Top 10 Songs of 1982

80s music really began to establish its identity in 1982, forging both an image and a sound that always harbored more substance than anyone believed was there. Rock and pop styles flourished and intertwined to create an impressive display of originality that still resonates today, especially in the signature genres new wave, synth pop and arena rock.

1. The Human League - "Don't You Want Me"

Perhaps the best group in a vast wave of British synth pop exports, the Human League hit the jackpot with this tune, a wonderfully woven tale of a dysfunctional, hard-knocks relationship featuring a classic interplay of male and female vocals to round out the narrative. The melody is intoxicating, the synth parts mesmerizing, and the singers impeccable in their presentation of what amounts to highly accessible lyrical material. Few singles as tight as this have ever been released.

2. Tommy Tutone - "867-5309 (Jenny)"

This confusingly named band (the group's lead singer's first name is Tommy, but his last name is not Tutone) has always been considered somewhat scornfully as one of the quintessential one-hit wonders of the '80s, a viewpoint that tends to suggest novelty regarding this song. But it's a solid rock tune with a brilliant concept and deserves credit as one of the best songs of the modern rock era. Period. And as a stalker song, well, it simply has no equal.

3. Men At Work - "Who Can It Be Now?"

The former Australian bar band's first No. 1 hit is a wonderfully paranoid, hypnotic portrait of a man out of place and out of time in modern society. It also features some tasty saxophone fills that firmly plant it into the sonic realm of the glorious '80s. But what really makes the song tick is the unique combination forged by Colin Hay's spirited, slightly off-kilter vocal style and Men at Work's undeniable rock and roll chops. A brilliantly crafted and ultimately timeless gem.

4. Alan Parsons Project - "Eye in the Sky"

Although at times this song can sound dated with its space-age, hypnotic qualities, at the core of it lies a near-perfect pop/rock song. The fact that one has to dig through layers of production to experience the songwriting prowess is not necessarily all that surprising, given the perfectionist production and engineering past of the band's namesake. Still, what a joy it is to realize that the only thing that really matters is the quality of a song. In this case, high quality indeed.

5. Asia - "Heat of the Moment"

From the band's inception, Asia presented a unique fusion of styles old and new. Blending '70s progressive rock with hard rock guitar and innovative keyboards, this tune particularly ran a musical gamut that allowed it to claim a distinct place in pop music history. Though from the start critics labeled this union of disparate talents as a cynical, commercially minded enterprise, I always felt like this music was actually quite organic and genuine in forging its broad appeal.

6. Laura Branigan - "Gloria"

Branigan's rousing, sing-along anthem is a quintessential '80s classic, but it's far more than a time capsule relic. Impassioned vocals and keyboard flourishes aside, the song's escalating melody takes center stage and delivers with great success across the years. That's also because of the clearly feminist but also authentically modern lyrical perspective of the song. No "I Am Woman" bombast here, just an honest emotional portrait of a woman trying to make it through the darkness.

7. Steve Miller Band - "Abracadabra"

Longtime classic rock icon and axe-man Steve Miller segued into the '80s with both style and substance with the release of this tune. Though it undoubtedly stands as his most singular and successful pure pop song, this hit single also daringly manages to work as space-age guitar rock just as well. Once again, what ultimately distinguishes this and any other classic pop song are melody and presentation, and "Abracadabra" features masterful strokes in both areas.

8. A Flock of Seagulls - "I Ran (So Far Away)"

Many music fans have understandably been distracted by the shocking and famous haircuts of this band, but underneath that surface lies a classic pop song no matter what decade. The melodic verse is even better than the well-known chorus, and the guitar work of Paul Reynolds, I fear, will always remain criminally underrated. This band has always been unfairly classified as a one-hit wonder, but even if that label is valid, this is certainly one hit to be eternally proud of.

9. Jackson Browne - "Somebody's Baby"

Not many artists can transcend era as smoothly as the versatile Jackson Browne, but this song manages to be an essential document of the '80s without sounding dated. Whatever that actually means. Though the tune rose to prominence partly because of its inclusion in the popular film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it's so memorable mainly because of its infectiously evocative take on the heady emotions of adolescence and first love. Or, maybe it's just a Phoebe Cates thing.

10. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes - "Up Where We Belong"

We all know that '80s music takes a lot of abuse as a showcase for fleeting music that emphasized style over substance, but it most certainly produced as many timeless melodies as any era before or since. This great song from the soundtrack of An Officer and a Gentleman perfectly fits its title and lyrical content, as it surely stands as one of the most soaring ballads in pop music history. A tastefully handled duet that justifiably became a slow dance favorite.

Top 10 Songs of 1981

1. Hall & Oates - "Kiss On My List"

1981 was a hell of a year for this pop duo, as singles from two different highly successful albums (Voices and Private Eyes) spent significant time near the top of the charts. It's difficult, in fact, to suss out the best Hall & Oates song from even this year much less their entire career, but for my money "Kiss On My List" is a sterling selection. One of the duo's best distillations of its many influences, this tune sparkles and succeeds wildly with a clever and unique lyrical conceit.

