Comments on: Songs That Defined the 80s and 90s

Question: Songs That Defined the 80s and 90s

lysistrata — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:48:02 -0800

I'm looking for 80s and 90s songs that defined the times.

I'm looking for the songs that dominated the radio between the mid 80s and mid 90s. I'm looking for the songs you made out to and the songs you made fun of. Help me make a friend's birthday party a good one. If you graduated high school between '89 and '94 what are the tunes that bring you back to home room?

By: lysistrata

lysistrata — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:51:10 -0800

I should note: don't feel constrained by the dates I gave. Anything from the mid-80s to the mid-90s is helpful. The cheesier the better!

By: amyms

amyms — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:57:45 -0800

Huge make-out tune: Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" which was the love song from the movie "Say Anything" (1989).

By: greenland

greenland — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:58:36 -0800

This may or may not be useful, but John Parr's damn "St. Elmo's Fire" song (or whatever it's called) has randomly appeared twice in my life today. George Michael's "Faith" takes me back. So does about 75% of this list.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:59:01 -0800

Ace of Base - The Sign

That thing was everywhere in 1993.

By: plasticbugs

plasticbugs — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:02:36 -0800

Baby Got Back. Seriously.

By: lysistrata

lysistrata — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:02:38 -0800

So far, so good. I'm talking song you're embarrassed to admit you owned yet were all over the radio. Ace of Base is an excellent example.

By: amyms

amyms — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:06:02 -0800

I'm talking song you're embarrassed to admit you owned yet were all over the radio.

Ahh, okay then, anything by New Kids On The Block. Especially "Hangin' Tough."

By: icarus

icarus — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:06:19 -0800

Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Vogue by Madonna?

George Michael comes to mind, too.

By: lysistrata

lysistrata — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:21:53 -0800

Hangin' Tough is terrific. She will hate me. Perfect.

By: Balonious Assault

Balonious Assault — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:22:33 -0800

80's Cheese:
Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now
Martika - Toy Soldiers
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy
Roxette - The Look
Milli Vanilli - Blame it on the Rain

By: All.star

All.star — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:26:27 -0800

Debbie Gibson - Electric Youth
Berlin - Take my Breath Away

By: MikeMc

MikeMc — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:38:07 -0800

Thompson Twins - "Hold Me Now"
Terence Trent D'Arby - "Wishing Well"

Wait, cheesy?

How about Kajagoogoo - "Too Shy"

Then again I graduated in '86 so maybe I'm going back a little too far.

By: rodgerd

rodgerd — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:39:00 -0800

Hmm.

A-Ha, Take On Me.
Duran Duran... pretty much anything.
Scorpions, Winds of Change (was there ever footage of the Berlin Wall coming down without this playing?).
Psychedlic Furs, Pretty In Pink.
Nirvana, all the singles from Nevermind.
Guns n Roses - many, many songs, but Welcome to the Jungle is the obvious standout.
Bon Jovi circa Slippery When Wet.
Def Leppard - most of the Hysteria album.
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams.
Spandau Ballet - Gold.
OMD.
Blur - Girls and Boys was just nonstop in my neck of the woods, but a bunch of Parklife and Blur were huge.
Aqua - Barbie Girl.
The Cult - Wild Hearted Son.

By: MikeMc

MikeMc — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:40:00 -0800

George Michael comes to mind, too.

Oooohhh "I Want Your Sex" FTW!

By: des

des — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:41:51 -0800

Wilson Phillips - Hold On
Paula Abdul - Straight Up
Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel
Belinda Carlisle - I Get Weak

By: MikeMc

MikeMc — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:52:02 -0800

Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives me Crazy
I actually bought this CD

Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight

WHAM! - "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go"

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax (Don't Do It)

Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

I have to stop or I'll be doing this all freakin' night.

One more, one of my absolute favorite '80s songs: Big Country - In A Big Country

By: Mael Oui

Mael Oui — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:55:03 -0800

MC Hammer - Have You Seen Her? (I think this is cheesier and better than 'U Can't Touch This'.. You know it's good right from the first part where Hammer says, 'Aww, yeah. I'm glad I put this tape in..' And you're in total agreement with Hammer!

