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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: Solace
  • 10. Don't Cry by Guns N Roses
  • 9. Cum On Feel The Noize by Quiet Riot
  • 8. Drive by The Cars
  • 7. Girls, Girls, Girls by Motley Crue
  • 6. Take On Me by A-Ha
  • 5. Straight Up by Paula Abdul
  • 4. Here I Go Again by White Snake
  • 3. Is This Love? by White Snake
  • 2. Every Rose Has It's Thorn by Poison
  • 1. Red, Red Wine by UB40
Eighies music is by far the best. Picking a top 10 was really difficult because there are so many great songs from this era.
By: Gerina Dunwich
LONG LIVE THE 80'S!!!
By: Amy
  • 10. Material Girl by Madonna
    Cuz we are living in a material world and (unfortunately) I am a material girl.
  • 9. Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi
    Bon Jovi is one of the greatest bands ever and this song was just a whole lotta fun.
  • 8. Superfreak by Rick James
    It's my theme song. And hey, MC Hammer sampled it so it must be awesome! Haha!
  • 7. You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC
    It's a classic.
  • 6. Wake Me Up by Wham!
    I did a dance routine to this when I was...10ish. Its so fun and catchy.
  • 5. Is This Love by Whitsnake
    See #4
  • 4. Here We Go Again by Whitesnake
    Whitesnake ROCKED! They are the ultimate 80s Hair Band.
  • 3. Take My Breath Away by Berlin
    Love the song. Love the movie.
  • 2. Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leopard
    The ULTIMATE party song. Whenever I hear it, I just want to dance and I usually do.
  • 1. Caribbean Queen by Billy Ocean
    This, apparently, was my first favorite song. My mother said whenever this song came on, I would start moving in the womb. Maybe it was because I couldn't stand it or maybe I actually did like it. Whatever the case, it's always had a special place in my heart. A weird little story is that on my 13th birthday (March 19, 1998), my local Top 40 radio station did their usual Top 8 at 8 which is like a call-in request show and whichever songs get the most votes get on the countdown. Well, come to my surprise, the number one song was Carribbean Queen by Billy Ocean. Some how, that song had been the number one most requested that day and I had nothing to do with it. I had to run downstairs and tell my mom because it was quite a strange moment.
By: Jason Rizos
  • 10. No One Is To Blame by Howard Jones
    This song is way cool. Nice transitions in this song.
  • 9. Peekaboo by Siouxie And The Banshees
    As far as I know, the only hit from an incredibly innovative 80's band. "Halloween" is also a great song.
  • 8. Holding Back The Years by Simply Red
    No band has so much reserved passion and mellow smoothness.
  • 7. Say You, Say Me by Lionel Richie
    Best male vocalist of all time. So many terrific songs to choose from. "Hello" is also great. "Still" too.
  • 6. Material Girl by Madonna
    She's having so much fun singing this tune, and it was her mantra at the time. You rule, Madonna!
  • 5. Walking On Sunshine by Katrina And The Waves
    Watch "American Psycho." Then you will know how fun this song can be.
  • 4. Time After Time by Cindy Lauper
    Heck, MILES DAVIS covered this for cryin' out loud! Terrific tune.
  • 3. In The Mood by Robert Plant
    Terrific albulm for a man bold enough to venture away from Zeppelin. "Ship of Fools" is also excellent. Really cool guitar on this albulm, "Film at 11."
  • 2. Many Miles Away by Police
    So hard to pick just one Police Song. This one has the most energy. I love it.
  • 1. Always Something There To Remind Me by Naked Eyes
    I can't hear this without remember the public pool, every summer day, for about six years, I heard this song each time. By far the best of the 80's, and the "most definitive" as well. Maybe.
I was merely 5 years old when the 80's began. I still remember the day, in 1980, cable TV was installed in our home. And MTV was a good thing. I'm trying to keep with the "pop" vein that everyone else here mostly follows. This is not a list of the most "definitive" songs of the 80's - I've left that to everyone else. These are my favorite pop tunes. This was very hard and lots of great songs didn't make the list. A few snuck in without being Pop songs.
By: Natalie
By: S Mohammed
  • 10. Things Can Only Get Better by Howard Jones
    CHECK THIS GUYS HAIR OUT!!!!!
  • 9. Beat It by Michael Jackson
    Cool Song......
  • 8. Out Of Touch by Hall And Oates
    Featured in the game GTA: VICE CITY.....great game!
  • 7. Dont You Forget About Me by Simple Minds
    Their from glasgow.....so am I.....SCOTLAND....SCOTLAND ROCKS!!!
  • 6. Gold by Spandau Ballet
    nothin to say about this song
  • 5. Africa by Toto
    ..........has this guy actually been to africa?
