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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: Joćo de Mancelos
  • 10. Luka by Suzanne Vega
    heil to the poet of harlem.
  • 9. Vienna by Midge Ure And The Ultravox
    what a strange and engaging sound! «vienna means nothing to me». didn't it, really?
  • 8. Heaven by Bryan Adams
    i must have listened to this one a hundred times. at night. in bed. it was one of teh most touching and straight forward songs of the eighties.
  • 7. Take On Me by A-ha!
    norway should be proud of these guys. perhaps they didn't change the history of music, but they surely changed many hearts.
  • 6. Where The Streets Have No Name by U2
    probably one of their best songs. the concquered the usa with this one.
  • 5. Drive by Cars
    i heard this one during the live aid. it was being played on the radio. it was summer. and it was raining outside my window.
  • 4. Kayleigh by Marillion
    this band was sensitive, bright and delightfully aware of the complexities of love. a great song from the album misplaced childhood.
  • 3. Tides by Claire Hammil
    wow. the birth of new age.
  • 2. Big In Japan by Alphaville
    the chill that came from germany. a strong and at the same time beautiful song.
  • 1. Dancing In The Dark by Bruce Springsteen
    the boss at his best. the lyrics are simply beautiful.
those were great years. i was growing up, there were endless summers and all teh dreams were still possible...
By: Sarah D.
  • 10. Culture Club by Time
    I admit, Boy George is the KING!!
  • 9. Black Planet by Sisters of Mercy
    I love the refrences to Los Angeles
  • 8. Stigmata by Bauhaus
    I first heard this song in the cheesy 80's movie "Night of the Demons" - this song is responsible for making me a goth in the 1st place!! And who doesn't love Mr. Ash??!!
  • 7. Too Shy by Kajagoogoo
    God, this song was just soo good!
  • 6. Burning Up by Madonna
    Early Madonna was the best & whether you're punk, goth, glam, new wave or pop - this song is a must!
  • 5. Don't you want me by Human League
    Fab song & fab singer!!
  • 4. Charlotte Sometimes by the Cure
    From the best group of the 80's (& beyond) & their best song
  • 3. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
    Cliche, I know, but still great!
  • 2. Brand New Moon by Gene Loves Jezebel
    Easily the most under-rated band of all time!! They were sooo awesome & original - & such a great sound!! Deserved much more than they got
  • 1. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
    One of the best 80's dance tracks
God, so many great songs to choose from...after all, the 80's were THE best time in music!! Um, let's see: anything by Motley Crue (still my fave), Hanoi Rocks, the Cult, Depeche Mode, LA Guns, Faster Pussycat, Guns n Roses, Bowie, the Stones, Specimen, Christian Death (I love Rozz AND Valor, thank you..),Inxs (God rest Michael..), Iggy, Toilet Boys, Marvelous 3, Strokes, Donnas, etc..(ok, so some of these are 90's/'00's, so sue me). :)
By: Ryan
  • 10. Take The Money And Run by Steve Miller Band
  • 9. Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
  • 8. Barracuda by Heart
  • 7. Cum On Feel The Noise by Quiet Riot
  • 6. Back In Black by ACDC
    hey acdc cant go wrong
  • 5. I Wanna Rock by twisted sister
    if u wanna rock
  • 4. Paint It Black by Rolling Stones
    stones always good
  • 3. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by ACDC
    if u dont like acdc why are u living
  • 2. TNT by ACDC
    AWSOME
  • 1. Janies Got A Gun by Aerosmith
    if u like well done music listen to this band
i love u
By: Big G
  • 10. West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys
    Proof that white men can rap. : )
  • 9. The Reflex by Duran Duran
    Truly an 80s anthem if there ever was one. The Reflex came at the summit of their amazing career, it also marked the slow slide downward.
  • 8. 99 Luftballons by Nena
    Amazing political commentary....too bad the English version was watered down with PC.
  • 7. Der Kommisar by Falco
    Yes, the only reason to love this song is the memories it brings back of your high school cheerleaders dancing to it.
  • 6. Jump by Van Halen
    Back when MTV was actually watched as a medium for understanding what the corporate music world wanted us to think "what is hot".
  • 5. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    I don't like him, but what an acheivement from this guy who actually seemed half normal during the 80s.
  • 4. Major Tom by Peter Schilling
    If you can not admit to dancing like a complete idiot to this song, then you are not a deserving contributor to this list!
  • 3. Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
    Let's face it, we were all a bit rebelious back then!
  • 2. Every Breath You Take by The Police
    Sting may have totally sold out with this album, but at least it funded his later work!
