Top 10 diva anthems from the 80s
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American band ‘Heart’ in the 80s.
Source: Supplied
WHEN it comes to music the eighties were a fun decade, whether you like the music or not.
In particular there was many a diva hit, where females solo singers came into their own.
Thanks to MTV in the United States the video clip culture was born and as the eighties went on, the more elaborate the clips were.
80s diva Diana Ross
Source: Getty Images
The Herald Sun looks at 10 of the biggest diva hits of the era.
Footnote: There were so many to choose from, we could have done a number of lists.
DID WE GET THE DIVA 80s ANTHEMS RIGHT? TELL US BELOW
IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME
CHER — 1989
THIS anthem from Cher was accompanied by one of the classic film clips of the eighties. Cher filmed it on the warship USS Missouri, surrounded by very happy American sailors. Like every big song of that era, If I Could Turn Back Time has a massive key change near the end.
GLORIA
LAURA BRANIGAN — 1982
WHAT a voice. Branigan had a number of big hits in the early eighties, making her one of the decades much loved pop stars of that era. The song was a No. 1 smash in Australia, and one of the most played tracks on radio in the eighties.
THE POWER OF LOVE
JENNIFER RUSH — 1984
THE eighties was full of big power ballads, and The Power Of Love was one of the largest. Rush actually co-wrote the song, and she made a lot of money out of the track. Celine Dion covered the song in 1993, and it was a hit around the world all over again.
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
TINA TURNER — 1984
ONE of the best stories in music in the eighties was Tina Turner coming into her own, leaving her abusive ex-husband Ike behind and becoming one of the biggest stars on the planet. Her concerts are spectacular, no more so when she belts outs her big hits such as the 1984 classic What’s Love Got To Do With It.
LIKE A PRAYER
MADONNA — 1989
YOU could have quite a few Madonna tracks on such a list as this, but the 1989 track Like A Prayer is really a stand out. It’s a pop anthem, starting slowly and building up with the help of a gospel choir. This song was No. 1 around the world, including in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
BONNIE TYLER — 1983
THE eighties were known for big hair. Bonnie Tyler does the trend justice for this power ballad, which is a karaoke favourite all these years later. The film clip has everything you want from that era — wind machines, lots of candles, a couple of bizarre dancing sequences and long, knowing looks.
CHAIN REACTION
DIANA ROSS — 1985
MS Ross has five costume changes in this song plus she wore a number of different wigs in the film clip for this track. There is also a smoke machine and the song has a couple of killer key changes. No more needs to be said. Tick.
ALONE
HEART — 1987
SISTERS Ann and Nancy Wilson made up Heart, rock chicks with big sons. Their world wide hit Alone to this day is a favourite of singing reality TV competitors, but no one can match the vocals of the Wilson sisters.
THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
WHITNEY HOUSTON — 1985
THIS big ballad by Houston celebrates everything that the world loved her for — an incredible, powerhouse voice that is up there with the best of all time. Houston’s career started in the eighties, and this song was one of the tracks that kicked it all off for her.
I STILL LOVE YOU (JE NE SAIS PAS POURQUOI)
KYLIE MINOGUE — 1989
A VERY random choice, but you have to include an Aussie in such a list and Kylie Minogue was our biggest star late in the decade. This song was Minogue’s first ballad, and the film clip features a very different sounding Minogue then we know today.
Originally published as Top 10 diva anthems from the 80s
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