Hey guys:
As you know I’m DJing an 80s dance tonight. I’m pretty well situated for 80s dance music (500 tracks on the playlist) BUT there’s always a chance I’ve completely blown past a “wow you should really have that in the mix” track.
SO: Suggest one of YOUR favorite songs from the 80s that you would want to dance to. The “that you’d want to dance to” part is important, because it’s a dance.
Any genre works.
Do me a favor and focus on no more than five songs. I don’t need laundry lists; I need awesome 80s songs I might have overlooked.
Got it? Good. Go!
Zappa’s “Dancing Fool.” Just because it’s so funny to watch people actually try to dance to it.
Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo.
AWESOMEST 80s DANCE SONGS:
1) “Party at Ground Zero” by Fishbone
2) “What I Like About You” by the Romantics
3) “One Step Beyond” by Madness
4) “Private Idaho” by the B-52s
5) “Paid in Full” by Eric B and Rakim
And if you’re feeling nuts, try “Mexican Radio” by Wall of Voodoo. The few who dance to it will love you best of ALL the DJs.
“Take Me Home Tonight” – Eddie Money
“Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper
“Into The Groove” – Madonna
“Flashdance (What a Feeling)” – Irene Cara
:watches as ten other people post this simultaneously:
Paul Simon – Call Me Al
Plastic Bertrand – Ca Plane Pour Moi
Wall of Voodoo – Mexican Radio
The Call – Walls Came Down
XTC – Dear God
Jethro Tull – Steel Monkey
Peter Schiling – Major Tom
Katrina and the Waves, Walking on Sunshine. Bon Jovi, Living on a Prayer. Madonna, Like a Prayer. Aerosmith-Run DMC, Walk This Way. Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime.
“Modern Love” by Bowie
“Love Shack” B-52′s
“Girl’s Just Want to Have Fun” Cyndi Lauper
“Let’s Groove” Earth Wind & Fire
Maybe you could post a track listing of your playlist so we can see what you may have missed?
“I want candy” by Bow Wow Wow always seems to be one that gets forgotten.
Everything on Peter’s list fills me with footloose glee without reminding me of a middle school dance, which is always a danger for nerds of a certain age.
Plus:
The Polecats – “Make a Circuit with Me”
Huey Lewis and the News – “Power of Love”
BTW, John–do you want to edit the OP to read “focus on NO more than five songs”?
My favourite such song is “You Spin Me ‘Round ’86″ by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet; it’s from their first album, Savvy Show Stoppers. Most likely you haven’t heard of it. But if you hunt it down you won’t be disappointed.
“Still Ill” The Smiths, live version from Rank.
Mike and the Mechanics – “Silent Running” and “All I need is a Miracle”
Great Genesis spin off band!
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
The Clash – Rock The Casbah
The B-52′s – Rock Lobster
Ooh, one more:
Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized
Tones on Tail, Go
“All She Wants to do is Dance” – Don Henley
“Mony Mony” or “Dancing with Myself” — Billy Idol
Some slow jams:
The Cars – “Drive”
Phil Collins – “Groovy Kind of Love” (which I sincerely believe is a beautiful, minimal, underrated gem)
Richard Marx – “Hold On to the Nights”
And then obviously “Once in a Lifetime” and “Batdance.”
“I Love Rock and Roll” – Joan Jett
Love Shack – B-52′s
September – Earth, Wind and Fire (bleed over from late 70′s)
Holiday – Madonna
Start Me Up – Rolling Stones
Life During Wartime – Talking Heads
The Gap Band – You Dropped A Bomb on Me
Midnight Star – No Parking on the Dance Floor
Those are two I remember filling the dance floor back in the day!
Nitzer Ebb – Joint in the Chant
Cuts You Up – Peter Murphy
How Soon is Now? – The Smiths (or really any Smiths)
Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure
Why, yes, I do prefer a goth bent to my 80s music. :-)
The Kinks – Come Dancing
Wall of Voodoo – Mexican Radio
The Knack – My Sharona
The Romantics – What I like About You
“Africa” – Toto
Gary Numan – Cars, Stormtrooper in Drag, Down in the Park
NiN – anything from Pretty Hate Machine
Bauhaus – Passion of Lovers
Love and Rockets – Ball of Confusion
New Order – Everything’s Going Green, Blue Monday etc
gotta go big hair bands:
Sweet Cherry Pie
Once bitten twice shy
pour some sugar on me.
And thanks, I now have living on a prayer stuck in my head.
The Cure – Killing and Arab, Boys Don’t Cry.
The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go, Rock the Casbah, etc.
Taco : “Puttin’ on the Ritz”
Bangles : “Walk Like an Egyptian”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince : “Parents Just Don’t Understand”
Peter Schilling : “Major Tom”
Stacey Q : “Two Of Hearts”
“Catch Me I’m Falling” – Real Life
“All Through the Night” – Cyndi Lauper (for the slow dances)
More Talking Heads: “Moon Rocks” and “Making Flippy Floppy”. (“Speaking in Tongues” was their dancin’est and most Eighties album, if not their best.)
A very young They Might Be Giants: “Don’t Let’s Start”.
Nina, “99 Luftballoons”
Men Without Hats, “Safety Dance”
Pet Shop Boys, “West End Girls”
Peter Shilling, “Major Tom/Coming Home”
The Cure “Lovecats”
Weird Al’s “Dare to Be Stupid”
anything by Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Free Nelson Mandela, The Specials
Wild Thing, Sister Carol
Sunday You Need Love, Monday Be Alone, Trio
Crazay, Jesse Johnson (with Sly Stone)
+1 on Party at Ground Zero. And a better Bow Wow Wow song would be “See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah! City All Over, Go Ape Crazy”
For some overlooked funk, check out Thomas Dolby’s Aliens Ate My Buick.
I only dance when I’m taking ecstasy, and I don’t take ecstasy. However, there were a few songs that made me WANT to dance in the 1980s.
