Best Songs of the 80's

Top 100 80's Era Songs for Weddings

These are the Best 80's Songs for Weddings to get people on the dance floor! As in previous years, the music defined what is happening in the world. War protest songs were common in the 40's with World War II and again in the 70's with the Vietnam War. This holds true for the 80's also. With the beginning of music television in 1981, teens tuned-in on their TVs to watch music videos on MTV. Apropos to the start of MTV, the first video shown was Video Killed The Radio Star by the Buggles. Times of the Eighties were very prosperous in America. Therefore, many charity events/concerts took place like USA For Africa, Band Aid and Live Aid. With the 1979 Disco Demolition Night at Cominskey Park in Chicago, there was a beginning of new music styles in the 80's. Born from the punk rock style music were New Wave and Synthpop. Bands such as the B52's and Duran Duran can be categorized in the New Wave style music. Also coming from the 80's was many forms of rock and roll such as glam rock, heavy metal, and thrash metal. We commonly refer to many rock bands of the 80's as hair bands. Bands such as Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Def Leppard were formidable 80's mega-rock stars. Run D.M.C also becomes the first rap group to have an album become certified gold.


Song Artist Format Lyrics iTunes Amazon
1999 Prince
Rock
Lyrics
Prince - 1999 - 1999
867-5309 Tommy Tutone
Rock
Lyrics
Tommy Tutone - Radio Hits of the '80s - 867-5309 / Jenny
9 To 5 Dolly Parton
Country
Lyrics
Dolly Parton - Dolly Parton: Greatest Hits - 9 to 5
Abracadabra Steve Miller Band
Rock
Lyrics
Steve Miller Band - Abracadabra - Abracadabra
Addicted To Love Robert Palmer
Rock
Lyrics
Robert Palmer - Riptide - Addicted to Love
All Night Long (All Night) Lionel Richie
R&B
Lyrics
Lionel Richie - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night)
Always Something There To Remind Me Naked Eyes
Dance
Lyrics
Naked Eyes - The Best of Naked Eyes - Always Something There to Remind Me
Another One Bites The Dust Queen
Rock
Lyrics
Queen - Queen: Greatest Hits - Another One Bites the Dust
Beat It Michael Jackson
Dance
Lyrics
Michael Jackson - Thriller (25th Anniversary, Zombie Cover) - Beat It
Billie Jean Michael Jackson
Dance
Lyrics
Michael Jackson - Thriller (25th Anniversary, Zombie Cover) - Billie Jean
Bizarre Love Triangle New Order
Dance
Lyrics
New Order - International - The Best of New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
Born In The USA Bruce Springsteen
Rock
Lyrics
Bruce Springsteen - Born In the U.S.A. - Born In the U.S.A.
Bust A Move Young MC
Dance
Lyrics
Young M.C. - Stone Cold Rhymin' - Bust a Move
Call Me Blondie
Rock
Lyrics
Blondie - Greatest Hits - Call Me
Celebration Kool & The Gang
R&B
Lyrics
Kool & The Gang - Funk Essentials: Celebration - The Best of Kool & the Gang 1979-1987 - Celebration
Centerfold J. Geils Band
Rock
Lyrics
The J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame - Centerfold
Come On Eileen Dexy's Midnight Runners
Rock
Lyrics
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Too-Rye-Ay - Come on Eileen
Crazy Little Thing Called Love Queen
Rock
Lyrics
Queen - Queen: Greatest Hits I & II - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Do That To Me One More Time Captain & Tennille
Rock
Lyrics
Captain & Tennille - Ultimate Collection: Captain & Tennille - Do That to Me One More Time
Don't Stop Believin' Journey
Rock
Lyrics
Journey - Journey: Greatest Hits - Don't Stop Believin'
Don't You Want Me? Human League
Dance
Lyrics
The Human League - The Very Best of the Human League - Don't You Want Me
Down Under Men At Work
Rock
Lyrics
Men at Work - The Best of Men at Work: Contraband - Down Under
Electric Avenue Eddy Grant
Rock
Lyrics
Eddy Grant - The Very Best of Eddy Grant - Road to Reparation - Electric Avenue
Electric Slide Marcia Griffiths
Dance
Lyrics
Marcia Griffiths - Carousel - Electric Boogie
Endless Love Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
R&B
Lyrics
Lionel Richie & Diana Ross - Lionel Richie: The Definitive Collection - Endless Love
Every Breath You Take The Police
Rock
Lyrics
The Police - The Very Best of Sting & The Police - Every Breath You Take
Everybody Have Fun Tonight Wang Chung
Dance
Lyrics
Wang Chung - Everybody Wang Chung Tonight - Wang Chung's Greatest Hits - Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Fight For Your Right Beastie Boys
Rap
Lyrics
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill - Fight for Your Right
Flashdance...What A Feeling Irene Cara
Dance
Lyrics
Irene Cara - What a Feelin' - Flashdance - What a Feeling
Footloose Kenny Loggins
Rock
Lyrics
Kenny Loggins - Footloose (15th Anniversary Collectors' Edition) - Footloose
Funkytown Lipps Inc.
Dance
Lyrics
Lipps, Inc. - Shrek 2 - Funkytown
Ghostbusters Ray Parker Jr.
R&B
Lyrics
Ray Parker Jr - Greatest Hits - Ghostbusters
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Cyndi Lauper
Rock
Lyrics
Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual (Remastered) - Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Hello Lionel Richie
R&B
Lyrics
Lionel Richie - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Lionel Richie - Hello
Hot Hot Hot Buster Poindexter
Dance
Lyrics
Buster Poindexter and His Banshees of Blue - Dance Vault Remixes: Buster Poindexter & His Banshees Of Blue - Hot Hot Hot - EP - Hot Hot Hot
Hungry Like The Wolf Duran Duran
Rock
Lyrics
Duran Duran - Rio - Hungry Like the Wolf
Hurts So Good John Cougar
Rock
Lyrics
John Mellencamp - Words & Music - John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits - Hurts So Good
I Love A Rainy Night Eddie Rabbitt
Country
Lyrics
Eddie Rabbitt - Eddie Rabbit: All Time Greatest Hits - I Love a Rainy Night
I Love Rock 'N Roll Joan Jett
Rock
Lyrics
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'N Roll (Remastered) - I Love Rock 'N Roll
I Melt With You Modern English
Dance
Lyrics
Modern English - After the Snow - I Melt With You
I Ran (So Far Away) Flock Of Seagulls
Rock
Lyrics
A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran - The Best of a Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody Whitney Houston
R&B
Lyrics
Whitney Houston - Whitney - The Greatest Hits - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
I Want Candy Bow Wow Wow
