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Best 80s Dance tunes

Discussion in 'Band Management [BG]' started by Bassmanbob, Apr 18, 2012.

  1. Apr 18, 2012 #1
    Bassmanbob

    Bassmanbob Supporting Member

    Nov 25, 2002
    Treasure Coast, Florida
    Hey Talkbassers. My band is always looking to add new tunes to our playlist. We do all danceable songs from 1960s to current day. We play R&B, Motown, Classic Rock, Current Rock, Pop, Disco and even two or three Country and Latin tunes. Our band includes 5 guys: Drums, Bass, Keys, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar. One thing we've noticed is that we barely have any songs from the 1980s.

    What are some great dance tunes from the 1980s?
     
  2. Apr 18, 2012 #2
    James Hart

    James Hart

    Feb 1, 2002
    Beemerville.nj.us
  3. Apr 18, 2012 #3
    kenfxj

    kenfxj

    Jul 19, 2005
    Princeton New Jersey
    Blue Monday - New Order
    Funky Town - Lipps Inc.
    Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
    Super Freak - Rick James
    Dancing In Heaven - Q Feel
    Into The Groove - Madonna
    Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
     
  4. Apr 18, 2012 #4
    TBird1958

    TBird1958 As a matter of fact....I am your Queen! Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 13, 2008
    Seattle Washington
    Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups
    Here's our setlist predominately '80s covers with a few from the '70s and '90s, we have 1 guitar, keys, drums, bass vocals.


    -------------------------------
    Long Way
    Devil Inside
    The Breakup Song
    Addicted To Love
    I Ran
    Cars
    She Bop
    Kids in America
    Sedated
    White Wedding
    I Want You To Want Me

    2 --------------------------------
    Sin City
    I Hate Myself
    Hangin on the Telephone
    Head Over Heels
    Whip it
    Walk Like An Egyptian
    The Middle
    Everybody Wants You
    Boys Of Summer
    Don't Change
    Basket Case
    Dirty Deeds

    3 ---------------------------------
    Bloodletting
    Sanctuary
    I Will Follow
    I'll Stop The World
    Hit Me With Your Best Shot
    What I Like About You
    Major Tom
    Just Like Heaven
    The Metro
    Blitzkreig Bop
    Spiderman

    4 --------------------------------
    Lets Go Crazy
    Hungry Like The Wolf
    Uprising
    Should I Stay
    Blister In The Sun
    Be My Girl
    I Love Rock n Roll
    Ring Of Fire
    Paranoid
    Rebel Yell
    Ballroom Blitz
    ----------------------
    Teen Spirit
    Bad Reputation
     
  5. Apr 18, 2012 #5
    rokkitt

    rokkitt

    Jun 7, 2007
    bronx, nyc
    give it to me baby ---- rick james
     
  6. Apr 18, 2012 #6
    Buster Brown

    Buster Brown Supporting Member

    Feb 4, 2008
    The Plains of Kansas back from Colorado!!
    I can NOT believe that I am about to post this, but what the hell.....anything to help a Brother out.......:D


    The one song that ALWAYS gets 'em on the dance floor is this:

    *please don't shoot me for this........



    Safety Dance - Men without hats


    ALWAYS works.......

    I am so ashamed.....:bawl:
     
  7. Apr 19, 2012 #7
    Bassmanbob

    Bassmanbob Supporting Member

    Nov 25, 2002
    Treasure Coast, Florida
    Hey... if it works, go with it!
     
  8. Apr 19, 2012 #8
    jaywa

    jaywa

    May 5, 2008
    Iowa City, IA
    Looking at TBird's show gives me setlist envy...

    We do two songs in our show that I would consider "80s dance tunes" and they always go over well. "Billie Jean" and "Love Shack". We also do "Blister in the Sun" which I've never considered a dance tune but it always gets people dancing, so whatever.

    The challenge is that a lot of that 80s dance/pop stuff is sequenced keyboard bass and that's not always the easist feel or sound for a bass guitarist to cop.
     
  9. Apr 19, 2012 #9
    BayStateBass

    BayStateBass

    Jan 25, 2012
    Central Massachusetts
    Ha ha!

    When I saw this thread that was the one I immediately thought of!