Forever Young – Alphaville
It’s My Life – Talk Talk
Together In Electric Dreams – Giorgio Moroder
Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins
Goodbye to You – Scandal – what a wonderfully terrible video on MTV
Pointer Sisters – Jump
J Geils Band – Freezeframe
Laura Branigan – Gloria
The Hooters – All You Zombies
Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
Manic Monday – The Bangles
Clarification: Warrant’s Sweet Cherry Pie was released in 1990, so is it 80s if you are one of those math people, but not if just go by the number “8″ in front of the date. Not to derail the great selections with a discussion on when where the 80s…
Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning”
“Crazy Serbian Butcher’s Dance” and “Who Stole the Kishka” from Brave Combo’s Polkatharsis (1987) would be good for, um, call it “two-stepping.” NO, I’M NOT KIDDING.
Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
Come on Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
I’ll Melt with You – Modern English
White Man In Hammersmith Palais – the Clash
Call Me – Blondie
Personally, I think Rock Lobster goes on way to long to be enjoyable to dance to. But, I was dancing with a priest at the time, so…?
Huey Lewis and the News – “Walking on a Thin Line”
London Calling – The Clash
Pleasure and Pain – The Divinyls
Hyperactive – Thomas Dolby
Remember The Nights – The Motels
99 Luftballons – Nena
Cinderella Undercover – Oingo Boingo
Da Da Da – Trio
Frank’s Wild Years – Tom Waits
<homer>
Mmm, eighties….
</homer>
“Do You Wanna Hold Me” – Bow Wow Wow
“Pump up the Volume” MARRS
“Guns in the Sky” INXS
“Throwing it All Away” Genesis
“Tainted Love” Soft Cell
“American Girl” Tom Petty
For a slow dance song, maybe The Cars- ‘Who’s going to take you home’…
“Fire in the Twilight” by Wang Chung
“The Riddle” by Nik Kershaw
“Lazy” by Love and Rockets
“Kids in America” by Kim Wilde
“Hyperactive” by Thomas Dolby
Ding!
Pet Shop Boys – It’s a Sin
The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
Gloria Gaynor – I Am What I Am
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Dang it, knew I’d forgot something:
Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood
“Send Me An Angel” (From the movie Rad) by Real Life.
Madman Mora Blues and Step It Out Mary by Boiled in Lead.
How did it take 50 comments to come up with “Thriller”? I declare Tanith the winner. Definitely book marking this page for next time I need ideas in updating the iPod.
“Love is Battlefield” -Pat Benetar
Matthew Wilder, “Break My Stride”
My Girl Wants to Party All The Time – Eddie Murphy
Pop Goes the World – Men Without Hats
Take My Breath Away – Berlin (when you want to slow it down)
Dancing on the Ceiling – Lionel Richie
Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone – Glass Tiger
I wonder how many of these John’s already got, how many he’s slapping his forehead about, and how many are new to him.
“I Know There’s Something Going On” – Frida
Two Words: Information. Society.
You can’t go wrong with a Nimoy soundbite (“Pure Energy”).
Sisters of Mercy – This Corrosion
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
For getting people out on the dance floor, the 80s girl bands were pretty good. Bananarama, The Bangles, The Go-Gos, Katrina and the Waves, Cyndi Lauper…
Overlooked 80s tracks that always get the crowd moving:
Howard Jones, “Things Can Only Get Better”
Men Without Hats, “Safety Dance”
Gary Numan, “Cars”
Thompson Twins, “Hold Me Now” and “Lay Your Hands on Me”
Peter Gabriel, “Sledgehammer”
Michael Jackson, “Black or White”
Falco, “Rock Me Amadeus” and “The Commissar’s in Town”
Plus anything by Prince
Might be 90′s, but nothing will test the structural integrity of a dance floor like “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex. Google consulted – recorded in 1994. I’d use it anyway.
Oooh! Also, “Nemesis” by Shriekback. The longest mix you can find.
The The – “Infected”
Last one, but since nobody has mentioned it yet:
One Night in Bangkok
Venus – Bananarama
Joe says: Madman Mora Blues and Step It Out Mary by Boiled in Lead.
Add in The Wallets and the Urban Guerillas, and that describes a typical Minneapolis weekend for me in the 80s.
Split Enz: “I Got You”
XTC: “Senses Working Overtime”
Pop Will Eat Itself: “CAN U DIG IT?” <— 'cause Alan Moore knows the score!
My four-year-old recommends "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League. :)
As it happens, we will be going to an elementary school Valentine's dance tonight. I'm willing to bet your music will be cooler, plus the kids won't let the adults on the dance floor anyway. "Mom! You're embarrassing me!"
Los Lobos, “La Bamba”
Dead or Alive – You Spin me Right Round
Donna Summer – Bad Girls
Rock Lobster, Love Shack – B52′s
Push It – Salt n Pepper
ABC – Look of Love, Poison Arrow
AC/DC – You shook me All Night Long
Beastie Boys – Brass Monkey, Fight for your Right to PAAAAAAAAAARTAAAAAY
I second any of the New Order and the Talking Heads, but I’m a little surprised that no-one’s mentioned the Gang of Four. Back in the day, in the circles I ran with, “I Love a Man in a Uniform” would always get people moving. And the English Beat’s “Save It for Later” was another winner.
And NO reggae yet mentioned. For shame! Jeez, just about any song from Black Uhuru’s 1st two albums in the 1980s (Sinsemilla and Red, respectively) are incredibly propulsive. I defy anyone with any sense of rhythm whatsoever to not dance when Sinsemilla or the Youth of Eglington comes on. Dittto Steel Pulse
Some People – Belouis Some
Bon Jovi – Runaway
Madonna – Material Girl, Burning Up, La Isla Bonita
Erasure – Oh L’Amour, Chains of Love
David Bowie – China Girl and/or Let’s Dance
Duran Duran – Union of the Snake, Wild Boys
I may have missed it, but has no one suggested “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins?
