15 Songs That Ruled 1985 – From Rock Anthems to New Wave Gems
The mid-‘80s were a fever dream of leather, synths, and rebellion. Rock was evolving—gritty punk bands were growing up, hair metal was taking over MTV, and pop was getting its claws into rock’s dark underbelly. The result? A year loaded with absolute bangers.
15. The Replacements – “Bastards of Young”
Punk purists screamed betrayal, but The Replacements were onto something big. Tim saw them sharpening their raw edges into something more anthemic, and “Bastards of Young” was their middle finger to growing up.
14. New Order – “The Perfect Kiss”
A cold, pulsing dance track drenched in synths and mystery, “The Perfect Kiss” saw New Order moving past their Joy Division grief and fully embracing the electronic future.
13. ZZ Top – “Sleeping Bag”
Ever thought bluesy, bearded Texans would embrace synth-rock? ZZ Top did, and Afterburner made sure they weren’t left in 1983’s dust. “Sleeping Bag” is pure neon-lit, sci-fi blues magic.
12. Aerosmith – “Let the Music Do the Talking”
Before their Permanent Vacation rebirth, Aerosmith roared back with Done With Mirrors. This track is a straight-up, no-frills blues-rock banger that reminded everyone why they mattered in the first place.
11. Talking Heads – “And She Was”
David Byrne got groovy on Little Creatures, and “And She Was” turned alien abductions into danceable bliss. Quirky? Of course. But undeniably catchy.
10. Dire Straits – “Money for Nothing”
MTV made this track a cultural moment. Mark Knopfler’s razor-sharp riff and cynical takedown of the music industry turned Brothers in Arms into a mega-hit.
9. Mötley Crüe – “Home Sweet Home”
The song that made power ballads cool. Vince Neil gets emotional, Tommy Lee shows off his piano skills, and suddenly, every metal band in the ‘80s has to write a sad-boy anthem.
8. John Cougar Mellencamp – “Small Town”
Springsteen might’ve had the stadiums, but Mellencamp had the heartland locked down. “Small Town” was an autobiographical slow burn that hit middle America right in the feels.
7. Tears for Fears – “Shout”
If 1985 had a soundtrack for teenage rebellion, this was it. Songs from the Big Chair was an emotional rollercoaster, and “Shout” was its primal scream moment.
6. Prince – “Raspberry Beret”
Prince ditched the rock for full-blown psychedelia, and we got one of the funkiest, most whimsical tracks of the decade. No one else could make a song about a thrift-store hookup sound this magical.
5. A-ha – “Take On Me”
The ultimate MTV generation track. If you didn’t try to hit that impossible falsetto, were you even alive in 1985?
4. The Cure – “Close to Me”
Robert Smith proved gloom could groove with this jittery, anxiety-ridden classic. The horns? Genius. The video? Nightmare fuel.
3. Madonna – “Into the Groove”
The song that made Madonna the queen of the ‘80s. Infectious, undeniable, and tailor-made for sweaty dance floors.
2. Bruce Springsteen – “Born in the U.S.A.”
Misunderstood by politicians and fist-pumping dads everywhere, The Boss’ stadium anthem was actually a protest song wrapped in an all-American fistfight of a chorus.
1. Simple Minds – “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”
The Breakfast Club anthem that defined a generation. You might not remember what algebra class taught you, but you damn well remember that final fist-pump.
Final Thoughts:
1985 was stacked with killer tracks. From synth-heavy dance floor hits to arena-rock anthems, it was a year where music felt larger than life. What’s your favorite jam from ‘85? Drop a comment and let’s talk classic bangers.
