10 Best '80s Hair Metal Songs

You can't think about the best '80s music without crediting hair metal. These songs varied from powerful love ballads to guitar-shredding rock anthems. So slip into your favorite '80s gear, tease that hair out, and listen to our 10 Best '80s Hair Metal Songs, as chosen AOL Radio listeners!

'Here I Go Again'

Whitesnake

Led by frontman David Coverdale, Whitesnake's mid-tempo 'Here I Go Again' is one of the most well known '80s hair metal songs. The lyrics are about a young man who is a loner, but hopes and dreams to find someone to share his life with.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Modern Day Cowboy'

Tesla

In this hair metal song, lead singer Jeff Keith's voice stands forefront as he wails about a 'Modern Day Cowboy' involved in a shootout in a bar.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Fly to the Angels'

Slaughter

This sorrowful power ballad is sung from the view of a man whose lover has died. You can almost picture the hair metal fans, with mascara ridden tears running down their faces from hearing this tear jerker.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Nothin' But a Good Time'

Poison

Pretty boy and now reality television star Bret Michaels heads this four-man musical outfit. 'Nothin' But a Good Time' is a hair metal song written about letting loose after a hard week's work.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Pour Some Sugar On Me'

Def Leppard

Even though drummer Rick Allen only had one arm, Def Leppard still produced one of the best party songs of all time with 'Pour Some Sugar On Me.' This song talks about the hair metal lifestyle, which is mostly comprised of partying and picking up as many chicks as possible.

Lyrics

'Nobody's Fool'

Cinderella

Tom Keifer's change in vocal range from soft and gentle to gritty and strong in this hair metal song gives this slower-paced track a much more intriguing quality.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Welcome to the Jungle'

Guns 'N Roses

Lead vocalist Axl Rose and lead guitarist Slash wrote this hair metal classic while they were in Seattle, where the less hectic lifestyle reminded them of the rough streets of Los Angeles, a.k.a. "the jungle."

iTunes | Lyrics

'Kickstart My Heart'

Mötley Crüe

Nikki Sixx -- lead bassist for Mötley Crüe -- wrote this hair metal song after a heroin overdose. The doctors pronounced Sixx clinically dead until he was revived by two shots of adrenaline to the heart.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Round and Round'

Ratt

With a heavy guitar riff and howling vocals, Ratt's 'Round and Round' is your quintessential '80s hair metal song. The lyrics are about a romantic yet uninhibited young couple in love.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Youth Gone Wild'

Skid Row

This song is No. 1 for a reason – it encompasses the whole hair metal lifestyle. Sebastian Bach wails, "They call us problem child / We spend our lives on trial," referring to rebellion against the norms of society.

iTunes | Lyrics

What Are Your Top Hair Metal Songs?

Share your list of the top hair metal songs in the comments. You can also check out our lists of the 10 Best Power Ballads and 10 Best Rock Anthems.

Listen to Hair Metal Radio

Filed under: Best Songs, Top 10 Lists, Rock

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. I think Whitesnake should have been higher on the list and I don't think "Youth Gone Wild" should be at the number one spot.

Posted at 2:00PM on Nov 13th 2009 by Vic De Zen

2. What about songs if in Whitesnake 1987 all songs are hits ! And this rely to all albums in so called metal rock . This channel rules !

Posted at 9:28AM on Nov 16th 2009 by Nocturnal Slave

3. "Youth Gone Wild" is #1...Slaughter is even on the list? Are u on crack??

Posted at 9:26AM on Nov 19th 2009 by Mason

4. No Way. Britny Fox / Long Way to Love is by far the best 80's hair metal song. No Question.

Posted at 9:44AM on Nov 23rd 2009 by Sean

5. WTF!!! there is no way that youth is the best period!!!

Posted at 9:34AM on Dec 28th 2009 by angeladeguia4u

6. lay off of skid row. they ROCK

Posted at 9:52AM on Feb 4th 2010 by amazon97

7. Skid Row was never a "hair band" they are a true rock/metal band. They unfortunatly got lumped in with all the others due to the timing of they arrived on the music scene.

