Top 10 80s Songs That Sound Even Better LIVE

Tina Turner

The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll knows how to enchant an audience. The studio version of her hit record “What's Love Got to Do with It” is technical perfection. However, the crooner singing it live is an electrifying vision to behold. You can almost see the energy coursing through her veins as she breathes life into the lyrics. The sheer power of her unrestrained, raspy vocals is amplified, too. The best part is how Tina absorbs the crowd’s verve and sends it back to them, transforming the arena into a magical space for the celebration of music. She does it all with the most disarming smile, like the legend she is.

Peter Gabriel


The groundbreaking music video for this song may be award-winning, but the live version takes the cake when it comes to eliciting a visceral reaction. In place of the eccentric animation, we get Peter Gabriel irreverently acting out his cheeky lyrical innuendos. His effortless on-stage vocals radiate a raw, untamed power that isn’t quite the same as the polish of the official record. They’re even better. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s chemistry with his band members, who ride his inimitable vibe to their utmost pleasure, makes the show even more enjoyable.

Bruce Springsteen

In this song, the Boss lays bare the stark reality of war veterans in the Land of the Free. The official recording will have you believe it’s a triumphant anthem of hope. However, the live rendition makes no pretence about the truth. The defiant wrath, frustration, and pain of the lyrics, which paint a bleak image of a Vietnam veteran’s life, become evident in Springsteen’s performance. The resounding, albeit ironic, chorus is most often voiced by the audience while Bruce focuses on pouring his conviction into the verses. Then, the E Street Band takes the song to a roaring climax with their final instrumental break. Only the emotional gravity of a live performance of “The River” could compare to the impact of this song (xref).

Def Leppard

Everything about this song represents the epitome of eighties arena rock. As the genre suggests, it reaches its highest degree of perfection when performed live, and Def Leppard does not disappoint. The stage setting is ideal for the exhilarating, adrenaline-fueled chants of the track, and the echo of fans singing along adds to its surging energy. By the time the chorus rolls around, you’re already in a trance, headbanging your way to rock heaven. Besides, the album “Hysteria”, of which this song is a part, marked Rick Allen’s glorious return to drumming since the 1984 accident that claimed his arm. That alone makes any live performance of this song extra special.

Run-D.M.C. feat. Aerosmith

This collaboration between the greats is one for the music history books. When hip-hop collective Run-D.M.C. joined forces with rock titan Aerosmith, worlds collided. Their winning formula of combining the two genres broke new ground, but no one could have imagined it would work so well. Both acts, separately, are known for their magnanimous presence. So, it wouldn’t have been surprising if such big personalities clashed on stage. Fortunately, their creative coalescence was seamless and brought us some of the best live performances of all time. It also gave Aerosmith a much-needed second wind while Run-D.M.C. broke into the mainstream. Now, that’s what we call a win-win!

Queen

It only seems right that a song that wants its listeners to hone in on the sonic pleasures it has to offer, as opposed to the visuals, would be more popular live. Queen’s ode to the radio age is a musical tour de force. It has the addictive, synth-heavy rhythms of pop rock and the band’s signature theatricality. Freddie Mercury’s grand showmanship is on full display during live performances of the number, as he commands his audience with unrivalled charm. When thousands of fans clapped to his beat for the chorus at the band’s 1985 Live Aid performance, history was created, and it will live on forever.

Michael Jackson

The King of Pop has some of the most cinematic and visually stunning music videos in his discography. However, his live performances were what solidified his status as the best of the best. After all, who can forget the dramatics of “Beat It” that dominated live shows in the eighties? However, it is another smash hit that defined the decade. “Billie Jean” in concert is an artistic feat like no other. One minute, he’s giving us pitch-perfect vocals with the most brilliant flourishes that you won’t find on the CDs, and the next, he’s hitting the smoothest moonwalk. On stage, MJ tapped into the infinite potential of the song, entertaining his audience like only he can. There will never be another Michael Jackson.

U2

The Edge was in his bag when he came up with the grand composition of this song. In his own words, it was born out of a desire to create, quote, ‘the ultimate U2 live song’. Safe to say, he succeeded. The intricate structure and complex arrangement, particularly the sophisticated chord progressions, come alive on stage. Even drummer Larry Mullen Jr. admitted that the song gets its epic proportion from being played live. Indeed, the unifying quality of the track manifests itself in how the crowd comes together to sing along with Bono, creating a transcendent experience. No studio version could compare with that intensity.

Bon Jovi

A live performance of this song is as close to real magic as we’re ever going to get. Bon Jovi’s exultant tribute to the common man boasts extraordinary energy that feeds off of fans’ vigor and grows by the second. Jon Bon Jovi sings like there’s no tomorrow, and he does it for every show. Meanwhile, Richie Sambora’s talk box segments add the perfect amount of innovative edge. That said, what makes this song so special in concert is the rousing participation of fans, highlighting the unbreakable connection Bon Jovi has with them. This resonance is also evident in live versions of “You Give Love a Bad Name”, which only goes to show how consistently impactful the band is on stage.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Powerful Optimism of This Track Is Eternal

The Universal Message Comes Across Stronger than Ever in the Band’s Live Performances

Heartbreak Is Palpable in Phil’s Live Vocals

If You’re Going to Party to This, the Concert Version Is the Only Right Choice

You Almost Forget It’s About Stalking When You’re Captivated by the Group’s Mastery Live

Prince and the Revolution

If we had a time machine, we’d use it to witness His Royal Badness perform this song one last time. Live renditions of “Purple Rain”, complete with the emotionally charged guitar solos and tender, anguished vocals, are angelic, to say the least. So, when it poured during his performance of the song at Super Bowl XLI, it felt like a sign from the heavens that fans were in the presence of ultimate greatness. Prince boasts unparalleled magnetism and gravitas as he spontaneously bursts into melismatic ad-libs and shreds his guitar like a god. In contrast, acts like “Let's Go Crazy” allow him to let loose as listeners give in to his groove (xref). Studio versions will never hold a candle to Prince’s raw excellence live.

Which 80s concert makes you wish you were in the crowd? Tell us in the comments down below!