Music has always been one of the most powerful ways to express love. This is not just a modern phenomenon. The first known love song dates back to 2000 B.C., titled “The Love Song of Shu-Sin.” Whether someone is writing their own lyrics or just making a playlist, the act of sharing music is often an act of sharing emotion. Burning CDs, making mixtapes or going to concerts together has become a meaningful way to show love without needing to say much at all.
It’s no secret that 80s love ballads have never gone out of style – unlike the aerobic wear of the time, which, thankfully, stayed in the past (neon scrunchies and spandex included). But the lasting impact of these songs goes far beyond nostalgia or retro aesthetics. These ballads – dramatic and unapologetically emotional – have a way of capturing the complicated aspects of love that many modern songs seem to only skim the surface of. From the desperate plea of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is,” to the tender yearning in Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” there’s a timeless honesty to these tracks that still resonates today. Their influence lingers in pop culture through film soundtracks, TikTok audios and a large amount of commercials proving that the emotions these songs empower us with are just too big to fade with time.
So what makes certain songs, powerful 1980s love ballads, stick with us across generations? What gives them that timeless pull?
First, it is critical to look at the lyrics of these songs. Each and every single one of these songs is written with raw, intense emotions, perhaps in ways that could be seen as “over-the-top” if they were lyrics written today. Let us take “Careless Whisper” by George Michael, for example. The lyrics “I’m never gonna dance again, guilty feet have got no rhythm,” is a poetic metaphor for heartbreak and regret, packed into a line that is both memorable and deeply vulnerable. Many 80s ballads follow this same formula: emotionally charged lyrics that do not shy away from melodrama, but instead lean into it with open arms. Modern love songs often prioritize subtlety, irony or emotional detachment whereas these ballads feel refreshingly earnest, like love letters written in bold letters.
It is also vital to look at the instrumentals of these songs. A lot of them follow the same kind of structure: soft, almost calming verses that build into a powerful, emotional chorus. They tend to start slow and simple, then layer in more and more as the love song goes on, until everything hits at once near the end. There is usually a big “bang” moment, where the drums, guitar, synths and vocals all come together, and the artist is belting out power notes or throwing in those last-minute ad-libs. It is dramatic, yes, but that is what makes it hit so hard. And on top of that, these songs have some of the most iconic instrumental riffs in music history. That looping synth in “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin or the smooth melody of “True” by Spandau Ballet are examples of melodies that are instantly recognizable. They amplify the power and the raw emotion felt in the lyrics. The tenderness can be built by the instrumentals alone, even if the lyrics are removed.
Lastly, it is very important to give kudos where it is due. The singers of these songs deliver the message in a way that matches the exact core of what the lyrics already carry. These artists do not just sing the lyrics, they feel them in their gut. Take “Purple Rain” by Prince, for example. The further we get into the song, the more his vocals take on this aching, emotional quality. There is a sense of release in his voice as the music builds, like he has been bottling everything up until the moment he simply cannot anymore. Prince is a standout example of an artist who could shift his vocal style to perfectly match the story he was trying to tell. And he was not alone —many singers of the time had that same ability, making each performance feel theatrical, emotional and incredibly human.
This is not to say that other decades do not use these same methods in their music, but few manage to seamlessly blend all three aspects — lyrics, instrumentals and vocal delivery — the way the 1980s did. There is something about the way these elements came together during that era that made the music feel larger than life, yet deeply personal. It is that balance of theatricality and sincerity that keeps 80s love ballads prominent through our playlists, soundtracks and hearts, “time after time.”