2. Rick Springfield - "Jessie's Girl"

Simply one of the best pop songs of all time, Rick Springfield's most well-known tune really stands the test of time and repeated airplays. Armed with a killer guitar riff that is actually quite nifty and dripping with the real but fickle emotions of envy, lust and passion, this song is a tour de force that alone proves Springfield's value as a songwriter. It is also equally effective as both a rock and pop song (pay attention to the guitar), which is a rare feat indeed.

3. REO Speedwagon - "Keep On Loving You"

One of the first '70s classic rock bands to cash in on the new decade's emerging taste for power ballads, REO Speedwagon (and particularly lead singer and songwriter Kevin Cronin) displayed in this tune a tremendous savvy for crafting a memorable and accessible melody. Beyond that, the song stands as a realization of a band's potential that had formerly labored within the shadows of arena rock success. REO's hit album Hi Infidelity became a huge smash this year, helped by similar pop gems.

4. Santana - "Winning"

This entry from Carlos Santana's storied career is undoubtedly the great guitarist's namesake band's strongest and most memorable pop song, but it also functions as a fantastic showcase for some of the decade's best, most blistering guitar leads. The tune itself is a rousing crowd-pleaser that has since found a place in sporting event montages, but structurally and musically it is as sound as can be. Great keyboards at the beginning give it its '80s feel, but the song has much more within.

5. Journey - "Don't Stop Believin'"

Journey's breakthrough album Escape yielded several big hits in 1981, but this combination power ballad/rocker/contemplative examination of lost souls clinging to hope simply has it all. Boasting one of Steve Perry's best, most world-weary lyrics not having to do directly with a relationship, the song features several sublime components, including a great, foundational guitar and bass riff, an unforgettable sing-along chorus, and the introduction of a new phrase in "streetlight people."

6. The Go-Go's - "Our Lips Are Sealed"

Very few bands that started out in the punk scene could ever say they had the ability to craft pop music anywhere near as good as this. In fact, most pop artists have never been able to reach this level, either, and that's really saying something. The song's brilliant groove and inescapable melody should have announced with authority from the start that this all-female band was unique in the annals of rock music, but unfortunately, only lately have the Go-Go's begun to receive proper respect.

7. Squeeze - "Tempted"

While this song is far from the quintessential offering from this great British band, it is undoubtedly a near-perfect pop confection that excels in several compelling ways. Although I've always loved Paul Carrack, the fact that he sings lead on this tune is a bit unfortunate, only because that means the low-voiced, somewhat novelty-sounding Chris Difford sings as much lead as the incomparable Glenn Tilbrook. The song's organ and piano lines buoy the song through its loping progression from chorus to verse to bridge.

8. The Tubes - "Talk To Ya Later"

In a decade full of happy marriages between guitar and keyboards, this underrated classic takes that combination to the promised land. Although most people won't remember it as well as "She's a Beauty", this song crystallized positive '80s rock impulses far more skillfully. Just give a listen to the keyboard break in the middle, the great vocal harmonies during the pre-chorus, or the wonderfully snotty delivery from singer Fee Waybill. As they say in professional wrestling, this song is the total package.

9. Climax Blues Band - "I Love You"

Despite or perhaps because it is such a complete exercise in simplicity, this song strikes a memorable chord as a document of the '80s. Coming from a veteran band that had previously operated as a blues and R&B outfit, this tune definitely feels like a bit of an aberration. But that doesn't make it any less enjoyable, as somewhow the simple lyrical tale of a wayward man set straight by the love of a woman works beautifully. Even the criminally simple guitar solo manages to be effective.

10. Eddie Rabbitt - "I Love A Rainy Night"

In this song that managed the highly impressive feat of hitting No. 1 on the pop, country and adult contemporary charts, Rabbitt proved that his talents were not restricted by being labeled as a country artist. This tune was justifiably everywhere in 1981, and it still works today as a basic rock song that succeeds because it so completely embraces more traditional rock and roll influences that always combined country, R&B and rock styles anyway.

Top 10 Songs of the '80s

The greatest singles of any era possess the power to change the world in three minutes, or failing that, they at least share the ability to leave their stamp on a musical landscape already filled nearly to capacity. And while chart performance, radio airplay and longevity are all important criteria to choose the best of the best, these essential '80s songs announce themselves as vital through sheer force of gravity. These tunes are simply impossible to ignore in the context of '80s music.

1. The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

Regardless of how many times this song is played, it retains a magic that only exists for the most solidly constructed, universally themed and uniquely presented musical compositions. Sting's songwriting centerpiece from 1983's Synchronicity achieves a rare pop/rock perfection, featuring a top-notch vocal performance, a groundbreaking guitar riff and a highly personal lyrical theme exploring obsession, heartbreak and romantic doom that somehow seems familiar in spite of its fierce originality. Definitely one of the finest moments of the career of the Police as well as the '80s as a whole.

2. Survivor-"Eye of the Tiger"

This Chicago-area mainstream power rock band known mostly for its ballads always had a knack for delivering among the most bombastic lyrics of the decade. But with this song, featured prominently and appropriately in the film Rocky III, Survivor brought fist-pumping arena rock to an entirely new plane of soaring bravado. The somewhat silly overuse of metaphor and cliche is sometimes a little offputting, but the hold of the melody and power-chord opening is undeniable.

