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4 of the Best Rock Songs Turning 40 This Year
Four notable rock songs released in 1986 turn 40 this year, illustrating the era’s dramatic vocals, prominent guitars and synthesiser-heavy production. The article highlights both their commercial impact and the enduring cultural importance of their music videos.
– Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” became an emblem of the 1980s, aided by its distinctive video. – Ozzy Osbourne’s “Shot In The Dark”, from *The Ultimate Sin*, was his first Billboard Hot 100 single. – Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” topped US charts, reached the UK Top 5, and won several 1987 MTV Video Music Awards. – Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer” became the band’s second consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number one.
In short
- Four major 1986 rock songs reach 40 this year.
- Videos helped define several of the songs’ legacies.
- The selections span pop rock, metal and glam rock.
Explained simply
Rock music in the mid-1980s often combined electric guitars with synthesised sounds and highly polished studio production. Music videos had also become a major way for artists to reach audiences, particularly through the growing influence of MTV.
The songs include work by British singer Robert Palmer and Peter Gabriel, American heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, and New Jersey rock band Bon Jovi. Each had an established career or growing following, but these releases helped bring them wider commercial recognition.
Chart success on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and the UK singles chart reflected the broad appeal of rock at the time. The songs and their videos remain associated with the visual style, sound and popular culture of the 1980s.