I just finished working on a play (Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet) that’s mostly about Shakespeare, but was written in 1985, so the director decided to make it an ’80′s period piece. “Axel F” stood in for a trumpet fanfare. Othello killed Desdemona to “Tainted Love.” Everyone danced to “Thriller” at the Capulet’s masked ball. Romeo fell in love to “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” Was it silly? YES. Did it work? ABSOLUTELY.
INXS – The One Thing
REM – Radio Free Europe
I think that Mony Mony by Billy Idol is virtually a must. Especially if anybody knows the additional lyrics to sing during the pauses.
Devil Inside, INXS
Blue Monday, New Order
Cruel Summer, Banarama
Head Over Heels, GoGos.
And if you need a slower song, is there anything more 80s than holding a boom box over your head and blasting In Your Eyes?
As an actual party dj in the 80′s, here’s some songs that worked back then. I realize that I could keep going for another hour
Top 5 guaranteed:
Mirror in the Bathroom – English Beat
Don’t Go – Yaz (or Yazoo)
Hyperactive – Thomas Dolby
Grey Matter – Oingo Boingo
White Wedding or Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
Long List (still only the go to songs to fill the dance floor):
Mirror in the Bathroom – English Beat
Twist and Crawl
I Confess
Goody Two Shoes – Adam and the Ants
Dog eat Dog, a personal favorite
Don’t Go – Yaz
Rock Lobster – B52s
Hyperactive – Thomas Dolby
She Blinded Me with Science
White Wedding – Billy Idol
Rebel Yell
Mony, Mony
Dancing with myself
Take on me – aha
Wake me up before you gogo – Wham
She-bop – Cindy Lauper
Girls just wanna have fun
Grey Matter – Oingo Boingo
Chains of love – Erasure
Why – Bronski Beat
Heatwave
I want candy – Bow wow wow
Twilight zone – Golden Earing
Talk Talk – Talk Talk
It’s my life
Simply Irresistable – Robert Palmer
Addicted to Love
Johnny Come Home – Fine Young Cannibals
Love Cats – The Cure
Lies – Thompson Twins
Church of the Poison Mind – Culture Club
Don’t you want me – Human League
Walking In LA – Missing Persons
Rio – Duran Duran
Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
Should I Stay or Should I Go – Clash
One Thing Leads to Another – The Fixx
Down Under – Men At Work
Walk Like an Egyptian – Bangles
We got the beat – Go Go’s
Venus – Bananarama
Slower
Mad World – Tears for fears
Change
Mothers Talk
Save a Prayer – Duran Duran
A little more obscure:
Love plus one – Haircut 100
Welcome to the lifeboat party – Kid Creole and the Coconuts
“Sussudio” – Phil Collins
“Hip to be Square” – Huey Lewis and the News (Really any song off of “Sport”)
“Owner of a Lonely Heart” – Yes
“Walk of Life” – Dire Straits
“Take My Breath Away” – Berlin
I’m trying really hard to forget about the Eighties.
another:
“Music That You Can Dance To” by Sparks.
This long and no one has suggested The Final Countdown?
… I’ll show myself out.
Mirror in the Bathroom — English Beat
Every Day Is Halloween — Ministry
Start Me Up — The Rolling Stones (I’d never have thought of this one, and then I saw a reception crowd go completely nuts over it a couple of months ago)
“Too Shy” — Kajagoogoo
Erasure — A Little Respect
Pet Shop Boys — What Have I Done to Deserve This
Kon Kan — I Beg Your Pardon
Every Breath you Take — The Police
Rio — Duran Duran
Under the Milky Way — The Church
Invincible — Pat Benatar
I’ve Done Everything for You — Rick Springfield
Information Society – “What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy)”
Add a vote for Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round,” and how about:
Michael Sembello, “Maniac” (from “Flashdance”)?
Springsteen, “Dancing in the Dark”
The Cars, “You Might Think” and/or “Magic”
I’m surprised this hasn’t been listed yet, so I’ll add it…
Never say never by Romeo Void
Shazbat! iTunes here I come…
Super Freak – Rick James!
1999, Purple Rain, Baby I’m a Star – Prince
Can’t Touch This – Hammer
My Adidas, King of Rock, Walk this Way – Run, D.M.C.
man.. all that rap from the 80!?! blowing my mind right now.
Chris De Burg “Don’t Pay the Ferryman”, “Lady in Red”
How are you set for Mozart?
The Marriage of Figaro in 1786
Don Giovanni in 1787
Pretty much anything from Licensed to Ill too.
I’m really scraping the barrel of my 80′s musical knowledge, here. Dance music was never much my thing.
Mel and Kim – Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
Mel and Kim – Respectable
Divinyls – Pleasure and Pain (really, any early Divinyls.)
“Der Komisar” – Falco
“White Wedding”, “Rebel Yell” – Billy Idol
Take On Me, by A-ah
“Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung
You’re going to be playing slow-dance numbers, yes?
“Girl You Know It’s True” – Milli Vanilli
“Fiesta” by the Pogues.
“Come all you rambling boys of pleasure
And ladies of easy leisure
We must say adiós! until we see
Almería once again”
Wake me up before you Go-Go – Wham
Relax – Frankie goes to Hollywood
Sisters are doin’ it for themselves – Eurythmics/Aretha Franklin
Come on, Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Story of the Blues – The Mighty Wah
They Might Be Giants, “Birdhouse in Your Soul” (Released 12/31/89.)
Scandal, “The Warrior”
Cheap Trick, “Don’t Be Cruel”
‘Til Tuesday, “Voices Carry”
John Parr, “St. Elmo’s Fire”
Martika, “Toy Soldiers”
Jane Child, “Don’t Wanna Fall in Love”
T’Pau, “Heart and Soul” (Hard to dance to, but the band’s name requires their inclusion.)