3. Foreigner - "I Want to Know What Love Is"

Foreigner enjoyed a number of hits in the '80s, but none reached a level of over-the-top romantic longing as high as this keyboard-heavy love ballad does. Guitarist Mick Jones has always been an underrated songwriter, and his command was never on finer display than when the calmness of this tune's verses explode into a crescendo of a chorus perfectly suited for Lou Gramm's impressively high vocal range. When the gospel chorus kicks in at the end, it's a perfectly appropriate topping for this confection.

4. Van Halen - "Jump"

Some '70s and '80s hard rock bands turned to pop out of desperation or just pure greed as the hair metal phenomenon kicked off. In the case of Van Halen, the stylistic turn seemed as organic as the splendid synthesizer riff that fuels this tune, or David Lee Roth's exuberant leap, or Eddie Van Halen's infectious grin. On this one occasion, the band wrote a nearly perfect pop song, and unfortunately they spent the remainder of their careers rolling downhill from this moment.

5. U2 - "With or Without You"

U2's track to stardom and then its legendary status has been an intriguing one, filled with explorations of a variety of styles and approaches. However, this tune, one of many excellent songs from The Joshua Tree, strikes a perfect balance of pop and rock sensibilities. It's catchy, beautiful and hauntingly memorable, and somehow it remains both a document of its era and a timeless classic. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the song has one of the best bass lines in rock history.

6. Guns N' Roses - "Sweet Child o' Mine"

As raw and unabashed as they were, Axl Rose and his mates knew how to craft intricate and polished rock songs. The band's sound was no happy accident, and this song more than any other reveals the band at its peak collectively and individually. Never has Rose revealed his versatility as a singer more completely than through the calm verses and more fierce chorus sections of the tune. It's a tour de force of rock guitar buoyed by an unexpected lyrical sweetness, and the song's broad appeal helped take 1987's Appetite for Destruction to a mainstream place no one could have expected.

7. Whitney Houston - "So Emotional"

Pop diva Whitney Houston's '80s heyday produced several singles worthy of inclusion on best-of lists, but this one represents the best blend of danceable beats and an irrepressible chorus. Houston was and is a fine singer, but perhaps her best attribute was her ability to select top-notch material. This tune is a celebration of an '80s pluckiness we're not likely to see again, and it's so infectious that even a lot of rock fans were subject to its seduction.

8. Bonnie Tyler - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

One of the greatest '80s collaborations was undoubtedly this Welsh female singer with the unmistakable gravelly voice and Jim Steinman, songwriter and producer of Meat Loaf fame. It was a match made in heaven, as Steinman's gift for lyrical bombast and over-the-top arrangements to match helped him produce his finest musical moment and Tyler's gritty but sensitive voice perfectly conveyed the longing of this great love song.

9. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross-"Endless Love"

Speaking of ballads and the '80s, it's impossible to go too far without discussing duets pairing male and female singers, and there was no finer example of this than this overwrought but undeniably engaging tune from 1981. Lionel Richie certainly covered this same kind of ground effectively in his solo career, but the addition of a capable female singer with whom to exchange verses raises this song to another level. It helped that Ross was far more than capable.

10. J. Geils Band - "Centerfold"

Even though I sometimes get the "na-na-na-na-na-na" part mixed up with the Smurfs theme, this song is a highlight for me personally and for the entire decade's musical catalogue. The band's frontman, Peter Wolf, was tailor-made for the '80s with his Mick Jagger swagger and exuberance, even though he had paid his dues before the band went pop. That's why the group reached its highest level of success during the '80s, and this tune's memorable playfulness is a big reason why.

Top Albums of the '80s - The Essential Eight

The best albums of any decade are always about far more than hit songs, record sales and other stats that can be measured. Scope of influence and breadth of impact are really more about feel, a sense that can be perceived only by experiencing the music. In short, these albums reverberated throughout the decade and became classics, not only of their own time but of all time.

1. Michael Jackson - 'Thriller'

Perhaps no album has ever been as ubiquitous or far-reaching or inescapable as Thriller, Michael Jackson's nearly 60 million-selling monster hit from 1982. This is the one album most of us children of the '80s still have on vinyl at our parents' houses when we go home to visit. The songs are versatile and efficient, but most of all they're skillfully produced and conveyed to fulfill their maximum commercial accessibility. For once a multitude of hits actually reflects consistent quality.

2. Madonna - 'Like a Virgin'

It's difficult to choose a signature album from an artist who produced so many top-selling LPs, but this one wins out probably because it placed Madonna on an entirely different plane than her '80s music cohorts. With this album, mere song titles like "Material Girl" and "Like a Virgin" became key threads in the fabric of '80s culture. While becoming an icon alone does not guarantee a classic album, in this case the impact of the music was as important as image in making that happen.

3. Bruce Springsteen - 'Born in the U.S.A.'

Though Bruce Springsteen successfully transcends any decade in which he has worked, this album, in terms of quality, influence and style, stakes a fierce claim as one of the most signature releases of the '80s. The quality throughout the 14-song set is astounding, filled with irresistible hooks, a remarkable diversity of styles, and Springsteen's artfully rendered socially conscious brand of rock and roll.

