1985: The Most Requested 80s Songs For Your Wedding Playlist

08 July 2021

Back in 2004, the rock band SR-71 would write and record a song called 1985. That same year, Wichita Falls, TX natives, Bowling For Soup would cover that same song and make it a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Adult Top 40 charts. Paul McCartney & Wings recorded a song for their 1973 album Band On The Run titled 1985. I had to do a little deeper dive on McCartney's behind reasoning of the song and could not seem to find a clear meaning. I suppose Paul thought somehow that no one would be around in 1985 with lyrics like "No one ever left alive in nineteen hundred and eighty-five. While I don't really know what Paul was going for when he wrote that song, I can tell you that there were lots of people "alive" in 1985 and a lot of those people were creating songs that would provide with us another year of some of the best 80s music. Yes! If you are just hitting my website and are a modern bride or groom for some of the best in 80s music for your wedding playlist, get buckled in and get ready to time warp back to the year 1985. Putting some of the best 80s music on your wedding reception playlist will go very far with increasing the amount of fun you and your guests will have on the biggest day of your life.

1985 was the year of the first Live Aid concert. It was also a year where Mexico City would experience a crushing earthquake that would kill 9,000. Coca-Cola would release a new version of it's popular beverage, simply titled "New Coke". Numerous artists would collaborate to try to find the famine in Africa with "We Are The World". Global warming was not on the minds of people in the winte rof 1985 (at least for the eastern United States) as that area of the country saw some one of the coldest winters ever. The very first Nintendo Gaming System would be released in October of 1985 with the classic "Super Mario Bros" becoming one of the most popular games of 1986.

Popular Movies Of 1985
"Rocky IV"
"A View To A Kill"
"The Color Purple"
"Cocoon"
"Out Of Africa"
"Back To The Future"

Born In 1985
Bruno Marrs
Gal Gadot
J Balvin
Ciara
Carly Rae Jepsen
Chrissy Teigen
J Cole
Lana Del Ray

1985 Fun Facts
Average Monthly Rent: $375.00
Movie Ticket Price: $2.75
Postage Stamp: 22 cents
New Car Price: $9,000
Gallon Of Gas: $1.09

Download These Songs From 1985 NOW By Heading Over To My Spotify Profile
You can go back to 1985 as well as other years of the 80s by heading over to my Spotify profile. Since 2020, I put in the extra effort for my clients and created a Spotify profile that is not only fun, but also one that allows for wedding playlist inspiration. Learn more about my Spotify profile right now by clicking over to this link now.

"Take On Me" | A-Ha
A-Ha would first record this iconic 80s song in 1984, only to produce it again for their 1985 album Hunting High and Low. The music video would win numerous awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards and would be converted to 4K video. "Take On Me" would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Crazy For You" | Madonna
Vision Quest was another memorable movie released in 1985. "Crazy for You" would be produced by the great DJ and producer John "Jellybean" Benitez, and wouldn't be the last time these two would work together. Released in March of 1985, "Crazy For You" would make it all the way to #1 on the Hot 100. For more of the Best Madonna Songs For Your Wedding Playlist <----CLICK HERE

"Everybody Wants To Rule The World" | Tears For Fears
In 1985, there'd be a radio station launched in my hometown that would feature a lot of adult contemporary songs of the 80s. For more of the best Soft Rock Songs Of The 80s, <----Click HERE. "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" would be released in the spring of 1985 and make it all the way to Number 1 in June 1985 on the Hot 100, as well as #2 on the AC chart.

"We Built This City" | Starship
Rolling Stone Magazine would rate this song as one of the worst in the 80s on a poll in 2011, but I've actually gotten requests for this song by previous clients. It's just my humble opinion, but the music video didn't do the song any justice, but then again it was the 80s and a lot of the music videos were forgettable. "We Built This City" would enter the Hot 100 on September 7, 1985 (my 12th birthday) and peak at #1 in America, Australia, and Canada.

"The Power Of Love" | Huey Lewis & The News
Without even looking at a list of the most popular movies of 1985, I can tell you that Back To The Future was one of the biggest of the year. Huey Lewis & The News would record and release a song that would become one of the biggest of the 80s. "The Power Of Love" would hit the Hot 100 on June 29, 1985 and make it all the way to Number 1 later that year. For more of The Best Songs OF The 80s For Your Wedding <---Click HERE

"Cherish" | Kool & The Gang
As the 80s began, Kool & The Gang were riding high with what used to be one of the most popular wedding songs (Celebration). As the 80s wore on, Kool & The Gang would release their album Emergency in 1984. "Cherish" would be the 3rd single to be released from the album and would enter the Hot 100 during the summer of 1985. The song would peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Heaven" | Bryan Adams
At a recent wedding, I'd play a version of this truly beautiful wedding song that Bryan Adams did at MTV Unplugged. 1985 would become one of the biggest years in the career of Bryan Adams when he would release his album Reckless. "Heaven" would make it all the way to #1 on the Hot 100 and become one of my favorite soft rock songs of the 80s to play during dinner for a lot of my clients. Almost every time I've played this song, I've had someone approach me thanking me for playing it.