“rush hour” by Jane Weidlin
The Look – Roxette
Don’t you Forget About Me – Simple Minds
Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry
Rhythm Is Gonna Get You – Gloria Estefan
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
I see now that someone already posted my first suggestion, so here’s a couple more nobody’s mentioned yet:
Guns N’ Roses – Welcome To The Jungle
Black Crowes – Hard to Handle – preferably the ‘Memphis Horns’ version but that’s hard to find. (Yes I know this song is a little late: 1990 to be exact.)
I can’t wait to make a playlist out of the suggestions in this thread!
“cool places” by Jane wiedlin and sparks…
We should be adding her just on the basis of her appearance in Star Trek IV….
speaking of Sparks…
“angst in my pants”….
Just Can’t Get Enough, Depeche Mode
Freedom, Wham!
Sharp Dressed Man, ZZ Top (some would say “Legs” but I think this is more danceable)
I Will Follow, U2
My House, Mary Jane Girls
I Wonder if I Take You Home, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Dancing With Myself, Billy Idol
Don’t You Want Me, Human League
Dreaming, OMD
If you’re going for the ironic, cheezy, make the people laugh and dance, you can’t beat:
Dancin’ on the Ceiling, Lionel Richie
Shake Your Love, Debbie Gibson (Only in My Dreams would work too)
Girl You Know It’s True, Milli Vanilli
The Right Stuff, New Kids on the Block
We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off, Jermaine Stewart
Have a great time!
Just a couple more (animal themed!):
Was Not Was – “Walk the Dinosaur”
George Clinton – “Atomic Dog”
Here’s a mixed bag of stuff that’s rattling around in my 80′s playlist that never fails to get the feet tapping:
Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
Re-flex – Politics of Dancing
Don Henley – If Dirt Were Dollars
Eric Clapton – Pretending
Blondie – Call Me
ZZ Top – Can’t Stop Rockin’, Legs
Webb Wilder – Human Cannonball
me myself and I by De la soul…
Level 42 “Hot Water”
Rick Springfield – Bop Til You Drop (best with video playing in background)
Berlin – No More Words
TMBG – She’s An Angel
Miami Sound Machine – Words Get In the Way
New Edition – If It Isn’t Love
1. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey (COME ON! 90+ COMMENTS AND NO ONE HAS SUGGESTED IT YET!?)
2. “Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money
3. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
4. “Take On Me” by A-ha
5. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
Thank you, Keith. I am pretty sure that federal regulations actually require George Clinton and/or Parliament of Funk to be played at any 80s dance party that has not previously requested an exemption.
Takin a Ride by the Replacements
I’m guessing you already have Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes based on the tagline on your banner.
No one has mentioned Siouxsie and the Banshees. WHAT? “Peekabo.”
Also please add “Mind Your Own Business” by Delta 5.
“Pass the Dutchie” by Musical Youth.
_Speaking in Tongues_, the whole album. Just let it play and go have a drink.
Will there be a mosh pit? “H-A-T-R-E-D” by Tonio K.
Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me with Science
Elvis Costello – Mystery Dance, Pump It Up, The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes
Madness – Our House
New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
Psychedelic Furs – Love My Way
Men Without Hats – Safety Dance
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
Um, yes. I do like my Elvis Costello. Anyway, those are the ones that stand out from my college years. We also had a local band called the Judy’s that had an incredible song called Guyana Punch which I unbelievably just found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd-oC5eq7Ps
Level 42- Something About You
Crowded House- Don’t Dream It’s Over
Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination
Eurythmics – Here comes The Rain Again, or Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
ZZ Top – Sharp Dressed Man
Go-Go’s – Our Lips are Sealed, or We Got the Beat
Wish I could be there!
She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Canibals (let’s hear it for the late 80′s)
Do the Dog – The Specials
I Will Dare – The Replacements (you can dance to it)
Kiss – Prince
Heat of the Moment – Asia (“And now you find yourself in ’82…”)
Lonely Is the Night (or, if you must, The Stroke)- Billy Squier
Emotional Rescue – The Rolling Stones (let’s hear it for the early 80′s, the last days of disco, and the adaptability of Jaggers/Richards)
Stray Cat Strut – The Stray Cats
How about some hair metal? Some of that stuff is sure to draw a crowd onto the dance floor – like “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” by Motley Crue (or “Dr. Feelgood”), “The Final Countdown” by Europe, “Photograph” by Def Leppard.
I’m still trying to forget the 80s so excuse me if I don’t join in . . .
Dream Police – Cheap Trick (technically ’79, but very proto-80′s)
Hot Summer Nights – Miami Sound Machine
Meet Me Halfway – Kenny Loggins
Mr. Roboto – Styx
Rock & Roll Rebels or Give Me News I Can Use – Steppenwolf
@ MikeB
Your loss.
5ive Gears In Reverse, Elvis Costello, from Get Happy.
Best song on the disc, nobody every plays it. One of the ultimate songs to pogo to.
For a bit of a slow one, T’Pau “Heart and Soul”, but still quite dancable (besides, who can resist the band name?)
Amazingly, no one has yet suggested Time Warp from Rocky Horror (probably technically a 70s song, but the 80s really lasted from 78ish to 88 or so).
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – REM
Peace and Love Incorporated – Information Society
And no one’s mentioned anything by the Ramones yet. Just grab their greatest hits album and pick a few.
Only a Lad – Oingo Boingo
Valley Girl – Frank and Moon Unit Zappa
Heck, just look up on Amazon the two Valley Girl the movie “soundtrack” albums that Rhino put out and you’ve got most of a party playlist right there (there wasn’t an official soundtrack, but Rhino just put all the music together). The songs there were:
1. Million Miles Away Listen
2. Johnny, Are You Queer? Listen
3. Eyes of a Stranger Listen
4. Angst in My Pants Listen
5. Who Can It Be Now? Listen
6. Everywhere at Once Listen
7. I La La La Love You Listen
8. He Could Be the One Listen
9. Love My Way Listen
10. Jukebox (Don’t Put Another Dime) Listen
11. The Fanatic Listen
12. She Talks in Stereo Listen
13. Oldest Story in the World Listen
14. School Is In Listen
15. I Melt with You Listen
1. Girls Like Me Listen
2. Eaten by the Monster of Love Listen
3. Mickey Listen
4. Zero Hour [Original Version] Listen
5. He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’ Listen
6. In the Name of Love Listen
7. The Earthquake Song Listen
8. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me Listen
9. Cool Places Listen
10. Town Called Malice Listen
11. I Eat Canniballs Listen
12. Time to Win Listen
13. Voo Doo Listen
14. Marina Men Listen
15. Pocket Pool Listen
16. Shelly’s Boyfriend Listen
“Illegal Alien” Genesis
“The Boys of Summer” Don Henley
“Werewolves of London” Warren Zevon
Can I just add a couple?
