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: KC
  • 10. Turning Japanese by The Vapours
    Another massive hit from the 80's.
  • 9. What I Like About You by The Romantics
    Fantastic guitar and excellent beat combine to make this song a winner.
  • 8. Got My Mind Set On You by George Harrison
    George proved to everyone that he could still knock out a hit.
  • 7. Dancing In The Dark by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce Springsteen was king of the 80's and this song is one of his best.
  • 6. Joey by Concrete Blonde
    The vocals on this song are fantastic. It is a heart-wrenching ballad.
  • 5. Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol
    Billy Idol has one of the sexiest voices in music, and his ode to self-love is an amazingly catchy tune.
  • 4. Beat It by Michael Jackson
    Michael Jackson's talent combined with Eddie Van Halen's explosive guitar make for a winning combination
  • 3. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
    The ultimate anthem. Everyone loves this song
  • 2. Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
    Excellent riff. The changes in the song are fantastic.
  • 1. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
    One of the greatest synth-pop hits of all time - pure 80's.
This is just a small selection from the huge array of good music from the 80's decade. Other great 80's bands include The Clash, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, The Cars, The Police, Pat Benetar, Van Halen, The Smiths, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Foreigner, John Mellencamp, Kenny Loggins, The Knack, Phil Collins and many many more.
By: The Big Valbowski
Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins, It's My Life - Talk Talk, Take On Me - A-Ha, Tarzan Boy - Baltimora, Stripped - Depeche Mode, OMD - So In Love etc etc etc........I could go on for hours. By far one of the most memorable decades for music by far......
By: brandon
i was born in 88 so i didnt get much of the 80's but i love the music that came out of it
By: Patrick
  • 10. Take On Me by a-ha
  • 9. Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
  • 8. Love Is A Battlefield by Pat Benatar
    A beautiful song by Pat...unforgettable!
  • 7. Dirty Diana by Michael Jackson
  • 6. Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
  • 5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics
  • 4. Hell's Bells by AC/DC
  • 3. Wrapped Around Your Finger by The Police
  • 2. When Doves Cry by Prince
  • 1. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
    That song is the best song ever produced and performed in the 80's. A masterpiece!
By: Matilda
Top ten forever
By: phil
  • 10. She's a Beauty by The Tubes
    Great comeback for this 70's band. The video would be censored or banned today for child abuse and fettishism.
  • 9. Original Sin by INXS
    The epitome of 80's alternative with a controversial twist!
  • 8. Wang Chung by Wang Chung
    This one get them up and dancing in dance clubs everywhere!
  • 7. Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush
    This British girl made quite an impression on the U.S. with this song. The queen of big hair with a slight resemblance to Liz Taylor!
  • 6. Church of The Poison Mind by Culture Club
    Boy he just ran right out of the closet with no holds barred!
  • 5. In a Big Country by Big Country
    This Australian (?) Band took America by storm with their one hit wonder!
  • 4. Look of Love by ABC
    This song epitomizes early 80's disco!
  • 3. Borderline by Madonna
    Only song by Madonna I really like! This song and album started the whole Madonna phenomenon in motion!
  • 2. Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
    Does this song say 80's pop culture or what?
  • 1. Higher Love by Steve Winwood
    With Chaka Khan singing back-up vocals, this song was a Grammy Winner!
By: Ernie
  • 10. A View To A Kill by Duran Duran
    Everytime I hear this song I keep remembering the video where Grace Jones jumping off the Eiffel Tower. You go girl! Something to listen to seconds before bungy jumping.
  • 9. We Built This City by Starship
    This band had different names whatever........ they were great.
  • 8. Express Yourself by Madonna
    Did she ever express herself in the 80's!
  • 7. Hold Me Now by Thomson Twins
    Great song! Loved the extended version too. To this day I still like hearing it play on the radio.
  • 6. Karma Cameleon by Culture Club
    The first time you heard it you either liked it or hated it . I thought was overplayed on the radio but then again what wasn't from Culture Club.
  • 5. Private Dancer by Tina Turner
    Catchy tune you just wanna sing along. Great vocals, great legs-man! can she strut in her videos. The album that catapulted her to greater fame.
  • 4. Dancin' the Night Away by Voggue
    Early 80's dance music. For those that never heard this song it's a girly duo from Montreal.
  • 3. Don't you forget about me by Simple Minds
    Loved this theme song from the movie " The Breakfast Club" I think was the best of all Simple Minds songs
  • 2. Sunset Grill by Don Henley
    Great drum intro, great album in general!