    How about "Dance Hall Days"- Wang Chung or "Everybody Have Fun Tonight"? (At least I think that was the name of the song).

    Or any Huey Lewis and The News song works, too.

    Actually, a friend's band covers "Bust A Move" and that one always gets people going, too. Solid, fun, easy bass line.
     
  10. Apr 19, 2012 #10
    Bassmanbob

    Bassmanbob Supporting Member

    Nov 25, 2002
    Treasure Coast, Florida
    OK Guys. TBird: You had a bunch of goodies in your set list.

    Here is what I've found that I think might work with the guys in my band, but I certainly want to hear more from you guys.

    1. James Brown………………. Living in America
    2. Rick James……………….…..Give it to Me Baby
    3. Rick James…………………...Super Freak
    4. Billy Idol……………………..…Dancing With Myself
    5. Robert Palmer……………….Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)
    6. Todd Rundgren……………..Bang the Drum All Day
    7. Duran Duran………………...Hungry Like the Wolf
    8. A Flock of Seagulls……..…I Ran (So Far Away)

    We already do Billy Jean, Rock This Town, What I Like About You and Hip to be Square.
     
  11. Apr 19, 2012 #11
    jaywa

    jaywa

    May 5, 2008
    Iowa City, IA
    Personallly I think "Dancing With Myself" is one of the weaker Billy Idol songs.

    I think "Rebel Yell" or "White Wedding" would have a better chance of going over. In fact I was just talking to somebody the other day wondering why more cover bands didn't do "Rebel Yell." It's an easy song (assuming you have a reasonably competent guitarist and a solid drummer) and people love it.
     
  12. Apr 19, 2012 #12
    MNAirHead

    MNAirHead

    Nov 22, 2008
    Minnesota - Twin Cities
    Girls wanna have fun

    Boarder line

    Lessons in love

    Billie jean

    Never take the place of your man

    Fat boys - the twist

    Don't be cruel - bobby brown

    Manic Monday

    Friday I'm in love
     
  13. Apr 19, 2012 #13
    BayStateBass

    BayStateBass

    Jan 25, 2012
    Central Massachusetts
    If I wanted to do a Billy Idol song with the expectation of getting people dancing, I'd probably do "Rock The Cradle Of Love".

    Maybe it's because I remember the video and the girl in it was.....memorable.
     
  14. Apr 19, 2012 #14
    emblymouse

    emblymouse exempt

    Jan 22, 2006
    Good stuff Maynard.:bassist:

    We just worked up 'I Didn't Mean to Turn You On' by Robert Palmer.
    Hell, it makes ME want to dance:D
     
  15. Apr 19, 2012 #15
    JeffA

    JeffA

    Mar 28, 2012
    Wallingford, CT
    That's a great one, forgot all about it!

    Cool thread, lots of great ideas so far. 80's songs are so hot right now. Subscribed. :D
     
  16. Apr 19, 2012 #16
    jaywa

    jaywa

    May 5, 2008
    Iowa City, IA
    Uhhh... yes. Yes she was. :bassist:
     
  17. Apr 19, 2012 #17
    jaywa

    jaywa

    May 5, 2008
    Iowa City, IA
    "Addicted to Love" is another great Robert Palmer song to cover.

    Don't play it too fast though or you'll kill the groove.
     
  18. Apr 19, 2012 #18
    Bassmanbob

    Bassmanbob Supporting Member

    Nov 25, 2002
    Treasure Coast, Florida
    I don't disagree with Rebel Yell or White Wedding, but our drummer and keyboard player don't like those two songs. I thought Dancing with Myself was a little less hard rock and might be more acceptable for them.

    We do a lot of different kinds of pop/rock music. Everyone in the band has a couple of songs he doesn't like, but the drummer and keyboard player really hated those two.

    I'm going to add Bust a Move to the list to show the guys.
     
  19. Apr 19, 2012 #19
    TBird1958

    TBird1958 As a matter of fact....I am your Queen! Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 13, 2008
    Seattle Washington
    Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups

    I'm always amazed at how well this song goes over, you can see it's the fouth song in our first set (which this video is from) and without fail everybody is up off their ass and dancing to it - A good drummer makes all the difference, ours kicks ass!

    The Nasty Habits - Additcted To Love.MOV - YouTube