Dance
Lyrics
Bow Wow Wow - The Best of Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
I Want To Know What Love Is Foreigner
Rock
Lyrics
Foreigner - Agent Provocateur - I Want to Know What Love Is
I'm Coming Out Diana Ross
R&B
Lyrics
Diana Ross - Number 1's: Diana Ross & The Supremes - I'm Coming Out
Into the Groove Madonna
Dance
Lyrics
Madonna - The Immaculate Collection - Into the Groove
Islands In The Stream Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
Country
Lyrics
Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Dolly Parton: Greatest Hits - Islands in the Stream
It Takes Two Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
Rap
Lyrics
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - Profilin' the Hits - It Takes Two
Jack & Diane John Mellencamp
Rock
Lyrics
John Mellencamp - Words & Music - John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits - Jack & Diane
Jessie's Girl Rick Springfield
Rock
Lyrics
Rick Springfield - Now That's What I Call the 80s - Jessie's Girl
Jump Van Halen
Rock
Lyrics
Van Halen - The Best of Both Worlds - Jump
Jump (For My Love) The Pointer Sisters
R&B
Lyrics
The Pointer Sisters - The Pointer Sisters: Greatest Hits - Jump (For My Love)
Karma Chameleon Culture Club
Dance
Lyrics
Boy George And Culture Club - At Worst... The Best of Boy George and Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Keep Your Hands To Yourself Georgia Satellites
Rock
Lyrics
The Georgia Satellites - Georgia Satellites - Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Kiss Prince
Rock
Lyrics
Prince - Parade - Under the Cherry Moon - Kiss
Lady Kenny Rogers
Country
Lyrics
Kenny Rogers - Kenny Rogers: 20 Great Years - Lady
Like A Virgin Madonna
Dance
Lyrics
Madonna - The Immaculate Collection - Like a Virgin
Livin' On A Prayer Bon Jovi
Rock
Lyrics
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet - Livin' on a Prayer
Love Shack The B-52's
Dance
Lyrics
The B-52's - Cosmic Thing - Love Shack
Maneater Hall & Oates
Dance
Lyrics
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Rock 'n Soul, Pt. 1 - Greatest Hits - Maneater
Maniac Michael Sembello
Rock
Lyrics
Number 1's: '80s Pop
Mickey Toni Basil
Rock
Lyrics
Toni Basil - The Best of Toni Basil - Mickey and Other Love Songs - Mickey
Mony Mony Billy Idol
Rock
Lyrics
Billy Idol - Billy Idol: Greatest Hits - Mony Mony
My Prerogative Bobby Brown
R&B
Lyrics
Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel - My Prerogative
My Sharona The Knack
Rock
Lyrics
The Knack - My Sharona / Good Girls Don't - Single - My Sharona
Need You Tonight INXS
Rock
Lyrics
INXS - Kick - Need You Tonight
Once Bitten, Twice Shy Great White
Rock
Lyrics
Great White - Greatest Hits - Once Bitten Twice Shy
One Thing Leads To Another The Fixx
Dance
Lyrics
The Fixx - One Thing Leads to Another: Greatest Hits - One Thing Leads to Another
Pour Some Sugar On Me Def Leppard
Rock
Lyrics
- -
Pump Up the Jam Technotronic
Dance
Lyrics
Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam - The Album - Pump Up the Jam
Push It Salt 'N Pepa
Dance
Lyrics
Salt-N-Pepa - The Hip Hop Box - Push It
Relax Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Dance
Lyrics
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Bang!...The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
Rock This Town Stray Cats
Rock
Lyrics
Stray Cats - Stray Cats: Greatest Hits - Rock This Town
Rock With You Michael Jackson
Dance
Lyrics
Michael Jackson - Essential Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Sexual Healing Marvin Gaye
R&B
Lyrics
Marvin Gaye - Midnight Love & the Sexual Healing Sessions - Sexual Healing
She Blinded Me with Science Thomas Dolby
Dance
Lyrics
Thomas Dolby - The Golden Age of Wireless - She Blinded Me With Science
She's A Beauty The Tubes
Rock
Lyrics
The Tubes - The Best of The Tubes - She's a Beauty
Start Me Up The Rolling Stones
Rock
Lyrics
The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You (Remastered) - Start Me Up
Straight Up Paula Abdul
Dance
Lyrics
Paula Abdul - Paula Abdul: Greatest Hits - Straight Up
Summer of '69 Bryan Adams
Rock
Lyrics
Bryan Adams - The Best of Me - Summer of '69
Super Freak Rick James
R&B
Lyrics
Rick James - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rick James - Super Freak
Tainted Love Soft Cell
Dance
Lyrics
Soft Cell - The Very Best of Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Take My Breath Away Berlin
Rock
Lyrics
Berlin - Top Gun (Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Special Expanded Edition] - Take My Breath Away
Take On Me a-Ha
Rock
Lyrics
a-ha - Hunting High and Low - Take On Me
The Lady In Red Chris De Burgh
Rock
Lyrics
Chris de Burgh - The Lady In Red - The Very Best of Chris de Burgh - The Lady In Red
Thriller Michael Jackson
Dance
Lyrics
Michael Jackson - Thriller (25th Anniversary, Zombie Cover) - Thriller
Total Eclipse Of The Heart Bonnie Tyler
Rock
Lyrics
Bonnie Tyler - Mullets Rock! Too! - Mullets In Love - Total Eclipse of the Heart
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go Wham!
Rock
Lyrics
Wham! - Make It Big - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Walk Like An Egyptian The Bangles
Rock
Lyrics
The Bangles - Bangles: Greatest Hits - Walk Like an Egyptian
Walk This Way Run DMC and Aerosmith
Rap
Lyrics
Run-DMC - Ultimate Run-DMC - Walk This Way
We Got The Beat Go-Go's
Rock
Lyrics
The Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat - We Got the Beat
What I Like About You The Romantics
Rock
Lyrics
The Romantics - Radio Hits of the '80s - What I Like About You
Whip It Devo
Rock
Lyrics
Devo - Freedom of Choice - Whip It
White Wedding Billy Idol
Rock
Lyrics
Billy Idol - Billy Idol: Greatest Hits - White Wedding, Pt. 1
Wild Thing Tone-Loc
Rap
Lyrics
Tone-Loc - L?c-ed After Dark - Wild Thing
Word Up! Cameo
R&B
Lyrics
Cameo - Word Up! - Word Up!
Working My Way Back To You The Spinners
R&B
Lyrics
The Spinners - The Very Best of the Spinners - Working My Way Back to You
You And I Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle
Country
Lyrics
Crystal Gayle & Eddie Rabbitt - Great Wedding Songs - You and I
You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC
Rock
Lyrics
- -
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) Dead Or Alive
Dance
Lyrics
Dead or Alive - Evolution: The Hits - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

