5 Paintings that Pair With 80s Songs

Have you ever picked up a bottle of wine and read the label? It usually has a line somewhere that reads, "this medium-body red has a sweet cherry aroma that pairs well with steak and potatos…" or something like that. Those of us who aren't culinary scholars or wine-tasting experts are usually left thinking: where do they come up with this stuff? But there is a science behind it!

At ArteVino, we think music pairs very well with art. To prove it, we've picked some of the most beloved 80s songs and "paired" them with some of our favorite paintings that our artists have created for our gallery. Don't worry—we'll explain why it works! If you can imagine in your mind's ear the tune of the songs we will reference, it will help you take in the experience!

1. Sweet Dreams - The Eurythmics

For this hit song, we picked "Second Star on the Right," because the bold, colorful clouds in the background reflect the musical experimentation culminated in "Sweet Dreams." The way the cloud pillars twist and turn is the perfect vision to match the whirlwind romance between the musical duo who wrote the song together. Tinkerbell hovering around Big Ben gives us a great vision to swallow with the line "Sweet dreams are made of this" as well as "I've traveled the world and the seven seas" because both ask us to deal with the mysteries of space and time.

2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

"Empire State Sunset" is our choice for this Michael Jackson favorite. The Empire State building is tall, bold and catches the eye of the viewer just like the bass hook in "Billie Jean" catches the ear of the listener. The pattern of rolling clouds over the smooth but vibrant background is just perfect for Michael Jackson's music! The backdrop is bright, funky and fun, while the subject in the foreground is serious and grounded.

3. Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi

"Gina dreams of runnin' away," gives us such an interesting narrative about a young romance. "San Fran '67" does just the same for us! In both the song and the partner painting, we are given only a few details of a scene and are left to project our own stories and longings onto that faceless, mystery couple. For both, there is a lot of excitement and dreaming about the road ahead!

4. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler

Both this song and our partner painting "City of Lights" are anchored on a reference to the cosmos. Both suggest the repetition of something falling and rising and call our minds to the things that are eternal ("forever's gonna start tonight"). The mirrored buildings in the water make us feel calm and reflective like the melodic voice of Bonnie Tyler recalling her heartbreak.

5. When Doves Cry - Prince

Our newest glow-in-the-dark painting gives us a visual play between the rigid, dark and vertical tree trunks and the delicate flight of the fireflies. The forest theme fits well with the "animals strike curious poses" vision that Prince is creating for us. Finally, when the chorus comes up, Prince removes all instruments but the drums and xylophone. When we view "Firefly Flight" in the dark - we only see hints of the forest background, and the fireflies themselves have a chance to shine.

So what did you think of our pairings list? Does it inspire you to express yourself?

You can relive these 80s hits and others with a painting class that includes 80s KARAOKE!! If you love painting and singing your heart out, join us for the most entertaining paint and sip class ever!