The 1980s will always remain one of the best genres in music. Among the many, many hits in the 1980s are these three songs. All released in 1984, they are so good that I want to travel back in time to listen to them again and again.
“Oh Sherrie” by Steve Perry
Steve Perry might be best known as part of Journey, but he also had a successful solo career. Perry released several singles on his own, including “Oh Sherrie”. On Street Talk, Perry’s solo debut record, Perry wrote “Oh Sherrie” with Randy Goodrum, Craig Krampf, and Bill Cuomo.
Videos by American Songwriter
A song about being tenacious in a relationship, “Oh Sherrie” says, “You should’ve been gone / Knowing how I made you feel / And I should’ve been gone / After all your words of steel / Oh, I must’ve been a dreamer / And I must’ve been someone else / And we should’ve been over / Oh, Sherrie, our love / Holds on, holds on.“
“Oh Sherrie” is at least partially autobiographical. Sherrie was Perry’s girlfriend when he wrote the song. She also appears in the video.
“The Heart Of Rock & Roll” by Huey Lewis and the News
On Sports, the third studio album by Huey Lewis and the News is “The Heart Of Rock & Roll”. Lewis wrote the song with band member Johnny Colla.
An anthem to rock music, “The Heart Of Rock & Roll” says, “They say the heart of rock and roll is still beating / And from what I’ve seen I believe ’em / Now the old boy may be barely breathing / But the heart of rock and roll, heart of rock and roll is still beating.”
“Round And Round” by Ratt
Ratt is best known for their heavy metal music, but they did have a few songs that crossed over, including “Round And Round”. Their first Top 5 single, “Round And Round” was written by Ratt’s own Robbin Crosby, Stephen Pearcy, and Warren DeMartini.
The song says, “I knew right from the beginning / That you would end up winning / I knew right from the start / You’d put an arrow through my heart / Round and round / With love we’ll find a way just give it time / Round and round / What comes around goes around / I’ll tell you why.”
“Round And Round” is in the Top 20 on Rolling Stone‘s 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs Of All Time list. It remains the biggest hit of Ratt’s career.
Photo by © Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS/VCG via Getty Images
More The List
-
American New Wave group Devo backstage at Max's Kansas City, New York, New York, November 15, 1977. (Photo by Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images) -
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns -
NASHVILLE – OCTOBER 11: Music group Alabama (Pictured left to right) Mark Herndon, Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook, and Randy Owen pose for a portrait for The 16th Annual Country Music Association Awards, (CMA Awards show), at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn., October 11, 1982. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) -
Patsy Cline poses for a portrait wearing a fur coat in circa 1958. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 05: Dave Grohl (L) and Josh Freese (R) of Foo Fighters perform at the Power to the Patients concert at The Anthem on March 05, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images) -
American musician Kenny Rogers performs at the Rosemont Horizon (later renamed the Allstate Arena), Rosemont, Illinois, April 12, 1986. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
SAUGUS, CA – AUGUST 18: Peter Frampton born Peter Kenneth Frampton is a British-American rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. in 1978 Peter Frampton portrayed the character Peter Buckley in an episode of Baa Baa Black Sheep titled "A Little Bit of England." filmed August 18, 1978 in Saugus, California (Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images)
