Music of the 80s
The music of the 80s means synth-pop and new wave, MTV megastars like Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince, arena rock and hair metal, the golden age of hip hop, and the birth of house and techno. Stream 2,922 songs from the decade free, sorted into twelve playlists, or start with the best 80s songs.
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Music of the 80s: The Decade at a Glance
What 80s music sounds like
The music of the 80s was shaped by new machines. Affordable synthesizers like the Yamaha DX7 and drum machines like the LinnDrum and Roland TR-808 turned up on almost every kind of record, from synth-pop to hip hop to country. Producers loved big, echoing "gated reverb" drums, first made famous by Phil Collins in 1981, and huge singalong choruses built for radio.
MTV, the Walkman and the CD
MTV launched on August 1, 1981, and within a few years a great video could make a star. Michael Jackson's Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, Madonna and Prince turned every release into an event, and British bands like Duran Duran and Culture Club broke in America through heavy rotation.
People listened differently too. The Sony Walkman made music portable, the compact disc arrived in 1982, and in July 1985 Live Aid was watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people around the world.
Every genre had its moment
80s music was wildly varied. Pop megastars ruled the charts on the 80s pop songs page, while guitar bands filled stadiums in 80s rock and roll. Synthesizers defined 80s new wave, college radio built 80s alternative music, and rap grew from block parties to the charts in 80s hip hop.
Nashville went pop and then back to its roots in 80s country music, Chicago and Detroit invented house and techno in 80s dance music, and soul singers and funk bands made 80s R&B. For the smoothest sounds of the decade, try yacht rock, and for the slow dances, 80s love songs.
Where to start
New here? Start with the best 80s songs, the essential tracks from every genre, or press play on the 80s hits mix for the decade's biggest singalongs back to back. To mix your own, use the playlist builder. Every song plays free through the official YouTube player, and you can read how we choose the songs.