  • 1. Material girl by Madonna
    Hey, what can I say, it's Madonna!
By: DJ LORD BEE 34
  • 10. Something About You by Level 42.
  • 9. Let's Go All The Way by Sly Fox
  • 8. Lean On Me/why You Treat Me So Bad by Club Nouveau
  • 7. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man by Prince
  • 6. Rock Steady by The Whispers
  • 5. Catch Me I'm Falling by Pretty Poison
  • 4. Tears Not Enough by Abc
  • 3. Some Kind Of Lover by Jody Watley
  • 2. Looking For A New Love by Jody Watley
  • 1. Cassanova by Levert
By: flora
  • 10. Shot In The Night by Saphir
  • 9. Everytime by Munchner Freiheit
  • 8. Wicked Game by Chris Issak
  • 7. I Touch Myself by Blondie
  • 6. You're A Woman by Bad Boys Blue
  • 5. San Salvador by Azoto
  • 4. Mishale by Andru Donalds
  • 3. I Love To Truck by Eddy Grant
  • 2. Baby Jane by Rod Stewart
  • 1. Martinelli by Cinderella
By: Eduardo Santillán Gutiérrez
  • 10. I Still Loving You by Scorpions
    The love!! Only love!!
  • 9. Sowing The Seeds Of Love by Tears Fo Fears
    Beutifull Message
  • 8. Poison by Alice Cooper
    80´s 80´s !!!
  • 7. Open Arms by Journey
    The best ballad and beutifull lyrics and music
  • 6. With Or With Out You by U2
    One of the best song of the 80´s
  • 5. Send Her My Love by Journey
    That song rmember my girlfriend
  • 4. Love Song by The Cure
    Very beutifull
  • 3. That Was Yesterday by Foreigner
    Great song!
  • 2. Strangelove by Depeche Mode
    Depeche Mode is one important part of the 80`s music.
  • 1. Dont Stop Believen by Journey
    Journey is the very best of the musci. We love Steve Perry
By: IntheDusk
Everything by Gary Numan is beautiful!
By: Patty G
  • 10. Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
  • 9. With Or Without You by U2
  • 8. I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For by U2
  • 7. Love In The Elevator by Aerosmith
  • 6. Sweet Child O'Mine by Guns 'n' Roses
  • 5. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
    GNR! swell
  • 4. Summer Of 69 by Bryan Adams
  • 3. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You by Rod Stewart
    Yeah, I know 2 rods, but its just all worth my shame:)
  • 2. Young Turks by Rod Stewart
    Very swell
  • 1. If I Had A Rocket Launcher by Bruce Cockburn
    Greatest to my ears
Kind of lost it near the end...ha
By: DJ Lord Bee 34
  • 10. Breakout by Swing Out Sister
  • 9. Let's Go All The Way by Sly Fox
  • 8. Lean On Me/why You Treat Me So Bad by Club Nouveau
  • 7. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man by Prince
  • 6. We Got Our Own Thing by Heavy D.and The Boys
  • 5. Spread My Wings by Troop
  • 4. Tears Not Enough by Abc
  • 3. Ani't Nothing Going On But The Rent by Gwen Guthrie
  • 2. Sign Your Name Across My Heart by Terence Trent D'arby
  • 1. Cassanova by Levert
By: Kay
  • 10. The Love Cats by The Cure
    I put the Love Cats, but it could have been many, many songs by the Cure.
  • 9. How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths
  • 8. Crying Over You by Platinum Blonde
    Or anything else by this band... they had it all. The look: the hair, the make-up, the shoulder-padded blazers, the slick moves, the over-the-top videos.
  • 7. Kyrie by Mr. Mister
    Does anyone else know this band? That song was really good!
  • 6. Do They Know It's Christmas? by BandAid
    Simply cool.
  • 5. Careless whisper by Wham!
    Who has never either slow danced or cried their eyes out to this song?
  • 4. Take on Me by Aha
    The other hot band. Cool video.
  • 3. New Moon On Monday by Duran Duran
    The quintessential 80s band. I could have a DD top ten.
  • 2. Melt With You by Modern English
    Yes.
  • 1. With Or Without You by U2
    Not only the best song of the 80s, but the best song ever written.
By: DJ LB Jones
  • 10. Shake You Down by Gregory Abbott
    This was a great one hit wonder i still like this song now.