Stray Cats – Stray Cats Strut, Rock this Town, Sexy & 17
Adam & the Ants – Goody Two Shoes
“Amazingly, no one has yet suggested Time Warp from Rocky Horror…”
I don’t know about everyone else, but I figured Scalzi was probably on top of that one.
I’m going to second the Brave Combo recommendation from way up there (especially their polka cover of “People Are Strange” from the Musical Varieties CD, PLUS you can do it as a medley with the Echo and the Bunnymen version!), and since I didn’t see them up there, throw in Burning Sensations’ “Belly of the Whale” and Comsat Angels “Independence Day” for good measure.
You might already have these, but still:
Don’t bring me down- ELO
Funkytown- Lipps Inc
Anything Earth Wind & Fire
How come I’m not seeing The Pogues here? “Streams of Whiskey” is fun.
Rush – Tom Sawyer – just to be able to watch the dance floor when it shifts to 7/8
Johann Struass, “Küss-Walzer” (op. 400, 1881)
Oh. You meant 1980s. Well, next time say so!
DMSR or 1999 by Prince
Almost anything by the English Beat
Red Red Wine by UB40
Karma Chameleon by Culture Club
Set list for the Emerald Tavern, Baltimore, 1984-1988
Prince – “Let’s Go Crazy”
Clash – “Train in Vain”
“Weird Al” Yankovic “Dare to be Stupid” (but only when I requested it)
Peter Gabriel – “Big Time”
Elton John – “I’m Still Standing”
Only barely in the ’80s, but Tone Loc’s Funky Cold Medina is one I wouldn’t miss.
Anything from Weird Al during this period – Another One Rides The Bus, Eat It, Fat
Also I can’t imagine you forgot the biggies from Culture Club or Cindi Lauper but they need to be in there
Heavy Metal – Don Felder
Relax – Frankie goes to Hollywood
Bang on my drum – Todd Rungren
Away from Home – Klark Kent
HArden my Heart – Quaterflash
You should play “Walk Like an Egyptian”. But you should use the version by The Cleverlys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS0P7w4YCDI&feature=player_embedded
They also do a kick-ass cover of “All the Single Ladies” but that’s outside your purview.
I feel like you might forget the 80s teen music that was danceable, so allow me to help you remember them. :)
Debbie Gibson: “Electric Youth” “Staying Together” “Shake Your Love”
New Kids on The Block: “The Right Stuff”
Paula Abdul: “Cold-Hearted Snake” “Straight Up” “Opposites Attract”
Fascination–Human League
Girls on Film–Duran Duran
Electric Avenue–Eddie Grant
Cities in Dust or Peek a Boo–Siouxsie and the Banshees
Brass Monkey–Beastie Boys
OH, and you NEED some Samantha Fox on your playlist. “Naughty Girls Need Love, Too” or “I Wanna Have Some Fun” :)
“Psycho Killer”, Talking Heads.
I was going to say Physical by Olivia Newton-John because you couldn’t escape it in 1981, but you said awesome.
And how have we gotten this far without someone suggesting A Flock of Seagulls?
A few more:
Jack and Diane – John Cougar Mellencamp
Time Out for Fun – Devo
Let’s Go – The Cars
Centerfold – The J Giles Band
Guyana Punch – The Judys
The Vapors — “Turning Japanese”
The Violent Femmes — “Add it up”
The Smiths — “Ask” , “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”
Icicle Works — “Birds Fly (whisper to a scream)”
New Order — “Blue Monday”
Dexy’s Midnight Runners — “Come on Eileen”
Peter Schilling — “Coming Home (Major Tom)” *German version*
Duran Duran — “Rio”, “Hungry like the Wolf”
Modern English — “I Melt with You”
Erasure — “Always” , “A Little Respect”
Front 242 — “Headhunter”
need a 10 minute jam? Play “Love Bizarre” from Sheila E’s Romance 1600. Duet with Prince, amazing Maceo Parker sax solos, and it’s basically a (radio safe) sequel to Prince’s “Erotic City.”
I should have added that all my suggestions are tested crowd pleasers from the numerous 80s/New Wave/Industrial clubs I’ve been to in the last 12 years. Whether in Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Washington DC or Baltimore, these songs pack the floor *every* time.
Wow. So many great suggestions. Here are a couple I haven’t seen listed here yet:
Smalltown Boy – Bronski Beat
I Wanna Be a Cowboy – Boys Don’t Cry
I could go deep and postpunk, but lots of that gets covered above. Instead pop R&B that no one mentioned:
“Word Up” – Cameo
“My Prerogative” – Bobby Brown
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls….Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats
One more–since it’s in Ohio, you have to play Whip It by Devo.
Brass in Pocket – Pretenders
Roam – B-52s
Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen
Self Control – Laurqa Branigan
Would I Lie To You? – Eurhythmics
How about “Star Trekkin’” by The Firm
Some SF writer is releasing a book called “Redshirts” later this year. I figure from the title it might be loosely based on a well known joke about Star Trek. So this song could go over well.
She Blinded me With Science — Dolby
White Horse –Laid Back
Meeting In the Ladies Room — Klymaxx (totally stoopid lyrics but great to dance to)
I’ll second the recommendation of The Judys (a Texas band) but suggest “Man on a Window Ledge”.