  • 4. I Ran by A Flock Of Seagulls
    "i ran, i ran so far away"......and whats with their band name
  • 3. She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals
    does she really drive him that crazy???
  • 2. Pale Shelter by Tears For Fears
    head this song from GTA: vice city
  • 1. Dont You Want Me Baby by The Human League
    one of the best songs of the 80's!!....and their BRITISH!!
Living in a box came in close at #11..... Can anyone tell me whats their obsession with boxes. Their group name is living in a box, their first and probably best sing is living in a box and their album is living in a box....have they gone mad?........" woke up this morning, closed in in all sides nothin doooin!!"
By: Mike Homan
  • 10. Boys Of Summer by Don Henley
    Classic 80's tune with a classic 80's video.
  • 9. Out Of Touch by Hall And Oates
    One of my many favorites from Hall and Oates! They were one of the defining duo's of the 80's.
  • 8. The Promise by When in Rome
    A great one hit wonder!!
  • 7. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
    Classic 80's ballad. From the movie Say Anything I believe.
  • 6. Borderline by Madonna
    One of Madonna's earlier hits, which I believe was her best.
  • 5. After The Fall by Journey
    One of my favorite Journey song's.
  • 4. In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
    Crockett and Tubbs. Need I say more?
  • 3. Here Comes The Rain Again by Eurythmics
    Awesome video!! My favorits Eurythmics song.
  • 2. In a Big Country by Big Country
    Great one hit wonder, with a great video.
  • 1. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
    In my opinion Michael's best song of the 80's.
Awesome web site!!! This is my second top ten list!!! There will probably be many more to come.
By: Tom
  • 10. House Of Pain by Faster Pussycat
  • 9. Cum On Feel The Noize by Quiet Riot
  • 8. Let's Get Rocked by Def Leppard
  • 7. Seventeen by Winger
  • 6. Once Bitten Twice Shy by Great White
  • 5. Edie (Ciao Baby) by The Cult
  • 4. Walk This Way by Aerosmith feat. Run D.M.C.
  • 3. Home Sweet Home by Mötley Crüe
  • 2. Paradise City by Guns N' Roses
  • 1. Every Rose Has It's Thorn by Poison
By: Rasmus Pilgaard
  • 10. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    A great one-hit wonder from 83'.
  • 9. When The Going Gets Tough by Billy Ocean
    A feel-good song from Billy Ocean. Has always been a favourite of mine.
  • 8. Video Killed The Radio Star by Buggles
    A very catchy tune
  • 7. Fade To Black by Metallica
    Metallica's first slow song. A very good song.
  • 6. Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor
    Silly video, but a very good song indeed
  • 5. I Love Rock & Roll by Joan Jett
    She couldn't be more right
  • 4. Don't You Want Me by Human League
    An early 80's song, with a good synthesizer. Really 80's.
  • 3. Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen
    The best the boss has ever made
  • 2. Paradise City by Guns N'Roses
    A real rock anthem, from GNR first album, Appetite For Destruction.
  • 1. Every Breath You Take by The Police
    The most played song ever on radio, and the best song from the 80's. As simple as that
By: Shara Browning
  • 10. C'est La Vie by Robbie Nevil
    good song to sing loud on the dance floor - adios amigo
  • 9. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox
    not bad
  • 8. Wouldnt It Be Good by Nick Kershaw
    just an old fav song of mine
  • 7. Classic by Adrian Gurvitz
    and what a classic this song is - love the words in the background of the chorus
  • 6. Room In Your Heart by Living in A Box
    another classic love song
  • 5. Slave To Love by Brian Ferry
    i Just Love This Song
  • 4. Missing You by John Wait
    If u Miss Someone Dont Be listerning to this track without a hanky
  • 3. Automatic by Pointer Sisers
    just gets better on the dance floor
  • 2. I Cant Wait by Nu Shooz
    another 80s floor mover
  • 1. Hanging On A String by Loose Ends
    cool dance song of the 80s
By: Oscar Blanco
There's simply too many songs to choose from.. Everytime I look at my list I think I should switch and add some other song. Mostly I made my choices not only out of what I still like to hear most (same problem I already mentioned) but also as to good representations of the styles we heard during the 80's.
By: Brett Vogel
  • 10. True by Spandau Ballet
    What is a Spandau Ballet anyway? "True" is an 80's classic that still graces the airways on a weekly basis on many soft music stations.
  • 9. In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
    There were always a lot of Urban legends surrounding this song. The Line "You told me you were drowning, but I would not lend a hand, I've seen your face before my friend, but I don't know if you know who I am. Because I was there and I saw what you did. Saw it with my own two eyes. So you can wipe off that grin. I know where you've been. It's all been a pack of lies." evoked rumours of Phil punishing someone for rape that was committed to Phil letting someone die due to other mysterious circumstances. If I could interview Phil today, I would ask him what those lyrics were referring to.
