Blog battle: Sexiest songs of the '80s
Oh I want to the truth to be known ... There are few things in life so simple, pure and moving as the perfect playlist of sexy songs. So with Valentine's Day nearly here, we unveil the Stuck in the '80s Official Top 15 List of Sexiest Songs of the '80s.
Sadly, there are those out there who would try to find fault with the love songs of the '80s, opting to pine away for the best-forgotten dirges of the past, salty classics better left to wax cylinders. Old Blue Eyes knew how to sing about tramps and the Windy City, but he didn't know squat about being in love in the '80s.
Let's see Sinatra squeeze himself into parachute pants, don an REO Speedwagon jersey and ask lovely red-headed Jeanette Brown to couple skate. She'd dump an Orange Julius on his head and skate over to that shy, tall guy with the Journey T and sexy mustache.
So feel free to check out Sean Daly's companion piece on Sexiest Songs of All-Time, maybe even throw him a chuckle or two when he tries to make a case some lame Kings of Leon song having more soul than Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes. Sorry, Sean, but Lloyd Dobler knows that his signature tune has more pure red corpuscles flowing through the first three notes than your whole list put together. Sometimes, love hurts, Sean. For you, this is one of those times.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
How about Berlin's "Take My Breath Away"? Now that is a sexy song!
Posted by: Michelle | September 14, 2009 at 10:04 PM
I believe the song you want is the number 2 on the list, Wicked Game by Chris Isaak. The video is on Youtube, check it out to see if I am right.
Posted by: DerekT | February 27, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Hello there!
I just trying to get the name of the artist & cd of a song that the video was in balck & white at the beach, in the video is the singer and a beutiful girl, it's a love song/ The only thing i remember is the video. PLEASE HELP!
Posted by: Raul | February 27, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Perf comment, Marissa.
Posted by: Michelle | February 14, 2009 at 08:12 PM
If by sexy, you meant put me in a coma that I never wanted to wake up from again, then yes... by all means, leave Journey in.
Posted by: Anna Rocktoff | February 14, 2009 at 01:56 PM
If by sexy, you mean go into a coma that I never want to wake up from, then... yes, by all means, leave Journey in.
Posted by: Anna | February 14, 2009 at 01:53 PM
When it comes to sexy songs, I don't think there's ever too much Bryan Ferry. Boys and Girls is just a way sexy album.
On the other hand . . . "True"? That song just makes me wince!
My humble suggestions:
I'd Like to Get to Know You Well--Howard Jones
Lay Your Hands on Me--Thompson Twins
Never Tear Us Apart--INXS
Come Back and Stay--Paul Young
The Beautiful Ones--Prince
Posted by: the anti-Celine | February 14, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Bassnotes, Great list. I would add a Bagles song, like In my room, or Eternal Flame.
Posted by: DerekT | February 14, 2009 at 02:22 AM
And tell me that you love me!
Posted by: Sit on my FaceBook | February 13, 2009 at 11:56 PM
In Your Eyes and Sexual Healing definitely need to head this list. Here are some of my nominees.
You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song) - Jeffrey Osborne
Stay The Night - Chicago
Wild Sex (In The Working Class) - Oingo Boingo
I Want Your Sex - George Michael
Father Figure - George Michael
Need You Tonight - INXS
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
All I Want Is You - U2
Sexy Girl - Glenn Frey
Kiss And Tell - Bryan Ferry
I Wanna Make Love To You - Eric Clapton
Posted by: Bassnote | February 13, 2009 at 11:20 PM
that song by the promise is a mood breaker not a mood maker. spandau ballet makes me want to retch when i hear them but other than that not a bad list. with some journey, peter gabriel and marvin gaye it's hard to go wrong.
tesla is a great band but not so much for love songs and i like the kings of leon song on sean's list but that's about it.
Posted by: don in tulsa | February 13, 2009 at 07:04 PM
What about one of my favs that always jerks at my heart strings (and other places in my pants when i watch the video) - "Missing You" by John Waite.