Second for Bronski Beat “Why”/’Smalltown Boy” and Gang of Four “Uniform”
New recommendations: “Wood Beez (Pray Lke Aretha Franklin)” by Scritti Politti, and “Teenage Kicks” by the Undertones (August 79, but close enough).
Since you specifically stated no laundry lists and only 5 songs, here is my humble sampling culled from my iPod’s playlist:
1) “Abracadabra” – Steve Miller
2) “All Night Long” – Mary Jane Girls
3) “Rhythm of the Night” – DeBarge
4) “Glory of Love” – Peter Cetera (if you need a slow dance thrown in to the mix)
5) “Cong” – Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine
So many great suggestions. I sense some music-shopping in my future!
Music for Boys – The Suburbs
Melt with You – English Beat
Big In Japan – Alphaville
Dead Man’s Party – Oingo Boingo
Oh yeah – and
Wild Wild West – Escape Club
Heh, I was going to suggest Limelight – for the same reason as Tom Sawyer. Or John could be really evil and run off YYZ.
I’m wondering if, given the location, a good slow song would be the Love Theme from Blade Runner.
I was a metalhead those years, so if you don’t mind a bit of headbanging with your dancing, try Triumph, “Follow Your Heart”, or (much as I think it’s the weakest song on that album), Maiden’s “Two Minutes to Midnight”.
Anything by 2 Unlimited. But Tribal Dance, surely.
Arguably, they are more early 90s than truly 80s. But fuck it. I stand by my suggestion.
(Goes to listen to some 2 Unlimited…)
David Lee Roth’s version of “Just a Gigolo.” And then Blondie’s “Call Me”, the theme song from American Gigolo. And then The Time’s “Gigolos Get Lonely Too.” And then round it out with something from the Gigolo Aunts.
Temple of Love – Sisters of Mercy
Release the Bats – The Birthday Party
Don’t Fear the Reaper – Lydia Lunch and Klint Ruin
Rain – The Cult
Dance Along The Edge – Concrete Blonde
All That I Wanted – Belfegore
Love Like Blood – Killing Joke
Don’t Fall – the Chameleons
2,000 Light Years from Home – The Danse Society
Life in Tokyo – Japan
Life in the Gladhouse – Modern English
Spellbound – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Bryan Ferry – Slave to Love
Too Drunk to Fuck – The Dead Kennedys
… i could go on …
This is awesome.
Wang Chung- Everybody Have Fun Tonight
New Kids on the Block – The Right Stuff
Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal, Bad, Billie Jean, Beat It
Survivor – Eye of The Tiger
Toto – Africa
Devo- Whip It
The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star–might have been 1979…
Van Halen – 1984/Jump
Being raised in what I considered a throw back family, we didn’t exactly jam to the stereo–we jammed to Vinyl, like “Ballad of the Thresher” by the Kingston Trio, anything Janice Joplin, Jazz from way before we were born, and radio shows like Prairie Home Companion. The 80′s…we had a black and white TV until 1990. I’m so psyched VHS tapes finally went out of style. =)
Hope you rock it! Have a blast!
Blue Monday ~ New Order
Situation ~ Yaz
Master and Servant ~ Depeche Mode
Careless Memory ~ Duran Duran
Small Town Boy ~ Bronski Beat
Balloon Man–Robyn Hitchcock
Grauzone – Eisbar
Gary Numan – Are Friends Electric?
The Firm – Radioactive
Wang Chung – Dance Hall Days
Everybody keeps mentioning terrible Wang Chung songs. “Every Have Fun Tonight”? What is wrong with you people?
“Music for Boys” -The Suburbs
“Party at Ground Zero”-Fishbone
Oh…oh…forgot “Totally Nude” by the Wallets.
Voice of the Beehive “Beat of Love.” You won’t regret it.
Any of Peter Gabriel’s 80′s tunes, in particular his 4th CD. “Rhythm of the Heat” for the win.
I will add my voice to any calls for Elvis Costello’s tunes.
Anything off of They Might Be Giant’s “Lincoln” album.
The Ramones.
Have fun!
I apologize if I am repeating suggestions but I did not have time to read the whole thread.
“Doctor in the TARDIS” The Timelords
“Stars” Erasure
“Send Me an Angel” Real Life
“But Not Tonight” Depeche Mode
“Don’t Forget About Me” Simple Minds
There were some dancible tracks on love by the cult. What about flock of seagulls – I ran
The Smiths – Panic
Talking Heads – Burning Down the House
Pop Will Eat Itself – Wise Up Sucker!
TimeZone – World Destruction
Joe Strummer – Trash City
Camper Van Beethoven – Take The Skinheads Bowling
The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
New Model Army – White Coats
Orchestral Manuevers in the Dark – Enola Gay
The Pixies – Debaser
Re-Flex – “The Politics of Dancing”
They Might Be Giants – “Don’t Let’s Start”
Joe Jackson – “Mad At You”
Squeeze – “Hourglass”
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – “Balloon Man”
Ok, strictly speaking a bit early, but much played in the 80′s: Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved. If that beat doesn’t get them up and dancing then you should probably check to make sure they are alive…
Only adding what I didn’t see, apologize if it’s a duplicate: anything that was released as a single of of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814.
Songs that I haven’t seen yet that would get me on the dance floor:
U2: In The Name of Love
Fine Young Cannibals: Good Thing
The Spoons: Nova Heart
INXS: Need You Tonight
Also, I remember that The Beatles’ Twist and Shout was very popular at our dances – (Ferris Bueller Effect)
The second I read “80s dance” “Safety Dance” popped into my head and I can’t get it out.
Thanks.
;)
What, NO-ONE has mentioned (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles by the Proclaimers yet?
@Electric Landlady,
No, but now that you have it’s competing with “Safety Dance” as the Song-I-can’t-get-out-of-my-head.
80s songs seemed designed to stick in your head on endless playback.
“Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar
scorpius, that’s often called an “earworm.” I offer this because it’s shorter than “Song-I-can’t-get-out-of-my-head” and widely recognized.