4. Prince - 'Purple Rain'

Prince had produced some excellent and diverse music before, but with this 1984 release he synthesized pretty much everything he had to offer into a tight, nine-song LP. The hits were astounding in their efficiency and musical scope, but the lesser-known charting tunes and album tracks like "I Would Die 4 U" and "The Beautiful Ones" were no less skillfully presented. And of course, Prince being Prince, the album stoked controversy with "Darling Nikki", a tune that dealt with (gasp) masturbation.

5. Guns N' Roses - 'Appetite for Destruction'

In the midst of the Los Angeles hair metal scene, Guns 'N Roses exploded with a different kind of music on its 1987 debut release that could beat the hell out of any of the other glossy pop-metal floating around on MTV. Inspired equally by classic hard rock, metal and punk, the band's grimy rock was threatening, aggressive and supercharged with walls of guitar sound. In essence, the album provided a necessary bridge between a time when hard rock had teeth and when it regained them once Nirvana hit.

6. U2 - 'The Joshua Tree'

Also a landmark 1987 release, U2's breakthrough to superstardom is a rare artistic statement that also works extremely well as rousing rock and roll. The Irish band had already become extremely important on the burgeoning college rock/alternative scene, but with this collection the band graduated to something way more far-reaching and intense. While surely notable for its eclecticism, this album has the distinction also of having genuine things to say about faith, despair, loss and doubt.

7. George Michael - 'Faith'

Following the dissolution of the consistent but slight hit machine Wham!, which he had previously led, George Michael surely was not expected to go out and immediately release a masterpiece. But that's just what he did, with this erotically charged collection of dance pop and ballads. The songs "Father Figure" and, of course, "I Want Your Sex", particularly harbored an edge that certainly raised the eyebrows of parents whose teen children wore this record out.

8. Van Halen - '1984'

In stark contrast to its Orwellian title, this album is purely and simply a party record, an ode to a brand of hedonism that only David Lee Roth could accurately convey. As such, it's a particularly effective document of its time, but it's also filled with a number of high-quality tunes, from the very hard-rocking "Hot for Teacher" to the synthesizer-infused "Jump" to the affecting power ballad "I'll Wait". And credit should go to Eddie Van Halen for understanding the lure of the synthesizer.

Top 8 Artists Of The '80s - The Essential Eight

The length and order could be debatable, but there's no doubt a core list of the most essential '80s artists serves as a fine place to start any exploration of the decade's music. The musicians on the list combined cultural clout with musical talent, image and good timing to shape all things that have come to be described with the adjective "eighties."

1. Madonna

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Sire
So where else should we start? There were a lot of superstars that populated and fueled the '80s, but no one generated his or her stardom as organically and completely within the decade as the Material Girl. Bursting onto the scene with an original sound, bombshell image and overarching confidence, Madonna never needed anything but a one-name moniker to announce her presence. She was the star; everyone else was lucky to stand in the shadow of her light.

2. Michael Jackson

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Epic
Though the King of Pop had been a music star for years before 1982's Thriller, the release of that album launched him so far into the stratosphere that he ended up permanently discolored. Well, maybe that wasn't what happened, but Jackson was certainly the most earth-shattering '80s music phenom, and his overwhelming popularity that took hold in the mid-'80s often overshadows just how good the tunes are on his signature album. The concept of superstardom has never been the same.

3. Prince

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Through sheer force of charisma and musical versatility, Prince would have been the top male pop star in any decade not featuring Michael Jackson at the top of his game. As it was, His Purple Majesty recorded several essential albums and produced a stunningly diverse body of work as high in quality as in occasional controversy. Prince would have ruled any decade quite handily in his prime, but the '80s were a perfect fit for his flamboyant and often sensual approach to rock & roll.

4. Whitney Houston

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Arista
This young star with the sterling bloodline was quite simply the purest and best female pop singer of the decade, and though she may have operated most often in the middle of the road artistically speaking, the hit singles and platinum albums don't lie. Houston displayed a savvy sense of self-presentation that helped her perfectly combine technical vocal skill with wholesome good looks to strike gold in the MTV age.

5. The Police

Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M
One of the decade's premier bands both commercially and artistically, this talented trio cut a swath through the charts and always retained its trailblazer edge. Merging rock, punk, reggae and pop in constantly challenging ways, the band made the most of a brief existence, offering up diverse albums as well as arguably the finest single of the decade in "Every Breath You Take." Sadly, the internal dissension that served as the band's creative fuel prematurely spelled the end of the Police.

6. U2

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Island
This highly consistent but also artistically adventurous Irish band emerged as the first alternative music superstars of the '80s. But Bono & Co. labored long and hard for several years before their breakthrough with The Joshua Tree in 1987. Over the course of the decade, the band skillfully ran the gamut from post-punk hard rock to politically charged electric folk to slick atmospheric pop. And through it all, this breadth of talent has placed them among the most important bands of all time.

7. R.E.M.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Capitol
America's college rock answer to U2 was this Athens, Ga. band that likewise used a solid, workmanlike '80s output to secure superstardom in the '90s. However, the band's earliest work undoubtedly stands as its most impressive and groundbreaking. Almost single-handedly responsible for the popular spread of guitar-based indie rock that took place in the '90s, R.E.M.'s often gentle, introspective, and dense narrative songs drew their power from precision and a focused vision.

