1989 In Music: Top 80s Songs For Your Wedding Playlist

You do not have to go far as you travel around this blog or in other areas of my website to know that the music of the 80s is one of my most cherished decades of music.  If you are a modern bride or groom who just randomly landed on this page, the odds are pretty high that you and your fiance are seeking out some of the best songs of the 80s for your wedding playlist.  It was the biggest hits of the 80s that I played on the radio when I got my initial start as a DJ.  Over the years, I got to spend countless hours in doing show prep and research for practically every song I would play during my show.  1989 would mark the end of the 80s and another amazing year of what would become some of most iconic music. Some of the iconic songs you'll see on this selection of songs are still requested today by a lot of my clients. If you are a couple who is interested in adding some great 80s songs into your wedding playlist, you'll want to read on and see how much amazing music from 1989 you can add into your wedding playlist

FUN FACTS FROM 1989
 Back in the summer of 1989, we'd see the release of  the very first Batman movie, where Prince would record an amazing soundtrack. In January of 1989, George H.W Bush would become president, and shortly thereafter the Exxon Valdez incident would occur, which would become one of the worst oil spills in history. By the fall of 1989, the Berlin Wall would crumble, and only a few short years later, the Soviet Union would collapse. And last, but not least, pop star Taylor Swift would be born on December 13, 1989.

Download These Top Songs From 1989 For Your Wedding Playlist From Spotify NOW
Modern brides and grooms tend to live a fast paced lifestyle with their careers. They are tech savvy and often discover new music from streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music. Over the past few years, I've moved all of my playlists over to Spotify so that couples can visit my profile to gain inspiration on how to put together the music for their most special wedding day. After you finish reviewing the songs on this post, feel free to head over to Spotify and do a search for DJ Mike Bills. 

"Right Here Waiting" | Richard Marx
Back in August of 2019, long before COVID 19 would put a halt on live music, I got to see Richard Marx at the Charleston Music Hall. He was truly incredible.  "Right Here Waiting" would be the second song to be released from his 1989 album, Repeat Offender.  The song would become one of the biggest songs back in the summer of 1989 and would peak at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  For more of the best soft rock songs of the 80s, <----Click HERE

"Blame It On The Rain" | Milli Vanilli
You know I might be in the minority, but I really Milli Vanilli. There are some people who love their 80s music but don't take Milli Vanilli seriously.   1989 was the single biggest year in their career. "Blame It On The Rain" would debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1989 after a summer of Milli Vanilli on the radio. The song would peak at #1 on the Hot 100 and would become their last #1.

"Forever Your Girl" | Paula Abdul
At the latter part of 1988,  this former Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader would release the first single from her album Forever Your Girl. You might remember the music video featured Arsenio Hall in it. The title track to this album would be the second single to be released to radio and would peak at #1 on the Hot 100. Her chart success in 1989 would mark the beginning of a great pop music career, and one of The Best Ladies Of 80s Music. <---Click HERE for more women of 80s music.

"Eternal Flame" | The Bangles
The end of the 80s would mark the end of The Bangles on the Billboard Hot 100. This wonderful love song of the 80s would be the second to the last song by The Bangles on the Hot 100 and would peak at #1 in the spring of 1989.

"Love Shack" | The B-52s
This signature song from the B-52s would hit the Billboard Hot 100 in early September 1989 and would peak at #3. "Love Shack" would become one of the most requested songs by my clients over the years. 

"Bust A Move" | Young MC
80s and 90s Rap remains in high demand by modern brides and grooms.  You can find this signature song on this popular 80s rapper on his album Stone Cold Rhymin'. "Bust A Move" would peak at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Like A Prayer" | Madonna
Do you remember how I mentioned some of the songs you'd see on this selection of songs would be iconic? "Like A Prayer" is one of those songs. Madonna would end the 80s on top of the world. "Like A Prayer" was considered controversial upon its release, mostly because of it's music video, but would become one of Madonna's signature songs. For more of the Best Madonna Songs For Your Wedding Playlist, <--Click HERE. "Like A Prayer" would peak at #1 on the Hot 100 in April 1989.

"Angel Eyes" | Jeff Healey Band
Originally written by John Hiatt, Jeff Healey would record and release the song in the summer of 1989. This beautiful and romantic love song would eventually peak at #5 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Funky Cold Medina" | Tone Loc
Hip-hop from the 80s is still in high demand by a lot of my brides and grooms.  Back in the 80s, one of the most popular adult beverages was the "fuzzy navel". It was said that The Beastie Boys called fuzzy navels, a "cold medina".  "Funky Cold Medina" would be released in March of 1989 and peak at #3 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Love Song" | The Cure
For those brides and grooms who are into their alternative and Goth music, The Cure is probably going to be added into their wedding playlist.  "Love Song" would become the only song by The Cure to break into the Top 10 on the Hot 100. The song would later be covered by 311 in 2004 for the movie 50 First Dates, as well as by Adele.

