5 Great 80’s Motivational Songs

It’s time again to get motivated, 80’s style! That’s right, it’s another list of great motivational 80’s songs! If you need a little “motivational pick me up,” find these songs in your old CD (or tape!) collection, buy them off of iTunes, or just keep watching the YouTube clips I’ve embedded below! They are sure to get you going…

(Note: To keep things fresh, this list does not include any songs from my 5 Great Motivational Songs From 80’s Movies or Funny Motivation: 5 MORE Great Motivational Songs From 80s Movies posts)

Dreams

Van Halen

So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you’ve cried
Oh, that’s what dreams are made of
‘Cause we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that’s what dreams are made of

Yeah, we’ll get higher and higher
Straight up we’ll climb
Higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Oh, we’ll get higher and higher
Who knows what we’ll find?

This is definitely my favorite song on the list. You can not listen to this song without feeling pumped up. Not only are the lyrics awesome, but the music has that awesome “pumpitude” you want from a good motivational song. This is a great one to work out to.

On a side note, I feel like I am the only person in the world that actually prefers the Sammy Hagar Van Halen to the David Lee Roth Van Halen. Sure, the David Lee Roth era had some great songs, but if I had to pick my top five Van Halen songs they would probably all be from the Hagar years. I know, I know, hardcore Van Halen fans are getting ready to skin me alive right now, but what can I say, I call it like I see it.

Don’t Stop Believin’

Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’

This is another good high energy motivational song. Though to be fair, it’s mostly the second half that’s motivational. In the first half of the song, Steve Perry never says, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” In the second half, that’s pretty much all he says. To be honest, I’m not sure the first half is so motivational; the song never actually lets you know whether the “small town girl” and “city boy” ever achieved their dreams. Ok, now I feel a little bummed…

So let’s focus on the second half. When they launch into the high energy “Don’t Stop, Believin'” over and over again, it definitely hits you right in the motivational bone. This is a great one to listen to if you start to feel down about what you’re doing.

If you’re unfamiliar with the song and can’t watch the YouTube clip, just go any karaoke bar in the Philly/South Jersey area. You’ll be sure to hear it sung at least three times a night. Badly. And almost always by a group of at least five women. Who just finished singing “Living on a Prayer,” by Bon Jovi (which is a song that could have made the list until you realize it’s not that motivational, since it’s about two incredibly unsuccessful people holding on to their past dreams while their lives fall apart around them. We never find out if they actually make it. Heck, Bon Jovi even says, “it doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not.” Hmm, maybe I need to write another post about, “80’s songs that are almost motivational. But I digress…)

Simply the Best

You’re simply the best
Better than all the rest
Better than anyone

There always has to be one song I’m a little embarrassed to put on the list, and this time it’s Tina Turner’s Simply the Best. It’s not a great song, but does it get better than someone saying to you, over and over, “You’re simply the best”? (well, yes, it does, but that would be someone saying to you, over and over, “you’re the best, around, nothing’s going to ever keep you down.” But that was covered in a previous 80’s song post, so for now we’ll go with Tina)

This is just a great “affirmation” type song. If you ever feel like you’re not the best, give this song a listen. Tina will convince you.

What’s weird is that the original video shows her dancing with a horse. Not sure why, but she’s dancing with a horse. Maybe she’s not dancing with the horse, but she’s dancing and there’s also a horse in the video. Was she saying the horse was the best? Or was the horse a metaphor for something? Sadly, I couldn’t find an embedable YouTube clip with the original horse dancing. (I can only assume the SPCA had something to do with that) so to see the horse you’ll have to watch it on YouTube

Break My Stride

Ain’t nothing gonna break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no
I got to keep on moving
Ain’t nothing gonna break my stride
I’m running in a one touch ground, oh no
I got to keep on moving

This is not exactly a “load 250 pounds on the bar and go for a bench press record” type of motivational song. However, it’s a great song to listen to while walking. I guess the “ain’t nothing gonna break my stride,” part ties into the walking nicely. Whenever I listen to this song while walking down the streets of Philly, i can’t help but feel empowered.

Of course, if you were to read the full lyrics, you might think that this is not a very motivational song at all. In fact, it sounds like it’s about a guy who is pursuing a girl who is rejecting him by saying that she doesn’t want to be tied down. And then he basically says he won’t be with another girl who will treat him that way. So maybe this should also be with “Living on a Prayer” on the “almost motivational songs” list.

Ah well…the chorus is so infectious and sounds so positive, I’ll choose blissful ignorance on this one.

(by the way, the video above is the first time I have ever seen what Matthew Wilder looks like. Is it me, or does he look like John Oaters and Gallagher had a love child…?)

Eye of the Tiger

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

(By the way, the chorus is “It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight.” One website has the lyrics as, “It’s the eye of the tiger / its the cream of the fight” That’s just wrong. And weird. And a little dirty.)

I know, this may be a little bit of a cheat since I did include “Hearts on Fire” from Rocky IV on another list. But come on! Can you get a better “motivate me and pump me up song” than “Eye of the Tiger”? This song is so awesome it was not only used as the Rocky III theme song, but was also the music that Hulk Hogan used to come to the ring to! See for yourself:

If it’s good enough for the Hulkster, it’s good enough for me!

Hulk Hogan or not, Rocky or not, “Eye of the Tiger” is just a straight up great motivational song. Whether you’re working out, trying to get psyched to work on a project, or just need to pick yourself up after a setback, you can’t go wrong with “Eye of the Tiger.”

As usual with these lists, I’m sure I missed some songs. Feel free to add your own in the comments section!

P.S. Hey, if you like this content, why don’t you share the love and click the Facebook “Like” button at the top of the page…?

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By Avish Parashar. As the world's only Motivational Improviser, Avish uses techniques from the world of improv comedy to engage, entertain, and educate audiences on ideas around change, creativity, and motivation. Connect with Avish on Google+

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