The Rush Forum's TOP 500 Songs Of The 1980s

[Lucas]

We'll do this similar to the Top Albums threads .. This time, it is songs, and songs that were RELEASED in the 1980s ( ie everything on Permanent Waves )

 

Please cut and paste the list so we can keep tabs, and try to write a reason for you selection - why you like the song, if it came around in a particularly poignant period of your life, etc

 

I have no idea how this will go .. If it goes fast, we can extend it to 750 or more

 

And by "songs", it's up to you to use your discretion - Top 40, AOR, obscure tracks, whatever - it is up to you, and whatever you like ..

 

Again, I like Union's rules:

 

1) One album per post

 

2) A TRF member can only post an album every 10 picks (or every 5 if it grows stagnant)

 

3) Please cut and paste as you post

 

4) Please give a brief reason beneath your pick as to why you're choosing that particular album. That way it'll be a little more than just a huge list thread

[Lucas]

1) Don't Change - INXS ( Lucas )

 

I love this song, and INXS is one of the truly great bands of the 1980s .. Michael Hutchence is routinely left out of great frontman conversations, very unfairly ..

 

Don't Change got me thru some of the most difficult times in life

 

Great early MTV video too

[Chronos]

1) Don't Change - INXS ( Lucas )

 

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) -- Simple Minds (Chronos)

 

This is one of many quintessential 80s songs. For me, this one drips with high-school nostalgia -- even 30 years later, it still evokes powerful memories of warm summer nights in northern California, hangin' with all my buds.

[KenJennings]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

 

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

 

One of my all time favorite songs. It's four minutes and twenty three seconds of pure fun. The second those horns start to blow, even the stiffest square in the room wants to get up and rock. It's one of the songs that I like to play in my car on a hot summer day, roll down the windows, and serenade every other driver at the red light.

Edited June 16, 2016 by KenJennings

[Verena]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

 

It was a difficult choice among so many great songs. It belongs to an underrated album (Hellbound), that deserves a better place in rocker's minds and hearts. Warlock is a legend.

The songtitle says it all. Let's rock! :haz:

Edited June 16, 2016 by rhyv

[Union 5-3992]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy Osbourne (Union)

 

 

One of my all time favorite songs by Ozzy and some of his (Daisley's) best lyrics. A fantastic start for metal this decade

[Digital Dad]

ok so this thread basically confirms that Permanent Waves is an 80's album.

 

Thanks Lucas. I knew you were good for something around here.

 

#6 Don't You Want Me- Human League.

 

I'm here to completely sabotage this entire thread.

[Digital Dad]

1) Don't Change - INXS ( Lucas )

 

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) -- Simple Minds (Chronos)

 

This is one of many quintessential 80s songs. For me, this one drips with high-school nostalgia -- even 30 years later, it still evokes powerful memories of warm summer nights in northern California, hangin' with all my buds.

 

Trivia. Song was originally written for Billy Idol but he rejected because he thought it was to poppy. In hindsight it probably wrecked Simple Minds career.

[Permanent-Rush]

1. Don't Change-INXS(Lucas)

 

2. Don't You Forget About Me-Simple Mins(Chronos)

 

3. Sussudio-Phil Collins(Ken Jennings)

 

4. Earthquake Rock-Warlock(Rhyv)

 

5. Suicide Solution-Ozzy Ozbourne(Union)

 

6. Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

 

7. The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

 

It is a really good ballad. One of my favorites!

Edited June 16, 2016 by Surrender74

[Lucas]

 

#6 Don't You Want Me- Human League.

 

I'm here to completely sabotage this entire thread.

 

Not at all DD

 

I love that song

 

( But what does that say about it ? )

[Digital Dad]

#6 Don't You Want Me- Human League.

 

I'm here to completely sabotage this entire thread.

 

Not at all DD

 

I love that song

 

( But what does that say about it ? )

 

Actually think they have better songs, well one better song. Maybe 2.

 

Anyhow, theres probably about 498 songs from the 80's I like better.

[Disembodied Spirit]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6. Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7. The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8. Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

This song was one of those, 'WOW, What was that?' moments you get growing up with music. You are blindsided by something so different yet seems like it belongs to you. I liked tons of bands growing up in the 80s for many, many different reasons. But the opening of QOTR made me a Queensryche fan for life.

[ReRushed]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6. Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7. The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8. Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9. Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

Forget Grunge. Forget Nirvana. This is the band that kicked open the door. This song is a sledgehammer. This song is a buzzsaw. Slicing up eyeballs, indeed.

[Segue Myles]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6. Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7. The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8. Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9. Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

 

PIXIES ARE A GREAT CHOICE RERUSHED! I love this song!