Snow - Informer
Salt n Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex
Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up
C + C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat
Gerardo - Rico Suave
Timbuk 3 - The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades
Yello - Oh Yeah
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
Amy Grant - Baby Baby
Tag Team - Whoomp! There It IS
Haddaway - What Is Love
Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart
Kris Kross - Jump (This one's pretty good)
Jordy - Dur Dur d´être Bébé
Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5
Republica - Ready To Go
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative or Every Little Step
The Heights - How Do You Talk To An Angel?
Wham! - I'm Your Man
RuPaul - Supermodel

In a different vein, I was pretty embarrassed about the Spin Doctors. I didn't like them, I was just embarrassed. They 'Two Princes' and 'Little Miss Can't Be Wrong'.

By: Mael Oui

Mael Oui — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:58:56 -0800

They're songs were 'Two Princes' and 'Little Miss Can't Be Wrong'.

By: amyms

amyms — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:03:19 -0800

Seconding MikeMc's suggestions [insert thumbs-up here].

By: rodgerd

rodgerd — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:06:58 -0800

Also, mid-Eighties through early Nineties were pretty much the prime time for Madonna (when everyone paid attention to her culturally and musically - Like a Virgin, Papa Don't Preach, et al) and George Michael (both in Wham and on his own - think Faith).

By: amyms

amyms — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:08:55 -0800

Mael Oui said: I was pretty embarrassed about the Spin Doctors. I didn't like them, I was just embarrassed. They 'Two Princes'...

Nothing to be ashamed about regarding The Spin Doctors. "Two Princes" is a great 90s song.

By: rodgerd

rodgerd — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:10:06 -0800

Men Without Hats - Safety Dance.

By: Mael Oui

Mael Oui — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:15:58 -0800

'Return To Innocence' by Enigma might be a fun sing-along!

By: lysistrata

lysistrata — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:19:08 -0800

You guys are awesome. I knew AskMe would come through. Loving the suggestions.

This party will be taking place in a skating rink and I already have a good idea of what I'll be playing, couples skate included. Keep 'em coming!

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:19:54 -0800

Samantha Fox anything
Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly
George Harrison - Got My Mind Set on You (maybe not cheesy, but was ubiquitous to the extreme)
We Are the World
Cameo - Word Up
Simply Irresistible - Robert Palmer
Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry
Good Thing - Fine Young Cannibals

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:23:26 -0800

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
Peter Cetera - Glory of Love
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
Prince anything

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:27:26 -0800

I'm not sure if you have any interest in this, but in trying to make sure I was spelling something right, I ran into eightyeightynine.com's music section and found they had a top 40 list (see link).

By: ellenaim

ellenaim — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:31:30 -0800

I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
Epic - Faith No More
Been Caught Stealing - Jane's Addiction
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You - Bryan Adams

Other acts that come to mind from the 80s and 90s: Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Tori Amos, Metallica.

By: lysistrata

lysistrata — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:37:49 -0800

batmonkey, thank you for the eightyeightynine site. It's a big help.

By: Sonny Jim

Sonny Jim — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:17:33 -0800

Extreme, Hole Hearted. (ouch!)
Seal, Crazy.
Seal, Kissed by a Rose on the Grave.
Cathy Dennis, Touch Me All Night Long. (cringeworthy)
Mr. Mister, Broken Wings.
Richard Marx, Right Here Waiting.
Johnny Farnham, You're the Voice.

By: amyms

amyms — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:29:14 -0800

Good list, Sonny Jim, but the second Seal song is "Kiss From a Rose" and the lyric is "kissed by a rose on the grey" (not grave).

By: zengargoyle

zengargoyle — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:43:20 -0800

T'Pau - Heart and Soul.
Adam Ant - almost anything.
M.A.R.S. (?) - Push It.
Toni Basil - Mickey
Soft Cell - Tainted Love

By: PenDevil

PenDevil — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:11:43 -0800

PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, Looking Through Patient Eyes

By: dog food sugar

dog food sugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:19:09 -0800

The Cure - Close to me, or Love Cats.

when I was searching those links I kept accidentally typing "the cute." he he. Hey! I think that will be my tribute band name!

