The eighties was clearly a decade of superior musical production. Known for its iconic synth beats paired with echoing, detached voices, everyone knows an eighties song when they hear one. Many, however, only hear the occasional chorus, maybe from their parents’ nostalgic CD collections or on the radio for a second. Here are my top ten best eighties songs that I think are definitely worth listening to:

1. Tainted Love – Soft Cell
Probably one of the most well known songs of the eighties, Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” encompasses the vibe of the time period. It has an extremely catchy chorus and great melodies.

2. Shake the Disease – Depeche Mode
A personal favorite, “Shake the Disease” is first seen on the album Catching Up with Depeche Mode. Lead singer David Gahan’s unmistakable voice blends incredibly well in this slower, but equally enjoyable, song.

3. Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure
The Cure, of course, were your typical punk-goth eighties band. You would not expect that from the sound of their music, but they had the whole look completed with harsh black eyeliner and frizzy hair all over the place. “Boys Don’t Cry” is upbeat and really nice, suitable for a fun summer day despite the kind of upsetting lyrics.

4. Disorder – Joy Division
Most are familiar with the band Joy Division, probably because of their famous album Unknown Pleasures. “Disorder” comes from that album, giving off some of the first surfer-punk sad dad vibes known to man.

5. Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
“Come On Eileen,” an incredible jam, gained a huge amount of popularity again after its appearance in the hit film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The fast-paced and upbeat melodies really just call for a good time all around.

6. Wake Me up Before You Go-Go – Wham!
A good morning, getting-ready-for-school song. Honestly, it is really hard to be sad while listening to “Wake Me up Before You Go-Go” because the song is just so happy and uplifting.

7. Working for the Weekend – Loverboy
“Working for the Weekend” shows more of the rock side of the eighties, starting right off with harsh guitars that blend in with a cool, punk beat.

8. Your Love – The Outfield
Truly a classic, “Your Love” has been featured in its fair share of films. This song does a great job of giving more punk rock sound to the guitar and drums to create a somewhat downtempo and powerful ballad.

9. The Safety Dance – Men without Hats
It is safe to assume the most iconic portion of the song “The Safety Dance” is its sole techno riff appearing from time to time. When people think of eighties music, they most likely think of this song.

10. Shout – Tears for Fears
Still a popular song today, Tears for Fears really brings it home with this track essential for any eighties playlist.