avatarPaul Combs

Summary

The author, a proud member of Generation X, shares their favorite songs from each year of the 1980s, including tracks from Bruce Springsteen, U2, Asia, ZZ Top, The Cult, and more.

Abstract

The author, a self-proclaimed member of Generation X, embarks on a musical journey through the 1980s, sharing their personal favorite song from each year. Beginning with "Sherry Darling" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in 1980, the author continues through the decade, highlighting tracks such as U2's "Gloria" (1981), Asia's "Heat of the Moment" (1982), and ZZ Top's "I Got the Six" (1983). The author's love for Springsteen is evident, as they include "Bobby Jean" (1984) and "Be True" (1988) in their list. Other notable inclusions are The Cult's "She Sells Sanctuary" (1985), Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" (1987), and Robert Earl Keen's "The Road Goes on Forever" (1989). The author acknowledges the difficulty in choosing just one song per year and expresses their commitment to completing the list, despite the challenges.

Bullet points

  • The author is a proud member of Generation X and shares their favorite songs from each year of the 1980s.
  • The author's favorite song from 1980 is "Sherry Darling" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
  • U2's "Gloria" is the author's favorite song from 1981.
  • Asia's "Heat of the Moment" is the author's favorite song from 1982.
  • ZZ Top's "I Got the Six" is the author's favorite song from 1983.
  • Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's "Bobby Jean" is the author's favorite song from 1984.
  • The Cult's "She Sells Sanctuary" is the author's favorite song from 1985.
  • Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" is the author's favorite song from 1987.
  • Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's "Be True" is the author's favorite song from 1988.
  • Robert Earl Keen's "The Road Goes on Forever" is the author's favorite song from 1989.
  • The author acknowledges the difficulty in choosing just one song per year and expresses their commitment to completing the list.

My Favorite Song from Every Year I’ve Been Alive (Part Two: 1980–1989)

The madness continues

Photo by author

When I started the insanity that is picking my favorite song from every year that I’ve been alive, I knew that the glorious 1980s would be the toughest decade by far. As a proud member of Generation X, the music of this decade formed me (even if I was listening to music from the ’60s and ’70s just as much). Picking only one song for each year proved more challenging than picking just one song from a Springsteen album (something I encountered in this list as well).

I have no one to blame but myself for wading into this situation and I’m committed to seeing it through. If nothing else, I’ve surprised myself along the way with some of my choices. There is a surprising lack of New Wave hits among the ten songs here; maybe, like many of us Gen Xers, they just couldn’t stand the test of time.

I will say again, as I did in the first installment, this is a list of my personal favorite songs from each year of the ’80s. The question of “greatest” is better left up to those critics more knowledgeable than I am (except in the case of “Born to Run,” of course). And if you haven’t read Part One, you can find it here.

Now on to the songs.

1980: “Sherry Darling” — Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. You’re probably not shocked that a Springsteen song shows up from a year in which he released a new album, but you may be surprised by this choice from The River album. “Hungry Heart” and the title track are both better known, and I love “Point Blank” and “The Price You Pay,” but it’s this frat-rock party song that I taught my girls when they were toddlers and it remains the one song that can make me smile no matter how bad a day I’ve had. The only downside is that I have to consign two songs I love to runner-up status: AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “Breaking the Law” from Judas Priest’s greatest album, British Steel. Check out the live performance below and you’ll see why.

1981: “Gloria” — U2. Long before they were sending albums to our phones unsolicited, long before Bono became a living saint, even a few years before they hit the big time with The Joshua Tree album, U2 was just a bunch of Irish punks with crazy hair. This song gave a glimpse of what was to come and remains tied for my favorite of their entire catalogue. Honorable mention: “Insider” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (with Stevie Nicks), “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” (the only good Def Leppard song), and the original version of “Pretty in Pink,” which was better without the horns added for the film soundtrack in 1986.

1982: “Heat of the Moment” — Asia. Much like sophomore year of high school was the hardest, 1982 was a tough year to pick a favorite song from, not because there were a huge number of contenders but because the few great ones are so great. It surprises even me that “Johnny 99” from Springsteen’s Nebraska album didn’t win out and that metal classics “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” and “Run to the Hills” fall to third and fourth place, respectively. In the end, it’s a song that brings me back to those wild high school days more than any other that gets the nod.

1983: “I Got the Six” — ZZ Top. The Eliminator album from that Little Ol’ Band from Texas dominated my last two years of high school in much the same way the videos from the album dominated MTV. My favorite was a deep cut, and if you’ve heard it then you know that when it comes to maturity, I (like all men) will always be a 12-year-old boy. Runners-up: “Looks That Kill” by Mötley Crüe, “Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes, and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy.”

1984: “Bobby Jean” — Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I have written extensively about my irritation that so many think that Born in the U.S.A. is the only Springsteen record. It irritates me even more that the best song on the album (and my favorite from 1984) wasn’t among the seven singles released from the album. This ode to his friendship with Little Steven Van Zandt deserved better. Honorable mention: every other song on the Born in the U.S.A. album except “Glory Days.”

1985: “She Sells Sanctuary” — The Cult. You forgot about The Cult, didn’t you? Far too many have, maybe because they never fit into a specific genre. That’s a shame, because they were awesome, as this song proves. Honorable mentions to The Firm’s “Radioactive” and “Little Mascara” from my favorite Replacements album, Tim. Below, the original video gets the Lego treatment.

1986: “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” — The Smiths. My favorite song from their best album, this is the other song I taught my children as toddlers (much to their mother’s chagrin). It’s one that will be played at my funeral, and I know my girls will sing along then, too. Honorable mention: “Manic Monday” by The Bangles.

1987: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” — Guns N’ Roses. Did I really pick this one as my favorite over U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” The Cult’s “Lil’ Devil,” 10,000 Maniacs’ “A Campfire Song,” and “Tougher than the Rest” from Bruce’s Tunnel of Love album? Yes, yes I did. I realize that the song has so pervaded popular culture that they now have Slash playing the iconic intro on Capital One commercials, but at the same time the song has so pervaded popular culture that they now have Slash playing the iconic intro on freaking Capital One commercials. Besides, making a fast buck three decades later doesn’t make it any less of a masterpiece.

1988: “Be True”— Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Hardcore Springsteen fans Alex Markham and Mark Holburn might protest that this song was first recorded during The River sessions between April 1979 and May 1980, and that would be true (pun intended). However, that studio version was not released on the album, making this live version the song’s first official appearance. It also makes up for not picking a song from Tunnel of Love for 1987. Honorable mention: “Gypsy Road” by Cinderella and Morrissey’s “Everyday is Like Sunday.”

1989: “The Road Goes on Forever” — Robert Earl Keen. I chose REK’s West Textures album as my favorite from 1989 in the previous series, and this is by far my favorite song from that album. It’s not quite country enough to irritate Simon Dillon, and not quite rock enough to irritate my mom (who used to love rock before she turned 80). It’s a song that tells an entire story in five minutes. Honorable mention: Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”

Those are my favorite songs from each year of the 1980s, and below is a playlist for anyone interested. Let me know your favorites in the comments and stay tuned for Part Three: the 1990s. Until then, keep on rockin’.

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