Popular 1980s Songs for Weddings 2022

Updated on January 31, 2022 | Written by Matthew Campbell

The 1980s were the decade of dance thirty-plus years ago.

Whitney Houston wanted to dance with somebody, David Bowie raised the cry “Let’s Dance!” and we can’t forget about the “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats.

After all, can we even be friends if you don’t dance?

Let’s Dance (At Your Wedding) with 1980s Songs

When we think of fun songs for a wedding reception, most of us think of the 1980s.

Very similar to the era of the 1950s, thirty years earlier, the 80s was a post-war decade marked by prosperity. It was good to have fun again.

It’s common to hear a wide range of musical genres at your 80s theme wedding reception. One-hit wonders became a thing. Sometimes even the music video gave songs a chance to rise in popularity that wouldn’t have been considered otherwise.

Danceable 80s playlists can include Aerosmith, Madonna, Run-DMC, Bobby Brown, and AC/DC at the same reception. These songs will get everyone, regardless of age, up and dancing.

Remember that when choosing music from any decade, you will stir up plenty of nostalgia.

Even better is to pair these songs with a slideshow or display photos of you and your new spouse from the ’80s. This could include the bride and groom’s family — especially if you weren’t born yet.

 
Let’s start with the most popular right now.

Top 10 1980s Songs

1. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
2. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
3. “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi
4. “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
5. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
6. “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
7. “Africa” by Toto
8. “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” by Daryl Hall & John Oates
9. “(I’ve Had The) Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
10. “It’s Tricky” by Run-DMC

Let’s Get to Dancing – Best 1980s Wedding Songs

We’ve talked to wedding couples through social groups and analyzed hundreds of wedding DJs’ playlists across the U.S. that provide wedding music.

We selected a list just for you of the most popular and unique 1980s songs for your wedding day.

Every couple’s music tastes are different.

Thus, we selected wedding songs from the 1980s that include many different genres.

My Wedding Songs is a reader-supported website.  As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases.

Pop 1980s Wedding Songs

Walk Like An Egyptian – The Bangles
1989, Pop

When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh)
They’re walking like an Egyptian

(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
1987, Pop

I’ve had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before

Hot Hot Hot – Buster Poindexter
1987, Pop

They come to the party know what they got
I’m hot – You’re hot – He’s hot – She’s hot

Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
1987, Pop

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you

True Blue – Madonna
1986, Pop

True love
You’re the one I’m dreaming of

Kiss – Prince
1986, Pop

Ain’t no particular sign I’m more compatible with
I just want your extra time and your kiss

Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
1985, Pop

‘Cause I just can’t wait till you write me you’re coming around
I’m walking on sunshine, whoa

Into the Groove – Madonna
1985, Pop

Get into the groove
Boy, you’ve got to prove
Your love to me

Take On Me – a-Ha
1984, Pop

You’re all the things I’ve got to remember
You’re shying away
I’ll be coming for you anyway

Thriller – Michael Jackson
1984, Pop

‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one’s gonna save you

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!
1984, Pop

Wake me up before you go-go
Don’t leave me hanging on like a yo-yo

Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
1983, Pop

Oh, when the workin’ day is done
Oh, girls
Girls just wanna have fun

Let’s Dance – David Bowie
1983, Pop

You could look into my eyes
Let’s sway
Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight

Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
1983, Pop

Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son

Flashdance…What A Feeling – Irene Cara
1983, Pop

What a feeling
Being’s believin’
I can have it all, now I’m dancing for my life

1999 – Prince
1982, Pop

Two thousand zero zero party over, oops, out of time
(No, no)
So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s nineteen ninety-nine

You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
1980, Pop

Oh yeah, well, ’cause you (Ooh, ooh, ooh ooh ooh)
Mmm hmm, you make a-my dreams come true

New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
1980, Pop

If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere
It’s up to you, New York, New York

My Sharona – The Knack
1979, Pop

When you gonna give it to me, give it to me
It is just a matter of time Sharona

Rock With You – Michael Jackson
1979, Pop

I wanna rock with you (all night)
Dance you into day (sunlight)

