Best Of 80s Rock Songs
On The Acoustic

Everybody Wants To Rule The World is a Tears For Fears 1985 single from the bands album Songs From The Big Chair.

The song did very well internationally reaching #1 in the US, Canada and New Zealand and #2 in Ireland, the UK and Australia. If the title sound familiar

it's a line in the song Charlie Don't Surf by The Clash from a 1980 album of theirs.

Eye Of The Tiger is a song by the American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. The song was written specifically for the movie "Rocky III," in which it was prominently featured.

The song was composed by Survivor members Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan, and features heavy use of power chords, catchy hooks, and driving rhythms. The lyrics are motivational in nature, urging the listener to fight through adversity and stay strong in the face of challenges.

"Eye of the Tiger" was an immediate commercial success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and staying there for six consecutive weeks. It also topped charts in other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Joey is from the 1990 album Blootletting and was released as a single, topping the Modern Rock Tracks chart as well as a #20 on the pop charts.

You can play this one with a down down up down down down up rhythm pattern or use all down strokes. Use the chords G, G 6/9, Em, C, D, C/G and a Dsus. No real lead in this one played in standard tuning.

Over The Hills And Far Away is a song by Gary Moore from his 1986 album "Wild Frontier." Moore wrote the song himself, mixing rock music with Celtic and folk sounds.

The lyrics talk about going on a journey to far-off places. Moore's great guitar playing adds feeling to the song. While not a huge hit, many fans love this song.

It shows how Moore could blend different music styles. The song reached number 20 in the UK charts.

Played in standard tuning with a down down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern and some lead required. The chords here are Em, G, C, D, A, E and Gbm.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go was first released in 1981 and did OK on the charts but did not reach the top 40 in the US. The track is from the album Combat Rock.

Years later in 1991 when the song was used in a TV commercial about blue jeans, the song was re-released and hit #1 in the UK and was a top 10 in a few other countries.

Take On Me was first recorded in 1984 for the bands debut album "Hunting High And Low". The song was then remixed with some additional music added.

The first release failed to chart in the UK but with that second release, the song went to #2. In the US, with the help of MTV, the song reached #1.

Chords for this one are Am, D, G, C, G6, Em, D/Gb, Bm, F and D7 in standard tuning and a capo 2nd fret. I play a down up stop up down up stop up and repeat rhythm pattern with a riff in the rhythm.