Top 15 80s Guilty Pleasure Songs

Top 15 80s Guilty Pleasure Songs – The 1980s was a glorious time for music, producing many classic pop hits and timeless rock anthems. However, the decade was also responsible for unleashing some wonderfully cheesy and unabashedly kitschy tunes that could easily be deemed “guilty pleasures.” These songs may not have been critically acclaimed or embraced by the rock tastemakers, but they sure were catchy and fun. In this article, we will countdown the top 15 guiltiest pleasures of 80s music, exploring what made these songs so deliciously bad yet impossible not to sing along to. From syrupy ballads to campy novelties, get ready to dive into some musical nostalgia and celebrate these unforgettable melodic monstrosities!Top 15 80s Guilty Pleasure Songs

The Top 15 80s Guilty Pleasure Songs Are:

#15 – “Mickey” by Toni Basil (1982)

“Oh Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey!” Belgian singer Toni Basil’s ode to her unrequited love for Monkee’s singer Mickey Dolenz is cheesiness defined. An infectious chant-along chorus and Basil’s quirky vocals made it an unlikely hit, despite being initially released in the UK in 1981. The accompanying music video featured Basil in cheerleader garb dancing with pom-poms, cementing “Mickey” as a kitschy 80s classic.

Location: Recorded at Record One studios in Los Angeles

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#14 – “Turning Japanese” by The Vapors (1980)

British New Wave band The Vapors scored their only big hit with this song referencing the stereotype of Asians squinting their eyes when experiencing strong emotions. With its catchy guitar riffs and silly lyrics (“No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women, no fun, no sin”), “Turning Japanese” captured a novelty sound that was distinct to the 80s. Though politically incorrect by today’s standards, it’s still hard not to sing along to this problematic earworm.

Location: Recorded at Wessex Studios in London

#13 – “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone (1981)

This power pop tune about a man obsessed with a mysterious phone number hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite its silly premise. Tommy Tutone’s gravelly lead vocals and the blasting saxophone riff made “867-5309/Jenny” impossible to forget, as many an 80s kid could recite that number from memory. Though Jenny didn’t seem interested, we all wished we could call up that catchy tune.

Location: Recorded at Columbia Studios in San Francisco

#12 – “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! (1984)

The catchy first hit by British pop duo Wham! became an iconic dance tune of the 80s. George Michael’s rapid-fire delivery of the mindless but spirited lyrics and the synth-heavy arrangements made “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” delightfully vapid ear candy. Add the music video of Michael and Andrew Ridgeley dancing in their “Choose Life” t-shirts, and you had the perfect nostalgic time capsule of the era.

Location: Recorded at Advision Studios in London

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#11 – “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats (1982)

Canadian synthpop group Men Without Hats instructed everyone to leave their worries behind and join in on the dancing with this bouncy, upbeat hit. Known for its refrain of “We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind,” “Safety Dance” extolled the virtues of letting loose on the dance floor. The video even featured lead singer Ivan Doroschuk dancing goofily around a medieval village setting. “Safety Dance” became an anthem for tuneful escapism that didn’t take itself too seriously.

Location: Recorded at Backstreet Studios in Quebec City

#10 – “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper (1983)

Cyndi Lauper turned Robert Hazard’s original song meant for a male vocal into an effervescent 80s pop anthem for women. Her playful delivery and the synth instrumentation helped catapult “Girls Just Want to Have Fun“ to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lauper’s persona as a lovably oddball underdog resonated with listeners, making this an unofficial theme song for being yourself and embracing joy. The music video featured Lauper dancing and goofing around in a wrestling ring, highlighting her kooky charm.NYSC Portal

Location: Recorded at The Record Plant in New York City

#9 – “Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club (1983)

Culture Club’s biggest hit exemplified the flair of 80s new wave combined with lead singer Boy George’s openly androgynous style. “Karma Chameleon” was an easy-breezy number encouraging individuality, with George’s soulful yet cartoonish vocals and the band’s textured pop soundscape. The music video in the Mississippi riverboat setting hammered home the song’s whimsical vibe of “loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream.” “Karma Chameleon” painted a vivid picture of an accepting world where we could all be ourselves.