By: beachhead2

beachhead2 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:37:21 -0800

Simple Minds: "Don't You Forget About Me"

Psychedelic Furs: "Pretty In Pink"

OMD: "If You Leave"

Molly Ringwald rocks!

I am annoying my children now.

By: Admiral Haddock

Admiral Haddock — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:11:07 -0800

Blind Melon-No Rain
US3-Cantaloop
Diggable Planets-Rebirth of Slick
The Pharcyde-Ya Mama
The Pharcyde-Passin' Me By

By: mrmarley

mrmarley — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:24:55 -0800

seconding Nu Shooz, "I Can't Wait"
Samantha Foxx "Touch Me"
Sherrif "When I'm You"
REO Speedwagon "Can't Fight This Feeling"
White Lion "When The Children Cry" (cheesiest song EVER)
Cutting Crew "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight"

By: jozxyqk

jozxyqk — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:49:53 -0800

Grand Theft Auto Vice City soundtrack. nuff said

By: furtive

furtive — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:12:11 -0800

Jesus Jones "Right Here, Right Now"

By: ricochet biscuit

ricochet biscuit — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:24:39 -0800

The most quintessential '80s songs that I did not see listed above would be Down Under and the curiously punctuation-free Come On Eileen.

I was not listening to current music in the '90s, but even then, I heard Champagne Supernova enough to know it note for note.

By: KatlaDragon

KatlaDragon — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:46:19 -0800

Oh boy, this question takes me back to jr. high and mostly not in a good way (although you have to play Have You Seen Her!). Here are a few of the cheesier songs that haven't been mentioned:

Sinead O'Connor -- Nothing Compares 2 U
Boyz II Men -- It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday / End of the Road
Gerardo -- Rico Suave
Bel Biv DeVoe -- Poison
Jon Bon Jovi -- Blaze of Glory
Bon Jovi -- Bed of Roses
GNR -- November Rain / You Could Be Mine

By: SuperSquirrel

SuperSquirrel — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:50:18 -0800

Anything from THRILLER!!!

Our House - Madness
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
The Flame - Cheap Trick
That's What I Like About You - The Romantics
Head Over Heels - The Go-Go's
anything from Purple Rain (Prince)
Rock the Casbah - The Clash
Working for the Weekend - Loverboy

By: KatlaDragon

KatlaDragon — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:10:18 -0800

A few more more:

R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion was everywhere in 1991
Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody was revived by Wayne's World in 1992
Arrested Development -- Tennessee
Tracy Chapman -- Fast Car
Black Crowes -- Hard to Handle / She Talks to Angels
Aerosmith -- Janie's Got a Gun / Love in an Elevator

and a few of my personally maligned earworms:
Technotronic feat. Ya Kid K - Move This
Lisa Stansfield -- Around the World
Crystal Waters -- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)

Finally, a scan through the musical guests on Saturday Night Live during the period in question should provide some other good ideas.

By: Wild_Eep

Wild_Eep — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:52:55 -0800

Soul Asylum - Runaway Train
U2 - One / Mysterious Ways
Billy Joel - We didn't start the fire
Extreme - More than words
Sting - All this time
Amy Grant - Every Heartbeat / I will remember you
Genesis - Hold on My Heart

By: Wild_Eep

Wild_Eep — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:27:35 -0800

After reading the Weird Al thread, It hit me that if you grab whatever albums he released in that time period and peruse the polka medley from each album, you'll have a decent list of what was popular at the time.

By: pxe2000

pxe2000 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:49:23 -0800

"Laid" by James.
"Cannonball" by the Breeders
"Feed the Tree" by Belly
"Good" by Better Than Ezra
Anything from that Presidents of the USA album

By: ostranenie

ostranenie — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:54:10 -0800

EMF - Unbelievable
Helmet - Unsung
REM - It's the End of the World As We Know It

By: ostranenie

ostranenie — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:54:35 -0800

Also Born of Frustration by James.