  • 1. Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode
    Come on folks, what song better sums up the excesses and pop beat/melodic synth line than this 80s icon?
By: alf
  • 10. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N Roses
  • 9. Dont Worry, Be Happy by Bobby Mcferrin
  • 8. Lullaby by The Cure
    smith talent
  • 7. Take On Me by A-ha
    classic but much better the reel big fish cover
  • 6. Go West by Pet Shop Boys
    GOOD
  • 5. The Trooper by Iron Maiden
    heAVY
  • 4. Dueling Banjos by Deliverance
    Original
  • 3. Iron, Lion Zion by Bob Marley
    KING
  • 2. Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
    nice
  • 1. Sweet Child O Mine by Guns N Roses
    Best Of All Time
GUNs and roses, and Bob marley are the best of 80'
By: matt
  • 10. Telegraph Road (Live) by Dire Straits
    Bow to the master of steel guitar!!!
  • 9. Sounds Of Then by Gangagang
  • 8. Am I Evil? by Metallica
    Metal was huge in the 80's. This band had balls so to speak. Made me grow long hair and think about getting a tattoo. Testosterone music.
  • 7. Power & the Passion by Midnight Oil
    I'm an Aussie. Aussies love the Oils. Just broke up after 25 years together. Great sounding band.
  • 6. Lets Go Crazy by Prince
    Gotta love that Guitar Solo. This guy had talent. A multi-Instrumentalist. Jamiroquai must have got their style from this guy. Funky stuff.
  • 5. Love Missile by Sigue Sigue Sputnik
    I was very alternative yet very catchy. Bought their tape just for this song. Great 12" version as well.
  • 4. I Feel 4 U by Chakka Khan
    Strong sexual overtones in this song. Got me thinking about loosing my virginity back in '84.
  • 3. Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
    Good one to dance to in the shower.
  • 2. Bullet The Blue Sky by U2
    An almighty powerful song with a great beat. Never released as a single but there best in my book. Off the Joshua Tree - their biggest album. Made them huge.
  • 1. Slave To The Rhythm by Grace Jones
    The 12" version of this song is awesome!! Nobody remembers the good old 12" popular in the 80's. This was one of the best for sure. Her only good song.
By: Imran Mohammed
  • 10. Always On My Mind by Pet Shop Boys
    A fantastic record that reminds you of the 80s whenever you hear it! My fave Pet Shop Boys hit. I'm sure 99% of people will love this track
  • 9. This Is Planet Earth by Duran Duran
    This is such great sounding song and is my fave duran duran hit. This just beat "Girls on Film" by a whisker! You have to hear it!
  • 8. Obsession by Animotion
    A classic 80s hit that I only heard recently. It sounds aggressive whilst being distinctively 80s! I love it!
  • 7. I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock of Seagulls
    I heard this song recently when I got the new video game "Grand Theft Auto: vice city". let me tell u, this song is awesome, nuff said. The voice and beat and lyrics are perfect.
  • 6. Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears for Fears
    This song is so 80s, its so great too! Their best hit IMHO, it is definetly one of the best songs ever made.
  • 5. When Will I Be Famous? by Bros
    I love this song! This boy band didnt last long but this song among some of their other ones will survive as the great songs of this great decade. It may be a little long, but it still is awesome. I love the rebel feel to it!
  • 4. Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
    This song is great. this guy was german and recently died. this song is all in german but it was no.1 in britain for a while! I love this song! Come on Rock me Amadeus!
  • 3. Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds
    This song is definatly one of the best songs ever. This group is Scottish, like me! I live in the same street as the lead singer btw! This song sounds amazing and its great to listen to if you are in the car. Long live simple minds. This song just beat their other song which I like "Glittering Prize", which is also awesome!
  • 2. Don't You Want Me by The Human League
    Ah this song is awesome. It may be quite old but it sounds fantastic. I sang this song at my schools talent show! This song just beat their other fantastic hits, most notably, "Human", "The Lebanon" and "Love Action". this song has a great rythm and synth beat to it. vocals are excellent.
  • 1. Living In A Box by Living In A Box
    You must hear this song! A fantastic song from 1987 it was a chart hit everywhere! This is my favorite song of all time. This was Living in a Box's first and best hit. What can I say! this song has awesome energised lyrics and a great beat. I have made a web-site devoted to the group as this song is so good. the music video for this song is also great! Sounds really really good! hear it now!!! This is such an excellent song I never sop hearing it. #I'm a living in a box! I'm a living in a cardboard box!#
Well, the 80s was THE greatest decade for music. The songs were... awesome! Here are some other songs that didnt make the Top 10 but are so good they deserve a mention: New Order - Blue Monday, Black Box - Ride On Time, Frnkie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes, J Geils Band - Centerfold, A-Ha - Take on Me, Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy, Michael Jackson - Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Bad. Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up, Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again, Prince - 1999, Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams, Go West - We Close Our Eyes, Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better, Soft Cell - Tainted Love
By: Mark
  • 10. Sex Dwarf by Soft Cell
    Excellent club favorite, especially the remix complete with Marc Almond screaming orgasm break!!
