23 Best Songs From 1986

13.  “The Rain” by Oran “Juice” Jones

Oran Jones had a one-time hit with this song. His song was extremely popular in the R&B community. The song brought back old-school R&B or soul music at a time when hip-hop and rap were blowing up the music scene.

The song begins with a nice R&B tempo that makes you think it's going to be a lovely romantic song. However, the lyrics speak of a man seeing his loved one with another.

He talks about how he is very upset over this failed relationship and unfaithful partner. The best, or the most popular part of the song, is toward the end when the man/singer starts to talk or rap his confrontation to his lover.

He explains how he was so upset and was about to commit murder but remained cool and decided to remove everything she owned in the house and cancel credit cards. He explains or confronts her about how he did everything for her and was always there for her.

14.  “Nasty” by Janet Jackson

Another 1986 hit for Janet Jackson during her solo career, this song expresses not only her independence but a break from her perceived wholesome image.

Janet Jackson wanted to establish her independence and image. This tune is upbeat and will have you dancing. The lyrics convey that the girl is not what people think she is despite her image or reputation.

15.  “Tender Love” by Force MDs

During the rise of rap music and the hip-hop culture, many groups came out with names that linked them to the hip-hop culture – the Force M.Ds were one such group.

The group was made up of five men from New York. Although their name was often connected to the hip-hop movement, this song was not hip-hop but a romantic love song.

The song is a beautiful R&B ballad that showcased the vocal talent of a group that mirrored hip-hop but sounded like the acapella groups from the 1950s and 1960s.

The tune is slow and romantic, filled with beautiful lyrics.  The song is about the love between two people – tender, sweet love that surrenders. This song would often be played as a wedding song.

16. “That's What Friends Are For” by Dionne & Friends Featuring Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder

This memorable song from 1986 by four of the top singers in the music industry is a beautiful collaboration of exceptional talent by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. The quartet of melodic voices made this song what it was.

The song begins with the harmonica played by Stevie Wonder and singing by Dionne Warwick's smooth, soulful voice.

The lyrics are encouraging and uplifting, a constant reminder of the importance of true friends and friendships. Our friends are for uplifting us, being there for us, comforting us, and enjoying our lives.

17.  “Never As Good As The First Time” by Sade

This song is by Sade, an inspiring artist from the 1980s who made her debut on the world music scene with this song. The song reached the Top 100 Billboard chart in 1986. The singer has a unique sound that displays her strong African roots you can hear in this song.

This song has a mixture of African beats and pop music – a great combination. The lyrics speak of a romance built on first-time experiences. It's never as good as the first time reminds the singer of a feeling that can never go away but can never be duplicated.

18.  “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin

Probably one of the most popular songs of 1986, this song is a beautiful melody about love. Although the group has the name of a city in Germany, they hail from America, California, to be precise.

The song has a tune that's very catchy and soothing. The lyrics are about what true love can do to someone – it can make them feel like their breath is truly taken away.

The female singer's voice is alluring and hypnotic. The song also became a hit as part of the first Top Gun movie soundtrack.

19.  “Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna

One of the superstars of the 1980s, along with Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston, Madonna rose to stardom with simple songs that described real-life situations. This song is one of those songs.

Madonna's eccentric style is captivating, but she tuned it down a bit with this song which speaks about a young lady who refused to give up her relationship with a boyfriend and have an abortion despite her father's objection.

She explained to her father – please don't preach. The song tells of a story so many have experienced.

20. “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles

Another popular song by this popular female band of the 1980s, the Bangles held back no punches. The group's style, music, and lyrics showed they could compete with any male rock group, from singing to playing instruments. There is a strong guitar presence throughout the song.

This song is an upbeat dance tune. The lyrics are basic and pretty catchy. But what caused the song to become so popular was the title and the dance move that came from it. People were walking like Egyptians every time the song played.

21.  “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel hails from England. He was once the lead singer of the popular band Genesis. After he left, Phil Collins became the lead singer of that group.

Gabriel went on to a solo career. Solo careers became popular in the 1980s. Before the 1980s, groups, and bands were popular. More groups or bands were playing together before the 1980s.

Sometime during the 1980s, solo careers became prevalent. Peter Gabriel's major hit was this song that spoke about relationships that cause one to fall in love in such a way that they don't mind being used as a sledgehammer that smashes all the difficulties of someone's life. The tune is catchy. and the beat makes the song easy to dance to.

 22.  “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer

Another English singer that invaded the music scene in the 1980s, Robert Palmer had a soulful pop style that made this song one of the most popular hits of the year. The song is a mixture of rock, pop, soul, and even reggae.

The beats are strong, and the guitar playing is solid. The song has a nice dance tune. It starts with a strong drum beat and electrifying guitar sounds, many people can relate to the title and lyrics. How many can attest to the fact that they have been addicted to love at one time in their life?

One more thing that made this song so popular was the video. Videos were huge back in the 1980s. Seeing the artists singing and performing enhanced the music experience.

What was different or unique about this video, and made it stand out, was that Palmer had models dancing and fake playing instruments throughout the entire video.

23.  “Dancing on the Ceiling” by Lionel Ritchie

Like many artists in the 1980s, Lionel Ritchie broke away from his band, the Commodores, to start his solo career. He made a statement with this huge hit.

An upbeat dance tune that will have you feeling like you're dancing on the ceiling. The lyrics are fun and upbeat. And the video helps the song quite a bit, showing people dancing on ceilings and having fun.

Top Songs From 1986, Final Thoughts

There you have it – a list of some of the best songs of 1986. A wide range of musical talents and musical genres will satisfy any true music lover. There are love songs, dance songs, pop songs, R&B songs, and rock songs to satisfy your musical appetite.

When it comes to music, the 1980s were a decade of changes for many artists. They witnessed the move from bands to solo careers, the explosion of rap and hip-hop, the second British invasion, and the rise of superstars.