8. John Mellencamp

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Mercury
Starting off the decade with an entirely different, cynically manufactured surname did not stop Mellencamp from posting album after album of high-quality heartland rock. And his stunning consistency did not even reach its peak until his third high-profile release, 1985's Scarecrow, which still stands as not only a career magnum opus but a cornerstone album of all time. To top it off, Mellencamp's folk and rock instincts were always buoyed by a highly literate songwriting sense.

'80s Instrument Spotlight - the Saxophone

Overview:
Though one of the most versatile musical instruments, found in everything from jazz to funk to rock to orchestral music, the saxophone has generally remained one of the most maligned parts of a pop music ensemble. While this isn't always fair, the disdain may be somewhat understandable, particularly from the perspective of '80s music, in which sax solos often represented the pinnacle of overproduction and cheesy, sickeningly romantic arrangements. It was a time of excess in pop music, which unfortunately meant that some artists overused and misused the saxophone to gaudy if not comical effect.

Saxophone Background:
Though often mislabeled as a brass instrument if not an outright horn, the saxophone is actually in the woodwinds family. The confusion perhaps stems from the instrument's typically brass exterior and its association with jazz and rhythm & blues. There are many types of saxophones and closely related instruments that enjoy a wide variety of uses, but the one most commonly heard in pop/rock circles is the tenor sax. Think Clarence Clemons, longtime Bruce Springsteen collaborator, or Bill Clinton in his famous appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show.

Saxophone in Pop Music:
Following its origins in military band music, big band and jazz, the sax found a bit of a niche in rhythm and blues, early rock and roll, Motown, soul and funk styles from the '50s throughout the '70s. The instrument's popularity rose considerably in mainstream pop/rock during the later part of that period, as Clemons of the E Street Band made major progress toward turning the sax into a showcase piece. In 1978, the sax reached a pinnacle of sorts in terms of prominence, as Gerry Rafferty's classic single "Baker Street" would not have half the impact it does without its central, haunting sax line.

'80s Crimes Against the Saxophone:
As overproduction became an ever-swelling reality with the advent of new wave and MTV, epitomized by synthesizers galore and a penchant for the biggest sounds possible, the saxophone quickly became just another ingredient of pop music. In fact, sax solos showed up so often during the decade that their presence became a cliche, not to mention a glitzy, romanticized exclamation mark for ballads and other pop music ear candy. Though not always used gaudily, the sax often succumbed to the worst impulses of '80s music, many of which are responsible for the degree to which some of it sounds dated and even insincere.

A Stained Legacy Overcome:
Despite the damage undoubtedly done by its '80s reputation, the saxophone has persevered and remains an important part of various musical styles still today, even pop and rock. Part of this can be attributed to the work of post-punk artists who essentially deconstructed the instrument by emphasizing dissonance and cacophony instead of the smooth, slick melodic complements it had been previously known for. Still more responsible for its survival is the enduring versatility of the saxophone, a musical tool that adapts with ease to more styles, arguably, than any other instrument widely used in popular music.
Prominent '80s Songs Featuring Saxophone:

* The Motels - "Only the Lonely"
* Spandau Ballet - "True"
* Wham! - "Careless Whisper"
* Hall & Oates - "Maneater"
* Men at Work - "Overkill"
* Foreigner - "Urgent"
* Breathe - "Hands to Heaven"

What was the longest-running number one U.S. pop hit of the '80s?

Question: What was the longest-running number one U.S. pop hit of the '80s?
Many pop music milestones of the '80s belong to major artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson. However, it may surprise some to learn the artist responsible for the decade's longest-running number one American pop song.

Answer: Olivia Newton-John had made a name for herself during the '70s as an adult contemporary and country pop artist of some significance, but when she emerged in late 1981 with the unspoiled pop sound of "Physical," music fans embraced her more than ever before. For 10 weeks of the following winter, this playful, conceptual, slow-burning bit of ear candy ruled the charts, buoyed certainly by the sultry music video that established a newly sexy, provocative image for the Australian chanteuse. Though it still ranks as Newton-John's final No. 1 hit, "Physical" helped diversify the singer's appeal as more than a soft rock threat. Feel the burn.

Top 10 Songs of the '80s

The greatest singles of any era possess the power to change the world in three minutes, or failing that, they at least share the ability to leave their stamp on a musical landscape already filled nearly to capacity. And while chart performance, radio airplay and longevity are all important criteria to choose the best of the best, these essential '80s songs announce themselves as vital through sheer force of gravity. These tunes are simply impossible to ignore in the context of '80s music.

1. The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

Regardless of how many times this song is played, it retains a magic that only exists for the most solidly constructed, universally themed and uniquely presented musical compositions. Sting's songwriting centerpiece from 1983's Synchronicity achieves a rare pop/rock perfection, featuring a top-notch vocal performance, a groundbreaking guitar riff and a highly personal lyrical theme exploring obsession, heartbreak and romantic doom that somehow seems familiar in spite of its fierce originality. Definitely one of the finest moments of the career of the Police as well as the '80s as a whole.