Best 80's songs list is updated periodically throughout the year. If you have a song that you think should be included, please add your song suggestion through the comment section below.

The Eighties were known for many historical events. The Berlin Wall came down and many eastern countries wanted the freedom and "stuff" of western prosperous countries. Advertising companies created buzzwords for the 80's like yuppies and empty nesters. Western countries were all about consumption. Designer names and particular brand names became status symbols. Everyone was about themselves and greed. Teens' technology improved from Atari to Nintendo and the creation of Super Mario Brothers video game. Hip hop blared on gettoblasters while kids enjoyed watching break dancing by their talented cohorts. Music was also very mobile in teen's society with gettoblasters and the invention of the Walkman by Sony. The explosion of NASA's space shuttle Challenger, the marriage of Prince Charles to Diana and Apple Computer releases the Macintosh all took place in the 80's.

Eighties teens were entertained at the movies with blockbuster hits such as ET - The Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Comedy clubs became popular in the 80's and comedy on TV rose. TV comedy shows such as The Cosby Show, Roseanne and Saturday Night Live. Other popular TV shows included Dallas, Falcon Crest and Dynasty. Eighties teens were also fascinated by Cabbage Patch kids, Pac Man and the invention of the CD (compact disc). The CD outsells vinyl by 1988.

Being former wedding DJs, we've calculated a list of our favorite Songs of the 80's. If you have a special song that you think should be added to our list, please add your song suggestion through the comment section below. Be sure to also check out the song lyric link to find song relevance to what you want for in your song choice. Once decided, we provided a link to iTunes to purchase and Amazon.com to purchase and listen to a sample of each song.

Our Top 5 80's Era songs for weddings are as follows: 1) Endless Love - Lionel Richie & Diana Ross, 2) Don't Stop Believin' - Journey, 3) Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter, 4) Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi, 5) You And I - Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle.



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