  • 9. Situation by Yazoo / Yaz
    YAZ or YAZOO as they were known in the United Kingdom later disbanded to form the now very successful ERASURE.
  • 8. Everyday Is Halloween by Ministry
    Do you remember dancing in black to this song?
  • 7. Stranger by Xymox
    A great song for club mixing
  • 6. The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight by Dominatrix
    Awesome classic!
  • 5. Don't You Want Me? by Human League
    Euro-Pop New Wave dance.
  • 4. New York by Microchip League
    A very popular club track with djs and clubbers alike. Great synth with "vocodor" robot voice.
  • 3. Join In The Chant by Nitzer Ebb
    Nitzer Ebb was very electro/industrial/punk. "Join In The Chant" will get the dancefloor packed!
  • 2. Hit That Perfect Beat by Bronski Beat
    One of the first successful gay bands of the '80s. The remix of this song is awesome!
  • 1. You Spin Me Round by Dead Or Alive
    Very high energy dance! Awesome strong vocals.
"Just Can't Get Enough"-Depeche Mode, "Looking From A Hilltop"-Section 25 File 13-"Taste So Good", Vicious Pink-"Fetish", "French Kiss"-Lil'Louis "I Love You"-Yello, "Houseman"-Voyou, "Have In Mind"-Cetu Javu, "Love Missile F1-11"-Sigue Sigue Sputnik, "I Beg Your Pardon"-Kon Kan, "We Are The Boys"-Until December, "American Soviets"-CCCP, "Living On Video"-Trans-X
By: Capt. Troy Owens
  • 10. Doot Doot by Freur
    A very pretty song about who knows what.
  • 9. Only A Lad by Oingo Boingo
    This was awesome.
  • 8. We're Through Being Cool by Devo
    What were they thinking?
  • 7. Mirror In The Bathroom by English Beat
    The New Wave was here!
  • 6. 88 Lines About 44 Women by The Nails
    Their other songs were better but this is what they're known for.
  • 5. The Metro by Berlin
    Teri Nunn was a hottie !
  • 4. I Wanna New Drug by Huey Lewis
    Again, the whole album rocked.
  • 3. I Got The Six by ZZ Top
    A bad boy fast drivin' high school tune. Unforgettable.
  • 2. When Doves Cry by Prince
    A killer slow dance love song.
  • 1. Hello Again by The Cars
    C'mon, this was in the prime of the 80's...this whole album rocked.
send me your comments
By: St. Jude
  • 10. No Time To Lose by Tarney Spencer Band
  • 9. Wind Him Up by Saga
  • 8. Livin in the Limelight by Peter Cetera
  • 7. Beacon Hill by Red Rider
  • 6. Call of the Wild by Gary O
  • 5. Space Jungle by Bongos
  • 4. Tokyo Rose by Idle Eyes
  • 3. Why Me by Planet P Project
  • 2. Modern Day Delilah by Van Stephenson
  • 1. Main Attraction by The Outfield
I didn't think it was necessary for me to mention The Police's "King of Pain".....it's a given.....
By: Joy
  • 10. Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli
    To Bad They Lipsang! It really was a hit!
  • 9. Girl Just Wanna Have Fun! by Cyndi Lauper
    She's so unusual!!!!
  • 8. I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany
    Go Mall Queen!!!
  • 7. Can't Touch This by MC Hammer
    Go Hammer!!!
  • 6. My Prerogative by Bobby Brown
    Was very slammin' in it day!
  • 5. Not My Kinda Girl by New Edition
    Sweet....
  • 4. Hanging Tough by New Kids On The Block
    Cool!
  • 3. Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson
    "Feel the power & feel the energy coming up you row".
  • 2. Mercedes Boy by Pebbles
    Keeps you moving across the dance floor.
  • 1. Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul
By: leanne Jefferson
By: denise
  • 10. I'll Be Over You by Toto
    sweet surrender
  • 9. Lea by Toto
    nothing is constant... but somehow let a day be so special worth remembering... with someone so special...
  • 8. Til They Take My Heart Away by Clair Marlo
    too much love...
