What is the best hair metal song for each year from 1981 to 1991? Check out Loudwire’s selections below, along with the runner-up song for each year.

The list below illustrates the evolution of the glam metal subgenre (later mockingly called “hair metal”) over a decade, from its seedy Sunset Strip beginnings to its peak and eventual decline.

While it might seem more logical to confine this list to a single clean decade (1980-1989), that approach doesn’t quite work for glam metal. The genre truly began to take shape when Motley Crue released their gritty debut album, Too Fast for Love, in 1981.

READ MORE: The Heaviest Song by 11 Big Hair Metal Bands

Even though the genre was nearing peak saturation by 1989, glam metal bands continued to enjoy a few more years of success before the entire scene collapsed in 1991 with the rise of grunge and the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind.

Throughout this period, you’ll notice how the glam metal sound evolved slightly as its popularity increased. The albums and songs released at the beginning of the decade had a raw, sleazy, gritty sound influenced by glam rock, punk, and proto-metal bands from the ’70s. However, as glam metal proved its commercial potential, bands received larger recording budgets, labels hired top producers and external songwriters, leading to a more radio-friendly sound.

Of course, bands and producers eventually went overboard with that polished sound, causing the glam metal subgenre to unintentionally become self-parodying. A change was needed — yet even as they faded away, these bands produced some excellent tracks.

Continue reading to discover the best hair metal song and runner-up for every year from 1981 to 1991.

Want more hair metal? Keep reading to find out the best hair metal band for each letter of the alphabet:

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