2. Survivor-"Eye of the Tiger"

This Chicago-area mainstream power rock band known mostly for its ballads always had a knack for delivering among the most bombastic lyrics of the decade. But with this song, featured prominently and appropriately in the film Rocky III, Survivor brought fist-pumping arena rock to an entirely new plane of soaring bravado. The somewhat silly overuse of metaphor and cliche is sometimes a little offputting, but the hold of the melody and power-chord opening is undeniable.

3. Foreigner - "I Want to Know What Love Is"

Foreigner enjoyed a number of hits in the '80s, but none reached a level of over-the-top romantic longing as high as this keyboard-heavy love ballad does. Guitarist Mick Jones has always been an underrated songwriter, and his command was never on finer display than when the calmness of this tune's verses explode into a crescendo of a chorus perfectly suited for Lou Gramm's impressively high vocal range. When the gospel chorus kicks in at the end, it's a perfectly appropriate topping for this confection.

4. Van Halen - "Jump"

Some '70s and '80s hard rock bands turned to pop out of desperation or just pure greed as the hair metal phenomenon kicked off. In the case of Van Halen, the stylistic turn seemed as organic as the splendid synthesizer riff that fuels this tune, or David Lee Roth's exuberant leap, or Eddie Van Halen's infectious grin. On this one occasion, the band wrote a nearly perfect pop song, and unfortunately they spent the remainder of their careers rolling downhill from this moment.

5. U2 - "With or Without You"

U2's track to stardom and then its legendary status has been an intriguing one, filled with explorations of a variety of styles and approaches. However, this tune, one of many excellent songs from The Joshua Tree, strikes a perfect balance of pop and rock sensibilities. It's catchy, beautiful and hauntingly memorable, and somehow it remains both a document of its era and a timeless classic. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the song has one of the best bass lines in rock history.

6. Guns N' Roses - "Sweet Child o' Mine"

As raw and unabashed as they were, Axl Rose and his mates knew how to craft intricate and polished rock songs. The band's sound was no happy accident, and this song more than any other reveals the band at its peak collectively and individually. Never has Rose revealed his versatility as a singer more completely than through the calm verses and more fierce chorus sections of the tune. It's a tour de force of rock guitar buoyed by an unexpected lyrical sweetness, and the song's broad appeal helped take 1987's Appetite for Destruction to a mainstream place no one could have expected.

7. Whitney Houston - "So Emotional"

Pop diva Whitney Houston's '80s heyday produced several singles worthy of inclusion on best-of lists, but this one represents the best blend of danceable beats and an irrepressible chorus. Houston was and is a fine singer, but perhaps her best attribute was her ability to select top-notch material. This tune is a celebration of an '80s pluckiness we're not likely to see again, and it's so infectious that even a lot of rock fans were subject to its seduction.

8. Bonnie Tyler - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

One of the greatest '80s collaborations was undoubtedly this Welsh female singer with the unmistakable gravelly voice and Jim Steinman, songwriter and producer of Meat Loaf fame. It was a match made in heaven, as Steinman's gift for lyrical bombast and over-the-top arrangements to match helped him produce his finest musical moment and Tyler's gritty but sensitive voice perfectly conveyed the longing of this great love song.

9. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross-"Endless Love"

Speaking of ballads and the '80s, it's impossible to go too far without discussing duets pairing male and female singers, and there was no finer example of this than this overwrought but undeniably engaging tune from 1981. Lionel Richie certainly covered this same kind of ground effectively in his solo career, but the addition of a capable female singer with whom to exchange verses raises this song to another level. It helped that Ross was far more than capable.

10. J. Geils Band - "Centerfold"

Even though I sometimes get the "na-na-na-na-na-na" part mixed up with the Smurfs theme, this song is a highlight for me personally and for the entire decade's musical catalogue. The band's frontman, Peter Wolf, was tailor-made for the '80s with his Mick Jagger swagger and exuberance, even though he had paid his dues before the band went pop. That's why the group reached its highest level of success during the '80s, and this tune's memorable playfulness is a big reason why.

Most Memorable Pop Music Moments of 1980

With five prominent deaths of major rock music figures, 1980 can seem like a tragic and unfortunate year for pop and rock music. But beyond that obvious impression, the transition from '70s styles like singer-songwriter, progressive rock and disco to new wave, synth pop and arena rock was often a chaotic one, and the seeds of MTV and an increased emphasis on the images projected by musicians were quickly planted. Here's a look at some of the most memorable and arresting musical moments of 1980, a year of transition and cold reminders of the passing of eras.

1. Paul McCartney Tossed from Japan After Drug Arrest

Former Beatle Paul McCartney had spent the '70s as leader of Wings, taking a pop-oriented path many expected but also feared in the years following the Beatles' well-publicized breakup. Still, McCartney had been at the forefront of the '60s counterculture at one time, a fact that probably lessened any possible resulting shock when the singer was arrested January 16 in Tokyo for possession of a healthy amount of marijuana. Not only was McCartney's tour cancelled, but Japanese authorities held him in jail more than a week before releasing him and summarily dismissing him from the country. It was a jarring moment for McCartney's softer Wings image, revealing that the '80s were likely to be full of both the expected and unexpected.

