30 Forgotten ’80s Hits
Here’re 30 forgotten ’80s hits for all of you people missing the 1980s. It was a decade full of a million iconic things, from Sci-Fi classics to big hair and neon clothes. There sure are parts of the decade that we’d rather forget, but the music is not one of them. It’s so good we’ve seen a resurgence of 80s songs lately. They’re featured in movies like Thor: Ragnarok and TV shows like Stranger Things. The only problem is that we seem to hear the same songs over and over again. (We’re looking at you “Eye of the Tiger” and “Immigrant Song.”) Granted, these songs are all great. They’re classic that will never, ever grow old, but can’t we spice it up a little? There’s a whole decade’s worth of songs that could be used that haven’t been touched in 30 years.
These songs are perfect for literally any occasion. Need to get two people to fall in love? Put on “Hands to Heaven” by Breathe. You’ll have people swooning over each other in a heartbeat. If you need to inspire a training montage that’ll rival the Rocky franchise, play “Let Him Go” by Animotion. The job will be done in less than four-and-a-half minutes. And of course, if you need to spark a revolution worthy of 18th century France or a robot-infested dystopia, “Tonight is What it Means to Be Young” by Fire Inc. is your song.
What we’re saying is that we’ve got songs for every situation you could possibly need, all from the ’80s, and all on the brink of being forgotten. These are great songs, and all but one made the Top 40 chart back in the day. These are the 80s hits we need to remember.
“Holdin’ On” Tane Cain (1983)
“Holdin On” is one of the best songs of the decade, and definitely the best on this list. It’s a driving rock song with powerful female vocals. It’s the type of song we need to see more of in our male-dominated rock scene.
“Is This Love” by Whitesnake (1987)
“Is This Love” is another great ’80s love song. It’s slightly slower than the rest of the songs of the decade, but it feels perfect. The music features the right amount of just about everything, from the vocals to the guitar and the bass. We can’t get enough of this jam!
“Rumors” by Timex Social Club (1986)
“Rumors” definitely stands out in the world of ’80s music. You’d be hard-pressed to find a vocalist who stands out as much as this band’s lead R&B singer. Sadly, this was their only hit; they broke up shortly after they released this song.
“Jungle Boy” by John Eddie (1986)
If you get a minute, watch this music video. It’s great. Shot in black and white, it features John Eddie feeling himself a little too much. But seriously, his Elvis-esque vocals make this the perfect song to jam out to.
“Yah Mo B There” by James Ingram and Michael McDonald (1983)
Sure, it’s got an interesting title, but this song is really one to jam to. It stirs something inside you in an almost religious way. If you haven’t heard it, go back and listen to it again. We promise you’ll love it.
“Let Him Go” by Animotion (1984)
“Let Him Go” is definitely a song to get you pumped up. It’s the type of song to go in the training scene of a Rocky movie. It’s about as ’80s glam as you can get, and with the current fixation on all things retro, this song could make a comeback any day now.
“More Than Just the Two of Us” by Sneaker (1981)
From the moment you hear the piano dancing along this song’s intro, you just know it’ll be a great song. It resonates with the cheesy, romantic side of ourselves we all have. Somewhere out there, this is some couple’s “our song.”
“Night Moves” by Marilyn Martin (1986)
“Night Moves” is one of those songs that hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go. Marylin Martin’s vocals are timeless, and when you couple them with an edgy guitar and the perfect amount of drums, she shines. She didn’t record nearly enough songs, but we really wish she had.
“Soul City” by the Partland Brothers (1987)
“Soul City” sounds exactly how you’d expect. It jumps right in with its groovy bass. The synth comes in, and it’s enough to make this song feel like the good parts of the 80s, not the embarrassing, mullets and neon kind of ’80s we all regret. This hit was lost in time, but we’d love to see it put in any of the ’80s-themed movies coming out these days.
“A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)” by Romeo Void (1984)
Nobody knows why, but saxophones do weird things to human emotions. If you don’t believe us, just play this song. The beautiful saxophone part is mixed with typical ’80s drums and some completely underrated vocals.
"I Can't Go for That" by Daryl Hall and John Oates
If there’s a song on this list that earned its #1 spot on the Billboard Top 100, it’s this one. This song is super smooth. The bass line is simple and perfect. You’ve got a great guitar riff that reminds us of how well the ’80s knew how to handle their guitars. If we could recommend any song on this list, this is it.
“Someday” by Glass Tiger (1986)
If you want to be transported back to the ’80s, just listen to this song. It’s a fantastic ballad that inspires both romance and nostalgia. We’d even argue that it was better than Glass Tiger’s other hit, “Don’t Forget Me.”
