It's hard to find young adults who enjoy listening to songs that are more than ten years old, but some songs are just too well-written and sung to be enjoyed by just one generation. So before you jump right into conclusions on songs from the '80s and '90s, let me expose you to some amazing songs that will make you put them on repeat before you even know it.
1. "Take On Me" by A-ha (1985)
I'm sure you have heard of the intro to this song countless times, especially on radios, but you might not have known the title of it. This utterly amazing song sang by a Norwegian synthpop group, A-ha, is renown not only for its catchy chorus but also for its unique pencil-sketch animation music video that reached more than 300 million views on Youtube. Although thirty years have passed since its release, both the song and the cute music video is still widely enjoyed by people from all around the world.
2. "Only You" by Yazoo (1982)
Although this song did not gain the worldwide recognition that "Take On Me" received, the mixture of Alison Moyet's soothing jazzy vocal and a warm electronic background makes this song so heart-warming and relaxing to listen to. If you're looking for a song to add to your de-stressing playlist, I assure you, "Only You" will be the perfect one!
3. "I Just Called To Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder (1984)
One of the most commercially successful singles in America, "I Just Called To Say I Love You" is a cute love song with an R&B groove, written by the legendary Stevie Wonder. It's really amazing how he could become such a successful musician despite having two handicaps: being black and being blind. You should probably check his other songs out too!
4. "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club (1983)
A song portraying the fear of alienation and the lack of modesty, "Karma Chameleon" became the biggest-selling single in 1983, in the UK and in the United States. When the song came out for the first time, many people were shocked by the lead vocal of Culture Club, Boy George, due to his thick makeup and feminine clothes, making people question his true gender. With this song, Culture Club introduced a new era of punk music to America.
5. "The Final Countdown" by Europe (1986)
On contrary to what many people assume to be true, this song is actually not the main soundtrack of the movie "Rocky." "The Final Countdown" is a catchy hard rock music that can instantly make you start headbanging and play it on repeat until your ears go numb. I have to admit, my endless love for rock music started because of this song!
6. "Goodbye" by Air Supply (1993)
"Goodbye" is a beautifully written song that was released in the '90s, by an Austrailian soft rock duo, Air Supply. The lyric is truly heartbreaking but that's what makes you want to listen to this song more since you can actually imagine the story that they are trying to tell you. It's such a wonderful crossover of rock and ballad that even the people who don't favor rock will be immersed by this song.
7. "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton (1992)
"Tears In Heaven"was written by Eric Clapton as a tribute to his deceased five-year-old son, who accidentally fell off the window of a fifty-third-floor apartment building in New York City. The sound of an acoustic guitar in the background creates a perfect harmony with Clapton's voice, further making the song sound like a sad but sweet, heart-warming lullaby not only for his son but also for all of those who went through some sort of loss in their lives.
8. "Shape Of My Heart" by Sting (1993)
Sting's "Shape Of My Heart" is most well-known because it was added as an ending soundtrack to the movie "Leon: The Professional", starring Jean Reno and Natalie Portman. His main purpose for this song was to portray a man, a"card player, a gambler who gambles not to win but to try and figure out something; to figure out some kind of mystical logic in luck, or chance; some kind of scientific, almost religious law."
9. "Hero" by Mariah Carey (1993)
This song is my go-to song whenever I need to feel motivated or I'm just having a bad day. Apparently, Mariah Carey thought the song was too old-fashioned and sappy at first, but after receiving numerous letters from various people around the world telling her how her song helped them to go through hardships, she began to realize how powerful the song was. "Hero" has been sung by Carey numerous times as a tribute to the victims of 9/11 terrorist attacks, Long Island Railroad accident, and to other heroes out there in the world who are unrecognized.
