In the 80s, karaoke was not widely accepted by many as a legitimate form of entertainment. Many songs made famous in the 80s were popular karaoke songs too. Hit singles in the 1980s were known for their catchy tunes that made every listener want to get up and dance, consisting of songs like the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up,” Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House,” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”
The following popular karaoke songs were made famous during the 80s. Some of these popular karaoke songs are still as popular today as they were in their prime, while others have fallen out of favor.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
This song was made famous in 1981. This song remains very popular among karaoke singers, as it is one of the most requested songs in karaoke rooms around the world.
It was also later used as the theme song for the TV show “Glee,” which reached the height of its popularity in the 2000s. This subsequently brought the Journey song back on the map for nostalgic adults and the youths of the Y2K era.
“Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley
Rick Astley was a British singer who was known for his catchy melodies and pop appeal. This song, which is still popular in karaoke rooms around the world, first appeared on his album “Whenever You Need Somebody” in 1987.
The song regained its popularity after it became part of an ongoing meme or online prank, dubbed “Rickrolling.”. The song has sold over a million copies since its release, making it one of the best-selling singles by Rick Astley ever. It was also his first one ever released!
“How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston
This song was released in 1985 and became a number 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the next year. The song is known for being upbeat, with a catchy chorus reminiscent of a teenage girl wondering about her crush.
It also has one of the most recognizable beats to make it popular among karaoke singers. This song has sold over 1 million copies worldwide, making it one of the top-selling singles ever released by Whitney Houston.
“Take On Me” by A-ha
This song was popular when the Norwegian band A-ha was at the height of its popularity in the late 1980s. It is part of their 1985 album, Hunting High and Low.
This song, with its poppy synthwave sound, hit number 1 in the United States’ Billboard Hot 100 that year, but it wasn’t their only chart topper. They also had other hits such as “The Living Daylights,” “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.,” and “Crying in the Rain.”
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
This song was released in 1987 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts that year, alongside Houston’s album Whitney. This song remains popular today as it is one of the most-requested songs in karaoke rooms around the world.
It has sold over 4 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles by Whitney Houston ever.
