DAILY DIRT: The music of love blossoms in the ’80s with a visual accent

July 30, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

Ann and Nancy Wilson are the face of "Heart". — Wikipedia

DAILY DIRT for July 30, 2025

Today’s powerhouse Top 10 love-laden entries feature a wide variety of hitmakers, ranging from Heart to the Pet Shop Boys … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,357 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Music in the 1980s left its mark for a number of reasons.

Much of the imprint it established was due to the influence — and rise of — of MTV, which totally changed how music was accepted and experienced. The visual aspect(s) that became attached to songs changed the game forever.

The 1980s also produced a wealth of all-time talent, headed by the emergence of Michael Jackson as a solo artist, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Prince and a host of others. The music of the decade successfully blended pop, punk, electronic, metal and even country. There were as many popular genres as there were popular artists.

Selecting our top 10 love songs from this decade was no easy task, but would I let you down? Today’s love songs join those from the 1970s (Tuesday) and 1960s (Monday). The 1990s on Thursday and our generational top 10 on Friday will close this week’s Daily Dirt tribute to the music of amore.

1. “Alone”, Heart (1987): A version of this magnificent power ballad was originally heard in a failed 1980’s TV show called “Dreams” that stared John Stamos and Jamie Gertz. (On a side note, Heart’s “Alone” video also remains on the best from this tremendous decade.)

2. “Hungry Eyes,” Eric Carmen (1987): I’m not sure what is harder to believe, that the movie this song is from, “Dirty” Dancing,” was 38 years ago or that Carmen is no longer with us. Carmen, who died in March 2024, was a legendary figure in the northeastern Ohio area where I spent the first half of my life. (Note: Carmen just missed our 1970s rankings with “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” (1976) and “All By Myself” (1976).)

3. “Blame it on the Rain,” Milli Vanilli (1989): Yes, Rob and Fab never sang on those Milli Vanilli classics, but without them those videos would have never had the same impact. Girl, you know it’s true.

4. “Stuck on You,” Lionel Richie (1983): Simple, but with a quiet kind of elegance. The perfect love song.

5. “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” Tina Turner (1984): The anchor of her classic “Private Dancer” album. I have believed for decades that Tina and Sir Rod Stewart should have teamed up for a duo at some point. It would have been legendary.

6. “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You,” Milli Vanilli (1989): The third of three straight No. 1 songs.

7. “Take My Breath Away,” Berlin (1986): Lead singer Terri Nunn is best known for this song, the love theme from the original “Top Gun” film, but she also appeared in numerous network TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s.

8. “Always On My Mind,” Pet Shop Boys (1987): Elvis did not have the only quality version of this classic. I actually prefer the Pet Shop Boys’ disco-esque version of the chorus.

9. “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” Stevie Wonder (1984): The song was written for the movie “The Woman in Red,” and ended up winning a Grammy and Oscar for Best Song.

10-tie. “Take on Me,” a-Ha (1985): I’ve talked about this video before, but I’d like to reiterate it might just be the No. 1 video of the decade.

10-tie. “The Power of Love,” Huey Lewis and the News (1985): The best from one of the supergroups of the ’80s.

10-tie. “Saving All My Love For You,” Whitney Houston (1985): Whitney’s breakout year was 1985. It’s still hard to accept we’ll never again hear any new music from her.

10-tie.. “I Want to Know What Love Is,” Foreigner: Surprisingly, this song was Foreigner’s lone No. 1 hit.

Underrated: “Listen to Your Heart,” Roxette (1989): Not only one great song after another, but highly entertaining videos.

Well worth mentioning: “Glory of Love,” Peter Cetera (1986); “Up Where We Belong,” Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker; “Eternal Flame,” Bangles; “True,” Spandau Ballet; “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Bonnie Tyler;

“(I Just) Died in Your Arms,” Cutting Crew; “Girl You Know It’s True,” Milli Vanilli; “My Heart Can’t Tell You No,” Sir Rod Stewart (1988); “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Michael Jackson; “Lady in Red,” Chris de Burgh (1986); “Human Nature,” Michael Jackson (1983).

2. Did you know (Part 441)

That in early outlines for “The Empire Strikes Back” movie, Yoda was named “Buffy”.
That Bon Scott (the lead singer of AC/DC) died in London in February 1980. The official cause of death was “acute alcohol poisoning” and “death by misadventure”. Brian Johnson was named as the new lead singer in April of the same year.
That Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham died in September 1980, and the band disbanded three months later.
That Toni Basil was 38 years old when she recorded the famous “Mickey” song/video.
That in January 1982, Ozzy Osbourne bit off a bat’s head on stage in Iowa in the USA – he thought that it was a rubber bat. He was also arrested in the same year for urinating on The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.