Music Appreciation

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,489 posts) Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:01 AM Apr 2019

If you had to pick just ONE song that defined the 80s, what would it be?

It's hard for me to argue with his choice.

#80sMusicTaughtMe you don't have to be extremely well known in order to have a kickass hit!

If you had to pick just ONE song that defined the 80s, what would it be?

I'll go first: Aha, Take On Me

Link to tweet

24 replies

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Highlight:

If you had to pick just ONE song that defined the 80s, what would it be? (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2019 OP

Those lies... sandensea Apr 2019 #1

But of course, must be: hlthe2b Apr 2019 #2

How Soon Is Now? sweetloukillbot Apr 2019 #3

Very important song Freethinker65 Apr 2019 #12

Bruce Hornsby lapfog_1 Apr 2019 #4

+1000. nt. MH1 Apr 2019 #10

Morning music lover grannyokie Apr 2019 #5

+1 The Polack MSgt Apr 2019 #20

Great choice BootinUp Apr 2019 #22

I'm So Excited WheelWalker Apr 2019 #6

The Boys of Summer Botany Apr 2019 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author Kind of Blue Apr 2019 #8

dancing in the dark. not because it was a particular great song, but unblock Apr 2019 #9

definitely. but if you listen to the words there's a lot more there. MH1 Apr 2019 #15

i agree, it wasn't a pure happy joy joy song. unblock Apr 2019 #16

The The Freethinker65 Apr 2019 #11

Slave to the Rhythm. Had to change my mind. Kind of Blue Apr 2019 #13

I am human and I neeeeed to be loved... SMC22307 Apr 2019 #14

Burning Down the House- Talking Heads happybird Apr 2019 #17

Take On Me was the first song that popped into my mind! 50 Shades Of Blue Apr 2019 #18

Safety Dance. To me the 80's songs were about fun and silliness. wcast Apr 2019 #19

Guilty pleasure, lol. BootinUp Apr 2019 #23

I ain't afraid of no ghost. BootinUp Apr 2019 #21

Let's Go To Bed - The Cure htuttle Apr 2019 #24

sandensea

(21,639 posts)

1. Those lies...

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:02 AM

Apr 2019

hlthe2b

(102,292 posts)

2. But of course, must be:

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:09 AM

Apr 2019

http://tinyurl.com/2g9mqh

sweetloukillbot

(11,028 posts)

3. How Soon Is Now?

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:09 AM

Apr 2019

https://m.

Freethinker65

(10,023 posts)

12. Very important song

Reply to sweetloukillbot (Reply #3)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:25 AM

Apr 2019

lapfog_1

(29,205 posts)

4. Bruce Hornsby

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:10 AM

Apr 2019

MH1

(17,600 posts)

10. +1000. nt.

Reply to lapfog_1 (Reply #4)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:20 AM

Apr 2019

grannyokie

(95 posts)

5. Morning music lover

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:10 AM

Apr 2019

I can't choose just one

This one keeps going through my brain. When you get a song stuck in your head. I'll share it.

&t=53s

The Polack MSgt

(13,189 posts)

20. +1

Reply to grannyokie (Reply #5)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 03:59 PM

Apr 2019

Glad I scanned the answers before I posted this

BootinUp

(47,165 posts)

22. Great choice

Reply to grannyokie (Reply #5)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 08:05 PM

Apr 2019

WheelWalker

(8,955 posts)

6. I'm So Excited

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:11 AM

Apr 2019

" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Botany

(70,516 posts)

7. The Boys of Summer

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:14 AM

Apr 2019

Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Kind of Blue This message was self-deleted by its author.

unblock

(52,253 posts)

9. dancing in the dark. not because it was a particular great song, but

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:17 AM

Apr 2019

because i think it did define the era.

if you look at bruce's discography, that album (born in the usa) sticks out as the one album he clearly wrote to be a pop sensation. it's actually a very good album, yet it's as close a he ever came to being a "sell-out" because the goal clearly was to be a commercial success, whereas all his other albums had that as a secondary goal at best, imho.

dancing in the dark i think just captures the feel of the 80s.

don't worry about it, let's just dance, let's just make it look good, let's just make some pop music.

MH1

(17,600 posts)

15. definitely. but if you listen to the words there's a lot more there.

Reply to unblock (Reply #9)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 10:29 AM

Apr 2019

although I'm sure I'm not the only one who did NOT hear "help" in that one line... I think the success of the song was that it spoke on many levels.

...

I check my look in the mirror
I want to change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man I ain't getting nowhere
I'm just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere
Baby I just know that there is

....

You sit around getting older
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on baby this laugh's on me
Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carving you up alright
They say you gotta stay hungry

...

So the persona in this song is struggling with some things, has some angst about the world, but is saying "eff it, gonna find some one to help get me through right now, hang in there, and get out of this dark place eventually"