"Everything She Wants" | Wham
In 1984, Wham would release the album Make It Big and that is exactly what they would do in 1985. "Everything She Wants" would hit in the Hot 100 in March of 1985. I remember hearing it on a new soft rock station in my hometown during that time. "Everything She Wants" would make it all the way to #1 on the Hot 100 and stay there for 2 weeks.

"Oh Sheila" | Ready For The World
Ready For The World were an R&B band out of Detroit that would burst onto the scene in 1984 with a few Top 10 R&B songs. In 1985, they would crossover from the R&B charts over to the Hot 100 with "Oh Sheila". "Oh Sheila" would enter the Hot 100 chart in August of 1985 and spend 21 weeks there, peaking at #1.

"Rhythm Of The Night" | Debarge
Debarge were an R&B act out of Detroit that saw a lot of success throughout the 80s, on both the R&B, as well as the AC and Hot 100 charts. Written by one of my favorite songwriters (Diane Warren), "Rhythm of The Night" was released in February of 1985 and would peak at #3 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Sea Of Love" | The Honeydrippers
After Led Zeppelin broke up in the days after the death of John Bonham, Robert Plant would be involved in several musical projects. One of those side projects were The Honeydrippers, which actually included Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. "Sea Of Love" was also featured on my Best Cover Songs For Your Wedding Playlist <---Click HERE. "Sea Of Love" would be released at the end of 1984 and would peak at #3 on the Hot 100 in early 1985.

"We Belong" | Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar began the 80s by producing some of the most iconic 80s rock songs like "You Better Run", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", and "Love Is A Battlefield". Since it's your wedding day, hopefully there won't be any "battlefields" because the both of you do "belong" together. "We Belong" was released at the end of 1984 and would peak at #5 on the Hot 100 in early 1985.

"Sussudio" | Phil Collins
The 80s might have been one of the busiest decades for Phil Collins. Not only was Genesis one of the most popular bands, but Phil Collins would break away and began a tremendously successful solo career. "Sussudio" would break into the Hot 100 in May 1985 and make it all the way to Number 1 making it a huge song for the dance clubs during the summer of 1985.

"Raspberry Beret" | Prince
As I put together this post about some of The Best Songs Of 1985, we're at almost 5 years, 3 months since the passing of Prince. It has not gotten any easier. In 1985, Prince & The Revolution would release the album Around The World In A Day.

"One Night In Bangkok" | Murray Head
And we've now reached the One-Hit Wonder portion of this fantastic post about the best songs from 1985 for your wedding playlist. Chess is a musical produced by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA and would feature this 80s one hit wonder by Murray Head. "One Night In Bangkok" would enter the Hot 100 chart in February 1985 and make it all the way to #3 later in the year. For more of the Top 80s One Hit Wonders For Your Wedding Playlist <----Click HERE

"Head Over Heels" | Tears For Fears
The second and final Tears For Fears song on this selection of the top songs from 1985 for your wedding playlist is a personal favorite and will probably be added into my 80s Love Songs post when it's put together. If you ever found yourself lusting over a librarian, you might be able to relate to this video. "Head Over Heels" would be the third single from Songs From The Big Chair to be released in 1985. The song would eventually peak at #3 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Be Near Me" | ABC
British new wave band ABC would release their album How To Be A Zillionaire in 1985. "Be Near Me" would be the second song to be released from the album peaking at #9 on the Hot 100, and #1 on the Hot Dance chart.

"Summer of '69" | Bryan Adams
And the second track on this playlist of some of the most popular songs from 1985 for your wedding playlist happens to be one of The Most Requested Songs For Wedding Playlists <---Click HERE "Summer of '69" would be released during the summer of 1985 and not only become a Top 5 song, but also one of the many signature songs for the amazing career of Bryan Adams.

"Lay Your Hands On Me" | Thompson Twins
Seeing this playlist has inspired me to put together a British Invasion Of The 80s post. The Thompson Twins were another British new wave band who would release the album Here's To Future Days at the end of 1984. "Lay Your Hands On Me" would enter the Hot 100 in September 1985 and peak at #6.

