80 happiest songs of the 1980s

A few months, the Stuck in the 80s nation set out on a seemingly impossible task. We sought to uncover the Happiest Songs of the '80s.

Finally, after much tabulation, debate and procrastination, we have a final list. One suggestion: Don't get too caught up on the numbers here. Personally, I consider any of the top 10 songs to be the musical equivalent of Zoloft.

Today's happiest 80s star: Ah, probably David Lee Roth. What a smiling little rascal he was -- when he finally shed his morose Van Halen band mates. But they're back together and still touring, so everything is right in the world again.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Queue up some tunes and just brighten your day.

Click here to see Nos. 1-20, 21-40, 41-60.

80 HAPPIEST SONGS OF THE 1980s: (Nos. 61 to 80)

80. Secret of My Success (Night Ranger): [video]

79. Perfect Way (Scritti Politti): [video]

78. Something About You (Level 42): [video]

77. Working in a Coal Mine (Devo): [video]

76. New Attitude (Patti LaBelle): [video]

75. Hip To Be Square (Huey Lewis & The News): [video]

74. Faith (George Michael): [video]

73. Shake it Up (The Cars): [video]

72. One Vision (Queen): [Live performance]

71. Girls Like Me (Bonnie Hayes): [video]

70. And She Was (Talking Heads): [video]

69. Mickey (Toni Basil): [video]

68. Strip (Adam Ant): [video]

67. Human Touch (Rick Springfield): [video]

66. Everybody Have Fun Tonight (Wang Chung): [video]

65. We Built This City (Starship): [video]

64. Good Times (INXS and Jimmy Barnes): [video]

63. Europa and the Pirate Twins (Thomas Dolby): [video]

62. Just like Heaven (The Cure): [video]

61. Just A Gigolo (David Lee Roth): [video]

Sneak peak at tomorrow's list: Egyptians, monsters and stray cats.

Comments

[chad]

12 out of 20, not bad for the first set. kudos on night ranger, rick s, and dlr.

[Emily]

Excellent that there's some Aussies there with Michael Hutchence and Jimmy Barnes.

[Marissa]

Although I rarely make lists, I love when other people compile them. I know that wasn't an easy task, Steve. Now we know what occupies your nights.

[Spears]

Greetings from the Houston airport, gang. I brought the laptop with me for the Vegas trip, so you can probably expect me to drop by from time to time.

I will say this, I had a dream last night about "Jump" from Van Halen, which I'm pretty sure didn't make the list. So consider it an honorable mention or something like that.

I think people will really be surprised by the top 2 picks on the list.

And if you're curious, I think Kenny Loggins might appear the most times on the list. But can you guess which songs?

[Marissa]

"I'm Alright"
"Nobody's Fool"
"Footloose"
"Don't Fight It"

I'm blanking out after those four. Morecoffeemorecoffee!

[Al]

Steve,

How the bleep does "Jump" not make the list? It's one of the cheesiest and yet greatest songs ever in the '80's. It's pretty darn happy. You might as well Jump. Go ahead and Jump.

[Al]

Nice Vacation podcast. I almost caused an accident while laughing and driving due to Sean's story. Nice work.

[Bassnote]

Wow. So far I have every song but one... now I have them all.

The song was Girls Like Me by Bonnie Hayes With The Wild Combo. Fortunately iTunes has the album.

[Spears]

Maybe I'll add Jump to one of the future lists for the next three days.

BTW, I'm writing this from the baggage claim room in Las Vegas airport while waiting for my family to arrive.

I've prewritten the entire list, but maybe Jump will find a suprise entry.

[Spears]

"Girls Like Me" just has that great Valley Girl connection. Otherwise, nobody might remember it.

[Al]

Alright, Steve. Enjoy that vacation!

[Spears]

Well, if the family would show up, the vacation could begin. In the meantime, I have to slowly watch my battery power drop further and further.

[chase]

Hi Steve, hope you're having fun in Vegas, drop me a note if you need any advice, Vegas is my town :-)

Hey, listened to the Podcast today on a run, thanks dude, but hey, where's my funyuns picture on the site? I no see .. ??

geez, my big moment of victory, the old man's eye's boggled, it's a major award ... except.

