A tremendous amount of diverse, popular music came to us in the 1980s, and many times it was accompanied by MTV music videos, which at the beginning of the decade were a new phenomenon. Arguably, the 80s were the last years (and culmination) of Top 40 songs that were multi-genre and still played constantly on radios in the United States. In other words, and much like the 70s, we were listening simultaneously to all sorts of artists and bands: from Michael Jackson and Sade to The Cars and Don Henley, from Tears for Fears and Duran Duran to Madonna and Wang Chung, and from Prince and Chico DeBarge to Talking Heads and Thomas Dolby -- Musical Good Times!

 

I've assembled several playlists below since so many of us love 80s music. I will sometimes include a song from just outside of the 80s decade (such as "I'm Too Sexy" - '91) because it fits in that era of music. All songs are individually linked to YouTube videos and to continuous YouTube and Spotify playlists. I hope you enjoy.

 

 

1980s MUSIC MIX ONE

YouTube Continuous Playlist

Spotify Playlist • 27 Songs • 2 Hrs 1 Min

 

We Close Our Eyes - Go West

I Wanna be a Cowboy - Boys Don't Cry

Working for the Weekend - Loverboy

Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder

Take on Me - a-ha

The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson

Forever Live & Die - OMD

Sara - Starship

Allentown - Billy Joel

Only the Lonely - The Motels

Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears

The Boys of Summer - Don Henley

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight - Phil Collins/Genesis (Live)

Silent Running - Mike and the Mechanics

Something about You - Level 42

Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger) - Donna Summer

Dreamin' - Cliff Richard

What Have I Done to Deserve This - Pet Shop Boys

Georgy Porgy - TOTO

Alright - Janet Jackson

Go Home - Stevie Wonder

Promises - Basia

I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred

Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Pump Up the Volume - MlAlRlRlS

65 Love Affair - Paul Davis

Rockit - Herbie Hancock

 

 

1980s MUSIC MIX TWO

YouTube Continuous Playlist

Spotify Playlist • 27 Songs • 2 Hrs 4 Min

 

I Want a New Drug - Huey Lewis and the News

My Brave Face - Paul McCartney

Take the Long Way Home - Supertramp

Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive - Men at Work

1999 - Prince

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

Watching the Wheels - John Lennon

Leave Me Alone - Michael Jackson

Maniac - Michael Sembello

Papa Don't Preach - Madonna

Sunglasses at Night - Cory Hart

Voices Carry - Till Tuesday

Roll with It - Steve Winwood

Really Want to Know You - Gary Wright

Let's Dance - David Bowie

Suddenly Last Summer - The Motels

Emotional Rescue - The Rolling Stones

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police

Too Late for Goodbyes - Julian Lennon

Don't You Want Me - Human League

Cars - Gary Numan

Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins

The Old Man Down the Road - John Fogerty

Rosanna - TOTO

In the Mood - Robert Plant

Private Dancer - Tina Turner

Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell

 

 

1980s MUSIC MIX THREE

YouTube Continuous Playlist

Spotify Playlist • 27 Songs • 2 Hrs 8 Min

 

Don't Disturb This Groove - The System

Can't Stop - After 7

Saturday Love - Alexander O'Neal & Cherrelle

State of Independence - Donna Summer

Slave to the Rhythm - Grace Jones

Back to Life - Soul II Soul

I Feel for You - Chaka Khan

The Look of Love - ABC

Him - Rupert Holmes

How Bout Us - Champaign

Love Will Never Do - Janet Jackson

Talk to Me - Chico Debarge

Lessons in Love - Level 42

Nite and Day - Al B. Sure

Turn Your Love Around - George Benson

Don't Let Go - Issac Hayes

Love Is Stronger Than Pride - Sade (Live)

Perfect Way - Scritti Politti

Let's Hear It for the Boy - Deneice Williams

Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia

Morning - Al Jarreau

Words Get in the Way - Miami Sound Machine

Fall in Love with Me - Earth Wind and Fire

The Second Time Around - Shalamar

Freeway of Love - Aretha Franklin

Solid - Ashford & Simpson

On My Own - Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald

 

 

1980s MUSIC MIX FOUR

YouTube Continuous Playlist

Spotify Playlist • 27 Songs • 2 Hrs 0 Min

 

Vox Humana - Kenny Loggins

Original Sin - INXS

She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals

Middle of the Road - The Pretenders

Jack & Diane - John Cougar Mellencamp

I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Is There Something I Should Know? - Duran Duran

Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung

Let's Go - Cars

Broken Wings - Mr. Mister

Living Inside Myself - Gino Vannelli

I Know You're Out There Somewhere - Moody Blues

Love Shack - The B-52's

Whip It - Devo

Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx
Dirty Laundry - Don Henley

Come Dancing - The Kinks

Holding Back the Years - Simply Red

The Living Years - Mike and the Mechanics

The Captain of Her Heart - Double

Morning Train (Nine to Five) - Sheena Easton

Puttin' on the Ritz - Taco

True - Spandau Ballet

Missing You - John Waite

Sailing - Christopher Cross

The Politics of Dancing - Re Flex

Funky Cold Medina - Tone Loc

 

 

1980s MUSIC MIX FIVE

YouTube Continuous Playlist

Spotify Playlist • 27 Songs • 1 Hr 53 Min

 

She Blinded Me with Science - Thomas Dolby

Walk Like an Egyptian - Bangles

Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes

Sowing the Seeds of Love - Tears for Fears

West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys

Crazy - Supertramp

Sunset Grill - Don Henley

Photograph - Def Leppard

Jump - Van Halen

We Don't Need Another Hero - Tina Turner

The Heat Is On - Glen Fry

Eyes without a Face - Billy Idol

The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News

Black Cars - Gino Vannelli

Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy - Sammy Hagar

Big Time - Peter Gabriel

Things Can Only Get Better - Howard Jones

Material Girl - Madonna

More Love - Kim Carnes

Head over Heels - Tears for Fears

When We Was Fab - George Harrison

C'est La Vie - Robbie Nevil

Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson

Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz

Promises Promises - Naked Eyes

I Ran - Flock of Seagulls

The Boy from New York City - Manhattan Transfer