 

10. Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

 

One of the best metal sings of all time! I am sure many are worn out on this song but, in spite of knowing they have a zillion classic songs with even more power, this remains my favourite Maiden song, and possibly my favourite metal anthem period.

Edited June 16, 2016 by Segue Myles

[Lorraine]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10)Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

 

 

11) Synchronicity - The Police(Lorraine)

 

 

It was smart of them to go out on top.

Edited June 16, 2016 by Lorraine

[HemiBeers]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10)Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

11) Synchronicity - The Police(Lorraine)

12) The Spirit of Radio - Rush (hemibeers)

[KenJennings]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10)Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

11) Synchronicity - The Police(Lorraine)

12) The Spirit of Radio - Rush (hemibeers)

 

13) Highwayman - The Highwaymen (KenJennings)

 

Even though the original version was recorded by Jimmy Webb in 1977; Highwayman took life, becoming one of the most important country songs in history, with the foundation of the eponymous supergroup "The Highwaymen" in 1985. Sung by four legends, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash; the song tells a tale of a soul reincarnated across four lives, four time periods- beginning with a rouge highwayman in 1825, and ending with the captain of a starship in the long off future. The song is an epic about the triumph of the human spirit, and in the voices of four gargantuan musical names, it becomes a legend all its own. One of my favorites.

Edited June 16, 2016 by KenJennings

[ReRushed]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10)Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

 

 

11) Synchronicity - The Police(Lorraine)

 

 

It was smart of them to go out on top.

I or II?

[Lorraine]

Sorry.

 

Synchronicity II

 

 

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me-Human League(Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10)Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

11) Synchronicity II - The Police (Lorraine)

12) The Spirit of Radio - Rush (hemibeers)

13) Highwayman - The Highwaymen (KenJennings)

Edited June 16, 2016 by Lorraine

[Chronos]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me - Human League (Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10) Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

11) Synchronicity II - The Police (Lorraine)

12) The Spirit of Radio - Rush (hemibeers)

13) Highwayman - The Highwaymen (KenJennings)

 

14) Shadows on Your Side - Duran Duran (Chronos)

A casual observer might be tempted to dismiss Duran Duran as nothing more than an image-obsessed "boy band," but the Duranies were d*mn good musicians. The cut I chose was never a hit single or anything, but it's one of my top faves from the band (Dat bass, doe!). Because their first three albums were so consistent, I had a heckuva time choosing a track.

[Lucas]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me - Human League (Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10) Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

11) Synchronicity II - The Police (Lorraine)

12) The Spirit of Radio - Rush (hemibeers)

13) Highwayman - The Highwaymen (KenJennings)

14) Shadows on Your Side - Duran Duran (Chronos)

 

15 Just Like Heaven - The Cure ( Lucas )

 

I went to see The Cure in the 80s as a casual fan, and came out totally blown away .. Just Like Heaven is timeless, and as classic as a song can get

[goose]

^^^ Nice, Lucas!

[goose]

16. Back in Black - AC/DC (goose)

 

The song that kicked open the popular music door for hard rock/metal. It ushered in an entire era of heavy rock mainstream acts.

Edited June 16, 2016 by goose

[Disembodied Spirit]

16. Back in Black - AC/DC (goose)

 

The song that kicked open the popular music door for hard rock/metal. It ushered in an entire era of heavy rock mainstream acts.

This song crossed my mind on my pick and to me, it weighs more heavy in terms of importance. This was following the death of Bon Scott. The record had this black cover, but from the start this whole album was 42 minutes of heaven. When you bought this record in 1980, you began either on cassette with Hells Bells, but side 2 had this Back in Black track that kicked you right in the nuts....radio has beaten this album to death but on it's own, we could add 5 songs from this album to this list

[custom55]

1) Don't Change - INXS (Lucas)

2) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Chronos)

3) Sussudio - Phil Collins (KenJennings)

4) Earthshaker Rock - Warlock (rhyv)

5) Suicide Solution - Ozzy (Union)

6) Don't You Want Me - Human League (Digital Dad)

7) The Flame-Cheap Trick(Surrender74)

8) Queen of the Reich - Queensryche (Disembodied Spirit)

9) Debaser - Pixies (ReRushed)

10) Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden (Segue Myles)

11) Synchronicity II - The Police (Lorraine)

12) The Spirit of Radio - Rush (hemibeers)

13) Highwayman - The Highwaymen (KenJennings)

14) Shadows on Your Side - Duran Duran (Chronos)

15) Just Like Heaven - The Cure ( Lucas )

16) Back in Black - AC/DC (goose)

 

 

17) Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones ( Custom55 )

 

 

Overplayed for sure but definitely a song for the 80's. Another one of Keith's most memorable riffs.

Edited June 16, 2016 by custom55