49 Best '80s Songs to Dance to All Night Long
Grab your leg warmers and get ready to boogie!
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There’s nothing that takes us back quite like listening to the best '80s songs. Whenever we press play on a Cyndi Lauper, Queen, or Duran Duran classic, we’re instantly transported to a time full of leg warmers, neon, big hair, and catchy hits we could listen to all night long. (And sometimes we did!)
What can we say? There’s so much to love about the '80s. It’s when pop culture really peaked, not only with music, but also with shows like Cheers and Family Ties. Plus, '80s movies just can’t be beat: Back the Future, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles—we could go on all night!
If you’re still here, then you must agree with us that the '80s were one heck of a decade. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of all the tunes that you probably played on repeat back then, and should continue to now. We’ve got love songs, heartbreak songs, happy songs, and songs that will get you in the mood to dance. You might be inspired to hit the town with your friends and relive the best of the '80s. Or you might just want to turn up the stereo and have a party in your PJs, which sounds just as fun if you ask us. Like Cyndi says, we just wanna have fun!
We can hear you attempting the chorus of this a-ha classic now. Don’t worry—we can’t hit that high note either!
Whitney Houston’s dance beat has not lost one ounce of popularity.
Bon Jovi always seems to bring back memories of driving around with the windows down, belting out his lyrics as loud as you can.
An essential girls night jam, whether you’re with your friends, daughters, sisters, mom, or just by yourself rocking out to the best of Cyndi Lauper.
Guns N’ Roses had plenty of hits back in the day, but this one remains at the top of our list.
“OoooOOOOHhh!” We’ll never press skip on this funky number by The Human League.
This one has a little bit of an eerie feel to it, which is probably why it’s used in so many TV shows and movies.
The first few chords of Soft Cell’s popular song immediately get you in the mood to move.
Another Michael favorite, “Beat It” never fails gets us up and on the dance floor. Or the living room floor, same thing.
Journey continues to be a staple at proms, graduations, weddings, and any other event where people can shout out the inspirational lyrics.
We bet you played "Eye of the Tiger" before big games or moments where you needed a little boost of confidence.
We definitely used to listen to Bonnie Tyler in our room after a break up. Anyone else?!
The Breakfast Club made the Simple Minds song an instant classic that still gets played constantly on the radio today.
We’ll be honest: One of the reasons we love this one is because it’s just a little easier to sing than “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” is the easiest way to pump yourself up in the morning.
There’s a reason U2 is still a beloved band today: Their relaxed vibe is instantly calming.
Really, all of the late legend’s releases should make this list.
Rick Springfield was such a dreamboat, which only made his catchy tunes even more addicting.
We’re not sure if we’re ready to rule the world, but are happy to listen to an upbeat song by Tears for Fears on repeat.
For some reason, we listen to this most often in the morning. Must be the title!
Megan Stein is the executive editor for The Pioneer Woman, and oversees entertainment, features, and news for the website. Whether it's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, or re-watching the best '80s movies for the zillionth time, she's always here to talk about anything and everything relating to pop culture.
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