Top 10 Decade Defining Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Songs: 1980s

let’s step it up a decade and move on to

let’s step it up a decade and move on to the 80s when heavier genres began to

the 80s when heavier genres began to

the 80s when heavier genres began to conquer the music world

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten hard rock and heavy metal songs of the

hard rock and heavy metal songs of the

hard rock and heavy metal songs of the 1980s for our series on the top ten

1980s for our series on the top ten

1980s for our series on the top ten decade defining hard rock and heavy

decade defining hard rock and heavy

decade defining hard rock and heavy metal songs per decade we’ve based our

metal songs per decade we’ve based our

metal songs per decade we’ve based our choices on a mix of attract success

choices on a mix of attract success

choices on a mix of attract success popularity and their ability to

popularity and their ability to

popularity and their ability to represent the decade in question

we’re limiting it to one song per artist

we’re limiting it to one song per artist per decade but you still might see some

per decade but you still might see some

per decade but you still might see some overlapping of artists over the decades

this is part of a series of video

this is part of a series of video spanning hard rock and heavy metal music

spanning hard rock and heavy metal music

spanning hard rock and heavy metal music from the 1970s to the 2000s with that

from the 1970s to the 2000s with that

from the 1970s to the 2000s with that said get ready to jam on with the

said get ready to jam on with the

said get ready to jam on with the grandfathers of rock and metal

we start off our list with the

we start off our list with the hellraisers of hard rock

dr. feelgood wasn’t only a kick-ass

dr. feelgood wasn’t only a kick-ass album that managed to push the band from

album that managed to push the band from

album that managed to push the band from their glam rock roots into the

their glam rock roots into the

their glam rock roots into the mainstream it also managed to smash

mainstream it also managed to smash

mainstream it also managed to smash charts in the US and the UK

while it may have been their last album

while it may have been their last album until the late 90s with frontman Vince

until the late 90s with frontman Vince

until the late 90s with frontman Vince Neil at the helm it was also the

Neil at the helm it was also the

Neil at the helm it was also the beginning of Motley Crue’s descent into

beginning of Motley Crue’s descent into

beginning of Motley Crue’s descent into the heavier side of rock

and its title track was at the forefront

and its title track was at the forefront of it all becoming the band’s first u.s.

of it all becoming the band’s first u.s.

