Category Archives: 1980s songs

The best 500 songs from the 1980s. Lyrics, meanings and interpretations from the eighties. The Cure, Prince, Michael Jackson, Cindi Lauper, The Smiths, The Cars, REO…see what artist ranks highest in our greatest all-time songs rankings.

1980s songs, relationship problems

#273 Hold Me Now- Thompson Twins

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And then I’ll ask your forgiveness, though I don’t know just what I’m/
Asking it for.

“Hold Me Now” by The Thompson Twins is a beautiful song from the 80s and perhaps one of the biggest radio (and video) hits from that time. The narrator is in a loving relationship, but it has seen better days…he thinks about this as he looks at a picture of himself and his love laughing. It starts to reflect on what is wrong and what needs to change. It doesn’t seem like there is anything particularly wrong with the relationship except perhaps they are taking each other for granted.

Hold Me Now Meaning
Thompson Twins

They fuss. They fight. They play games with each other. It is time to fix things or go their separate ways. He knows what he wants. He wants to fix things. He wants them to come together, stay with each other and hold each other and begin loving again.

The bass-line and keyboards of the song are special. The bass drives the song. It is mixed loudly and it had a unique beat during both the verse and chorus. Usually bass is an accompanying instrument but here it is featured and it is awesome.

Another interesting thing about this song is the use of the choir (or is that just over-dubbed voices?) during the chorus. It sounds unique and full; it drives home the message that this is the emphasis of the song…the part about loving, not about the squabbling described in the verses. The use of falsetto in the chorus for the call back is awesome: (“…if you love me hold me.”) That could be a simulation of the girls voice talking in the background to him or that could just be him getting emotional as he’s singing. Either way it works.

Hold Me Now Lyrics

I have a picture
Pinned to my wall
An image of you and of me and we’re laughing, we’re loving it all
But look at our life now
All tattered and torn
We fuss and we fight and delight in the tears that we cry until dawn
Oh, whoa

Hold me now, whoa
Warm my heart
Stay with me
Let loving start
Let loving start

You say I’m a dreamer, we’re two of a kind
Both of us searching for some perfect world we know we’ll never find
So perhaps I should leave here
Yeah, yeah, and go far away
But you know that there’s nowhere that I’d rather be than with you here today
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Hold me now, whoa
Warm my heart
Stay with me
Let loving start
Let loving start, whoa
Hold me now, whoa
Warm my heart
Stay with me
Let loving start
Let loving start, whoa

You ask if I love you
Well, what can I say?
You know that I do and if this is just one of those games that we play
So I’ll sing you a new song
Please don’t cry anymore
I’ll even ask your forgiveness
Though I don’t know just what I’m asking it for
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Hold me now, whoa
(Hold me in your loving arms)
Warm my heart
(Warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me
(Stay with me)
Let loving start
Let loving start, whoa
Hold me now, whoa
(Hold me in your loving arms)
Warm my heart
(Warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me
Let loving start
Let loving start, whoa
Hold me now, whoa
(Hold me in your loving arms)
Warm my heart
(Warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me
(Stay with me)
Let loving start
Let loving start, whoa
Hold me now, whoa
(Hold me in your loving arms)
Warm my heart
(Warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me
(Stay with me)
Let loving start
Let loving start, whoa
Hold me now, whoa
(Hold me in your loving arms)
Warm my heart
(Warm my cold and tired heart)
Stay with me
(Stay with me)
Let loving start
Let loving start, whoa

Songwriters: Tom Bailey / Alannah Joy Currie / Joseph Martin Leeway

1980s songs, carpe diem

#272 Take On Me- Ah Ha

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Say after me/
It’s no better to be safe than sorry.

“Take On Me” by Ah Ha is a cute song about the struggles to communicate desires early in a relationship. The narrator is talking to the girl, and he feels confident about the act of talking to her, but he is wondering if he is just spewing nonsense, as he gets no reaction from her.

Is she shy? He isn’t sure. He knows that he wants her now and he gives her the carpe diem speech, “it’s no better to be safe than sorry.” He tells her that she should figure it out quick, because he’ll lose interest at this rate they are going at.

Take On Me Meaning
Ah Ha

This song is classic 80s: synthesizers, falsettos, drum tracks and a band with a heavy European accent, and up tempo. The great chorus and wonderful singing make the song. The unique synthesizer riff is also a classic.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful cover version of “Take on Me” by Aqualung.

Take On Me Lyrics

We’re talking away
I don’t know what
I’m to say I’ll say it anyway
Today’s another day to find you
Shying away
I’ll be coming for your love, okay?

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two

So needless to say
I’m odds and ends
But I’ll be stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is okay
Say after me
It’s no better to be safe than sorry

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two

Songwriters: Pal Waaktaar / Morten Harket / Magne Furuholmen

1980s songs, falling in love

#262 I Want to Know What Love Is- Foreigner

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Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far, to change this lonely life/
I want to know what love is, I want you to show me.

“I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner is the song that comes to my mind when I think 80s music. There are hits from the 80s that are higher on the list, but this seems to capture the 80s sound, and be uniquely 80s in a way. There is a lot of bad 80s music…this is a great 80s song. There are a couple defining features: synthesizers. This is the primary feature. Producers just went crazy with it back then. It created a very homogenous sound.

“I Want to Know What Love Is” only has a bit of synthesizer, so we aren’t too overwhelmed. The other distinguishing feature is the concept of a “power-ballad”. It is like a love song that has both tender parts and a chorus that is more rock-ish.

I want to know what love is Meaning
Foreigner

Foreigner’s  lyrics  are simple but good. They are powerful because everyone can relate to them. It talks about a lonely, lifelong journey to find love. The song is about hope. The couple is not in love yet. The singer is hoping to find love with his new lover. He is surrendering himself to her (him/whatever) and hoping that that trust will lead him to love. These are not typically songs you’d hear from a man in a love song. Traditionally, women surrender in love songs.

I should also point out the excellent background singers. Both the choir and the lead female background vocalist sound great, especially in the outro.

I Want to Know What Love is Lyrics

I gotta take a little time, a little time to think things over
I better read between the lines, in case I need it when I’m older

Now this mountain I must climb, feels like the world upon my shoulders
Through the clouds I see love shine, it keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far, to change this lonely life

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is, I know you can show me

I’m gonna take a little time, a little time to look around me
I’ve got nowhere left to hide, it looks like love has finally found me

In my life there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far, to change this lonely life

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is, I know you can show me
I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
(And I want to feel) I want to feel what love is
(And I know) I know you can show me
Let’s talk about love, I want to know what love is
The love that you feel inside, I want you to show me

And I’m feeling so much love, I want to feel what love is
No, you just can’t hide, I know you can show me
I want to know what love is (let’s talk about love), I know you can show me
I want to feel it too, I want to feel what love is
I want to feel it too, and I know and I know, I know you can show me
Show me love is real, yeah, I want to know what love is

Songwriters: Michael Leslie Jones