Rock 1980s Wedding Songs

Love Shack – The B-52’s
1989, Rock

The love shack is a little old place where
We can get together
Love shack baby

Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
1988, Rock

Pour some sugar on me
Ooh, in the name of love

Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns N Roses
1988, Rock

Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I’d hide
And pray for the thunder and the rain to quietly pass me by

Mony Mony – Billy Idol
1987, Rock

Don’t stop cookin’ ’cause I feel all right now, ehi!
But don’t stop now, come on Mony, come on, yeah

Need You Tonight – INXS
1987, Rock

I need you tonight
‘Cause I’m not sleepin’
There’s somethin’ about you, girl

Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
1986, Rock

Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Woah, livin’ on a prayer

The Lady In Red – Chris De Burgh
1986, Rock

And I have never had such a feeling,
Such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight

Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
1986, Rock

Take me home tonight
I don’t want to let you go ’til you see the light

The Power Of Love – Huey Lewis and the News
1986, Rock

It’s strong and it’s sudden and it’s cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life
That’s the power of love

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
1981, Rock

Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’

Your Love – Outfield
1986, Rock

I just want to use your love tonight
I don’t want to lose your love tonight

You Can Call Me Al – Paul Simon
1986, Rock

I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al

Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
1985, Rock

Those were the best days of my life
Back in the summer of ’69

Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
1984, Rock

You can’t start a fire without a spark
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark

I Want To Know What Love Is – Foreigner
1984, Rock

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me

Footloose – Kenny Loggins
1984, Rock

C’mon, before we crack
Lose your blues
Everybody cut footloose

Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
1983, Rock

But maybe someday when my ship comes in
She’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been
And then I’ll win

Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler
1983, Rock

We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight

Faithfully – Journey
1983, Rock

And lovin’ a music man
Ain’t always what it’s supposed to be
Oh girl, you stand by me
I’m forever yours, faithfully

Jump – Van Halen
1983, Rock

White Wedding – Billy Idol
1982, Rock

It’s a nice day to start again
It’s a nice day for a white wedding

Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant
1982, Rock

Good God we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we’ll take it higher

Hurts So Good – John Cougar
1982, Rock

Sometimes love don’t feel like it should
You make it hurt so good

Jack & Diane – John Mellencamp
1982, Rock

A little ditty ’bout Jack & Diane
Two American kids growing up in the heart land

Somebody’s Baby – Jackson Browne
1982, Rock

She must be somebody’s baby
She’s got to be somebody’s baby ’cause she’s so fine

Rock This Town – Stray Cats
1982, Rock

We’re gonna rock till you drop
We’re gonna rock this town
Rock it inside out

Africa – Toto
1982, Rock

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
1982, Rock

They come runnin’ just as fast as they can
‘Cause every girl crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man

Centerfold – J. Geils Band
1981, Rock

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold

I Love Rock ‘N Roll – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
1981, Rock

I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with me

Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie
1981, Rock

Why, why, why?
Love, love, love, love, love
Insanity laughs under pressure we’re breaking

Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
1981, Rock

I’ve been funny, I’ve been cool with the lines
Ain’t that the way love’s supposed to be?

867-5309 / Jenny – Tommy Tutone
1981, Rock

Jenny I’ve got your number
I need to make you mine
Jenny don’t change your number

Back In Black – AC/DC
1980, Rock

Yes, I’m back
Well, I’m back, back
Well, I’m back in black

You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
1980, Rock

And you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me all night long

Any Way You Want It – Journey
1980, Rock

Any way you want it
That’s the way you need it
Any way you want it

Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
1980, Rock

Hey I’m gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
1979, Rock

This thing called love
I must get ’round to it
I ain’t ready
Crazy little thing called love

What I Like About You – The Romantics
1980, Rock

Keep on whispering in my ear
Tell me all the things that I wanna hear
‘Cause it’s true (that’s what I like about you)