Location: Recorded at Air Studios in London

#8 – “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” by Dead or Alive (1984)

The thumping bassline by this British New Wave band combines with Pete Burns’ semi-spoken vocals to create a hypnotic dance track perfect for 80s discos. The overtly sexual lyrics like “You spin me right ’round, baby, right ’round, like a record, baby” make “You Spin Me Round” rather risqué for its time. But the pulsing Europop sound made this ode to dizzying love irresistible for letting loose and dancing the night away. JAMB Result

Location: Recorded at TW Studios in London

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#7 – “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls (1982)

Disco divas The Weather Girls gave us this campy dance number celebrating the idea of handsome men showering down from the sky. Peppered with delightfully silly lyrics like “Tall, blonde, dark and lean, rough and tough and strong and mean,” “It’s Raining Men” is a tongue-in-cheek take on longing for the perfect partner. The driving beat and vocal harmonies made this a hi-NRG classic for women reveling in retrograde fantasies of idealized masculinity.Romantic Love Messages

Location: Recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley

#6 – “Maniac” by Michael Sembello (1983)

The pulsing beat and synthesizers of this song made it the perfect accompaniment to the iconic aerobics scene from the movie Flashdance. Michael Sembello’s husky vocals, paired with lyrics admiring a woman’s dance moves like “She’s a maniac on the floor,” turned “Maniac” into a campy workout anthem. The equally silly music video featured Sembello dancing manically in a leotard and leg warmers, spotlighting all the outlandish elements that made 80s pop so lovably outrageous.

Location: Recorded at Producers Workshop in Hollywood

#5 – “Whip It” by Devo (1980)

New Wave oddballs Devo scored their biggest hit with this hyperkinetic track led by Mark Mothersbaugh’s frenetic vocals. The driving synths and quirky lyrics like “Crack that whip, give the past the slip” made “Whip It” a perfect embodiment of Devo’s ironic, nerdy aesthetic. The music video featured the band members in bizarre costumes playing in front of a gigantic screen, highlighting their otherworldly, postmodernist style. “Whip It” cracked like a whip, snapping us to attention and getting us hooked on Devo’s one-of-a-kind sound.

Location: Recorded at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles

#4 – “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds (1985)

Perhaps no other song is more evocative of the teen films of the 1980s than this anthemic hit from Scottish band Simple Minds. Featured prominently in The Breakfast Club, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” captured the angst of youth with its longing lyrics and dramatic synthesizers. Though Simple Minds was initially reluctant to record it, the song became their only #1 hit in the US and one of the decade’s most iconic movie theme songs. It’s impossible to listen to it and not imagine Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air.

Location: Recorded at The Townhouse Studio 2 in London

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#3 – “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)

Starting with a fiddle riff, this folk-inspired pop song then explodes into a joyful, Celtic-tinged number extolling the charms of the mythical Eileen. Dexys Midnight Runners lead singer Kevin Rowland belts out romantic lyrics urging Eileen to give into love and “come on.” The exuberant violins and Rowland’s vocal hooks made “Come On Eileen” deliriously catchy and danceable. It became a quintessential 80s wedding song and an ode to surrendering to love despite life’s difficulties.Good morning My Love Message

Location: Recorded at AIR Studios in London

#2 – “Africa” by Toto (1982)

The soft rock kings blessed us with this tune featuring earworm hooks and literally nonsensical lyrics like “As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.” Nevertheless, Toto crafted melodic magic with “Africa,” as the soothing beat and tender lead vocals created an irresistible ode to the mysticism of the continent. The percussion and vocal layering build to an emotional crescendo before fading. “Africa” captured a sentimental musical journey that allowed listeners to get lost in its rhythms.Informationguidenigeria

Location: Recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles

#1 – “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler (1983)

Our #1 80s guilty pleasure comes from Welsh chanteuse Bonnie Tyler, who soared to fame with this epic, bombastic power ballad produced by Jim Steinman. With its swooping strings, gospel choir backgrounds, and Tyler’s husky, impassioned delivery, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” drips with melodrama. Lyrics about longing for love despite feeling lost in the darkness struck an emotional chord with listeners. Its sheer heart-swelling dramatics made “Total Eclipse of the Heart” the ultimate anthem for when you just need to belt out your feelings.

Location: Recorded at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands

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Conclusion

Our countdown of the top 15 guiltiest pleasures of 80s music highlights some of the most unabashedly cheesy yet catchy songs the decade produced. These tunes may not have been the coolest, but their hooks imprinted on our brains and their sentiments still resonate. By indulging our nostalgia for big synth sounds, outlandish fashions, and lyrics that don’t always make sense, these songs showcase the fun spirit of the 80s. So come on Eileen, tell me, do you remember the 21st night of September? Because nobody does. But who cares when the tunes are so addictively enjoyable? These songs may be guilty pleasures, but we should never feel guilty for loving them.

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