In the 80s - Top Ten Lists of Eighties Songs

What are your top ten favorite songs from the 80s?

This page currently edited by: Quirk. Past editor: RetroGuyDK, Absolutely Vile, Junior

By: Hugo Zumaeta
By: panos
By: KC
  • 10. Brother Louie by Modern Talking
  • 9. Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode
  • 8. It's A Sin by Pet Shop Boys
  • 7. Cheri Cheri Lady by Modern Talking
  • 6. You're My Heart You're My Soul by Modern Talking
  • 5. Sounds Like A Melody by Alphaville
  • 4. Big In Japan by Alphaville
  • 3. Self Control by Laura Branigan
  • 2. (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena by Sandra
  • 1. In The Heat Of The Night by Sandra
By: Tasha
By: tammy
  • 10. Pleasure Principle by Janet Jackson
  • 9. When Doves Cry by Prince
    i'm a huge fan
  • 8. Ribbon In The Sky by Stevie Wonder
  • 7. The Metro by Berlin
    epitimized the groups sound
  • 6. Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson
    he mastered the 80s craft
  • 5. Dress You Up by Madonna
    one of the greatest artists of any time even greater song
  • 4. Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
    its the truth!
  • 3. Sheila by Ready For The World
    one of the better r&b-rock songs
  • 2. I Would Die 4 U by Prince
    love this track
  • 1. Take My Breath Away by Berlin
    this is the eighties theme song
By: Fabio Paoleri
  • 10. Total Eclipse Of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler
    the most powerful voice of the decade.
  • 9. Every Breath You Take by The Police
    from maybe the best album of the eighties, one of the best songs ever C one of the best songs ever recorded.
  • 8. Forever Young by Alphaville
    can you spell "one shot"?
  • 7. Eye In The Sky by The Alan Parsons Project
    maybe the most beautiful sound of the eighties.
  • 6. Together In Electric Dreams by Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder
    from my favourite movie of the decade, a beautiful song by Giorgio Moroder.
  • 5. Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles
    oh, man..i was so young...
  • 4. Who Can It Be Now? by Men At Work
    funny group, great song.
  • 3. Take On Me by a-ha
    unforgettable video.
  • 2. Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield
    this is 100% eighties, at their best..
  • 1. Enola Gay by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
    and this is 100,01% eighties, full stop.
We were young and strong, and they'll always stay in our hearts. We love you, eighties!
By: paul 'nuts' davies
  • 10. (I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight by cutting crew
    my first real meaningful kiss i was shitting myself i think she thought what a pr**k
  • 9. The Race by Yello
    to all you boy racers put this on your stereo you'll feel like michael schumacher
  • 8. If Only I Could by Sydney Youngblood
    if only i could have got of with that lass last night tasty
  • 7. Valerie by Steve Winwood
    y didn't this reach no 1
  • 6. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever by Nick Kamen
    come back nick your a tool
  • 5. The Harder I Try by Brother Beyond
    um i have no comment
  • 4. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart
    not a word from your lips
  • 3. I Found Lovin' by The Fatback Band
    go on son strut your stuff
  • 2. Last Christmas by Wham!
    i dig it out every xmas am i sad i dont think so
  • 1. Suedehead by Morrissey
    a living legend
a better chart than some i've seen in the 90's charts ive never seen so much cr** blind melon who? nirvana rubbish, grunge trash at least you've heard of my choices im off to listen to the top 40 (heaven)
By: Anthony
  • 10. True Faith/ Blue Monday by New Order
  • 9. The Look by Roxette
  • 8. Forever Young by Alphaville
  • 7. The Sun Always Shines On TV/The Living Daylights by a-ha
  • 6. Send Me An Angel by Real Life
  • 5. The Great Commandment by Camouflage
  • 4. Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money) by Pet Shop Boys
  • 3. Dead Man's Party by Oingo Boingo
    One of my dads favorite songs. He told me about it about a year ago and i absolutely love it.
  • 2. Something Tells Me by Tiger Moon
    I heard this song very recently. i heard it on a Harrison Ford movie called "Frantic" Its some kind of Euro dance song but i love it, its so good. Its also a very rare song, i dont know where to get it. im dying to find it.
  • 1. You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record) by Dead Or Alive
    "WATCH OUT HERE I COME!!!" tough decision between song 1 and 2, but this will always be my favorite.
From song 4-10, the songs arent in particular order, they are all my favorite songs. 1-3 are my absolute favorites
By: Tom
  • 10. Voices Carry by 'Til Tuesday
    Personifies the synthesized, echo-like quality that so many 80's songs emulated.
