Playlist: The Ladies of the 80s
The 1980s was a big decade for music. It kicked off with people being fed up with disco and ended after giving birth to hip hop, new wave, pop metal, alternative rock, synth pop, thrash metal, house music and MTV.
MTV became an incredible vehicle for artists to get their music out to the masses in the 80s and ended up making and/or breaking the careers of many. When people think about the music of this decade they undoubtedly think of bands that were played on MTV.
And while much of the spotlight was taken by male-centric bands who dressed like girls, female artists made gigantic contributions to popular music during the decade.
For this playlist I wanted to focus on some of the most influential female musicians to make a mark in the 1980's. So you won't find Michael Jackson, Poison or Run DMC, but you will find 40 artists whose contributions are critically important -- and every one is a female solo artist or a band with a female member.
Hopefully this playlist brings back some great memories while highlighting the contributions of women in music during the 80s.
Please add and any female artists I missed to the comments.
Ladies of the 80s Playlist
2. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
3. We Got The Beat - The Go-Go's
5. Cities In Dust - Siouxsie & The Banshees
6. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
7. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
9. Middle Of The Road - The Pretenders
11. I Want Your (Hands On Me) - Sinead O'Connor
14. Never Say Never - Romeo Void
15. I Hate Myself For Loving You - Joan Jett
17. What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
19. Don't Go - Yaz
21. Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday
22. I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
23. So Emotional - Whitney Houston
24. Alone - Heart
25. Only The Lonely - The Motels
27. Los Angeles - X
28. Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
29. Don't You Want Me - Human League
30. Walk Like An Egyptian - The Bangles
31. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
32. Kids In America - Kim Wilde
33. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks
"Cruel Summer" by Bananarama
All fabulous musicians from that decade!