The 80s Pop Music Hits You Need in Your Life

Looking for a little musical inspiration from the 1980s? Look no further than this list of essential pop hits from the decade. From Madonna to Michael Jackson, these artists defined an era of pop music that is still celebrated today.

Introduction

In the 1980s, pop music became more diverse, with new wave, synth-pop, disco, and hip hop all finding great success. The decade also saw the rise of some of the most iconic pop divas, like Madonna and Whitney Houston. Here are 15 of the biggest pop hits from the 1980s that you need in your life.

“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!

“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” is a 1984 single by the British pop duo Wham!, written and produced by George Michael. It was released in the UK on 14 May 1984 and peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their second number-one hit. In the US, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 7 July 1984, becoming their first and only US chart-topper. The song charted in several other countries including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland.

The song is about having fun and living life to the fullest. The lyrics are written in a call and response format, with Michael’s vocals alternating with those of a female backing vocalist. The song features a prominent saxophone riff.

The single was accompanied by a popular music video directed by Steve Barron which interspersed footage of the band lip synching with shots of people of all ages dancing energetically to the song’s infectious beat.

“Careless Whisper” by George Michael

There are certain songs that instantly transport you back to a specific time and place in your life. For many, George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” is one of those songs. The 1980s ballad became an instant classic when it was released, and its mellow, melancholy sound is still beloved by many.

The song was co-written by Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, and it was originally released as a single by Wham! in 1984. Though it wasn’t an instant success, “Careless Whisper” eventually became one of the biggest pop hits of the decade. It topped charts all over the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and more.

To this day, “Careless Whisper” remains one of George Michael’s most popular songs. Its simple, heart-wrenching lyrics and catchy melody continue to resonate with listeners decades later. If you’re looking for a dose of nostalgia or just want to add a timeless ballad to your collection, “Careless Whisper” is the perfect choice.

“Like a Virgin” by Madonna

“Like a Virgin” is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984). The song was released on October 31, 1984, by Sire Records as the album’s lead single. It was also included on Madonna’s first compilation album, The Immaculate Collection (1990). Written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and produced by Nile Rodgers, the track heralded an artistic and personal renaissance for Madonna, becoming one of her all-time signature songs. It was later included on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The music video was shot in Venice, Italy. After two failed attempts to shoot the video due to bad weather conditions, it was finally completed on the third try. The video features Madonna as a bride going through various “wedding day activities”, interspersed with flashbacks from her bachelorette party the previous night. Like the song itself, the video caused significant controversy among social conservatives who reprimanded Madonna for her blasphemous depiction of marriage. Nevertheless, “Like a Virgin” became Madonnas first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained atop the chart for six weeks, cementing her position as a pop icon.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” is a song by American singer Whitney Houston, released as the first single from her second studio album, Whitney. The song was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of the band Boy Meets Girl and produced by Narada Michael Walden. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” is a joyful dance song that features simple synthesizer lead and backing rhythms. The lyrics talk about finding a partner who will make you happy and dance with you all night long.

The song became one of Houston’s signature songs and one of the biggest hits of 1987, spending two weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988. The music video for the song was directed by Brian Grant and released in June 1987. It features Houston dancing around a nightclub with various costumed dancers. The video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video, winning the latter award.

“Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel

Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” is one of the most iconic pop songs of the 1980s. Released in 1983, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has become a staple of 1980s pop music. The song is about a working-class man who falls in love with an “uptown girl” – a woman who is from a wealthy family. The song has a catchy hook and a memorable chorus, making it one of the most popular pop songs of the 1980s.

“Every Breath You Take” by The Police

“Every Breath You Take” is a song by English rock band The Police from their 1983 album Synchronicity. Written by Sting, the single was the biggest hit of 1983 in the United States, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks, becoming The Police’s only U.S. number-one single. It also topped the Billboard Top Tracks chart for nine weeks. For the song, Sting won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1985.

In 2004, “Every Breath You Take” was ranked number 84 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, and in 2010, it was voted by readers of Guitar World as the greatest pop song ever written. In 2017, NME placed it at number 2 in its list of “The 150 Best Songs Of The 1980s”.

“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson

“Billie Jean” is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on January 2, 1983, as the second single from Jackson’s sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. “Billie Jean” mixes disco and post-disco and is credited as one of the earliest songs to successfully incorporate synth-funk into pop music. The song introduces a vocal hiccup technique that would become a signature of Jackson’s in future recordings.

The song is socially significant as it helped bring issues of child sexual abuse to the forefront with its music video, which was directed by Steve Barron. The video features a choreographed dance sequence in which Jackson perform a moonwalk for the first time. “Billie Jean” received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics; some praised its composition and arrangement while others criticized its overtly sexual lyrics. The song was also a commercial success; it peaked at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100—becoming Jackson’s second number-one single—and Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart, becoming his seventh consecutive number-one single on the latter chart. It became the best-selling single of 1983 and has sold over 7 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.

“I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

“I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” is a song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill of the Arrows, who recorded it as the first track on their fifth studio album of the same name. The song was made famous by Joan Jett in her 1982 cover version, which was released as a single from her album I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The Arrows recorded the song as a three-chord rocker with a simple, catchy hook. Merrill wrote the song while he was living in Japan, and it was inspired by his love of 1950s rock and roll. The song quickly became a hit in Japan, and when Joan Jett saw the Arrows perform it on their Japanese tour, she knew she wanted to record her own version.

Joan Jett’s cover of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” was released as a single in 1982, and it quickly soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for seven weeks. The success of the single helped propel Jett’s album I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll to number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The song has since become one of Jett’s signature songs, and it has been covered by numerous artists over the years.

“We Are the World” by USA for Africa

“We Are the World” by USA for Africa is one of the most iconic and memorable songs of the 1980s. The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones. It was released in 1985 as a single from the album We Are the World.

The song features an all-star cast of some of the biggest names in music at the time, including Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, and many more. The song was a massive success, reaching Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.

The song’s message of global unity and peace was timely and relevant in 1985, and it continues to be so today. “We Are the World” is an important part of 1980s pop culture history and remains an iconic song that is loved by generations.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our list of 80s pop music hits! If you’re looking for more classic 80s tunes, check out our other lists, such as 100 Best 80s Rock Songs and 100 Best 80s Pop Songs.