The greatest singles of any era possess the power to change the world in three minutes, or failing that, they at least share the ability to leave their stamp on a musical landscape already filled nearly to capacity. And while chart performance, radio airplay and longevity are all important criteria to choose the best of the best, these essential '80s tunes announce themselves as vital through sheer force of gravity. These songs are simply impossible to ignore in the context of '80s music.
1. The Police-"Every Breath You Take"
Regardless of how many times this song is played, it retains a magic that only exists for the most solidly constructed, universally themed and uniquely presented musical compositions. Sting's songwriting centerpiece from 1983's Synchronicity (compare prices) achieves a rare pop/rock perfection, featuring a top-notch vocal performance, a groundbreaking guitar riff and a highly personal lyrical theme exploring obsession, heartbreak and romantic doom that somehow seems familiar in spite of its fierce originality. Definitely one of the finest moments of the career of the Police as well as the '80s as a whole.
2. Survivor-"Eye of the Tiger"
This Chicago-area mainstream power rock band known mostly for its ballads always had a knack for delivering among the most bombastic lyrics of the decade. But with this song, featured prominently and appropriately in the film Rocky III, Survivor brought fist-pumping arena rock to an entirely new plane of soaring bravado. The somewhat silly overuse of metaphor and cliche is sometimes a little offputting, but the hold of the melody and power-chord opening is undeniable.
3. Foreigner-"I Want to Know What Love Is"
Foreigner enjoyed a number of hits in the '80s, but none reached a level of over-the-top romantic longing as this keyboard-heavy love ballad. Guitarist Mick Jones has always been an underrated songwriter, and his command was never on finer display than when the calmness of this tune's verses explode into a crescendo of a chorus perfectly suited for Lou Gramm's impressively high vocal range. When the gospel chorus kicks in at the end, it's a perfectly appropriate topping for this confection.
4. Van Halen-"Jump"
Some '70s and '80s hard rock bands turned to pop out of desperation or just pure greed as the hair metal phenomenon kicked off. In the case of Van Halen, the stylistic turn seemed as organic as the splendid synthesizer riff that fuels this tune, or David Lee Roth's exuberant leap, or Eddie Van Halen's infectious grin. On this one occasion, the band wrote a nearly perfect pop song, and unfortunately they spent the remainder of their careers rolling downhill from this moment.
5. U2-"With or Without You"
U2's track to stardom and then legend status has been an intriguing one, filled with explorations of a variety of styles and approaches. However, this tune, one of many excellent songs from The Joshua Tree, strikes a perfect balance of pop and rock sensibilities. It's catchy, beautiful and hauntingly memorable, and somehow it remains both a document of its era and a timeless classic. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the song has one of the best bass lines in rock history.
6. Guns N' Roses-"Sweet Child o' Mine"
As raw and unabashed as they were, Axl Rose and his mates knew how to craft intricate and polished rock songs. The band's sound was no happy accident, and this song more than any other reveals the band at its peak collectively and individually. Never has Rose revealed his versatility as a singer more completely than through the calm verses and more fierce chorus sections of the tune. It's a tour de force of rock guitar buoyed by an unexpected lyrical sweetness.
7. Whitney Houston-"So Emotional"
Houston's '80s heyday produced several singles worthy of inclusion on best-of lists, but this one represents the best blend of danceable beats and an irrepressible chorus. Houston was and is a fine singer, but perhaps her best attribute was her ability to select top-notch material. This tune is a celebration of an '80s pluckiness we're not likely to see again, and it's so infectious that even a lot of rock fans were subject to its seduction.
8. Bonnie Tyler-"Total Eclipse of the Heart"
One of the greatest '80s collaborations was undoubtedly the Welsh singer with the gravelly voice and Jim Steinman, songwriter and producer of Meat Loaf fame. It was a match made in heaven, as Steinman's gift for lyrical bombast and over-the-top arrangements to match helped him produce his finest musical moment and Tyler's gritty but sensitive voice perfectly conveyed the longing of this great love song.
9. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross-"Endless Love"
Speaking of ballads and the '80s, it's impossible to go too far without discussing duets pairing male and female singers, and there was no finer example of this than this overwrought but undeniably engaging tune from 1981. Richie certainly covered this same kind of ground effectively in his solo career, but the addition of a capable female singer with whom to exchange verses raises this song to another level. It helped that Ross was far more than capable.
10. J. Geils Band-"Centerfold"
Even though I sometimes get the "na-na-na-na-na-na" part mixed up with the Smurfs theme, this song is a highlight for me personally and for the entire decade's musical catalogue. The band's frontman, Peter Wolf, was tailor-made for the '80s with his Mick Jagger swagger and exuberance, even though he had paid his dues before the band went pop. That's why the group reached its highest level of success during the '80s, and this tune's memorable playfulness is a big reason why.