Posted by: Krash from Long Beach | February 13, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Tesla had not recorded many love songs, with the exception of Love Song, Paradise and We're no Good Together. Now if Tesla was more like Air Supply, then we could be talking about love songs. Speaking of which, one song that could be on the list is "Making Love out of Nothing at All" by Air Supply, written by Jim Steinman, the guy who wrote most of Meatloaf's songs. I think it's Air Supply's best song, perhaps because it wasn't written by them.
Posted by: DerekT | February 13, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Great List!
The Brian Ferry songs are perfect and I love "Crying" by Roy Orbison & K.D. Lang .
Here are some songs that I would add (note there is some "cheesiness")
"Everlasting Love" Howard Jones
"Space Age Love Song" Flock of Seagulls
"I Can Dream About You" Dan Hartman
"I've Been in Love Before" Cutting Crew
"Lips Like Sugar" Echo & The Bunnymen
"Time After Time" Cindi Lauper
"Saving All My Love For You" Whitney Houston
"One on One" Hall & Oats
"Alone" Heart
"Never Tear Us Apart" INXS
"We Belong" Pat Benatar
Posted by: Ray | February 13, 2009 at 02:11 PM
What about Simple Mind's "Dont You (Forget About Me)"? That has to be one of my favorites. Check out this cover that I found, promise you won't be disappointed!
http://worlds-fair.net/preview/hollywood_mon_amour/
Posted by: ILOVE80s | February 13, 2009 at 02:06 PM
Berlin had some pretty hot songs in the 80's. "Pleasure Victim" (name of album, too), and the racier "Sex (I'm a...)", or the ever popular and overplayed love song from Top Gun, "Take My Breath Away". I can't stand Tom Cruise, but I love Berlin!
Posted by: Anna | February 13, 2009 at 01:35 PM
i meant to say, no one else mentioned tesla on the blog, not for the list. just in general. by the way, it doesn't take much to seduce a guy, very little. if you are with a woman, that's all you really need.
Posted by: CHAD | February 13, 2009 at 01:16 PM
tesla is indeed a great, and often under rated band. i wouldn't put them on the last, maybe lovesong, just was saying they are great. i'll be seeing them next week, it'll be a great show. nothing sexy about it, it will just rock
Posted by: CHAD | February 13, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Admit it, Christine: The list of songs that it takes to seduce you (or me, or VGF) is very different from the list above.
Posted by: Steve Spears | February 13, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Still waiting for any female to step up and agree that Tesla has a great romantic song that needs to be added to this list.
Posted by: Steve Spears | February 13, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Let us not forget: Strangelove or Master and Servant by Depeche Mode
Posted by: Christine End | February 13, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Tesla is one of the best and underrated bands of both the 80's and 90's.
Posted by: DerekT | February 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM
derek makes some good suggestions, but the unplugged version of paradise, by the great band tesla, came out in 1990. although with the exception of me, i can't remember anyone else mentioning tesla, thumbs way up to derek.
spears
i'm not saying love bites is leppard's best tune, but it is a "sexy" tune. the downbeat, and silky smooth guitars go a long way. not to mention that love bites hit number uno. i was just dropping some popular power ballads titles. i guess i'm not a fan of bryan ferry. i know those two songs by him, but that's all.
Posted by: CHAD | February 13, 2009 at 12:15 PM
For the purposes of this list, we'll let sexy be roughly equivalent to "romantic."
Posted by: Spears | February 13, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Really "Sexy" songs, Our House, Sugarwalls, In My Room, I'm on Fire, and Cherry Pie
Posted by: DerekT | February 13, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Lots of people consider Prince songs to be very sexy.I`m not his biggest fan,but i know you are Spearsy,so maybe you can point a few songs. I remember I Would Die 4 U from Purple Rain.
Posted by: Miguel | February 13, 2009 at 11:43 AM
This all comes up with what we consider sexy. I think the playlist is very,very good.Some of the songs are simple love songs,others are sexier.
