The 1980s, a decade synonymous with bold fashion, iconic movies, and a revolutionary music scene, gifted us with some of the most enduring love songs ever created. From heartfelt ballads to synth-pop anthems, these tracks became the soundtrack to countless romances, school discos, and late-night dedications. Let’s take a nostalgic journey back and explore some of the quintessential 1980s Love Songs that continue to resonate today.
1. Fat Larry’s Band – ‘Zoom’
Fat Larry’s Band’s ‘Zoom’ is a smooth, soulful ballad that perfectly encapsulates the slow-dance vibe of school discos in the 80s. This classic track, released in 1982, became their signature hit, climbing to number two in the UK charts. Sadly, the band’s frontman, Fat Larry James, passed away just a few years later, leaving behind a legacy marked by this unforgettable love song.
Fat Larry's Band performing their hit song Zoom in a music video from the 1980s
2. Madonna – ‘Crazy for You’
Before she was the global superstar, Madonna was on the cusp of fame when she recorded ‘Crazy for You’. This tender ballad, featured in the 1985 film Vision Quest, showcased a softer side to the rising pop icon and became one of her first major ballads. ‘Crazy for You’ solidified Madonna’s versatility and appeal, proving she could conquer the charts with both dance-pop hits and heartfelt love songs.
Madonna in a scene from the music video for her 1980s love song Crazy For You
3. Stevie Wonder – ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’
Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’ is perhaps one of the most globally recognized love songs of the 1980s. Released in 1984 for the film The Woman in Red, this track became Stevie Wonder’s biggest hit, topping charts in an astounding 19 countries. Its simple yet powerful message of love earned it both a Grammy and an Oscar for Best Song, cementing its place in music history as a timeless expression of affection.
Stevie Wonder singing I Just Called to Say I Love You in his iconic 1980s music video
4. REO Speedwagon – ‘Keep on Loving You’
REO Speedwagon’s ‘Keep on Loving You’ is a quintessential example of an 80s rock power ballad. It was among the first music videos to gain popularity on MTV, marking a significant moment in the visual era of music. The song’s emotional depth is rooted in personal experience: Kevin Cronin, the lead singer, penned it after discovering his wife’s past infidelity. Instead of ending the relationship, he chose to ‘keep on loving her,’ making it, in his words, “the most painful song I ever wrote.” Despite the raw emotion poured into the song, their marriage unfortunately did not last.
REO Speedwagon performing Keep On Loving You in a music video from the early 1980s
5. The Style Council – ‘You’re the Best Thing’
Following his punk rock days with The Jam, Paul Weller ventured into a more soulful musical territory with The Style Council. ‘You’re the Best Thing’, from their debut album, showcases this stylistic shift and is arguably their most beloved song. This romantic and upbeat tune is a testament to Weller’s evolving songwriting and the band’s sophisticated pop sound that defined a segment of 1980s British music.
Paul Weller of The Style Council performing the 1980s hit You're The Best Thing in a music video
6. Jennifer Rush – ‘The Power of Love’
Jennifer Rush’s ‘The Power of Love’ is an epic power ballad that achieved phenomenal success upon its release in 1985. It became the first million-selling single by a female solo artist in the UK and held the record for the best-selling single by a woman until Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ in 1992. The song’s dramatic vocals and soaring melody have made it a staple of 80s love songs, later famously covered by Celine Dion.
Jennifer Rush singing The Power Of Love in a music video from the mid-1980s
7. Madness – ‘It Must Be Love’
‘It Must Be Love’ is a song with an interesting history. Originally a 1971 hit for Labi Siffre, Madness revitalized the track in 1981 with their signature ska-infused energy, turning it into a massive hit once again. Siffre himself even made a cameo in Madness’s music video, playing the violin, in a nod to the song’s enduring appeal across different decades and genres. This cover demonstrated how a classic love song could be reimagined for a new generation while retaining its romantic core.
Madness performing their ska infused cover of It Must Be Love in a music video from the 1980s
8. Cyndi Lauper – ‘Time After Time’
‘Time After Time’ is one of Cyndi Lauper’s earliest singles and a defining 80s love song. Co-written with Rob Hyman of The Hooters, this ballad is celebrated for its heartfelt lyrics and Lauper’s distinctive vocals. The song’s inspiration came from shared experiences of relationship difficulties between Lauper and Hyman, making its themes of love and longing universally relatable. It has since become recognized as one of the decade’s most poignant and enduring love songs.
Cyndi Lauper in the music video for her hit 1980s love song Time After Time
9. Bangles – ‘Eternal Flame’
The Bangles’ ‘Eternal Flame’ is a classic power ballad co-written by Susanna Hoffs with seasoned songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The song’s inspiration is quite unique, drawing from two ‘eternal flames’: one at Elvis Presley’s Graceland gravesite and another at a synagogue in Palm Springs. Adding an interesting anecdote, Hoffs later revealed that she recorded the vocals completely naked, a prank orchestrated by producer Davitt Sigerson, adding a quirky layer to the song’s history.
The Bangles, including Susanna Hoffs, performing their 1980s love song Eternal Flame
10. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – ‘Endless Love’
‘Endless Love’ by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross is arguably one of the greatest duets of all time and certainly one of the most successful. Recorded for Motown and serving as the theme for the film adaptation of Scott Spencer’s Endless Love, the song eclipsed the movie’s success, becoming the second biggest-selling single of 1981. The combination of Ross’s and Richie’s iconic voices created a timeless love anthem that continues to be cherished.