Pat Benatar — Invincible
ZZ Top — Legs
Billy Joel — Uptown Girl and The Longest Time
A-Ha — Take On Me
Huey Lewis And The News — The Power Of Love
Olivia Newton-John/ELO — Xanadu
(Come to think of it, anything from the XANADU soundtrack)
And since I don’t think anyone else mentioned it, you mentioned one in the title of this entry — “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar.
If you want to reach back a little further, I might suggest Carl Carlton’s version of “Everlasting Love” from 1973. But if you’re insisting on 1980s versions, there is the Rex Smith/Rachel Sweet version from 1980. And I think Gloria Estefan released her version in 1988.
The one for me is “counting the beat” by the swingers but that’s a bit esoteric I suspect.
So “star trekking” by the firm.
Limiting it to another four is hard…
“US forces” or “power and the passion” by midnight oil
“blue monday” by new order
“we built this city” starship
“land down under” men at work
“she drives like crazy” weird al yankovic (ok, 1990′s cover of a 1980′s song)
anything from the movie “Empire Records”
sure, the *movie* did not come out in the 80′s, but the *music* did!
thanks to everyone’s previous posts, iI now have a youtube surfing week ahead of me :)
Squeeze- Tempted
The Squeeze song ought to be “Take Me, I’m Yours.”
Which I will now listen to and dance at my desk.
I’m totally shocked that there have been this many comments and nobody suggested “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins. It’s on the 1981 album, Face Value.
Someone mentioned Flock of Seagulls, but not any titles — “I Ran” would be the obvious choice.
Best of luck!
(Don’t necessarily love each of these songs without qualification, but they speak to the era, are but which are (I think) mostly forgotten. The Swingers song is especially great.)
Burning Sensations — Belly of the Whale
The Swingers — Counting the Beat
Haysi Fantayzee — Shiny Shiny
Toto Coelo — I Eat Cannibals
The Members — Working Girl
Dance music from the 80s, for me, is Erin Boat, by Johnny and Phil Cunningham. Best waltz ever. But probably not what will bring teens to the dance floor.
Erasure – Oh L’Amour or, to be a bit heretical, their cover of “Solsbury Hill”- It’s much more danceable than Peter Gabriel’s.
And no 80′s Dance Party is complete without The Artist Occasionally Known as Prince
What they said.
Plus:
Here Comes the Rain the Again – Eurythmics
Strut / Morning Train – Sheena Easton
That’s Good – Devo
Who Can it Be Now / Down Under – Men at Work
Let the River Run – Carly Simon
Somebody – Depeche Mode
Pop Muzik – M
Jesse’s Girl – Rick Springfield
Father Figure – George Michael
Centerfold – J Geils Band
Lean on Me – Club Nouveau
Invisible Touch – Genesis
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr
Miss You Much – Janet Jackson
Kyrie – Mr Mister
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
America – Neil Diamond
Morn
Oh Yeah – Yello
And anything from the soundtrack of Music and Lyrics…which isn’t 80′s…but sure sounds like it!
Antmusic or Stand and Deliver -Adam and the Ants
To cut a long story short – Spandau Ballet
Golden Brown – the Stranglers (just to see the mix of 3/4 and 4/4 mess with people’s heads)
Falco: Der Kommissar
The B52s: Rock Lobster
Erasure: Who Needs Love Like That
Thompson Twins: In the Name of Love
Thomas Dolby: Flying North
Synchronicity II by The Police
Every LIttle Thing She Does by The Police
Deadbeat Club by the B-52s
Stand and Deliver by Adam and the Ants
Sat in Your Lap by Kate Bush
Eight hours since the challenge was thrown down, and no one has mentioned Celebration, by Kool and the Gang?
What Do All the People Know by the Munroes.
Oh, if we’re talking Squeeze, then “Nail for My Heart” is the obvious dance track!
Amazing@8:50: John asked for favorite suggestions. No one actually prefers “Celebration” as dance music. It’s more of an obligatory catered-event song. They never played it in my high school gym.
Um Hello? No one has mentioned Sylvester? If you’re dancing–he should be at the top.
“Do You Want to Funk” by the Fabulous Sylvester
“Vertigo/Instant Replay” by Dan Hartman
“Use it Up and Wear It Out ” by Odyssey
and for that punk princess feel
“Johnny, Are You Queer?” by Josie Cotton
Others have already suggested what I was going to (Radio Free Europe, I Beg Your Pardon, and Pure Energy), but I have two humble requests:
1) please post your whole playlist at some point (I want to make sure I’m not missing something)
2) follow up with a post asking folks to list their “80s Do Not Play List” (aka Celebration)
Meat Loaf, “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” (this classic of cheese is from 1977, but I remember my party DJ roommate using this in the actual Eighties with great success, so I associate it with Eighties dance parties).
So your a femmes fan, huh.
Morris Day and the Time: Jungle Love. Fish Net.
ACDC: You Shook Me All Night Long.
Prince: Purple Rain. (Prom song! No Prince is too obvious for me. Let’s Go Crazy, Controversy, Cream (1 year too late for you), 7 (includes the line– with…intellect and savoir faire, might appeal to those who feel they have both– then lose it all on the dance floor))
Cameo: Word Up. Candy.
Run DMC: It’s Tricky.
Terrence Trent D’Arby: Sign Your Name. Wishing Well.
Marvin Gaye: Sexual Healing.
Celia Cruz: (You can pick just one? Hardly! More Celia Cruz! and there are so many versions and remixes that you can essentially avoid all limitation of the decade the 80′s, depending on how literal you are)
Janet Jackson: Black Cat. Control.
Michael Jackson: The Way You Make Me Feel
Snap!: The Power.
Joan Jett: Do You Wanna Touch.
Depending on what kind of ’80′s a person had, the DKs: Too Drunk To.
In my fevered dreams of the 80′s, all this stuff would get people to move, but it may be that it was only me. Some of these songs are easier to dance to when one is holding a beer.