"Shower Me With Your Love" | Surface
Adding this song into this playlist of the best songs of 1989 for your wedding playlist has reminded me to put together an 80s R&B and soul playlist. "Shower Me With Your Love" would be released in June of 1989 and would peak at #5 on the Hot 100.

"Heaven Help Me" | Deon Estus
Deon Estus served as the bass player for Wham and would release his album Spell in 1989. "Heaven Help Me" would be the first single to be released off the album and would peak at #3 on the adult contemporary chart. The gentle, laid back, and even romantic texture to this song  is perfect for a cocktail hour or dinner music at your wedding.

"She Drives Me Crazy" | Fine Young Cannibals
The Fine Young Cannibals would release their The Raw And The Cooked at the very end of 1988. "She Drives Me Crazy" would be the first single to be released and would peak at #1 on the Hot 100 in April of 1989.

"Cherish" | Madonna
If you watch the video for this song, you might see that it's the perfect song to throw into your wedding playlist, especially if your cocktail hour is going to be held by the beach or the waterfront here in Charleston. "Cherish" would be the 3rd song to be released from her Like A Prayer album in August of 1989. "Cherish" would peak at #1 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Back To Life" | Soul II Soul 
The late 80s saw some of the best dance music released to radio and began a golden era of dance. Soul II Soul would release their album Keep On Movin in 1989, and "Back To Life" would be the second song to break on the radio.  For more of The Best Era Of Dance Music, <---Click HERE. "Back To Life" would peak at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Wind Beneath My Wings" | Bette Midler
The song was originally written in the early 80s and would be sung by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1983. Lou Rawls would also record his version of the song but it would be Bette Midler who would score a #1 on the Hot 100 in the spring of 1989 when it was released from the movie soundtrack for Beaches.   "Wind Beneath My Wings" has been a popular choice for the father-daughter dance in recent years.

"Baby Don't Forget My Number" | Milli Vanilli
1989 was the single biggest year in the career for Milli Vanilli. "Baby Don't Forget My Number" would enter the Billboard Hot 100 at the end of April in 1989 and would eventually peak at #1.

"When I See You Smile" | Bad English
Bad English was formed in 1987 by John Waite with some of the members of Journey (Jonathan Cain & Neal Schon).  "When I See You Smile" would peak at #1 on the Hot 100 in 1989 and become one of the most popular power ballads of the 80s. 

"After All" | Peter Cetera & Cher
Peter Cetera had a successful solo career and Cher was also seeing a surge in her career in the late 80s. "After All" served as the love theme for the movie Chances Are. The song was released in the winter of 1989 and would peak at #1 on the adult contemporary chart.

"Pump Up The Jam" | Technotronic
Technotronic originated from Belgium and would play a huge role in the late 80s and early 90s as it pertained to dance music of that era. Released in the fall of 1989, "Pump Up The Jam" would peak at #2 in early 1990.

"Lost In Your Eyes" | Debbie Gibson
At the time of this post, Debbie Gibson had just recently turned 50 years old! While that is NOT old at all, she was 18 when this ballad of hers would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Don't Know Much" | Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville
"Don't Know Much" is one of the most beautiful soft rock songs from the 80s.  Released in September of 1989, the song would peak at #2 on the Hot 100, as well as #1 on the adult contemporary chart.  For more of the Most Popular Soft Rock Songs Of The 80s, <----Click HERE.

"I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" | New Kids On The Block
I can tell you back in 1989 I was a freshman and this song made all of my female classmates sigh and swoon over this very popular boy band of the 80s. <---Click HERE for more songs from popular boy bands. "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" was released in the spring of 1989 and would be all over the radio during that summer, which served as the perfect backdrop for summer crushes. The song would peak at #1 on the Hot 100.

"Good Thing" | Fine Young Cannibals
I love this song! It's got a great beat to it, and might be perfect for an upbeat 80s cocktail hour.  <---Click HERE for an 80s cocktail hour playlist. "Good Thing" was released in April of 1989 and would peak at #1 during the summer of 1989.

"The Look" | Roxette
If not for a foreign exchange student who brought this song back to a program director in Minnesota, we may not have ever seen the explosion of Roxette's career.  "The Look" would peak at #1 on the Hot 100 chart.

Looking To Speak With Mike Bills About Being Your Wedding DJ?
Wow. Wasn't 1989 an incredible year of music in the 80s? So much great stuff to listen to as you begin to put together the playlist for your upcoming wedding. If you really are a couple who is into their 80s music, you might also check out The Best Songs From 1986, as well as The Best Songs From 1987 for your wedding playlist.  I hope you enjoyed this look back at the music of the last year of the 80s.  I would very much like to speak with you about your wedding. If you'd like to set up a time to speak to me about me being your wedding DJ, please click on the link up above and provide some of the basic details and we'll set up a time at your earliest convenience to talk. I look forward to speaking with you about your big day.