List of Songs About Weather from the 1980s

Ah, the Eighties...the decade Music Television—a.k.a. MTV—first hit the airwaves and actually played music—nonstop; the decade when "The Empire Struck Back" and the Philadelphia Phillies struck out; E.T. phoned home, Sally Ride became the first woman in space, and Micheal Jackson debuted the Moonwalk; M*A*S*H's 4077th folded its tents while Marty McFly and his time-traveling DeLorean journeyed "Back to the Future"; millions tuned in to watch the fairytale wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Di—and also to find out who shot J.R. Ewing.

While some musical artists focused on heavier issues, many of the era's top stars struck gold by simply sticking to something as simple as the weather. Each of the following hits contains a reference to a form of atmospheric phenomena. So, get out your "Miami Vice" jackets, and get ready to jam to these ’80s tunes that are just so very...elemental. We forecast a good time will be heard by all.

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Purple Rain

Prince performs live in Los Angeles — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Prince
1984
Rhino

It's true that rain can take many forms—drizzle, downpour, even acid rain—but prior to Prince, precipitation had never been purple. It's likely the lyrics are referencing this very phenomenon since the singer is acknowledging that the relationship with the woman he loves was never meant to be.

of 10

Against the Wind

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
1980
Capitol

Moving against the wind is sure to slow you down, but this song seems to embrace a lifestyle of choosing a more challenging, yet rewarding, path. Perhaps Seger was echoing the sentiments of poet Robert Frost who so famously wrote:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

of 10

It’s Raining Again

Rick DAVIES of SUPERTRAMP — Rob Verhorst/Getty Images

Supertramp
1982
A&M

Another relationship comes to an end and suddenly "it's raining again," but at least there's a promise of sunshine on the horizon with the lyric, "C'mon you little fighter/And get back up again."

Top Weather Songs of the 1970's

By Rachelle Oblack

of 10

Africa

Toto

1982

Columbia Records

Granted, there's no weather in the title, but there's enough rain in Africa in this song—blessed or otherwise—to flood the Serengeti. Observe:

"It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa..."

You get the idea.

of 10

It’s Raining Men

Weather Girls
1983
Sony

In this video for this classic dance hit, raindrops are transformed into a downpour of attractive men. This is one deluge the Weather Girls didn't mind getting caught in!

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Rock You Like a Hurricane

The Scorpions
1984
Mercury

The narrator in this song likens his romantic conquests to a hurricane, rushing into town, leaving destruction in his path, and then disappearing. We pity the poor groupies left reeling in the hurricane's wake.

of 10

Cruel Summer

Bananarama
1984
Wea International

Even the sunny summer days couldn't warm the broken hearts of Bananarama, or so they sang, but thanks to its appearance in the film "Karate Kid", this song was quite kind to the girl group, burning up the charts in 1984.

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Here Comes the Rain Again

Eurythmics
1984
Arista

Annie Lennox's powerful vocal delivery paired with the staccato plinking of violin strings perfectly captures the turmoil of an inner storm. As the song's narrator searches for love, the weather parallels her changing moods, "tearing me apart like a new emotion."

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Walking on Sunshine

Katrina and the Waves
1985
EMI

How would it feel to walk on sunshine? Probably really hot! But according to Katrina and the Waves, it feels good—especially when the object of her affection is around.

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Blame it on the Rain

Milli Vanilli
1989
Arista

Though a lip-syncing scandal was ultimately to blame for the downfall of boy band Milli Vanilli, the singer here tries to place the blame for a bad decision on anything other than himself—including the rain that was falling on the night that he and his lover broke up.

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Your Citation

Oblack, Rachelle. "Top 10 Weather Songs of the 1980s." ThoughtCo, Sep. 1, 2021, thoughtco.com/top-weather-songs-1980s-3444076. Oblack, Rachelle. (2021, September 1). Top 10 Weather Songs of the 1980s. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/top-weather-songs-1980s-3444076 Oblack, Rachelle. "Top 10 Weather Songs of the 1980s." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/top-weather-songs-1980s-3444076 (accessed April 25, 2024).