So much amazing music came out in the 1980s, but only a select group of songs were considered worthy of Grammy Awards back in that decade. Let’s take a look at just five decade-defining records from the 1980s that were so good that they won Grammy Awards!
Videos by American Songwriter
“What A Fool Believes” by Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins had a great decade back in the 80s. “What A Fool Believes”, a soft rock jam released in 1978, didn’t get recognized until 1980 by the Recording Academy. That year, the song took home a Grammy for Song of the Year, as well as another Grammy for Record of the Year. In 1979, the song was just one of the very few non-disco tunes to hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. As of 2024, the song has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“Beat It” by Michael Jackson
Few songs define the early 1980s quite like Michael Jackson’s mega-hit, “Beat It”. A standout hit from the similarly successful Thriller, “Beat It” is a crazy good dance-rock tune that even features a guitar solo from Eddie Van Halen. It doesn’t get more 80s than that. The tune won two Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1984.
“What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner
This is one of Tina Turner’s best songs. And, thankfully, the Recording Academy gave this diva her just dues for the song. “What’s Love Got To Do With It” was released in 1984 and was constantly making it to the airwaves on pop, rock, and R&B radio stations that year. In 1985, Turner won several Grammy Awards for the song, including Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.
“Higher Love” by Steve Winwood
This soft rock tune from 1986 just hits whenever you hear it. “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood is a gorgeous tune made even better by the backup vocals contributed by Chaka Khan. The tune was Winwood’s very first no. 1 Hot 100 charting hit, too. He would later win Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the song.
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin
It’s hard to be sad when “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin comes on. That’s some serious staying power. This reggae-jazz pop tune is one of many late-1980s records to win a Grammy or two. It makes sense why McFerrin took home three Grammys for it, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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