Ooh, totally forgot:
Pete Townshend – Face the Face
One of the best uses of trombone in rock-and-roll!
I’m sure it’s too late for this, but I just gotta say that the songs I remember dancing to in college (1983 – 1987) were Shake Your Tailfeather, Shout!, and other memorable songs from earlier decades. Not that we didn’t also dance to eighties songs, but those were the songs that packed the dance floor at student union at those $2 entry fee dance nights.
-E@9:04: I guess it’s a generational thing. When I was in high school, Celebration was still on the charts and very much in high rotation on the radio and the dance playlists, at high schools and private parties. The song brought on a “group dance” kind of thing, but some couples would slow-dance through it all, in what passed for “rebellion” during the first Reagan Administration.
After careful consultation with my music collection, about 15% of which is ’80s stuff, I offer the following suggestions.
Brave Combo’s “The Happy Wanderer.” That’ll be an interesting dance piece.
Aretha Franklin, “Freeway of Love”/Bruce Springsteen “Pink Cadillac”
That is all.
AAHHH, I wish I’d seen this sooner! I hope you remembered Amii Stewart’s version of “Knock On Wood” (it isn’t disco, it’s funk!!). And the fact that, musically speaking, the Eighties started around 1977!
“Lost in the Supermarket,” but I’d cheat and use the Afghan Whigs cover from a tribute album in the 90′s. With bonus lyrical insertions from”Train in Vain” and Ben E. King.
You realize, John, that you’re going to have to tell us what you actually DID play. Don’t you?
My little suggestions (and boy was it hard to keep it to just five!)
“Burn for You” – INXS
“Out of Mind Out of Sight” – Models
“Man Overboard” – Do Re Mi
“Down Under” – Men at Work
“Slice of Heaven” – Dave Dobbyn
Mostly Aussie, but then, that’s what we were listening to down under.
“The Wanderer”, Donna Summer
“Lucky Number”, Lene Lovich (OK, technically it’s from 1979)
“Affrican Reggae”, Nina Hagen (Ok, also from 1979)
“Escuela de calor”, Radio Futura (a song vaguely inspired in “Fondly Fahrenheit”, by Alfred Bester)
“99 Luftballons”, Nena
Apparently, in my mind the ’80 started in 1979, so let me add “Computer Games”, Mi-Sex.
Technically 70s not 80s, but in this case, screw that:
Blue Oyster Cult – Godzilla
I’m saddened that no one gave any love to Tina Turner.
Heart – These Dreams, Never, What About Love?, Nothing At All and Alone.
It is so easy and way too much fun to dance to Blondie’s “Atomic”!
Take on Me – Aha
And seconding She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Cannibals
88 lines about 44 women by the Nails.
“Earn Enough for Us” by XTC.
Gimme all your lovin’ – ZZ Top,
You’re my heart, you’re my soul – Modern Talking
Stix – “Mr. Roboto”
Listened to this in Junior High. Never imagined that I’d actually end up in Japan. Go figure.
ACK! Styx, I typed that, I swear I did. The internet goblins did it.
Plastic Bertrand – Ca Plane Pour Moi
I’m noticing some repeats starting to crop up.
#pendant
I’m sure you must have thought of this one but you can’t have an eighties party without it:
David Bowie: Let’s dance
I mean pedant!
Oh, the irony!
@Xopher, if I listened to music much at all I’d know the term. Most music’s a waste of time, though.
But thanks.
There is only one 80s dance song: “Burning Down the House” by the Talking Heads. As long as you have that, nothing else matters.
The 80s must be the decade with the most one-hit wonders ever. I remember one road trip where we spent hours naming 80s bands, no repeats.
The 80s had a lot of really good dance tunes. Here are just a few from the early 80s that would get me onto the dance floor.
Eye of the tiger – Survivor
So much in love – Timothy B Schmit
Do you really want to hurt me – Culture Club
What’s love got to do with it – Tina Turner
Hold me now – Thompson Twins
Those were fuzzy years. Can’t recall specifics. How about some of Elton John’s and Toto’s stuff? I hated disco so sorry I can’t help much. Good luck.
The songs with staying power go international. Here’s a Japanese cover of “So much in love” – by Tatsuro Yamashita
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgfSPq2yWNE&feature=related
I know I’m late, but I loved dancing to The Cure’s In Between Days in the 80′s (87ish?). I have a distinct memory of racing to the front of the high school dance with Julia Mentan and dancing to this song.
Next time you do an ’80s playlist, don’t forget ‘Add it Up’ by the Violent Femmes (can’t believe only 1 or 2 VF mentions in this very long list!); ‘White Lines’ (Grand Master Melle Mell/Flash); ‘Bitter Tears’ by INXS; more SQUEEZE (Annie Get Your Gun, Tempted); UB40? Split Enz? R.E.M.? The Specials? The POLICE (!) U2 – (in the name of love), Simple Minds? Midnight Oil? Pink Floyd (comfortably numb – ok, it’s a slow song, but you can’t jump up & down like a Pogo stick all night if you remember the ’80s, like firsthand!) ..the Grateful Dead- Truckin …
Ooh, just thought of one: Warren Zevon – The French Inhaler. Ok, not much of a dance song but really cool!
I’m late to the party also, but I would think for next time, that the “Back To The Future” effect would make Huey Louis and the News very workable, especially after a certain amount of liquid refreshment.
And probably grandfather in “Johnnie B. Goode” as well.
Thanks to all for some great 80s nostalgia, some music I hadn’t heard before, and a list of things I need to add to iTunes over the coming months.
Very late to the party, but here are 5 I would like:
Rick James – Superfreak
Split Enz – I Got You
Scritti Politti – Perfect Way
Mission of Burma – Academy Fight Song
Art of Noise + Tom Jones – Kiss
I find myself in a similar situation. Now that your dance is over, which songs did you play, or more importantly, which songs did the kids respond to? Which songs filled the dance floor?