"Some Like It Hot" | The Power Station
At some point in 1985, members of Duran Duran began to do other side projects. The Taylor brothers joined Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson, drummer of the band Chic. "Some Like It Hot" would be their first single and would hit the Hot 100 in March of 1985 and peak into the Top 10 at #6.

"California Girls" | David Lee Roth
After David Lee Roth would leave Van Halen, he'd release an EP titled Crazy From The Heat, which featured this cover of The Beach Boys. This song,which features a music video of hot California girls was released during the winter of 1985 and would peak at #3 on the Hot 100.

"All She Wants To Do Is Dance" | Don Henley
After the Eagles broke up in the early 80s, Don Henley would embark on a very successful solo career. "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" can be found on the album Building The Perfect Beast, released in 1984. It's the follow-up to one of Don Henley's signature songs with "The Boys Of Summer". Released in February of 1985, "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" would peak at #9 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Don't You Forget About Me" | Simple Minds
And this next song makes me think about 80s Alternative Cocktail Hour Playlist, I put together a few years ago. If you are a fan of classic, coming of age movies in the 80s, you've got to head over to Amazon and buy The Breakfast Club. "Don't You Forget About Me" was the first single by Simple minds to enter the Hot 100 in February 1985. The song would make it all the way to Number 1.

"Can't Fight This Feeling" | REO Speedwagon
I just got to see REO Speedwagon on a 4th of July special on CNN and they did not miss a beat for a bunch of guys in their late 60s and early 70s. "Can't Fight This Feeling" is a definitely a song for the love / power ballad category. If you are a huge fan of 80s and 90s Power Ballads, <---Click HERE. "Can't Fight This Feeling" would be making for some excellent makeout sessions at the end of dates in the winter of 1985 and would become REO Speedwagon's second Number 1 hit.

"Walking On Sunshine" | Katrina & The Waves
Originating from Cambridge, England, Katrina & The Waves would release their biggest song in March of 1985. "Walking On Sunshine" is also featured on my Best Pre-Wedding Playlist For Modern Brides <---Click HERE "Walking On Sunshine" would break into the Hot 100 in March 1985 and peak at #9 later in the year.

"Freeway Of Love" | Aretha Franklin
At the time of the publication of this post, we're approaching the 3 year anniversary of the passing of Aretha Franklin. For more of the Best Songs From Aretha Franklin For Your Wedding Playlist <---CLICK HERE "Freeway Of Love" hit the charts in the summer of 1985 and become one of the biggest songs of that summer, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100.

"I Was Born To Love You" | Freddie Mercury
I added this Freddie Mercury song into this selection of songs from 1985 because of Mercury's truly epic and iconic performance at Live Aid. If you have not seen his performance, you've got to click this link. "I Was Born To Love You" was only one of two songs by Freddie Mercury (as a solo artist) to enter the Hot 100. The song would only manage a #76 mark on the Hot 100.

"You Give Good Love" | Whitney Houston
1985 would be the year that Whitney Houston's career would literally explode! "You Give Good Love" would be the first single of her career to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. You can also find the song on my Playlist Of The Best Whitney Houston Songs For Weddings <--Click HERE "You Give Good Love" would make it all the way to Number 3 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Axel F" | Harold Faltermeyer
Ah yes! One of the great instrumental songs that was used in one of the most popular police movies of the 80s. "Axel F" appeared on the Beverly Hills Cop Soundtrack, which starred Eddie Murphy. The song would hit the Hot 100 in March of 1985 and would make it all the way to Number 3.

"A View To A Kill" | Duran Duran
In 1985, another James Bond movie would be released and titled A View To A Kill. Duran Duran would record a song that would become one of their most successful songs. "A View To A Kill" would be released in May 1985 and become a Number 1 song on the Hot 100.

Getting Married And Need To Hire A Top Wedding DJ?
And the time warp back to 1985 has come to a close. I hope you have enjoyed this trip back to one of the absolute greatest decades in music; the 80s. So, here we are in 2021 and if you are looking to sit down with a wedding DJ who takes a much different approach to your wedding music, you have come to the right place. I am a professional wedding DJ, who when hired, dedicates the entire day of your wedding to making sure it's one of the best days of your life. YOUR wedding day deserves a laser focus like no other wedding DJ can provide you, which is one of the things that separates me from the other typical wedding DJs. Thank you so much for finding this blog. I spend a lot of time putting together the content for this blog so that I can educate modern brides and grooms on how to find the best wedding DJ that fits them as a couple. If you are interested in setting up a time to speak with me, please click the Contact link and you'll be taken over to a contact form to fill out some basic details. For more information on why you should strongly consider hiring me to be your wedding DJ, click the link down below.

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