  • 7. Sailing by Cristopher Kraus
    be in reveries...
  • 6. Crossroads by Bone Thugs And Harmony
    powerful
  • 5. Best Of Me by Olivia Newton-John And David Foster
    enchanting...
  • 4. Tattooed On My Mind by D' Sound
    unforgetful...
  • 3. runaway by the corrs
    song of courage...
  • 2. Time After Time by Cindy Lauper
    song of encouragement
  • 1. Let Me In by Mike Francis
    cool song... takes my breath away
sentimental...
By: Ferry
  • 10. Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
    Where is Frankie on the other lists? Another briljant cold-war song, especially the long version with the alarm horn.
  • 9. Jeanny by Falco
    Ban a song from the radio and it will propably get more attention then it would otherwise have gotten. This song deserved the attention.
  • 8. Big Log by Robert Plant
    Just like Robbie Robertson, Neil Young, Sting and Neil Young, without their former band still going very strong
  • 7. Russians by Sting
    The clock ticking in the final years of the cold war, mister Reagan says he will protect me....
  • 6. Somewhere Down The Crazy River by Robbie Robertson
    This song is produced by Daniel Lanois, just like Peter Gabriels So and U2's Joshua Tree, not the worst albums of the decade. This number is just briljantly composed and filled with mistique
  • 5. Rockin In The Free World by Neil Young
    The absolute number one all time song, the best lyrics, hard guitars and even a robust video from Neil
  • 4. Pride by U2
    Another protest song, but this time Bono manages to say everything in a little over 3 minutes, you still hear this one at least once a week.
  • 3. Goodnight Saigon by Billy Joel
    In Europe it was a big hit, i heard it was quite controversial in the US.
  • 2. My Hometown by Bruce Springsteen
    It is 20 years, but i hope to hear this song in about two months, playing in my city
  • 1. Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel
    Still the #1 Video after all these years
A little different from the other lists, but still very much the 80-s.
By: michael
  • 10. Rise Above by Black Flag
    a call to higher standards that is not only timeless but applicable in many situations
  • 9. Fascist Groove Thang by Heaven 17
    in the early 80's, the US missiles in europe were not only making the russians nervous, it made europeans feel caught in the middle. this song showed their unease with reagans election "generals tell him what to do"
  • 8. There Is No Love Between Us Anymore by Pop Will Eat Itself
    PWEI more known for Defcon One, but i love this song...
  • 7. Police On My Back by The Clash
    an eddy grant song, the clash made it their own with this cover song from sandinista!
  • 6. When The World Is Running Down.... by The Police
    probably the longest titled song ever, one of the most hopeful songs written
  • 5. Town Called Malice by The Jam
    like many english bands of the early 80's, the jam broke up just as they were about to take over US radio.....
  • 4. Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies
    "im crazy??? when i went to YOUR schools? i went to YOUR churches?"
  • 3. What I Like About You by Romantics
    one song that holds true to the original feel of rock and roll
  • 2. The Message by Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five
    the reagan juggernaut left out more than a few people. this song captured it brilliantly.
  • 1. Holiday In Cambodia by Dead Kennedys
    a chilling take on the all too real atrocities committed
i was more into british music in the early 80's than american and i guess this list shows that
By: King o Ireland
By: George
  • 10. Take On Me by A HA!
    These guys probably made the best video of the 80's, and even though the lyrics are a bit difficult to understand, the lead singer's voice is still superb.
  • 9. Big Time by Peter Gabriel
    Interesting video. Reagan on a Triceratops err... was that the other one? Pete's pretty psychadelic anytime anyway, though..
  • 8. West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys
    Didn't see the video, but the song is ... I guess you'll just have to listen for yourself.
  • 7. I Ran by Flock Of Seagulls.
    Classic 80's. This one kind of captures the spirit of the whole decade.
  • 6. Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
    Kind of a fun video and a great song to boot.
  • 5. One Night In Bangkok by Murray Head
    I thought this was just a song until I went to Thailand. It hits straight to the mark.
  • 4. Luka by Susan Vega
    Kind of sad, but still painfully rings true.
  • 3. Land Down Under by Men at Work
    Those crazy Aussies. This was great.
  • 2. Simply Irresistable by Robert Palmer
    Women in bathing suits! Wow! and a GREAT song to boot!
  • 1. Run to You by Bryan Adams
    He only did 2 really f songs (also summer of 69') before he gagged out, but wow!
This list is by no means complete ... These are the top 10 songs, but they beat out some other songs by only just a hair... Definitely my favorite decade for music.
