1980s Song Meanings
By Ed Osborne
With the demise of disco’s domination of the Top 40, rock ’n’ roll enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, with veteran and new bands and solo artists competing for attention.
One of the most significant events in contemporary music history occurred in 1981 with the debut of MTV. Synth-driven records, often by international acts, provided a distinct contrast to more traditional rock and pop.
The resulting democratization of the music business also opened the door to mainstream superstar status for black artists and, as the decade wore on, solo female Singers.
This new emphasis on visuals meant that appearance and performance art became as important, and in some cases more so, than the audio recording: a shift that had permanent ramifications for the music business.
As for the alleged death of disco, it merely went on hiatus for a while, before returning in the form of dance rhythm records sans the trademark splashy high hats and whistles.
The decade closed out with hip-hop’s ascendance to platinum sales heights and the
beginning of the boy band craze.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2023 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
1980
Cool Change – Little River Band
Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol
Don’t Misunderstand Me – Rossington Collins Band
Do That To Me One More Time – Captain & Tennille
Flirtin’ With Disaster – Molly Hatchet
For Your Eyes Only – Sheena Easton
Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
Never Knew Love Like This Before – Stephanie Mills
Ride Like The Wind – Christopher Cross
The Biggest Part Of Me – Ambrosia
What I Like About You – The Romantics
1982
Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band
Bad To The Bone – George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Don’t You Want Me – Human League
Early In The Morning – The Gap Band
Everybody Wants You – Billy Squier
Eye In The Sky – Alan Parsons Project
Freeze-Frame – The J. Geils Band
Get Down On It – Kool & The Gang
I Ran (So Far Away) – Flock Of Seagulls
Love Is Like A Rock – Donnie Iris
Maneater – Daryl Hall & John Oates
One Hundred Ways – Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram
Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker And Jennifer Warnes
Working For The Weekend – Loverboy
You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest
You Should Hear How She Talks About You – Melissa Manchester
1984
Bringin’ On The Heartbreak – Def Leppard
Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) – Billy Ocean
Eyes Without A Face – Billy Idol
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker, Jr.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
I Can’t Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar
I’m So Excited – Pointer Sisters
Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
Love Is A Battlefield – Pat Benatar
Love Somebody – Rick Springfield
Sister Christian – Night Ranger
Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
The Glamorous Life – Sheila E.
Think Of Laura – Christopher Cross
We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
(You Can Still) Rock In America – Night Ranger
1986
Addicted To Love – Robert Palmer
Everybody Have Fun Tonight – Wang Chung
Holding Back The Years – Simply Red
I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On – Robert Palmer
If You Leave – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
King For A Day – Thompson Twins
Let’s Go All The Way – Sly Fox
Love You Down – Ready For The World
On My Own – Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
Secret Lovers – Atlantic Starr
Shake You Down – Gregory Abbott
Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
Walk Like An Egyptian – Bangles
We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off – Jermaine Stewart
You Can Leave Your Hat On – Joe Cocker
1988
Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
Hazy Shade Of Winter – Bangles
Hot Hot Hot – Buster Poindexter And His Banshees Of Blue
Sign Your Name – Terence Trent D’Arby
Shattered Dreams – Johnny Hates Jazz
Tell It To My Heart – Taylor Dayne
1981
Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross
Being With You – Smokey Robinson
Don’t Stop The Music – Yarbrough & Peoples
Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
Give It To Me Baby – Rick James
I’ve Done Everything For You – Rick Springfield
Jesse’s Girl – Rick Springfield
Just The Two Of Us – Grover Washington, Jr. (With Bill Withers)
Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores
She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton
Super Freak (Part 1) – Rick James
Take It On The Run – REO Speedwagon
Theme From “Greatest American Hero” (Believe It Or Not) – Joey Scarbury
The One That You Love – Air Supply
Waiting For A Girl Like You – Foreigner
1983
Always Something There To Remind Me – Naked Eyes
Bang The Drum All Day – Todd Rundgren
Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
Cum On Feel The Noize – Quiet Riot
Flashdance…What A Feeling – Irene Cara
Hungry Like The Wolf – Duran Duran
I’ll Tumble 4 Ya – Culture Club
It Might Be You – Stephen Bishop
(Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Human League
Major Tom (Coming Home) – Peter Schilling
One On One – Daryl Hall & John Oates
One Thing Leads To Another – The Fixx
Promises, Promises – Naked Eyes
She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby
(She’s) Sexy + 17 – Stray Cats
The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
Time (Clock Of The Heart) – Culture Club
Twilight Zone – Golden Earring
Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy – Sammy Hagar
1985
Alive & Kicking – Simple Minds
A View To A Kill – Duran Duran
Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
Do You Want Crying – Katrina And The Waves
Do What You Do – Jermaine Jackson
I Want To Know What Love Is – Foreigner
Meeting In The Ladies Room – Klymaxx
Neutron Dance – Pointer Sisters
Oh Sheila – Ready For The World
Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Sentimental Street – Night Ranger
St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) – John Parr
The Power Of Love – Huey Lewis & The News
Things Can Only Get Better – Howard Jones
Walking On Sunshine – Katrina And The Waves
We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) – Tina Turner
1987
At This Moment – Billy Vera & The Beaters
Don’t Disturb This Groove – The System
Can’t We Try – Dan Hill (With Vonda Shepard)
Don’t You Want Me – Jody Watley
I Got The Feelin’ (It’s Over) – Gregory Abbott
I’ve Been In Love Before – Cutting Crew
(I Just) Died In Your Arms – Cutting Crew
Keep Your Hands To Yourself – Georgia Satellites
Looking For A New Love – Jody Watley
Love Power – Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osborne
Right On Track – Breakfast Club
Still Of The Night – Whitesnake
1989
Baby Come To Me – Regina Belle
Cult Of Personality – Living Colour
Don’t Know Much – Linda Ronstadt (Featuring Aaron Neville)
Every Little Step – Bobby Brown
Good Thing – Fine Young Cannibals
Here And Now – Luther Vandross
If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red
Shower Me With Your Love – Surface
Sowing The Seeds Of Love – Tears For Fear
Walk The Dinosaur – Was (Not Was)