The article highlights three iconic soft rock songs from 1986 that remain widely recognised by those who grew up during the 1980s.

– "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper, written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, was her final No. 1 single, reaching the top of the charts for two weeks. The inspirational song about acceptance also earned her a Grammy nomination and was later covered successfully by Phil Collins in 1998.
– "On My Own" is a duet between Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald, written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. It became a three-week No. 1 single, with LaBelle later expressing surprise at its commercial success despite not typically recording with chart ambitions.
– "Glory Of Love" by Peter Cetera marked his first No. 1 hit following his departure from Chicago to pursue a solo career. Co-written by Cetera, David Foster and Diane Nina, the song appears on The Karate Kid Part II soundtrack and explores the power of commitment.