By: Tom
  • 10. Town Called Malice by Jam
  • 9. Good Heart by Fergal Sharkey
  • 8. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
  • 7. Americanos by Holly Johnson
  • 6. Walk This Way by Run Dmc And Aerosmith
  • 5. Why by Carly Simon
  • 4. West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys
  • 3. If You Let Me Stay by Terence Trent Darby
  • 2. Fergus Sings The Blues by Deacon Blue
  • 1. Easy Lover by Phil Collins
    Wonderful song with great pace
By: meem
  • 10. Manic Monday by The Bangles
    10 pounds of "perk" in a 5 pound bottle. i just love that opening, too! more evidence of prince's genius.
  • 9. Dress You Up by Madonna
    one of the few madonna songs that hasn't been played into the ground over the past couple decades ... and *so* vintage!
  • 8. Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears
    instantly recognizable and still meaningful.
  • 7. Toy Soldiers by Martika
    guilty pleasure, pure and simple.
  • 6. Heartbreak Beat by Psychedelic Furs
    fun summer city nights.
  • 5. So Far Away by Dire Straits
    could've just as easily chosen "your latest trick" or "brothers in arms" itself ... the whole album is basically phenomenal and quintessential eighties.
  • 4. (Feels Like) Heaven by Fiction Factory
    close to the perfect pop song -- if you haven't heard it, you owe it to yourself to find a copy.
  • 3. How Soon Is Now by The Smiths
    the fact that this song was so successful despite its 6:30 length is a testament to its greatness.
  • 2. Coming Up Close by Til Tuesday
    beautiful ... never could figure out why it wasn't a bigger hit as a single.
  • 1. It's A Sin by Pet Shop Boys
    the best dance/pop song i think i'll ever know
i restricted myself to eighties pop songs, but i'm really more of a fan of eighties rock -- but that's for another top ten :-) i'm also confident that if i filled this out in a week, the list would look quite different :-)
By: Mike Webb
  • 10. Male Stripper by Man 2 Man
    This song possibly got alot of play in the gay nightclubs, but can you blame them? This song has just got that "AWESOME" beat, that typical 80's Hi-Energy sound and you know you just gotta get up and dance!!!
  • 9. Oh Lamour by Erasure
    One of the most poular pop songs and very danceable!
  • 8. Pet Shop Boys by West End Girls
    Who can forget that unforgettable intro, with the street sounds of London, that very distinct voice of Neil Tennant and ofcourse the very "London" like video!
  • 7. F.R. David by Words
    This is just one of the 80's ALL TIME DISCO CLASSIC TRACKS! F.R. David had many more excellent tracks, like "Pick Up The Phone", but this songs seemed to be his biggest!
  • 6. Take On Me by A-Ha
    Well well - when I think of music video's of the 80's - this song gotta come to mind first. A-Ha made great music videos, but this song was huge - I like to think it was that very catchy electronic "INTRO" to the song.
  • 5. Sounds Like A Melody by Alphaville
    Alphaville are one of the 80's bands you just can't forget! Who can forget songs like "Big In Japan" & "Forever Young"?? But "Sounds Like...." just gotta take the cake - it's that instrumental part towards the end of the song that makes it so great!!
  • 4. The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
    This song was almost cosidered a "ONE HIT WONDER" - but Men Without Hats, who reined from Canada, actually released about 3 or 4 albums and quite a few singles, some moderatelly sucesfull, others did not even chart. This song is instantly recogniseable and you just gotta LOVE IT!!
  • 3. You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) by Dead Or Alive
    It's amazing, just how many of these almost ONE HIT WONDER bands of the 80's, actually have some of the top dance songs - like this track. If you haven't heard this song, you must, otherwise you'll miss out on one of the greatest dance songs!
  • 2. Around My Dream by Silver Pozzoli
    Silver Pozzoli, you may not recognise the name, but you certainly will recognise the tune. He comes from Italy and made some of the best Italo/Euro dance songs, you will be singing along in no time...."Sing, sing, sing, sing my dream around...."
  • 1. You're My Heart, You're My Soul by Modern Talking
    This song is No.1 because it is very catchy, very trendy (even today), very euro, very danceable, has the best lyrics I've ever heard and has a beat and undeniable "Hooks" and "Chorus lines". Modern Talking have many many more classic tracks and remain one of Germany's biggest exports!!
It is very difficalt to choose only 10 best songs of the 80's and also I coul go on to choose many other songs from different music categories, like Rock, Alterative, etc... that's where I'd put in songs like Queen, Dire Straits, etc... but these are my personal top 10 of the 80's. Very Difficalt choices!

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