. AC/DC's Bon Scott Dies from Alcohol Poisoning

Having never strayed from both an image and genuine practice as hellraiser, charismatic AC/DC frontman Bon Scott surprised relatively few but dismayed many when he turned up dead February 19 in London after a night of alcoholic revelry. It seemed like the end for the Australian hard rock combo, not only because of Scott's death but also because the demand for simple hard rock was waning in the wake of punk rock and the rise of new wave. But although the surviving members seriously considered disbanding, Scott's mother helped convince the group to carry on in an effort to memorialize their bandmate properly. By summer the release of Back in Black ushered in AC/DC's greatest success yet, with Brian Johnson filling in admirably for Scott.

3. Casey Kasem Hits the Tube with 'America's Top Ten'
As far as I'm concerned, '80s music would have never acquired the legitimacy it now enjoys without the voice (and ultimately the face) of Casey Kasem, whose America's Top 10 syndicated TV show debuted in May 1980 and helped pioneer the music video a full year before cable upstart MTV emerged. And for those of us living outside the reach of cable all the way into the late '80s, Kasem's visual supplement to his long-running American Top 40 weekly radio show served as a finger on the pulse of '80s music happenings like no other. I remember many a Saturday afternoon waiting with anticipation for Kasem to count down the biggest hits in America, and the man formerly known as Shaggy's voice on Scooby Doo rarely disappointed his audience.

4. Suicide of Joy Division's Ian Curtis

One of post-punk's earliest bright lights, England's Joy Division pioneered a brooding style of rock that literally no one had ever heard before. That's one of the reasons why the May 18 suicide by hanging of the group's frontman, Ian Curtis, hit the music world so hard. Of course, the troubled but brilliant artist's painfully young age of 23 added plenty of poignancy to the tragedy, especially because Curtis often hinted at such a demise in both his life and work. Joy Division's surviving members formed New Order and achieved plenty of success all their own, but the former group would ultimately stand as one of the most influential acts of the era. Romanticized though it may have been, the death of Curtis was a major '80s music flashpoint.

5. Led Zeppelin Disbands After Drummer John Bonham Dies

Timing can be an extremely mysterious thing, and with each musical death 1980 became progressively cruel and merciless. Unlike its predecessors earlier in the year, the September 25 death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham spelled the sudden end of one of rock music's most visible and beloved groups. The band did not formally announce its breakup until December, but it is a dissolution that has remained nearly constant for the last 30 years. If nothing else, Bonham's death officially patented a monster cliche that the typical "rock star" way to die involved overconsumption of alcohol and vomit-related asphyxiation. This Is Spinal Tap may have been produced without Bonham's death, but it may well have lost some of its resonance.

6. Henley Hits Bump in the Road of Life in the Fast Lane

By the end of the '70s one of that decade's biggest-selling bands, the Eagles, had reached a point of no return in terms of the group's ability to get along with each other and move forward artistically. Having written critical songs about the lure and damaging nature of life in the southern California spotlight, Henley may have set himself up for a stumble as the '70s age of excess melted into a new decade... of perhaps even more excess. That moment came on November 21, 1980, when Henley was arrested in his hotel room with various drugs and a 16-year-old prostitute who had apparently suffered a drug overdose. Whoops. Henley would soon release his solo debut, but not before some minor criminal charges stemming from this incident.

7. Darby Crashes & Burns, as Promised

By December 1980 rock music fans had probably had enough death. But this was to be the worst month of all, initially when legendary but completely underground punk singer Darby Crash committed suicide by heroin overdose on December 7. Mainstream news outlets probably wouldn't have covered this particular death anyway, although certainly some notoriety was bound to emerge from the suicide pact the Germs' Crash had made with a friend (who actually survived). The troubled singer had suggested this kind of flashy demise for himself many times before, but the fact that he made his pledges into reality at such a young age certainly lent the incident further tragic heft. A day later, however, the world's attention would be drastically diverted.

8. John Lennon Senselessly Murdered During Resurgence

1980 had been somewhat of a breakthrough year for ex-Beatle John Lennon's solo career, as Double Fantasy was released to great anticipation and eventual acclaim. But unfortunately most of its success came posthumously after unstable fan Mark David Chapman shot Lennon in the back multiple times as the latter made his way back to his apartment at the Dakota in New York City. In the years leading up to December 8, 1980, America had not necessarily exhibited a great degree of innocence, as a result perhaps of the ongoing fuel crisis and the uncertainty still swirling from the Iranian hostage crisis. But any remaining naivete in the country expired along with Lennon, whose assassination still hurts desperately three decades later.

Top Music Moments of 1981

For some reason it always takes a year or two for a new decade to kick in musically, as vestiges of the previous decade cling for dear life before fading or morphing into something else. 1981, for example, maintained a bridge not only to the disco sounds of the late '70s but also some of music's biggest stars of the past. At the same time, the stage was clearly being set for a new era, to be dominated by heavy metal and the emerging music video. We didn't realize it then, but space was being cleared for future legends like U2 and Metallica to take the reins. In many ways, 1981 was truly the first year of the '80s.