  • 9. Let The Music Play by Shannon
    What a song! I have fantastic nostalgia attached to this one.
  • 8. Burning Down The House by Talking Heads
    The 80's would be the same without the efforts of this band.
  • 7. Too Shy by KajaGooGoo
    Great fun song.
  • 6. Puttin' On the Ritz by Taco
    TACO. Did that band ever make it out of the 80's?
  • 5. Pictures Of You by The Cure
    What says 80's more than the brooding depressed Robert Smith
  • 4. You Might Think by The Cars
    The Cars music and videos shaped the programming on MTV like no other band I can think of.
  • 3. Rock The Casbah by The Clash
    I can't believe I haven't seen this one on anyone else's list!
  • 2. Stray Cat Strut by The Stray Cats
    Back when Brian Setzer was thin
  • 1. Mr. Roboto by Styx
    Fantastic entry that just evokes a flood of 80's memories.
I really like this website. It reminds me of so many things about the 80's that I forgot. Keep up the great job.
By: Brian Coltharp
  • 10. Don't Know What You've Got ('Til It's Gone) by Cinderella
    As a hair band freak, I had to put at least one on here. This is another great song to play in a cover band, as long as you can sing like Tom Keifer.
  • 9. In Too Deep by Genesis
    All I have to say is Tony Banks' keyboard solo is the most nostalgic and lovey sounding thing out of the eighties. EXCELLENT song.
  • 8. Drive by The Cars
    I don't think there is any top ten list you couldn't put this song on. Great slow dance song and great all around tune. And boy am I glad Ric Ocasek didn't sing lead vox on this one ;)
  • 7. End Of The Innocence by Don Henley
    I fell in love with a girl listening to this song back in High School, so it had to be mentioned. I absolutely love the Piano in this song.
  • 6. Bad by U2
    Although I like the live version much better than the orignal, Edge's guitar licks in this one give me goosebumps every time I hear it.
  • 5. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
    As a huge Simple Minds fan, I didn't know where to rank this one, but I would also mention their song "Real Life," which is by far, one of the best most dramatic synth songs with GREAT lyrics.
  • 4. When It's Love by Van Halen
    As a keyboardist, I think this is one of the best songs to play and sing to. Great memory song to remind me of high school.
  • 3. All I Want Is You by U2
    This song makes me nostalgic and sad at the same time every time I hear it. Me and my wife chose this song as "our song." Excellent!!!!
  • 2. Head Over Heels/Broken (live) by Tears For Fears
    Great chords and lyrics. Roland Orzabal has one of the best male voices out of the eighties. The live version of Broken at the end is awesome!
  • 1. Broken Wings by Mr. Mister
    Excellent use of synthesizers, great fade out, and a great song to play in a cover band ;)
Honorable Mentions: I'll Be Over You, by Toto; These Dreams, by Heart; Hysteria, by Def Leppard; Stand or Fall, by The Fixx; Who's That Girl, by Madonna; and many many others........
By: Jasper
  • 10. Somewhere Down The Crazy River by Robbie Robertson
    I'm in awe... Out of all the lists I went through this song wasn't on any ones.
  • 9. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police
    I don't need to say any more, everyone knows this song is amazing...
  • 8. Careless Whisper/Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!
    One slow song, and one... not so slow. Listening to wake me up before you go makes me wanna run outside and throw dirt at some random person... Great songs
  • 7. In A Big Country by Big Country
    This song really grew on me, I ended up playing it too many times, but I still love it.
  • 6. Overkill by Men At Work
    Love the beat of this song, it's fast yet not... can't really explain.
  • 5. Your Love by The Outfield
    This songs makes me very happy :)...
  • 4. Hold The Line/Africa by Toto
    Another pair of great songs... GTA Vice city makes Africa even better.
  • 3. All Out Of Love by Air Supply
    Don't laugh, but I thought they were girls when I first heard them. I love this song, I sing it over and over, tad bit depressing though. :(
  • 2. Take On Me/The Sun Always Shines On TV by a-ha
    These crazy guys, I love them and their weird voices... Take on me, another high note hitter, one word of advice, do not try and sing this song, atleast not the chorus.
  • 1. Don't Stop Believin'/Any Way You Want It by Journey
    Awesome songs... I've listened to these so many times it would disgust most people. Definitly my #1 songs... I don't understand how Steve Perry hits notes so high! It's insane!