R&B 1980s Wedding Songs

Working My Way Back To You – The Spinners
1979, R&B

I’ll keep working my way back to you, babe
With a burning love inside

Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car – Billy Ocean
1988, R&B

Get it while you can
Your non-stop miracle
I’m your man

My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
1988, R&B

No one can tell me what to do (it’s my prerogative)
‘Cause what I’m doing I’m doing for you

I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
1987, R&B

Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Word Up! – Cameo
1986, R&B

Come on baby tell me what’s the word
Ah, word up

How Will I Know – Whitney Houston
1985, R&B

Wish I had you near me now, uh-huh
Said there’s no mistaking
What I feel is really love

Jump (For My Love) – The Pointer Sisters
1984, R&B

Jump for my love
Jump in and feel my touch
Jump if you want to taste my kisses

All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie
1983, R&B

Come on and sing along
We’re going to Party, Liming, Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing my song!

Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
1982, R&B

I want sexual healing
Sexual healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine

Get Down On It – Kool & The Gang
1981, R&B

Get down on it, get down on it, get down on it
Get down on it, when you’re dancin’

Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
1981, R&B

Two hearts
Two hearts that beat as one
Our lives have just begun

Super Freak – Rick James
1981, R&B

She’s super freaky, yow
Everybody sing
Super freak, super freak

Lovely One – The Jacksons
1980, R&B

You are my, you are my
You are my lovely one

Celebration – Kool & The Gang
1980, R&B

It’s time to come together
It’s up to you, what’s your pleasure
Everyone around the world, come on

Hip Hop 1980s Wedding Songs

Wild Thing – Tone-Loc
1989, Hip Hop

Wild thing
She wanna do the wild thing
Please baby baby please

Bust A Move – Young MC
1989, Hip Hop

Says she wanna dance ’cause she likes the groove
So come on, fatso, and just bust a move

It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
1988, Hip Hop

Stay away from me if you’re contagious
‘Cause I’m the winner, no, I’m not the loser
To be an M.C. is what I choose ‘a

Fight For Your Right – The Beastie Boys
1987, Hip Hop

Aw, mom you’re just jealous it’s the Beastie Boys
You gotta fight for your right to party

Push It – Salt ‘N Pepa
1987, Hip Hop

C’mon girls, let’s go show the guys that we know
How to become number one in a hot party show

Country 1980s Wedding Songs

Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
1988, Country

He was headed down to Knoxville with the weekly load
You could smell the whiskey burnin’ down Copperhead Road

Fishin’ In The Dark – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1987, Country

You and me go fishin’ in the dark
Lyin’ on our backs and countin’ the stars

Forever and Ever, Amen – Randy Travis
1987, Country

I’ll be happy to tell you again
I’m gonna love you forever and ever

You And I – Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle
1982, Country

We’ll build the dreams we treasure
And we’ll be alright
Just you and I

Lady – Kenny Rogers
1980, Country

I’ve waited for you for so long
Lady, your love’s the only love I need

New Wave 1980s Wedding Songs

Everybody Have Fun Tonight – Wang Chung
1986, New Wave

Everybody have fun tonight
Everybody Wang Chung tonight

You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) – Dead Or Alive
1984, New Wave

You spin me right ’round, baby, right ’round
Like a record, baby, right ’round, ’round, ’round

Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
1983, New Wave

Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
1983, New Wave

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?

One Thing Leads To Another – The Fixx
1983, New Wave

You told me something wrong, I know I listen too long but then
One thing leads to another, yeah, yeah, yeah

Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
1982, New Wave

At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty

I Ran (So Far Away) – Flock Of Seagulls
1982, New Wave

And I ran, I ran so far away
I just ran, I ran all night and day
I couldn’t get away

The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
1982, New Wave

We can dance, we can dance
Everybody’s taking the chance
Safety dance

I Melt With You – Modern English
1982, New Wave

There’s nothing you and I won’t do (let’s stop the world)
I’ll stop the world and melt with you

Call Me – Blondie
1980, New Wave

Call me (call me) my love
Call me, call me any, anytime

Whip It – Devo
1980, New Wave

When a problem comes along
You must whip it

Disco 1980s Wedding Songs

You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band
1982, Disco

You turn me out, you turn me on
You turned me loose then you turned me wrong
You dropped a bomb on me

Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
1981, Disco

Let this groove, light up your fuse, alright
Let this groove, set in your shoes

I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
1980, Disco

I’m coming out
I’ve got to show the world
All that I wanna be

Funkytown – Lipps Inc.
1980, Disco

Gotta move on
Gotta move on
A-won’t you take me to Funkytown?