Posted at 1:42PM on Feb 18th 2010 by its805

8. Skid Row was never a "Hair/Spandex Band" They were a Rock/Metal Band. They had the misfortune of being lumped in with the "Poser/Lipstick" bands due to the timing of their arrival on the music scene.

Posted at 1:45PM on Feb 18th 2010 by ascrewsloose

9. there are some really cool songs and there are some songs that sucks

Posted at 9:51AM on Mar 24th 2010 by veronica

10. SOME OF THESE SONGS ARE KICK ASS

Posted at 9:51AM on Mar 24th 2010 by veronica

11. Sorry this list is bogus Cristin you have none of the epic 80s hair songs here what about Cum on fell the noise or Were not going to take it even You give love a bad Name??? there are some good songs on the list but you missed the boat by at least 5 years if your going to give a list of the top 10 hair band songs and not mention Great White Faster Pussycat Judas Priest ect ect broaden your horizen and go back a few more years and listen to those who paved the way for Skid Row and Company later in the 80s.

Posted at 9:30AM on Apr 28th 2010 by Bill

12. Motley Crue definitely would have made it at least once in my top 10 list.

Posted at 2:52PM on Jun 15th 2010 by Matthew

13. I acually met Sebastian Bach. Before Skid Row was even made famous. They were at the same record studio as the band I was managing. We talked a bit & he's really a cool guy. But get off the G&R kick. Their are way better groups than just G&R. I can name a whole list but I won't. I'll just name two that is 110% better. Ozzy & Judas Priest!! End of story!!

Posted at 2:01AM on Jul 13th 2010 by Suck It

14. Hey lets Not forget Iron Maiden And Kiss!! They're the Grand Daddies of the 80's Hair Bands!! If It wasn't for these guys their wouldn't be groups like G&R or Skid Row!! Not to mention Judas Priest & Ozzy!! Bands like G&R and Skid Row didn't come until later.

Posted at 2:09AM on Jul 13th 2010 by Suck It

15. Here's My "Fab Fifteen" of the Hair Band Era:

15) Cinderella: "Gypsy Road"
14) Motley Crue: "Dr. Feelgood"
13) KISS: "Thou Shalt Not (plain-face period)" & "Detroit Rock City(make-up period)"
12) Ted Nugent: "Stormtrooper"
11) Iron Maiden: "Wrathchild" (Brian D'Annio on vox), "The Trooper" (Bruce Dickenson on vox), "The Clansman" (Blaze Bailey on vox)
10) Manowar: (the "anti hair-metal" hair metal band) "Sting Of The Bumblebee"
09) Whitesnake: "Still Of The Night."
08) Queensryche: "The Lady Wore Black"
07) L.A. Guns "I Wanna Be Your Man"
06) Aldo Nova: "Monkey On Your Back"
05) Guns 'N Roses: "November Rain"
04) Tesla: "Modern Day Cowboy" & "Edison's Medicine" (TIE)
03) Accept: "Balls To The Wall"
02) Bon Jovi: "Little Runaway"
01) Ratt: "Nobody Rides For Free" (Theme from the Patrick Swayze film: "Point Break").

AND IF YOU MUST KNOW:

Judas Priest: "Painkiller" and "Night Comes Down" (Rob Halford era), "Jugulator" and "Burn In Hell" (Tim Owens era)

Ozzy Osbourne: "Rock And Roll Rebel"

Black Sabbath: "Snowblind" and "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (Ozzy Era), "Heaven And Hell" and "Time Machine" (R.J. Dio era).

Ronnie James Dio: "Rainbow In The Dark."

Wowsers!
--RKJ

Posted at 11:16PM on Aug 27th 2010 by Robert Johnston

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