© Eileen Blass-USA TODAY NETWORK/© The Tennessean
“On the road again
I just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.”
It’s been more than four decades since the world grooved to Willie Nelson’s country song, a tune that perfectly summed up the artistic way of life.
Not just Nelson, the 80s actually marked a golden era for music’s global rise. This was a time when traditional music began to incorporate modern elements with emerging electronic instruments such as synthesizers, drum machines, and others.
However, the 1980s were also marked by a call to return to roots, which met with the modern rock genre to create some unforgettable tunes.
Why These Country Songs From The 1980s Are Truly Iconic
Agree or not, country music in the 80s appealed to audiences across all ages, and thus it remains one of the most-listened-to genres.
Artists like Dolly Parton, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, and George Jones frequently charted with their music albums, securing prominent spots throughout the era.
So, without any further ado, here’s a ranking of the three unforgettably iconic country songs from the 80s that continue to be relevant to date.
#3. Steve Earle’s Guitar Town (1986)
Steve Earle’s debut album, Guitar Town, was released on March 5, 1986, and topped the Billboard country album charts almost immediately. The artist was even nominated for two 1987 Grammy Awards.
It was also one of the first country music albums to be recorded digitally, thanks to the emerging digitization efforts of the time.
The popularity of Guitar Town has scaled higher since it defined the Americana genre within traditional country music. The blue-collar lyrics of the track made it relatable to audiophiles.
#2. Willie Nelson’s On The Road Again (1980)
One of the most prominent country folk singers, Willie Nelson, recorded On The Road Again in August 1980. The track became one of his biggest pop hits in his career and even won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song the following year.
As far as trivia goes, did you know Nelson bagged the offer to compose this song after he wrote an instant track about a barf bag during a flight?
That’s true because it was only then that executive producer Jerry Schwartzberg extended the offer to compose it for his film, Honeysuckle Rose. And the rest became history as fans could resonate with the themes of freedom and travel that were imbued in it.
#1. Kenny Rogers And Dolly Parton’s Islands In The Stream (1983)
Nearly every list of country songs from the ’80s would surely be incomplete without the mention of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s Islands In The Stream. Released in August 1983, the track topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the USA.
Besides its album release, Kenny and Dolly also released a studio version and a live version of the song in 1998 and 2001, respectively. The name of the song takes reference from Ernest Hemingway’s novel.
Speaking of its popularity, Islands In The Stream rose to fame as the first-ever crossover duet song in the country music genre. Over the years, it has become a part of pop culture.
Does any other country song from the 80s deserve a spot in this list? Let us know in the comments!