Sorry I couldn't choose only 10 songs... There are just so many good songs from the 80's !!!... If you like my list here are a few more you might like aswell Psychadelic Furs - Love My Way Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World Kajagoogoo - Too Shy Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now
By: Matt
  • 10. Things I Do For Money by The Northern Pikes
    Haven't seen this on anyone's list so I put it on. Good song by a Canadian band.
  • 9. Just What I Needed by The Cars
    A great song, I like that neat sound right after he says "wasting all my time..."
  • 8. Just Like Heaven by The Cure
    A classic, they just came out with a new cd. One of the few bands to survive the 80's.
  • 7. Invisible Sun by The Police
    I love the mood in the song.
  • 6. Pale Shelter by Tears For Fears
    My favourite by them, followed closely by Everbody Wants to Rule the World.
  • 5. Jump by Van Halen
    The keyboard is just over the top.
  • 4. White Wedding by Billy Idol
    Good song, I like the singing.
  • 3. I Ran by A Flock Of Seagulls
    Everbody knows this song.
  • 2. Any Way You Want It by Journey
    Easy to sing along to.
  • 1. Working For The Weekend by Loverboy
    Very catchy song, I love driving to it.
Weren't the 80's great?
By: Nadia
  • 10. Magic by Cars
  • 9. Sometimes When We Touch by Dan Hill
  • 8. In Your Wildest Dreams by The Moody Blues
  • 7. West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys
  • 6. Purple Rain by Prince
  • 5. Never Gonna Let You Go by Sergio Mendes
  • 4. Africa by Toto
  • 3. Eye In The Sky by Alan Parsons Project
  • 2. I'm Always Gonna Love You by Gary Moore
    Maravillosa como todas las de Gary Moore
  • 1. Broken Land by The Adventures
    La mejor de todos los tiempos, me transporta inmediatamente a Irlada con sus maravillosos sonidos celtas.
By: Bombardier
  • 10. Desert Moon by Dennis DeYoung
    This song is still great today.
  • 9. Tom Sawyer by Rush
    Rush. No explaination needed
  • 8. I Love Rock 'n' Roll by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
    I was ten. This was a badass song.
  • 7. Ebony And Ivory by Paul McCarteny & Stevie Wonder
    Just a decent song. Listenable but not too preachy.
  • 6. Money For Nothing by Dire Straits
    Mostly because of the Video. Cool song nonetheless. Straits had a lot better stuff out, though.
  • 5. Whip It by Devo
    Devo is too often downplayed in the role they had defining 80's pop culture. Praise Bob!
  • 4. On The Loose by Saga
    One hit wonder form the album "Worlds Apart"
  • 3. Mr. Roboto by Styx
    Kilroy was one of the best albums of the decade
  • 2. Our House by Madness
    I love this band
  • 1. Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder
    It's Tejano interpreted by a Brit. It's just too damn happy.
Definitely XTC was one of the best bands As was Genesis prior to 1988 Punk, all the punk.
By: Carlos Hernandez
  • 10. It's My Life by Talk Talk
    An awesome song. First time I listened to it, I repeated over and over again. So good was covered by No Doubt.
  • 9. Rio by Duran Duran
    Catchy tune, just an overall good song.
  • 8. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
    This song reminds me of a relationship I was in.
  • 7. Take On Me by a-ha
    I really love the video as it goes so well with the song.
  • 6. Don't You Want Me by Human League
    I really like to dance to this song.
  • 5. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
    I like the song's lyrics and goes especially well with "The Breakfast Club"
  • 4. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
    Just an awesome song hit the dancefloor
  • 3. Crazy For You by Madonna
    I love "Visionquest", and after a while the song grew on me.
  • 2. I Ran by A Flock Of Seagulls
    Guitar solo is awesome and song is just awesome.
  • 1. Shake It Up by The Cars
    My favorite dance song of all time, also my favorite 80's band so I had to rank this song #1
I was born in 1986, so I really didn't experience the 80's, but I am a big fan and listening to as much 80's music as I can.
By: Rachel Sommer
I love the 80s, the best song decade ever!!!!!!!!!!!
By: MC Dread
  • 10. Girls On Film by Duran Duran
    From before the time when 14 year old girls turned them into popstars. Raw, fun and a wicked guitar line.
  • 9. London Calling by The Clash
    It's like you get assaulted when you hear this one. Then you lick your wounds and play it again. Feedback good.
  • 8. Message In a Bottle by The Police
    Andy Summers is God!
  • 7. Bullet The Blue Sky by U2
    Slide guitar. If you think about it, it'll make you laugh. But if you play this one loud, it'll make your ears bleed. And the pain is so worth it.
  • 6. Birthday by The Sugarcubes
    All about the vocals. Bjork was right on for this one.