  • 8. Always Something There to Remind Me by Naked Eyes
    The song characterizes the decade of the 80's. Everyday I think of something that reminds me of that great decade. I went from entering high school to graduating from college and getting my first real job all in the 80's.
  • 7. I Melt With You by Modern English
    It's too bad they couldn't produce any other songs that had the sound like this one. Our grandchildren will like this song!
  • 6. Silver by Echo And The Bunnymen
    Lots of Alliteration in this song. ...Living proof at my fingertips. No other group originated as unique a sound as Echo and the Bunnymen. I still listen to them as often as I can.
  • 5. Save A Prayer by Duran Duran
    Eerily peaceful!
  • 4. New Song by Howard Jones
    Simple and effective. Howard Jones was an original and creative musician and song writer!
  • 3. We Close Our Eyes by Go-West
    Not super popular on the radio...but one of my all time favorites.
  • 2. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
    Great Beat. I could never get sick of listening to this song.
  • 1. Blue Monday by New Order
    The Quintessential Dance Song. Does anyone remember Videopolis at Disneyland from 1985-1988. It was the coolest place to dance in the history of dancing. It was an outdoor dance place with over a Hundred TV screens of all different sizes. Song videos played while you danced and cameramen filmed you and put you on the big screens while you were dancing. It was an Outdoor place, which made it even more fun and at 9:30 p.m. every night during the summer they would shoot off fireworks and play the extended re-mix version of Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Summers were never the same once they closed Videopolis!
If there are any Videopolis Alumni out there I would love to here from you. I met my wife there in 1986 and we are still going strong 17 years later. E-mail me at bvogel7475@aol.com.
By: Kaitlyn
By: Debra Antone
  • 10. Knocked Out by Paula Abdul
    I like watching her videos because I wish I could dance like that!!! Paula is Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly reincarnated!!!
  • 9. Disturb The Silence by Depeche Mode
    Very hypnotic beat I never get tired of this song!!!!!!
  • 8. In The Heat of The Night by Whitesnake
    Good Looks, Sexy Voice, what more can you ask for???
  • 7. Bark At The Moon by Ozzy Ozbourne
    This video scared the crap out of my son, but now he is a number one fan of the Ozzman!!!!
  • 6. To Live And Die In LA by Wang Chung
    I never liked "Dance Hall Days" but this tune is soooo dark and brooding, music doesn't always have to be peppy and happy
  • 5. Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears
    This song still gives me the CHILLS!!! no further explaination needed!!!
  • 4. Hot For Teacher by Van Halen
    No matter what anyone says about "Diamond Dave" his vocals can wake my ass better than coffee.
  • 3. Rocked You Like A Hurricane by Scorpion
    Hey you can't help but move your head back and forth to this one.
  • 2. Shout At The Devil by Motley Crue
    Seen their reunion act three years ago, Vince Neil is still sexy and rivetting as ever!!!!
  • 1. Back In Black by AC/DC
    Hard-driven, rebellious, the way rock and roll should always be
Thank God for Metalhead and other artists having guts to go against the the oh so bland norm!!! I would have given up on MTV altogether!!!!
By: HeyJoe
  • 10. Guns In The Sky by INXS
    another good, genuine rock band that died-off way before their time.
  • 9. Stigmata by Ministry
    Al Jougensen: The godfather of things to come later.
  • 8. Someone Just Like You by Bang Tango
    Another band, highly underrated. I would have like to have seen these guys get further as I would have, Tesla also.
  • 7. She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult
    These guys are second, only to Led Zeppelin as far as the best hard rock bands in the world...EVER!
  • 6. Have A Drink On Me by AC/DC
    You gotta admit, Back In Black was a phenomenal album!
  • 5. Serpentine by Kings Of The Sun
    These guys were underrated.
  • 4. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by Hanoi Rocks
    They owe a lot to the New York Dolls
  • 3. Talk Dirty To Me by Poison
    Fun, Three Stooges rock.
  • 2. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns -N- Roses
    Finally, someone who figured it out in the 80's!
  • 1. Rock You Like A Hurricane by Scorpions
    Damn good German metal! BLISTERING solo from Matthias!
I could go on and on...but there's not enought time and space. I realize I left out U2, The Clash, Bauhaus, yadda yadda yadda.....but these were the first ten songs that immediately came to my mind. Happy listening! Joe.
By: neil johnson
  • 10. Black Celebration, New Life, Dreaming Of Me by Depeche Mode
    or Behind the Wheel, Never Let Me Down, Stripped,
  • 9. Killer by Adamski
    suddenly there was this rave type stuff on top of the pops and i could see what i was going to be getting up to in the 90s!
