My Favorite Decade For Pop Rock Songs Is The Eighties

When I look over a list of 80's songs ( for example, the AOL's Top 500 ) I have about a 95% "familiarity" rate, meaning if I read  the title of a song, I can hear it playing in my head. This was mostly because my workplace in the eighties had a radio station playing contemporary rock all day through the PA system, so it was hard to miss a new tune. Also I remember that in the nineties I would often play the eighties stations. Even today on cable or satellite radio, when not listening to talk radio, I will gravitate towards the eighties channels.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a musicologist; but when I think of eighties rock I think "big sound". Loud and lyrical. Big percussion, loud guitars, turn up the volume...

If any tune ( in my mind, anyway ) heralded the "big sound" of the eighties it is the supergroup Asia's "Heat Of The Moment".. Just take the group Journey's best, and ratch it up a few notches ( or turn it up a few decibels or whatever) for that big ( and loud ) sound --- that's the eighties ( to me, anyway ). This followed by my actual two rock favorites of the decade, Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" and Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" ... Enjoy, and I know you have your own favorites !

Asia - "Heat Of The Moment" - 1982

Bon Jovi - "Livin' On A Prayer" - 1986

Guns N' Roses - "Sweet Child O' Mine" - 1987