of it all becoming the band’s first u.s. top ten and a gold certified single

number nine you shook me all night long

number nine you shook me all night long ac/dc ac/dc s legendary album back in

ac/dc ac/dc s legendary album back in

ac/dc ac/dc s legendary album back in black produced a whole roster of

black produced a whole roster of

black produced a whole roster of incredible songs and our pick goes to

incredible songs and our pick goes to

incredible songs and our pick goes to this one the memorable you shook me all

this one the memorable you shook me all

this one the memorable you shook me all night long

night long

night long benefited from the vocal talents of then

benefited from the vocal talents of then

benefited from the vocal talents of then new frontman Brian Johnson

with a course that even casual fans will

with a course that even casual fans will recognize this is a landmark hard rock

recognize this is a landmark hard rock

recognize this is a landmark hard rock track that didn’t only make ac/dc

track that didn’t only make ac/dc

track that didn’t only make ac/dc a worldwide phenomenon but is also a

a worldwide phenomenon but is also a

a worldwide phenomenon but is also a band’s live staple and a top 40 Hot 100

band’s live staple and a top 40 Hot 100

band’s live staple and a top 40 Hot 100 single

you can’t think of Motorhead without

you can’t think of Motorhead without thinking of this song

lemme signature gravelly vocals and a

lemme signature gravelly vocals and a speedy style of guitar play you get a

speedy style of guitar play you get a

speedy style of guitar play you get a recipe for a classic rock tune with a

recipe for a classic rock tune with a

recipe for a classic rock tune with a metal twist

this heavy combination ensures that ace

this heavy combination ensures that ace of spades is a simple yet effective

of spades is a simple yet effective

of spades is a simple yet effective anthem and that it will go down in music

anthem and that it will go down in music

anthem and that it will go down in music history as one of the greats of heavy

history as one of the greats of heavy

history as one of the greats of heavy metal

number seven jump

number seven jump van Halen

here’s another song that managed to

here’s another song that managed to propel its band into mainstream success

breaking free of their glam metal roots

breaking free of their glam metal roots van Halen pulled out all the stops with

van Halen pulled out all the stops with

van Halen pulled out all the stops with this track off their sixth studio effort

well Joe

well Joe with some truly exceptional guitar and

with some truly exceptional guitar and

with some truly exceptional guitar and keyboard performances along with David

keyboard performances along with David

keyboard performances along with David Lee Roth’s infectiously happy vocals

Lee Roth’s infectiously happy vocals

Lee Roth’s infectiously happy vocals jump became their first and only single

jump became their first and only single

jump became their first and only single to top the Billboard Hot 100

and proved that these guys work here to

and proved that these guys work here to stay

this song comes straight out of the

this song comes straight out of the band’s highly successful third album

band’s highly successful third album

band’s highly successful third album pyromania while many fans and critics

pyromania while many fans and critics

pyromania while many fans and critics consider their next album hysteria and

consider their next album hysteria and

consider their next album hysteria and the single pour some sugar on me as

the single pour some sugar on me as

the single pour some sugar on me as classic Def Leppard this precursor and

classic Def Leppard this precursor and

classic Def Leppard this precursor and its lead single stand on their own as

its lead single stand on their own as

its lead single stand on their own as examples of decade defining music of the

examples of decade defining music of the

examples of decade defining music of the 80s

reaching the top 20 on the hot 100

reaching the top 20 on the hot 100 photograph perfectly blended hard rock

photograph perfectly blended hard rock

photograph perfectly blended hard rock and heavy metal and has been covered by

and heavy metal and has been covered by

and heavy metal and has been covered by multiple artists since its release

a landmark in heavy and speed metal this

a landmark in heavy and speed metal this song helped propel Megadeth from Dave

song helped propel Megadeth from Dave

song helped propel Megadeth from Dave Mustaine stream project into a reality

first in line

first in line especially since it was released

especially since it was released

especially since it was released following their signing to a major label

following their signing to a major label

following their signing to a major label record deal

able to hold its own against the most

able to hold its own against the most renowned thrash metal tracks peace cells

renowned thrash metal tracks peace cells

renowned thrash metal tracks peace cells is regarded as a classic of the genre

the opening baseline along with the

the opening baseline along with the sharp vocals are all you need to hear

sharp vocals are all you need to hear

sharp vocals are all you need to hear before the song takes whole

number four welcome to the jungle Guns

number four welcome to the jungle Guns and Roses well

this song took the hard rock and heavy

this song took the hard rock and heavy metal worlds by storm in the late 80s

the second single off their debut

the second single off their debut Appetite for Destruction welcome to the

Appetite for Destruction welcome to the

Appetite for Destruction welcome to the jungle introduced a fresh sound into the

jungle introduced a fresh sound into the

jungle introduced a fresh sound into the genres and became a Hot 100 top-ten

genres and became a Hot 100 top-ten

genres and became a Hot 100 top-ten smash for Guns N’Roses

the raw talent of slashes guitar solos

the raw talent of slashes guitar solos matched with Axl Rose’s intense vocals

matched with Axl Rose’s intense vocals

matched with Axl Rose’s intense vocals gave us a precise yet powerful tune

gave us a precise yet powerful tune

gave us a precise yet powerful tune that’s not only a band Live staple but

that’s not only a band Live staple but

that’s not only a band Live staple but is consistently cited as one of rock’s

is consistently cited as one of rock’s

is consistently cited as one of rock’s greatest

you’re known among rock and non rock

you’re known among rock and non rock fans this song is the beginning of a new

fans this song is the beginning of a new

fans this song is the beginning of a new era for the band

with the introduction of Bruce Dickinson

with the introduction of Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist Iron Maiden released

as lead vocalist Iron Maiden released

as lead vocalist Iron Maiden released several epic and genre-defining tracks

while the number of the beast is

while the number of the beast is certainly up there it’s run to the hills

certainly up there it’s run to the hills

certainly up there it’s run to the hills from the former’s parent album that

from the former’s parent album that

from the former’s parent album that steals the spot

thanks to its galloping baseline classic

thanks to its galloping baseline classic heavy metal sound and vivid imagery of

heavy metal sound and vivid imagery of

heavy metal sound and vivid imagery of America’s violent history

while aziz origins in Black Sabbath may

while aziz origins in Black Sabbath may have made him a household name it was

have made him a household name it was

have made him a household name it was this single that broke him into the

this single that broke him into the

this single that broke him into the United States as a solo artist

meanwhile randy rhoads main guitar riff

meanwhile randy rhoads main guitar riff on crazy train is legendary

now one of the Prince of Darkness ‘iz

now one of the Prince of Darkness ‘iz most popular tunes it also became a top

most popular tunes it also became a top

most popular tunes it also became a top ten on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart

ten on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart

ten on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart during the early 80s and honestly what

during the early 80s and honestly what

during the early 80s and honestly what more could you expect from The Godfather

more could you expect from The Godfather

more could you expect from The Godfather of heavy metal

before our number one pick take center

before our number one pick take center stage here are a few honorable mentions

Holy Diver you’re the star of the

Holy Diver you’re the star of the masquerade no Newton

it’s this Metallica single that really

it’s this Metallica single that really changed the face of thrash metal and the

changed the face of thrash metal and the

changed the face of thrash metal and the band’s career as we know it

with its heavy speed and heavier sound

with its heavy speed and heavier sound Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets stopped fans of the genre dead in their

stopped fans of the genre dead in their

stopped fans of the genre dead in their tracks

the sharp vocals dealing with the

the sharp vocals dealing with the all-consuming nature of drugs and it’s

all-consuming nature of drugs and it’s

all-consuming nature of drugs and it’s unforgettable guitar riffs all combined

unforgettable guitar riffs all combined

unforgettable guitar riffs all combined to deliver an eight and a half minute

to deliver an eight and a half minute

to deliver an eight and a half minute number that since become a Metallica

number that since become a Metallica

number that since become a Metallica signature tune a live concert and pop

signature tune a live concert and pop

signature tune a live concert and pop culture staple as well as one of heavy

culture staple as well as one of heavy

culture staple as well as one of heavy metals most indispensable singles

do you agree with our list which hard

do you agree with our list which hard rocker heavy metal song embodies the 80s

rocker heavy metal song embodies the 80s

rocker heavy metal song embodies the 80s for you for more rockin top 10s

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