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie performing their duet Endless Love in 1981
11. Soft Cell – ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’
Soft Cell’s ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’ is a song shrouded in interpretation, sparking debates about whether it depicts a simple breakup or a more profound story of self-discovery. Marc Almond, the lead singer, drew inspiration from his Soho surroundings in 1981, painting a vivid picture of Brewer Street in the rain, the Pink Piano bar, and the neon lights of the Raymond Revue Bar. This atmospheric backdrop provided the emotional core for this melancholic yet powerful 80s track.
Marc Almond of Soft Cell in the music video for Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, a 1980s love song
12. Spandau Ballet – ‘True’
‘True’ by Spandau Ballet is a ballad penned by Gary Kemp in his childhood bedroom at his parents’ house. The song is a tribute to Marvin Gaye, explicitly mentioned in the lyrics, and also reflects Kemp’s platonic relationship with Clare Grogan of Altered Images. ‘True’ became an anthem of sophisticated 80s romance, showcasing Spandau Ballet’s evolution from new wave to suave pop balladeers.
Spandau Ballet performing their iconic 1980s ballad True in a music video
13. Whitney Houston – ‘Saving All My Love for You’
‘Saving All My Love for You’ was initially a minor hit for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978, but Whitney Houston transformed it into a global sensation in 1985. When there was hesitation to release it as a single, Michael Masser, the co-writer, famously proposed a test: if women were moved to stand up during Whitney’s performance in a club, it would become the next single. The overwhelming reaction proved him right, launching another massive hit for Whitney and solidifying her status as a vocal powerhouse.
Whitney Houston performing Saving All My Love For You in a live performance from the 1980s
14. Lionel Richie – ‘Hello’
‘Hello’ is one of Lionel Richie’s most enduring hits, reaching number one in both the UK and US charts in 1984. Richie initially felt the song was “corny,” but his perspective shifted as he developed it, ultimately “falling in love with the song again.” The iconic music video, with its memorable clay bust, further contributed to the song’s lasting impact and popularity as a definitive 80s love ballad.
Lionel Richie in the iconic music video for his 1980s hit love song Hello
15. Bryan Adams – ‘Heaven’
Bryan Adams’ ‘Heaven’ first appeared on the soundtrack of the movie A Night in Heaven before being included on his Reckless album. Inspired by Journey’s ‘Faithfully’ after Adams toured with the band, ‘Heaven’ took time to climb the charts, reaching number one in the US a year and a half after its initial release. The song’s enduring appeal is evident in its later transformations, including a UK number one dance version by DJ Sammy in 2002, proving its adaptability across genres.
Bryan Adams performing his hit 1980s power ballad Heaven in a music video
16. U2 – ‘With or Without You’
From U2’s landmark album The Joshua Tree, ‘With or Without You’ explores Bono’s internal conflict between his life as a musician and his domestic life. This deeply personal song resonated globally, becoming one of U2’s biggest hits and reaching number one in the US in 1987. Its anthemic quality and emotional rawness cemented its place as a defining love song of the late 80s.
Bono of U2 performing With Or Without You in a live concert during the 1980s
17. Phil Collins – ‘Against All Odds’
Phil Collins’ ‘Against All Odds’ is the quintessential power ballad of heartbreak and longing. Written for the movie of the same name, the song’s lyrics express the plea of someone asking a former lover to “take a look at me now,” despite knowing reconciliation is unlikely. ‘Against All Odds’ reached number one in the US and has seen continued success through covers, including versions by Mariah Carey and Westlife, and X Factor winner Steve Brookstein, demonstrating its timeless emotional resonance.
Phil Collins in the music video for his 1980s hit power ballad Against All Odds
18. Foreigner – ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’
Foreigner’s ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ is the band’s biggest hit, reaching number one in both the UK and US. Mick Jones, the writer, describes the song as a divine gift, feeling it came from something “bigger than me.” Featuring keyboard work by Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins, this power ballad’s universal quest for love and understanding has made it a lasting anthem of the 1980s.
Foreigner performing I Want To Know What Love Is in a music video from the 1980s
19. ABBA – ‘The Winner Takes it All’
ABBA’s ‘The Winner Takes it All’ is a heartbreaking ballad that encapsulates the pain of divorce. While Bjorn Ulvaeus denies it’s specifically about his divorce from Agnetha Faltskog, he acknowledges it reflects the broader emotions surrounding separation. Famously, Agnetha sang this poignant breakup song, written by her ex-husband, shortly after their split, making it an intensely personal and powerful performance, which she later cited as her favorite ABBA song to perform.
Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA performing The Winner Takes It All in a 1980s music video
20. George Michael – ‘Careless Whisper’
‘Careless Whisper’ was the song that propelled George Michael into the spotlight as a serious artist beyond the pop exuberance of Wham!. Co-written with Andrew Ridgeley when they were just 17, the song draws inspiration from George Michael’s early romantic experiences. Released while he was still part of Wham!, ‘Careless Whisper’ topped charts globally, becoming an instant classic and a defining track of 80s romantic music.
George Michael in the music video for his solo hit 1980s love song Careless Whisper
These 1980s love songs are more than just music; they are cultural touchstones that evoke a decade of passion, drama, and unforgettable melodies. From tender ballads to powerful anthems, these tracks continue to capture the hearts of listeners and remain essential additions to any romantic playlist. They stand as a testament to the enduring power of love and the timeless appeal of 1980s music.
