What is THE definitive 80s song?

[IntelligentInputDarling]

Might not be your favourite, but what song encapsulates the 80s for you?

We've been having a debate at work, and the consensus is it's got to be Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'.
It is the 80s right?
There can be no argument, it's got everything - weird music video, Bonnie's hair, makeup and fashion.
And the pure power ballad vocals 👌

Agree?

Don't You Want Me sprang to mind for me too.

There's a distinction between what worked for us personally and what was quintessentially 80s. For me, Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet is the perfect love song. I never get tired of it. But the fact that it's so good for any time means it's not the perfect 80s song; that would belong to something like Bananarama's Venus, which I don't like nearly as much, but has a particular energy I associate with that time. Ditto Don't You Want Me; it's as creepy as heck, but the tone of entitlement is answered by Susan Sulley's voice - and at just the time when girls and young women were finding a voice.

Prince - Kiss.

Enola Gay - OMD. That is the 80s!

Karma Chameleon

I Wanna Br Adored

The 1980s is a very broad church

Careless Whisper?

Betty Davies' Eyes

Vienna

Oh yes Will You by Hazel O Connor. Beautiful.

I think I 'faded out' of pop when I graduated in the late 80s but so many of these are instantly recognisable.

I concur. It's also the best pop song ever.

Don't stop believing
LOVE it

Electro-pop, nuclear war and skinny men in skinny trousers was what the (early) 80s was all about.

Thanks all, I've added all the above to a Spotify playlist and just need to wait for my 5pm drive home.

Eighties was my era and favourite for music.
I've so so many l can't possibly list just one.
80s music was the best.

I think of the eighties as the New Romantic era. So with that in mind I should mention Steve Strange’s Visage and Turn to Grey.

Into the groove Madonna

Great choice @Jacobeen Love Visage 😎 But I think you meant Fade to Grey.

Yes, for me the 80s is very much the New Romantics and electro. It was a fantastic time for music 🎶

We need some early Madge.
I love 'Dress You Up' and ''Crazy For You'.

Does anyone remember 'Mary's Prayer' by Danny Wilson?
One of my absolute favourites ❤️

Talking of electro/synth, I just remembered Yazoo - Only You. That’s a classic, as is The Communards - Don’t Leave Me This Way.

Wake me up before you go go by Wham.

Does anyone remember 'Mary's Prayer' by Danny Wilson?
One of my absolute favourites ❤️

Yes, I do - great song 😊 That reminded me of Prefab Sprout, so I’d add Appetite, as that was played so much.

Great choice! I remember it being on an album I got one Christmas (electric 80s I think it was called) along with Flock of Seagulls Wishing (I had a photograph)

Come on Eileen was played at every school disco

Ooh, yes. And also Don't Go by Yazoo. I love the way that song just explodes into life!

Definitely Come on Eileen. Reminds me of my clubbing days when I first moved to London.

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye - Soft Cell