5 iconic 80s songs that you didn't know were covers

The 80s was an iconic era in music that spawned many outstanding hits, several of which weren't written the performers who rose to fame because of their cover versions. Cover songs are a great way to beef up a music portfolio by reintroducing a song written by someone from another era, remixed for a fresh new sound.

Throughout music history many songs have been covered, some over and over, and often times the success of the cover will outrank the original. There are many songs that reached the top 10 in its original form, only to do the same when it was covered. Examples include Willie Nelson's "You Were Always On My Mind," which reached No. 5 in 1982, then No. 4 when the Pet Shop Boys covered it in 1988, and Bananarama's No. 9 hit "Cruel Summer," which was covered by Ace of Base in 1998 reaching No. 10.

"China Girl" - David Bowie (1983

Original artist - Iggy Pop (1977)

"China Girl" was written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie for Pop's 1977 album The Idiot. He would perform the song during the album tour, in which Bowie played keyboards. IN 1983, Bowie would include his own version on his best-selling album, Let's Dance. Sadly, Pop's version failed to chart, but Bowie's would climb to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song is inspired by Pop's relationship with a Vietnamese woman. It tells of their unrequited love and his realization that his Western influences were corrupting her. Bowie used his music video as a statement against racism, featuring an interracial romance and divisive cultural perspectives.

Check out Iggy Pop's version on Spotify.

"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell (1981)

Original artist: Gloria Jones (1964)

The synth-pop version of "Tainted Love," written by Ed Cobb and originally performed by Gloria Jones in 1964, was a mega-hit for the band Soft Cell in 1981. The new wave sound was exactly what music listeners in the US sought during the Second British Invasion. The cover topped the charts in the UK and climbed to No. 8 on Billboard Hot 100. Marilyn Manson, Impedance, and more have since covered the song.

Check out Gloria Jones version on Spotify.

"Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes (1981)

Original artist: Jackie DeShannon (1974)

Kim Carnes's cover of Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon's "Bette Davis Eyes" was the best-selling single in 1982. The song won the 1981 Grammy for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The worldwide hit topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks, with a one-week interruption by "Stars on 45."

The original recording, performed by DeShannon on her 1974 album New Arrangement, was created as an R&B lite sound with an uptempo piano, steel guitar, and horns to accompany it. Carnes's version features a synthesizer-based sound, which was wildly popular in the 80s.

When Carnes' version was released, actress Bette Davis, whom the song is about, was 73 years old She reached out to Carnes, Weiss, and DeShannon to thank them all for thrusting her into modern times which in turn made her grandson look up to her.

Check out Jackie DeShannon's version on Spotify.

"The Tide Is High - Blondie (1980)

Original Artist - The Paragons (1967)

The Jamaican group The Paragons released the rocksteady single "The Tide Is High" in 1967. Written by the band's frontman, John Holt, the original was quite popular in Jamaica and in the UK after a deejay version by U-Roy was released. In 1980, the cover by the band Blondie performed in a reggae style, would climb to the top of the UK and US charts. The single is included on Blondie's Autoamerican album and became the band's third No. 1 hit.

Check out The Paragons version on Spotify.

"Cum On Feel The Noize" - Quiet Riot (1983)

Original artist - Slade (1973)

British band Slade's 1973 single "Cum On Feel The Noize" gave the band their fourth No. 1 single in the UK, a ranking it reached the first week of its release. In 1983, heavy metal band Quiet Riot released their cover of the song, which reached No. 5 on Billboard Hot 100. The single propelled their album Mental Health to become the first heavy metal album to reach No. 1 and is considered by many as the element that paved the way for the heavy metal movement in the 1980s.

Check out Slade's version on Spotify.