1. Tough Month for Eric Clapton
""Album Cover Image Courtesy of Reprise
In the midst of his slow recovery from a series of addictions, legendary British guitarist Eric Clapton endured a lengthy brush with mortality starting in March with a hospitalization in Minnesota. Diagnosed with bleeding ulcers, Clapton was forced to cancel his American tour in support of Another Ticket, a record that represented Clapton's move toward more pop-oriented material. After more than a month-long recuperation, Clapton had healed up sufficiently to resume touring, only to appeal to the American health care system once again just days later following a car accident in Seattle. After that, one would presume, Clapton went back to England or at least got the hell out of the apparently hazardous U.S.

2. Eddie Van Halen & Valerie Bertinelli - Signature '80s Celeb Marriage
Although celebrity couples have always attracted plenty of attention for their novelty and glitz, the marriage of hard rock guitar wizard Eddie Van Halen to famed '70s actress Bertinelli was undoubtedly one of the most prominent such unions of the decade. For one thing, it lasted not only throughout the '80s but resulted in a son (Wolfgang, now Van Halen's bassist) and did not end officially until 2007, a rare celebrity example of a silver (if separated) wedding anniversary. Of course, since this April 1981 union, the proliferation of media through TV and now the Internet has made relationships like this seem a dime a dozen. But this is still an important, lasting instance of stars staying married for a good, long while.


3. The Tragic, Mysterious Death of Bob Marley
""Album Cover Image Courtesy of Island Def Jam
May 11, 1981 saw the death of reggae legend Bob Marley after a lengthy battle with relatively untreated cancer, but that was actually a footnote to the gripping yet murky reasons that some believe led to the tragedy. As a Rastafari leader, many within believed, Marley may have appeared as a target to anyone in opposition to the Afrocentric religious movement. Therefore, considerable mystery still surrounds the circumstances that actually caused Marley to be stricken with the cancer that ultimately killed him. Regardless, reggae music and its persistent following around the world owes almost everything to Marley's music as well as his status as a major cultural figure.


4. Changing of the Guard - Diana Ross Leaves Motown
""Album Cover Image Courtesy of Hip-O
Still a major star and massive draw on the pop charts, former Supreme Diana Ross demonstrated the shifting nature of the music business when she signed with RCA Records in May, leaving the legendary Motown Records label that helped make her a phenomenon. The $20 million terms of the contract made it the most lucrative in music history at the time, revealing the undeniable truth that compensation matters could break the deepest loyalties. On the heels of the tremendously popular "Endless Love," Ross did not sustain her chart presence for very much longer, producing only three more American Top 10 hits during the remainder of the decade and failing to return to that lofty position upon subsequent releases. Still, the deal created shock waves.

5. The Launch of MTV & the New Video Age
Before August 1, 1981 the music video may have existed in a cursory, usually concert-oriented form, but the visual role of music would never be the same once MTV began providing an exclusive outlet for interpretive clips. Arguably, the music video became an art form, although many of its trends and patterns could hardly be called artistic. Nonetheless, MTV's tiny cable TV operation demonstrated, against odds, that an audience for music videos both existed and could be grown consistently over time. Network and cable outlets copied the format to varying degrees of success, but the timeline of '80s music - from new wave to arena rock to hair metal and rap - would have likely been very different without the once-little cable network that could.


6. Simon & Garfunkel Reunion Concert Draws Massive NYC Crowd
""Album Cover Image Courtesy of Warner Bros./WEA
As much as the music world was changing in 1981, music lovers clearly demonstrated a solid allegiance to the music stars of old, responding with enthusiastic numbers to a free concert in Central Park by the temporarily reunited duo of Simon & Garfunkel. The September 19 concert drew half a million fans and extended its life into a popular video release and subsequent world tour. The renewed partnership would last only until 1983, but the music industry seemed to realize that the combination of vintage artists with emerging formats could turn into ratings gold. Later mass concerts like Live Aid and Farm Aid certainly fed off the free concert's success, setting the stage for music festivals as viable cash generators.


7. U2 Begins Its Mutual Love Affair with U.S. Audiences
""Album Cover Image Courtesy of Interscope
In 1981, the four members of U2 were barely out of their teens and remained a well-kept secret of the post-punk and college rock underground movements of the period. But with a 1981 slot on Tom Snyder's Tomorrow, the fledgling superstars enjoyed their first American TV appearance, an event that certainly accelerated the band's rise in what would become perhaps its most reliable geographic market. During the next few years, U2 would exert tremendous influence as under-the-radar purveyors of edgy, political rock anthems, but for some reason the group's blend of its Irish background with an affection for American music styles led to unexpected levels of success. 1987's The Joshua Tree would memorably become one of the decade's seminal albums.

8. Many Influential Heavy Metal Bands Form in 1981
Though they wouldn't make their maximum impact until several years later, several bands formed in 1981 that would go on to define hard rock for years to come. And generally I'm not talking about any of the pop metal bands that would dominate the latter '80s, which in most cases didn't qualify as heavy metal in the first place. Here's a pretty strong list for you: Anthrax, Loudness, Masters of Reality, Metallica, Motley Crue, Pantera, Queensryche, Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies. It may have taken a few years for most of these bands to make the climb of success, with the exception of Metallica and Motley Crue, who were instantly noticed. It was no coincidence that more than half of these groups were thrash bands, the "real" metal of the '80s.