  • 5. The Killing Moon by Echo & The Bunnymen
    Give it a listen. Why it's great is immediately obvious.
  • 4. It's My Life by Talk Talk
    Drums. Voice. Writing. Drums.
  • 3. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division
    So what you can't understand what Ian's singing. The overall mood of the song, that hook and the Ian's suicide shortly after the recording makes this all the more haunting and beautiful. This is what he gave us, and then he went away.
  • 2. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye by Soft Cell
    Marc Almond was at the top of his game when this came out. Beautiful vocal, cutting lyrics, no maudlin crap, just the truth.
  • 1. Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag by Pigbag
    Hard-ass infectious dance groove with jazz horns. I dare you to keep still.
Can't say #1 is better than #10 but these represent a few of my faves from back in the day. Mention has to go to China Crisis, The Cult, Blancmange, Human League, Billy Idol, OMD, Tears for Fears, The Beat, The Cure, Madness, Simple Minds, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Ultravox, Spandau Ballet. I know I'm forgetting a shedload but hey, the 80's were a long time ago.
By: Wolf on the prowl
  • 10. Escuela De Calor by Radio Futura
    I bet no one of you knows this tune. If you like tunes performed in other languages than English, you'll surely like it. Radio Futura was one of the most important Spanish band in the 80's. In this decade all the music in Spain was very influenced by the British music, sometimes with a slight Spanish touch, as opposed to the Spanish commercial music of nowadays, very latin in general, total crap, almost. This tune 'Escuela de Calor', transl: 'School of Heat', was a successful anthem, and still use to sound (mainly in summer) in some good radio stations here in Spain. The starting lyrics: "Arde la calle al sol de poniente, hay tribus ocultas cerca del río esperando a que caiga la noche, hace falta valor, hace falta valor, ven a la escuela de calor". Transl.: "The streets are burning under the west sun, there're hidden tribes near the river, waiting for the night to come, you'll need courage, you'll need courage, come to the School of Heat".
  • 9. You Play With My Emotions by The Truth
    Dark-soul-pop
  • 8. So Many Things by The Truth
    Another great song by The Truth.
  • 7. I'm In Tune by The Truth
    A very uplifting tune to be in tune.
  • 6. It's A Miracle by The Truth
    I love this ballad!!
  • 5. Exception Of Love by The Truth
    Sounds very Spandau-ish ;)
  • 4. Cowboys by Sad Lovers & Giants
    This English band, with a dark and semi-gothic pop sound, had their success with the tune "Things We Never Did". But this one is much better IMO. Fantastic guitar sound with echoes, alongside a perfect synth background.
  • 3. Playground by The Truth
    This one sounds a little darker, but still very pop music
  • 2. Thursday Club by The Truth
    Another fantastic soul-pop tune by The Truth
  • 1. Always On My Mind by The Truth
    The Truth is one of those bands of the 80's that I discovered recently (they're British), because they didn't get the success and popularity they actually deserved, maybe because they only did a fabulous album, Playground (1985), and the following ones had very few remarkable songs. But this album Playground...I can't understand why this album didn't get a huge success. It sounds like very soulful pop, somehow like Daryl Hall & Oates, and in my opinion even greater than these ones, and somehow like Spandau Ballet. There're two good songs they performed on the following album which were used in TV series or movie soundtracks: Weapons Of Love in the sci-fi movie The Hidden (1987), and The Edge Of Town, in the TV series Miami Vice. Always On My Mind is the tune I like the most among the ones in this great awesome album called Playground, very recommendable for those who didn't know about this band yet.
Give a try to The Truth, and if there's some time left, to the song by Radio Futura. I'm sure most of you will like them.
By: Mikey
  • 10. Stop Loving You by Toto
    Hahaha....
  • 9. Always With Me Always With You by Joe Satriani
    nope.. no comment.. a beautifull melody
  • 8. Little Wing by Los Lobotomys
    Ahh.. fantastic version
  • 7. Come On Over by Joseph Williams
    Soft 2
  • 6. Africa by Toto
    Hehehe.. im a sucker ;)
  • 5. Hold On To The Night by Richard Marx
    soft
  • 4. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
    Great song
  • 3. Hard To Say I'm Sorry by Chicago
    A very najs song..
  • 2. Rising Force by Yngwie Malmsteen
    Hehe.. the wiking!
  • 1. Rosanna by Toto
    Yeap.. Im a toto fanatic!
As you can see I think TOTO ruled during th 80:s :)))
By: George
VAN HALEN Rocked the 80's and beyound...

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