By 1985, the music scene was fully embracing what would later be considered one of the greatest decades of all time in rock music. Among the many songs out in 1985 are these three nostalgic rock songs, which are all so good that I wish I could travel back in time to listen to them again and again.
“Born In The U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen
“Born In The U.S.A.” remains one of the biggest hits of Bruce Springsteen’s career. Written by Springsteen, “Born In The U.S.A.” is the title track of Springsteen’s seventh studio album.
Videos by American Songwriter
Some may have thought of “Born In The U.S.A.” as a patriotic anthem. But the song is actually about the plight of Vietnam veterans, especially after returning home to America. It begins with, “Born down in a dead man’s town / The first kick I took was when I hit the ground / You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much / ’Til you spend half your life just covering up / Born in the U.S.A / I was born in the U.S.A / I was born in the U.S.A / Born in the U.S.A.”
Perhaps ironically, “Born In The U.S.A.” became a global hit for Springsteen.
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” is Simple Minds’ only No. 1 single in the United States. Although they had other hit singles, the success of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” is likely due to the fact that it appears on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film The Breakfast Club.
Written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” says, “Love’s strange so real in the dark / Think of the tender things that we were working on / Slow change may pull us apart / When the light gets into your heart, baby / Don’t you forget about me / Don’t don’t don’t don’t / Don’t you forget about me.”
Simple Minds almost passed on recording “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, since they typically only recorded songs that they wrote.
“What About Love” by Heart
The angst is tangible in Heart’s “What About Love”. On their eponymous eighth studio album, “What About Love” is written by Brian Allen, Sheron Alton, and Jim Vallance.
A song of pleading, “What About Love” says, “What about love / Don’t you want someone to care about you / What about love / Don’t let it slip away / What about love / I only want to share it with you / You might need it someday.”
Photo by MICHEL GANGNE/AFP via Getty Images
Most Viewed
-
American country singer Reba McIntire performs at The Lone Star Café, New York, NY, July 22, 1982. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images) -
American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins performing in Los Angeles, 8th March 1980. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
16-3-1988 Amsterdam, Netherlands. Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs at Paradiso. Copyright Paul Bergen -
English rock band The Kinks at London Airport (later Heathrow), UK, 16th January 1965. They are flying to Australia for a concert tour. From left to right, Ray Davies, Pete Quaife, Dave Davies and Mick Avory. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 01: Portrait of American folk singer Bob Lind in 1966. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) -
Italian-American vocal group The Four Seasons, circa 1963. Left to right: Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi (1935 – 2000). (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