“Hanging On A Heart Attack” by Device (1986)
This song is about as catchy as they get. It feels heavily influenced by Michael Jackson and Fleetwood Mac, and you can’t go wrong with either of those classic artists. It was the band’s only hit, but it shouldn’t be forgotten.
“Don’t Shed a Tear” Paul Carrack (1987)
“Don’t Shed a Tear” has some of the best vocals of any ’80s hit. They resonate with you in a way few songs do. It’s one of the most underrated songs of the decade.
“Love Changes (Everything)” by Climie Fisher (1988)
“Love Changes (Everything)” sounds exactly like the name, and that’s not a bad thing. It was a big hit in 1988 Europe, but it was only decently successful in the U.S.
"I Missed Again" by Phil Collins (1981)
Phil Collins can do no wrong, even if he thinks he “missed again.” We assure you that this song still hits the spot. It’s got Phil’s voice, saxophones, and a music video with Collins playing air instruments. What’s not to love?
“Hands to Heaven” by Breathe (1988)
“Hands to Heaven” inspired more romances in the ’80s than any other song. If you haven’t heard it in a while, give it another listen. It’s guaranteed to spark the fire in any relationship.
“This Time I Know It's For Real" by Donna Summer (1989)
This was the Queen of Disco’s last hit, and it’s a jam if we’ve ever heard one. It’s an upbeat song perfect for dancing and singing along to. And how could you not sing along? Donna Summer has one of the best voices of all time!
"It's My Life" by Talk Talk (1984)
These days, everybody sounds the same. It wasn’t like that in the 80s! Mark Hollis of Talk Talk had a unique voice, unlike anything you hear these days. “It’s My Life” highlights his voice in this smooth masterpiece.
“The Way You Love Me" by Karyn White (1988)
“The Way You Love Me” has everything we love about music. It’s an upbeat, funky song with perfect vocals. You just don’t get songs like this anymore.
“In A Big Country” by Big Country
Scotland may not be a big country, but they know hot to make great music. This song is a near-perfect rock song. This band was even able to tie their culture into this hit. Scottish bagpipes can be kind of annoying, but Big Country managed to remind us of their country’s beloved instrument with their unique electric guitar playing style.
“Tonight is What it Means to Be Young” by Fire Inc. (1984)
This is the only song on our list that didn’t make it to the Top 40, but it really should have. It was featured in the also forgotten movie Streets of Fire. It’s dramatic, powerful, and energetic. It’s a song to inspire a rebellion.
“Voyeur” by Kim Carnes (1982)
If you’ve seen the Netflix hit Stranger Things, you know the modern world needs more of the 80s’ edgy songs. “Voyeur” is a perfect fit. Kim Carnes manages to have both a rough and gentle voice that we just can’t get over. The song has that classic ’80s-Halloween feel to it, and it works perfectly.
“Mary’s Prayer” by Danny Wilson (1987)
This soulful ballad is the type of song that would play after that temporary break-up that comes in every romance movie. It’s perfect for those “Hey, sorry we fought. I still love you,” moments. It was #6 back in its heyday. It should be remembered as one of the great 80s ballads.
Image via: Pinterest.
“I Got You” by Split Enz (1979)
“I Got You” is a song that takes its listeners all over the place. The verses have the same uneasy feeling you find in the dark corners of being in love, but the vocals showcase all the best parts of having a significant other. It’s a fantastic take on love.
“The Promise” by When in Rome
When in Rome purposefully used all of the trademarks of ’80s rock when making this song. They may not have landed any other hits, but we love this song. Even if it was a standard song back then, we’re missing good rock these days. This song takes us back to a world that knew how to make music.
“Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode (1990)
Sure, “Enjoy the Silence” was released two weeks after the end of the 80s. It’s still a hit from that time period, though, and we need more of it in our lives. It’s one of those songs that just doesn’t grow old. If you want proof, just ask the 30 million people who’ve watched its music video.
“I’m In Love with a German Film Star” by The Passions (1981)
Vocally, the Passions have that beautiful, haunting sound of so many ’80s songs. Everything else sounds exceptional and unique with their echoing guitars and subtly driving bass. It’s a fantastic song from the early ’80s.
“Bringin on the Heartache” by Def Leppard (1982)
Def Leppard is one of the best hair bands of all time. There’s really no doubting that. This song, “Bringin’ on the Heartache,” just reminds us how much we ache for the days of good ole rock and roll.
“Living Years” by Mike and the Mechanics (1988)
“Living Years” is a tearjerker if we ever heard one. This ballad is about losing a father without being on good terms. Its lyrics were widely regarded as some of the best of its time.