Reggae 1980s Wedding Songs

Electric Boogie – Marcia Griffiths
1989, Reggae

Come let me take you on a party ride
And I’ll teach you, teach you, teach you
I’ll teach you the electric slide

Red Red Wine – UB40
1983, Reggae

Red, red wine, stay close to me
Don’t let me be alone
It’s tearing apart my blue heart

Have a favorite 1980s wedding song, not on our list?  Please share the song below so we can add it!

The Culture Shaped 1980s Songs

The 1980s was known for its historical events. The Berlin Wall came down and many eastern countries wanted freedom and the stuff that comes with it. Western countries were all about consumerism. Designer names and particular brand names became status symbols. Everyone was about themselves and greed. Heck — greed wasn’t even called greed! Advertising companies created buzzwords for the 1980s like yuppies and empty nesters.

As in previous years, music defined what is happening in the world. War protest songs were common in the 1940s with World War II and again in the 1970s with the Vietnam War. This holds true for the best 1980s music. With the beginning of music television in 1981, teens tuned-in on their TVs to watch music videos on MTV. Apropos to the start of MTV, the first video shown was “Video Killed The Radio Star” by the Buggles.

Similar song lists for further reading:

• 1980s love songs
• 1990s wedding songs
• 1990s love songs

Prosperity Brings In-Home Tech and Comedy

In the 1980s, tech came inside every home. Atari was replaced by Nintendo and Super Mario Brothers. Hip hop blared on ghetto blasters while kids enjoyed watching and trying to breakdance. Fluorescent tops and parachute pant-clad teens wanted music wherever they were. Music became mobile in teen society with ghetto blasters and the invention of the Walkman by Sony. We sure didn’t know we’d have to wait twenty years for the iPod.

Teens were entertained at the movies with blockbuster hits such as E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Comedy clubs rose in popularity in the 1980s and late-night TV shows like Saturday Night Live became mainstream. Comedy didn’t stay on the silver screen or during late-night television. Family sitcoms like The Cosby Show, Roseanne, and Family Ties became dinnertime entertainment.

Other popular TV shows included Dallas, Falcon Crest, and Dynasty. Eighties teens were also obsessed with Cabbage Patch Kids, Pac Man, and the invention of the compact disc (CD). For the first time, sales of vinyl were outranked by another medium — CDs (1988).

1980s Songs Were Fundraisers

The ’80s were a time of prosperity, yes, but also disruption. The Challenger Space Shuttle exploded on live TV while we all watched in school, Prince Charles married Diana — a non-royal, and Apple Computer released the Macintosh.

The Eighties saw the end of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, fuel prices went back down, and prosperity dominated this decade. Songs became fun and companies and people focused their attention on the world.

We saw this with the USA for Africa’s “We are the World. Even concert festivals became fundraising platforms in the 1980s with events like Farm Aid, Band-Aid, and Live Aid.

1980s Fun and Energetic Songs For Young And Old

The 1979 Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in Chicago was the beginning of new music styles in the 1980s. Born from the punk rock style music were New Wave and Synthpop. Bands such as The B52’s, Duran Duran, and Culture Club are considered New Wave.

Sub-genres of rock in roll sprouted in the 1980s with glam rock, heavy metal, and thrash metal. We commonly refer to many rock bands of the Best 1980s Music as hair bands. Long hair was back and much longer than the “long hair bands” of our parents’ generation.  Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, and Def Leppard were formidable 1980s mega-rock stars.

The change in music wasn’t limited to pop or rock. Rap quickly became mainstream and finally escaped urban centers. Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, and LL Cool J dominated the charts. In fact, Run-DMC was the first rap group to have an album become certified gold.

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