Hair Metal Heaven: The 10 Most Over-the-Top 80’s Hair Metal Songs

The Golden Age of Glam

The 1980s – a time of big hair, bigger guitars, and even bigger egos. The hair metal scene was in its heyday, churning out band after band of wannabe rock stars with their faces painted white, their jeans ripped, and their hair flowing like the golden tresses of the gods. And their music? Absolutely, utterly, completely over-the-top.

Aerosmith – “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”

Steven Tyler’s iconic pipes wailed and wailed, Steve Perry-esque harmonies warbled and warbled, and Joe Perry’s guitar riffs chopped and chopped, all in the service of a song that’s equal parts balls-out rock and campy soap opera. You can almost picture the band’s hair stylist hyperventilating as the “Dude” music video hits the airwaves.

Journey – “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”

You know the classic rock clichés – the requisite power ballad, the syrupy love lyrics, the (gasp!) sax solo. But hell, it’s a rule for a reason: “Separate Ways” is the epitome of 80’s excess. Steve Perry’s falsetto soars like a falcon diving for a hair metal-themed action figure, and Jonathan Cain’s piano riffs are the aural equivalent of a pyrotechnic explosion.

Def Leppard – “Pour Some Sugar On Me”>

This one needs no introduction. The guitar solo by itself is worth the price of admission – but the rest of the song? Forget about it. Joe Elliott’s vocals swing from gruff to giddy like a hyperactive gymnast, Phil Collen’s guitar wails like a wounded animal, and the chorus is practically begging for a chorus line full of tutu-clad backup dancers.

Fleetwood Mac – “Eyes of the World”

We know what you’re thinking: “Fleetwood Mac? Is this article a joke?” Hold up, because “Eyes of the World” is a certified slice of hair metal heaven. Sure, it’s a bit more subdued than some of its contemporaries (read: it doesn’t sound like it was recorded in a garbage dumpster with a tin foil microphone), but Lindsey Buckingham’s patented guitar squeals and Stevie Nicks’ eerie wails take this song to the stratosphere.

Bret Michaels’ Poison – “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

You know the scenario: some poor sap, heartbroken and forlorn, stumbling through the desert singing “aaahhhhs” and wailing like a wounded animal. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you get the idea – this power ballad’s got enough drama to put the opening credits of “Dynasty” to shame. And that music video? More spandex and shoulder pads than the local gym on a Saturday morning.

Bon Jovi – “Livin’ on a Prayer”

You don’t need to know the name to know this one’s a classic: the guitar intro alone is iconic enough to make you wanna crank up the amp and start shreddin’ like a mad scientist. And those vocals? Man, they’re like a symphony of wails and screams, a musical representation of a thousand screaming souls trapped in a hair metal-themed hell.

Cinderella – “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)”

Tom Keifer’s snarling vocals stalk through this power ballad like a predator on the hunt, the chorus is big enough to power a small town’s water towers, and those guitar riffs? God, those guitar riffs are a liquid metal soundtrack to the apocalypse. And did we mention the harmonies? Forget about ’em, man – they’re better than the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium.

RATT – “Round and Round”

If you’re looking for something to set your hair on fire – literally or figuratively, who knows? – look no further than this turbo-charged anthem of sleaze and swagger. Stephen Pearcy’s vocals snarl like a tomcat in heat, Warren DeMartini’s guitar rips like a T-Rex through tin foil, and the chorus? Jesus, the chorus is like a fire alarm going off in a hair salon.

Conclusion

And there you have it – the most over-the-top 80’s hair metal songs that’ll make your ears bleed from the sheer audacity of it all. These tunes are the embodiment of that era’s excess, over-the-top-ness, and sheer, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll glory. So, grab your headbanger’s hat and dive headfirst into the world of ’80s hair metal – but remember, if you’re gonna sing along, you better be prepared to lose your voice for the rest of the week.

FAQs

Q: Who’s the hair metal band I should start with?

A: Start with some of the big boys like Poison, Def Leppard, and Mötley Crüe. They’ll give you a crash course in 80’s excess.

Q: Where can I find more hair metal classics?

A: Good question! Check out the charts from ’85 to ’87, and you’ll find a treasure trove of hair metal goodness.

Q: Can I combine hair metal with other genres? (e.g., country, indie, folk)

A: Um, sure? We’ll let the hair metal purists decide on that one. For now, let’s just say these songs stand on their own and don’t need any fancy add-ons.