Or Alive

12. Love & Pride-King

13. Venus-Bananarama

14. Manic Monday-Bangles

15. Down Under-Men At Work

16. Don't Leave Me This Way-Communards

17. Best Years Of Our Lives-Modern Romance

18. Don't Go-Yazoo

19. Mad World-Tears For Fears

20. Vienna-Ultravox

Disc Two

1. Hungry Like The Wolf-Duran Duran

2. Relax-Frankie Goes To Hollywood

3. Town Called Malice-The Jam

4. Tainted Love-Soft Cell

5. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me-Culture Club

6. Faith-George Michael

7. Through The Barricades-Spandau Ballet

8. Total Eclipse Of The Heart-Bonnie Tyler

9. 99 Red Balloons-Nena

10. Japanese Boy-Aneka

11. Hand On Your Heart-Kylie Minogue

12. Can You Feel It-Jacksons

13. We Close Our Eyes-Go West

14. Wherever I Lay My Hat-Paul Young

15. See The Day-Dee C Lee

16. Wonderful Life-Black

17. What Is Love-Howard Jones

18. Happy Birthday-Altered Image

19. Come On Eileen-Dexy's Midnight Runners

20. The Final Countdown-Europe

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 30 May 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

nobody's mentioned blue monday yet!

― chris andrews (fraew), Sunday, 30 May 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I never heard Blue Monday until the late '90s

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 30 May 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

(Then again I was born in '87)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 30 May 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

you just blew my mind

― chris andrews (fraew), Sunday, 30 May 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Nobody's mentioned "Karma Chameleon" yet. That's just wrong.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 30 May 2004 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I have never contributed to a thread saying "You're all wrong"; but this time, YOU'RE ALL WRONG! At least in North America, nothing screams '80s like "We Are The World". For better or (more likely) worse.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 31 May 2004 02:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Everybody have Fun tonight - Wang Chung

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 31 May 2004 03:27 (twenty-one years ago)

TAKE MY BREATH AWAY!!!

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 31 May 2004 03:27 (twenty-one years ago)

The word "80's" automatically triggers in my brain the first 4 bars of "Hungry like the wolf."

― sucka (sucka), Monday, 31 May 2004 03:43 (twenty-one years ago)

sucka's a closet Duranie. ;)

Myonga, I think some of us are choosing to block that particular unpleasant stain from our collective memory. I mean, talk about schmaltz. At least "Do They Know It's Christmas?" managed to be a catchy pop tune.

I can't believe I forgot about Culture Club! Except I would've selected "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" instead of "Karma Chameleon". And I can't believe I forgot Haircut 100 -- either "Love Plus One" or "Favourite Shirts". And then there's the aforementioned "Promises, Promises" by Naked Eyes, Depeche Mode's "People Are People", and "Don't Talk To Strangers" by Rick Springfield, as well as the ones the me who was one year younger than i am today stated upthread.

p.s.: Old Fart, wherever you are, thanks for mentioning "Life in Tokyo". I must listen to it. NOW.

― Those Beautiful Lines (Dee the Lurker), Monday, 31 May 2004 09:03 (twenty-one years ago)

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