  • 8. Pulled to Bits, Cascade, Cities in Dust by Siouxsie & the Banshees
    used to be in love with siouxsie sioux (just a little bit)
  • 7. Lose My Breath by My Bloody Valentine
    can't believe i nearly forgot this one! if you dont have it, kazaa it!
  • 6. Say A Prayer Or Planet Earth by Duran Duran
    can't decide what their best tune was, but the best video was girls on film... dont see how you could make an 80s chart without including Le Bon et al.
  • 5. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division
    yes it was an 80s record, released after Ian Curtis hanged himself his kitchen. Must have been those MFI units. Seriously though, did you know that he knelt forward into the noose whilst on his knees, and therefore could have stopped at any time but chose not to?
  • 4. Just Like Heaven, Lullaby, In Between Days, Faith by The Cure
    again could have picked a number of sonds here. Long Live Cap'n Bob. did u ever hear the Dinosaur Jr cover?
  • 3. What Difference Does it Make? by The Smiths
    could have picked any number of songs here. anyone who says the smiths were depressing must have had a sense of humour bypass.
  • 2. Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles
    another band who went on to make some right shite.
  • 1. Straight Up by Paula Abdul
    top pop - she went on to sing with an animated rabbit, which i felt was less good...
I've omitted New Order because choosing one song of theirs i have found to be impossible. They made the 80s in the UK. Other than that, my tunes are not in any order. i'm glad to see that the 80s are fondly remembered. each decade will always have its moments of genius and drivel. for people who didn't like the saccharine pop of the charts, there were a few alternatives. i don't like to dismiss an entire genre (that would be foolish) but i think it's sad that heavy metal flourished as much as it did in the 80s. i won't miss those Poodles of Rock... with their power chords, agression and repackaged blues. anyway, other things i liked: Julian Cope - Charlotte Anne; Soft Cell - Tainted Love & Say Hello Wave Goodlye; Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls, Rent;
By: Phil Loosvelt
  • 10. Every Breath You Take by Police
    Not bad.
  • 9. Strut by Sheena Easton
    Wow.
  • 8. Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles
    Nice.
  • 7. Red Red Wine by UB 40
    Catchy!
  • 6. Mony Mony by Billy Idol
    Great!
  • 5. Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
    Cool!
  • 4. Nasty by Janet Jackson
    Disrespectful, but a cool song!
  • 3. Material Girl by Madonna
    Good Song.
  • 2. Safety Dance (Extended Version) by Men Without Hats
    Catchy!!!
  • 1. It Takes Two by Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock
    Terrific song!!!
It was kind of hard to choose my last favorites
By: Carrie
I obviously enjoy Depeche Mode. All of these aren't necessarily my favourite DM songs however the others such as Enjoy The Silence, Policy of Truth, etc were released in the 90's! A few honorable mentions would have to be culture club, frankie goes to hollywood, new order, omd, joy division, tears for fears, etc!
By: Alyx Anderson
  • 10. Once In A Lifetime by Talking Heads
  • 9. Maniac by Mike Semballo
  • 8. Shake It Up by The Cars
  • 7. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    Mixed celtic folk w/ 80's music.
  • 6. Hysteria by Def Leppard
  • 5. Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol
  • 4. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
    Excellent song! Breakfast Club**
  • 3. If You Leave by Orchestral Manouvers In The Dark
    Great song in the best film ever...."Pretty in Pink"
  • 2. Sunglasses At Night by Corey Hart
    What Can I say? Wear sunglasses at night!!
  • 1. Jenny/867-5309 by Tommy Tutone
    Come on, this song is an icon, i know this # better than i know my own phone #!!!
By: Jonah Falcon
  • 10. Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
    Oh, there are many, many more...
  • 9. Steppin' Out by Joe Jackson
    Excellent song
  • 8. Whip It by Devo
    Another catchy song about masturbation...
  • 7. Africa by Toto
    It's always haunted me.
  • 6. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
    You can't be from the 80's and not love this song.
  • 5. Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol
    Another catchy song about masturbation...
  • 4. Cars by Gary Numan
    Who didn't love this cold, unemotional song?
  • 3. Turning Japanese by The Vapors
    Catchy song about masturbation...
  • 2. Always Something There To Remind Me by Naked Eyes
    Does anyone know this is an oft-covered Burt Bacharach song from the late 50's?
  • 1. Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles
    Yes, I know - it's a 1979 song. However, it didn't gain popularity til long after its 1981 MTV debut.
"Our House" (Madness), "Major Tom (Coming Home)" (Peter Schilling), "Mr. Roboto" (Styx), "Time" (The Alan Parsons Project), "Life In A Northern Town" (The Dream Academy), "99 Luftballons" (Nena), "Bette Davis Eyes" (Kim Carnes), anything by the B-52's, anything by Billy Joel... I could go on...

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