Five Songs from the 1980s about HEAT

Last winter I was lamenting about the dearth of sunshine and excess of rain where I live here in the Seattle metro area. As usual, the blue skies finally came, but this year they brought a friend: record-breaking, international-news-making HEAT! No really, its expected to possibly reach up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit! On a Monday too! That’s Arizona hot! The difference is, people choose to live in Arizona. They’re prepared with air conditioned everything there. We are not. I don’t remember it ever even being suggested that it would ever get this hot here so a majority of people do not have air conditioning. Most of us will likely have next year though. Times have changed.

We are going to spend the next few days roasting in our own natural juices, and to provide a soundtrack for this, I have listed my top five songs from the 1980s about HEAT.

“Heat Of The Moment”, Asia (1982)

The heat of the moment you feel now might not be the same as the one when found yourself in ‘82. In fact, it was around 72 comfortable degrees in Seattle in late June, 1982. No, Asia’s “Heat Of The Moment” was a prod-rock apology song released in May of that year to help kick off the MTV generation. It then topped the charts for nine weeks. The English band has been releasing albums and touring ever since but, needless to say, their flagship song has never been off their live concert roster. Let’s face it: If you go to an Asia concert, you might enjoy the other songs, but you go there for this song.

“The Heat Is On”, Glenn Frey (1984)

When you hear this song, you will instantly recognize the saxophone riff and think back to when Axel Foley showed those stuck-up Beverly Hills cops how its really done. Then you will ask, “who the hell sang this song?” I asked! As much of an eightiesfile as I am, I thought the song might have been performed by Kenny Loggins or Huey Lewis. Nope! It was performed by Glenn Frey, who was actually a founding member and co-lead singer for the Eagles! After the band disbanded in 1980, he went solo… and now he’s coming back to me! Yeah, he also performed “You Belong To The City” for a contemplative, night-roaming Sonny Crocket in “Miami Vice”. You weren’t a cool, fictional cop in the 1980s unless Glen Frey wrote and performed your saxophone-laden theme song.

“In The Heat Of The Night”, Sandra (1985)

Now we’re going to get a bit 80s Euro synth pop up in here. Many of my fellow Americans might not know who “Sandra” is but the German singer was very well known in continental Europe. In fact, she outsold Madonna in many European countries. While “In The Heat Of The Night” is a quintessential 80s synth pop song, the video makes it that much more so. Sandra’s got the big hair and earrings as she performs with her sweaty band in a giant, stylized sauna full of bare-chested men. What really amps up the 80s in this video, however, is the keytar player, in all his neon outfit gloriousness, sporting a keyboard patterned keytar strap! No really, keep an eye out for it. These need to make a comeback.

“Heat Of The Night”, Bryan Adams (1987)

Now let’s take a trip to Canada and hear a more muted and bluesy “Heat Of The Night” by Bryan Adams released in 1987. Its darker lyrics and somewhat somber style were influenced by old film noir and a trip to pre-unified Berlin.

One thing to note: As bluesy as it is, this is NOT the theme song to the 80s cop drama “In The Heat Of The Night”. That was performed by Bill Champlin, who was also a singer and keyboardist with the band Chicago. Now you can see why I like to write these articles: I learn things and make dumb connections no one asked for.

“Heat On The Street”, Phil Collins (1989)

Part of his 1989 “…But Seriously” album, Phil Collins’ song “Heat Of The Street” is, like many of his songs, an activist piece about street violence and abuse. Don’t let that deter your spirit if you’re in a good mood though. The song is pretty upbeat and poppy for the subject matter.

This song was not one of the album’s singles, but I think it could have been. I’m happy to reintroduce it here if its been a while since you’ve heard it, or have never heard it at all.

One interesting fact about Phil Collins is that he’s an expert on the Battle of the Alamo. He even wrote a book about it! Who knew?

Well, there you have it! These are five song picks from the 1980s about HEAT to help you through this sweltering summer. If you want more goofy 80s and 90s articles and podcasts, there’s plenty on the site you’re on. Want even more? Check us out on Twitter at @The80sand90sCom. With that, I’ll leave you with this quote from the 80s Dear Leader himself:

“When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”

— Ronald Reagan