This article rounds up four 1980s songs written in the power pop style by artists not typically known for that genre. The piece argues that while power pop's heyday was the 1970s (with acts like Badfinger, The Raspberries and Cheap Trick), the style persisted into the following decade through unexpected contributors, including a Southern rock band, an emerging arena-rock star, a former prog-rock outfit and a genre-defying icon.

The four examples are 38 Special's "If I'd Been The One" (a 1983 Top 20 hit co-written with Jim Peterik), Bon Jovi's "She Don't Know Me" (a 1984 single that narrowly missed the Top 40, penned by Mark Avsec), Mike + The Mechanics' "All I Need Is A Miracle" (written by Mike Rutherford and Christopher Neil), and Prince's "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" from Sign O' The Times. Each is highlighted for hallmarks of power pop such as tight rhythm sections, buoyant melodies and driving choruses, despite the artists' more familiar associations with Southern rock, glam rock, prog rock and genre-spanning funk/pop respectively.