[Marissa]

Ah, Chase, that reminds me. I submitted not one, but TWO photos. I didn't attach it with the email containing the mystery song answer. I'm sure compared to your masterpiece, they are crap. So, here are my creations for your viewing pleasure.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/marissa65/personal%20and%20family/dalidaly.jpg

and

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/marissa65/personal%20and%20family/funyunsdream.jpg

[Al]

I really do love "Hip to be Square." But man, that music video blew.

Hip, Hip.......

[Pazdziernik]

Wang Chung's "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is hardly a happy song! Wang Chung flashbacks ... not good. I'm waiting to see Simple Mind's "Sanctify Yourself" occupy the top slot. Please don't disappoint.

[jane]

Great list so far -- just what I needed after 1769 hours in a car driving through rain and hail across the South over the past week. "And She Was" is a personal fave.

And I've done time in that Vegas baggage claim area -- last time I was there one of my pieces went missing. Bless Southwest's customer service...

[Spears]

Chase - send that photo you did to my other e-mail address and I'll post it asap.

[Al]

After studying, I thought I'd curl up with a little 80's cheese.

Man, "Mannequin" is certainly that! I've never seen it before, and with 20 minutes left.......yowzers Kim Catrall was a fox back then!

[Johnny B. Goode]

Nice to see Adam Ant make one of these lists. I'm guessing "Goodie Two Shoes" will be higher in the rankings.

[Mike]

Toni Basil's Mickey already?

That should be one of the top 10!!!

[Mike]

Toni Basil's Mickey already?

That should be one of the top 10!!!

[Russ]

I'll be watching for "Spirit of Radio" much closer to the top. What a way to start the 80s, Jan 1, 1980 release date.

As Adam Ant would say, "Stand and Deliver..."

[Bassnote]

Hey Steve, I was making this list on my iPod, and I noticed that #63 is missing. You need one more song on this list.

[Marissa]

Looks like an ideal spot for "Jump" -- See, no longer an honorable mention. I love how fate works things out.

[Brad]

"Working in a Coal Mine" = Happy Song?

For who? The owner of the mine?

[Jeff in Cuba]

"Good Times" at #64?!

OK, it's actually 63 because of the math error, but still, throw me a bone!

After I made an impassioned podcast argument that ultimately convinced the entire 80's Nation that it is the ultimate party tune; a scant 100 days later I find it judged "Not-Quite-As-Cheery-As-The-Cure"? (because nothing says happy quite like a co-ed in a black turtleneck and too much eye-shadow).

Why do I even bother...

[Douglas Arthur]

I agree..."Working In The Coalmine" is not the first thing I think of for "happy" songs. If you wanted to through a "happy" Devo song on, I might have gone with "That's Good" or "Time Out For Fun" If we grandfather in their first album from '78 I would suggest "Uncontrollable Urge" as well, that always gets me going

[Jennifer Mitts]

"Groove Is In the Heart," by Dee-Lite, needs to be in the top 20. It's not on the list at all.

And it just occurred to me (and I don't want to navigate away from this comment page to check to see if you have this), I hope you included some Men at Work songs.

[D]

"Gimme hope Joanna" - Eddy Grant

[Flapper]

After a while, this song was just plain annoying, but it did make the charts. How can you have a list of 80's happiest songs without the 1989 hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy"? Thank you Bobby McFerrin

[mike]

Very nice 80s songs. I neve get tired of 80s music.

[Robert Szymanski]

There's a novelty song that came out in either the late 70's or early 80's. Sung in a foreign tongue with a Chuck Berry guitar lick ending with vocal wailing at the end of each sentence. Watch the comedy central Jeff Durham's "Arguing with Myself" and listen for the song in one of the commercials. I'm dying to know the name of the song and group. Please email me someone! Thanks.

[Robert Szymanski]

There's a novelty song that came out in either the late 70's or early 80's sung in a foreign tongue with Chuck Berry guitar licks ending with a vocal wail at the end of each sentence. Watch the ventriliquist Jeff Durhams's "Arguing with Myself" on Comedy Central, cause the song is in a commercial. Someone please tell me the name of the song and group! thanks.