The song has become one of the defining songs of the 1980s.
Notable covers include Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin in 1993, a hit dance remake by Branigan in 2004 and two 2006 versions that hit the Top 5 in various European enclaves, by Danish dance group Infernal and Spanish singer Soraya Arnelas.
The "80 of the '80s" podcast ranks Branigan's "Self Control" as the #71 song of the decade.