  • 9. Make It Last Forever by Keith Sewat
    This was my prom theme in 1989.
  • 8. Mercedes Boy by Pebbles
    I had the maddest crush on Pebbles when this song came out and it was in the movie licensed to drive
  • 7. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man by Prince
    This was the best song of the sign of the times album
  • 6. We Got Our Own Thing by Heavy D.and The Boys
    This is new jack swing at it's best from 1988.for a big man heavy could move.
  • 5. Rock Steady by The Whispers
    This song was produced by la reid and babyface 1987.
  • 4. Catch Me I'm Falling by Pretty Poison
    This was a great dance song in 1987 and it was in the movie "Hiding Out" with Jon Cryer
  • 3. Paradise by Sade
    Anything sade makes is beautiful.
  • 2. Cassanova by Levert
    This song was used in the movie the pick up artist and it went to number one on the R&B charts in 1987
  • 1. I Wanna Be Your Man by Roger feat. Zapp
    I danced to this song at my junior prom in 1988
By: JP
  • 10. Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield
    And finally; the 80s anthem song.
  • 9. I Wanna Rock by Twisted Sister
    ...Or is it this one?
  • 8. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns 'n' Rosesoses
    I can see that my list contains a lot of rock music, this one is more or less the 80s rock song for me.
  • 7. Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor
    You can still here this song and feel good about it, a true classic.
  • 6. Sleeping My Day Away by Disneyland After Dark
    I will never forget all the times i have partied to this song.
  • 5. The Final Countdown by Europe
    Swedish rock bands are always the best.
  • 4. The Look by Roxette
  • 3. You Spin Me Round (like A Record) by Dead Or Alive
    I guess this is a one hit wonder, still the songs symbolizes the 80s very well.
  • 2. Land Of Confusion by Genesis
    Remember the video; great fun, found it on kazaa a few years ago.
  • 1. Wild Boys by Duran Duran
    My first favorite band, will always remember them.
I just picked the greatest songs of the 80s without thinking, now I can see that I love rock music :D
By: E Lee
  • 10. Belle of St. Mark by Sheila E.
    Just love that beat.
  • 9. Suburbia by Pet Shop Boys
    My favorite from this dynamic duo.
  • 8. Rasberry Beret by Prince
    Prince is very talented. This just happens to be my favorite of his songs.
  • 7. Crazy For You by Madonna
    My favorite "slow" song
  • 6. Karma Chameleon by Culture Club
    I couldn't stand Boy George but what can I say, this one got in your head and stayed there. Has to be an 80s best.
  • 5. Red Barchetta by Rush
    The whole first side is awesome on this album ("Moving Pictures") I just like this one the best.
  • 4. True by Spandau Ballet
    What can I say about this song. The quintessential 80s song.
  • 3. Take on Me by A-Ha
    There are a whole bunch of other A-Ha songs that are great. Too bad they were a one-album wonders.
  • 2. Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds
    I just heard this song for the first time in several years and remembered every line of it.
  • 1. Pride (in The Name Of Love) by U2
    Probably the best song ever made. It rocks, catchy melody and meaningful!
I love the 80s, can't wait to build a time machine and go back!
By: Chad H.
By: Jay Cumbie
  • 10. Cure by The Love Cats
    This is the first and one of the few videos that the band looks like they are really haveing fun!
  • 9. 777-9311 by The Time
    Odd for this list, but the entire album takes me back to part of my youth!
  • 8. Bloodstains by Agent Orange
    Speed Kills, Fast Cars, Cheap Thrills, Fine Wine, whats not to like?
  • 7. Touched By The Hand Of God by New Order
    B-side to the 1988 re-release of Blue Monday, Great track!
  • 6. Somebody by Depeche Mode
    Martin sings. The song just makes sense.
  • 5. In God's Country by U2
    Beautiful song!
  • 4. Kinda I Want To by Nine Inch Nails
    Trent at his best.
  • 3. Revenge by Ministry
    Prior to Ministry's heavy days. Again the whole album is great.
  • 2. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark by New Stone Age
    Often overlooked is the Architecture & Morality is by far the best recording from OMD.
  • 1. Uncertian Smile by The The
    The Entire album is great.
10 is not enough. In no certian order, just 10 of the best in my opinion. Check out Radioio 80s. I am a huge fan of 80s music, and I host the stream, but a fan first! Jay
By: Nelson Richardson
Yeah, new wave !!!!!!!

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