The Ultimate 80s Roller Skate Night Playlist

There was nothing quite like a roller skate night in the 80s.   The music blared.  The disco lights rolled around the walls and the shiny wood-like skating floor.  Couples skate.  Backwards skate.  Fast skate songs.  Hands-in-the-air songs. (I’m looking at you, YMCA.)  Sodas at the counter.  Old, young, teens.  It was the place to be in the 80s.  (And if you’re in the 80s mood, how about some like, totally 80s memes?)

The other night, my hubby was playing music, and an old favorite came by and instantly transported me back to the skating rink. It was such a visceral response to the song that I thought I’d put the call out to my fellow Gen Xer Facebook friends and see what they remembered. Over 58 comments of memories and songs, and voila: we have an 80s Skate Night Playlist that needed to be shared.

I loved how instantly everyone could recall the songs from those days. It was a fun post—not only remembering my favorites but also reading the comments to see what others recalled. So thanks, all, for sharing your Skate memories with us.

Without further ado, your specially curated 80s Skate Night playlist brought to you the Gen Xers who skated to it, well, in the 80s. You’ll find the full list of songs below, as well as a put-together Spotify playlist ready to be saved.

Enjoy, and let your memories take you back. 

The full list of songs

1. This is How We Do it – Montell Jordan
2. Heaven is a Place on Earth – Belinda Carlisle
3. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
4. Return of the Mack – Mark Morrison
5. Jam On It – Newcleus
6. Give It to Me Baby – Rick James
7. Brick House – Commodores
8. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight – Genesis
9. Tainted Love/ Where Did Our Love Go – Soft Cell
10. Everybody Wants You – Billy Squier
11. Sister Christian – Night Ranger
12. YMCA – Village People
13. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) – Journey
14. September – Earth, Wind and Fire
15. Xanadu – Olivia Newton-John
16. Kokomo – The Beach Boys
17. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
18. Footloose – Kenny Loggins
19. Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
20. Take on Me – A-ha
21. Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi
22. You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi
23. Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon
24. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
25. Old Time Rock & Roll – Bob Seger
26. My Sharona – The Knack
27. Electric Avenue – Skindred
28. Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
29. Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang
30. Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire, The Emotions
31. Le Freak – CHIC
32. Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
33. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
34. Thriller – Michael Jackson
35. Wipeout – The Ventures
36. Rapture – Blondie
37. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
38. She’s A Beauty – The Tubes
39. Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
40. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
41. I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany
42. Only in My Dreams – Debbie Gibson
43. Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran
44. West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys
45. Dancing with Tears in My Eyes – Ultravox
46. Don’t You Want Me – The Human League
47. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
48. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
49. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
50. Open Arms – Journey
51. Rock You Like a Hurricane – Scorpions
52. Centerfold – The J. Geils Band
53. It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
54. Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne
55. Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
56. I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner
57. Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi
58. You Spin Me Round (Like a Record – Dead or Alive
59. Tainted Love – Soft Cell
60. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
61. Gloria – Laura Branigan
62. Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
63. We are the Champions – Queen
64. Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll – Vaughan Mason and Crew
65. The Power of Love – Huey Lewis and The News
66. Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
67. Come Sail Away – Styx
68. Waiting for a Star to Fall – Boy Meets Girl
69. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
70. Rosanna – TOTO
71. Invisible Touch – Genesis
72. Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car – Billy Ocean
73. Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel
74. Sara – Starship
75. Maneater – Daryl Hall & John Oates
76. Just What I Needed – The Cars
77. Little Red Corvette – Prince
78. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!
79. Vacation – The Go-Go’s
80. We Built This City – Starship
81. Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles
82. Shout – Tears for Fears
83. Twist and Shout – The Beatles
84. Karma Chameleon – Culture Club