I would add "Need You Tonight" by INXS for example.
Posted by: Miguel | February 13, 2009 at 11:40 AM
I guess it all depends on the type of woman and the type of person you are. There is The Search is Over by Survivor, which is a good song if your date has been friends with you before you start dating, the same can be said with Friends and Lovers by Eddie Rabbit and Can't Fight This Feeling by the Great REO. If you have been away for a while, Paradise by Tesla (especially the unplugged version) or Faithfully by Journey would be great. If you have a girlfriend named Sherri, why you would start with Oh Sherri. If you want to hint that you would like to stalk someone, Every Breath you Take by the Police or I want to get Close to you by Queensrÿche are a sure hit. If you want to be staight forward about your actions, then you could start off with Lick it Up or Heaven's on Fire by Kiss.
Posted by: DerekT | February 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM
You want "Love Bites"? And think there's such a thing as TOO MUCH Bryan Ferry?
Oh Chad.
Posted by: Spears | February 13, 2009 at 11:09 AM
this is a pretty good list, but some tunes, in my opinion, don't fit. maybe they fit as sexy songs, but i just don't care for them. number 4 and 5, have to go. i have to agree with sean, true is a turd. hold me now is a good tune, but i wouldn't call it sexy. i know why you put it there, i think. although i love asia, they just don't make sexy songs. marvin gaye is an icon, but i've never liked sexual healing(it makes me think of coming to america). although i have much love for reo speedwagon, i think can't fight this feeling is a better tune. i agree with derek, heaven by bryan adams should be on there. i know it's overplayed, but with or w/o you should also be there. having two bryan ferry songs might be too much. i know you're not a fan of metal, but don't count out a good power ballad. love bites by def leppard would be a good fit here, as would when it's love by van halen, or perhaps alone again by dokken. jackson browne seems like an odd fit here as well. i haven't looked at sean's list, but i can imagine it.
Posted by: CHAD | February 13, 2009 at 11:01 AM
You'd enjoy Sade tied behind your back, wouldn't you Steve?
Posted by: John Hays | February 13, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Are these songs suppose to be songs to get the mood going? If that is the case, i withdrawl my Brian Adams comment from earlier. I was thinking of just plain love songs. I still like your list, although Still They Ride by Journey, while it is a great song just doesn't feel like a sexy or a love song.
Posted by: DerekT | February 13, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I like the Song Heaven by Brian Adams. In fact I think I would start off with that song and end with Warrant's Heaven. I think that was the 80's, I might be confused with the early 90's.
Posted by: DerekT | February 13, 2009 at 10:45 AM
The late Bryan Adams? Listening to his music makes me too sad now.
Posted by: Spears | February 13, 2009 at 09:53 AM
How about Obsession by Anomotion
Posted by: petey in Montreal | February 13, 2009 at 09:52 AM
This a pretty good list, I would have a different top 15, however that is only because my taste are a little different. I would have added a few metal songs on there or maybe even Brian Adams.
Posted by: DerekT | February 13, 2009 at 09:52 AM
I mulled over "Lady in Red" for a long time, but I guess I've just heard it too much lately.
Sade is always a nice addition, but I told Sean I could beat him with Sade tied behind my back.
Posted by: Spears | February 13, 2009 at 09:49 AM
This is a superior list. If I wanted to woo an octogenarian I'd pull out Sinatra and the Platters.
My only addition would be a Sade song - maybe Your Love is King.
Posted by: dc | February 13, 2009 at 09:34 AM
How could you forget Lady in Red by Chris DeBurgh???
Posted by: Anna | February 13, 2009 at 09:25 AM
With or Without You - U2.
Posted by: Crockett | February 13, 2009 at 09:20 AM
Good. That's what I was aiming for. Hence the name of the blog.
Posted by: Spears | February 13, 2009 at 09:16 AM
This playlist is perfect!!!
For the senior prom.
Posted by: Marissa | February 13, 2009 at 09:00 AM