Classic rock will never die; it’ll just keep changing as we descend through time. However, there’s something about the 1980s era of classic rock that just stands out among the rest. It was an amazing era for rock and heavy metal. So many songs from that decade could easily be added to a time capsule to show future generations just what rock and roll was all about. Let’s look at just a few iconic tunes from that era that will send you back in time!
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police
This 1983 soft rock classic is known for its very creepy lyrics, sung from the perspective of an obsessive stalker. Still, uncomfortable lyrics aside, this song is legendary. In fact, I’d say this song is The Police’s most well-known 80s hit. And it’s a classic that has stood the test of time. I’m not shocked that this tune took home a few Grammy awards.
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“I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Few songs define the overall energy and enduring power of rock music quite like Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ 1981 cover of “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” by The Arrows. Jett’s version is dripping with that 1980s sound, and it’s an anthem that is still loved by fans of rock music, decades later. The song’s music video was also an important one to debut during the early years of MTV.
Honestly, “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts is one of the most legendary songs from the 1980s, and it influenced plenty of musicians that followed in Jett’s footsteps.
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
This song just sounds like the 80s. Slash’s searing guitar riffs, Axl Rose’s soaring vocals… It’s a classic. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses was released in 1988 and absolutely obliterated the charts, and oddly enough, it was the band’s only No. 1 single in the US. This one’s going in the time capsule ASAP.
“You Shook Me All Night” by AC/DC
The 1980s era of classic rock would be nothing without AC/DC. Honestly, a few songs from the Australian hard rock outfit could have made it to this list, but I decided to go with “You Shook Me All Night”. This one still gets airplay today on classic rock radio stations, and it’s a great example of what rock bands outside of the US and UK were doing with the genre. In fact, this song could rival some of the hard rock tunes that came from big-name American bands at the time in 1980.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images) -
IN CONCERT – Airdate: March 1, 1974. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) LINDA RONSTADT -
HOLLYWOOD, CA – 1979: Teens dance to the music at the 1979 Hollywood High School prom held in Hollywood, California. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) -
British musician Christine McVie, of the group Fleetwood Mac, performs onstage at the Alpine Valley Music Theater, East Troy, Wisconsin, July 19, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
Singer Patsy Cline poses for a portrait circa 1961. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images