By: 23skidoo

23skidoo — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:42:37 -0800

I'm looking for the songs you made out to

Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
Just Like Heaven by the Cure
Head like a Hole by NIN

By: pxe2000

pxe2000 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:05:05 -0800

Us3: "Flip Fantasia"
Jesus Jones: "Right Here Right Now"
Cure: "Friday I'm In Love"
The entire Wilson/Phillips catalog
Blues Traveller: "Runaround"

On the less-embarrassing tip: "Casiotone Nation" by Soul Coughing?

By: pxe2000

pxe2000 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:10:02 -0800

Oh, "Wishing Well" by Terrence Trent D'Arby.

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:37:37 -0800

amyms: No, it's "grave". One of the most morbid pop songs since the '50s.

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:50:06 -0800

Hm. Actually, now I don't know...and he doesn't list lyrics in his cds, and of course the soundtrack it's on doesn't have lyrics.

Weeeeeeird. I think I'm going to keep thinking "grave", even though it probably is "grey".

By: Jaltcoh

Jaltcoh — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:55:10 -0800

Counting Crows - Mr. Jones
Lisa Loeb - Stay (I miss you)

By: nicwolff

nicwolff — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:20:32 -0800

I was at the Echo and the Bunnymen show at Radio City Music Hall on Wed night and I can tell you that "The Cutter", "Lips Like Sugar", and "The Killing Moon" brought the '80s screaming back.

By: crinklebat

crinklebat — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:43:46 -0800

This thread feels 80's heavy. I would say definitely "What's Going On" by 4 Non Blondes. It came on the radio the other day and took me back hard...and I still knew all the words. And yes, seconding Oasis (either Champagne Supernova or Wonderwall), maybe some Hole, and Alanis. Tonnns of Alanis.

By: zachxman

zachxman — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:55:49 -0800

The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"

By: chana meira

chana meira — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:56:58 -0800

The first song every played on MTV...
Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

By: amyms

amyms — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:07:32 -0800

batmonkey, your favorite lyrics site is wrong.

By: Miss Otis' Egrets

Miss Otis' Egrets — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:58:26 -0800

I've forgotten the singer's name, but how about the one that goes "...never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you..."?

It was such a huge hit in the late eighties, I'm surprised nobody's mentioned it yet.

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:17:13 -0800

amyms: not my favourite, just one that comes up quickly. If one of the other sites had been first, I'd have instantly agreed w/ you. So, instead, clarification was offered after I went back and clicked through a few others. :)

'90s: popculturemadness.com is pretty handy for '90s hits.

By: cholly

cholly — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:53:21 -0800

You need Celebrity Skin by Hole. I also can't believe that nobody has mentioned The Bangles or The Final Countdown by Europe.

I believe that Miss Otis is referring to Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up.

By: pxe2000

pxe2000 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:00:44 -0800

Here are some more:

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by the Crash Test Dummies
Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry
Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now) by Cracker
Here and Now by Letters To Cleo
Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry
Saved the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams
Finally by Cece Peniston
UNITY by Queen Latifah
Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa

The more I scrape away the cool stuff from my brain, the more I remember...THE CHEESE.

By: brujita

brujita — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:19:31 -0800

R.I.P. Ian McCulloch's clarion tenor.

The Clash: "Should I Stay or Should I Go".
Everything of the Violent Femmes
Romeo Void's "Never Say Never"

Bowie's Let's Dance Album came out in '83

By: cereselle

cereselle — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:22:03 -0800

A couple 90s songs that just instantly take me back to driving to my summer job:

Jon Secada- Just Another Day
Toad the Wet Sprocket- All I Want
Sophie B. Hawkins- Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover

And for late 90s, don't forget... the Mmm-Bop.

By: lysistrata

lysistrata — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:46:27 -0800

I want to thank everyone for the terrific suggestions! I'm going to have my hands full putting this all together but I think it's going to be great fun at the same time. I wanted to mark every single one a best answer but it's taking forever for some reason. Rest assured, if you posted here you definitely gave me a best answer!