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: Behie
  • 10. Material Girl by Madonna
  • 9. The Final Countdown by Europe
  • 8. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
  • 7. Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
  • 6. Hungry like a wolf by Duran Duran
  • 5. Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
  • 4. Pride (in the name of love) by U2
  • 3. Just Like Heaven by The Cure
    The Cure... as great as always!
  • 2. Venus by Bananarama
  • 1. Take On Me by A-ha
    For me, they're the best in the 80's and still actually! And in concert.. just amazing
By: Jeff
By: Jenn
  • 10. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
    so true!
  • 9. I Ran by Flock Of Seagulls
    catchy
  • 8. 867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Twotone
    THIS IS MY SONG! WOOHOO
  • 7. Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Lepoard
    GREAT SONG!
  • 6. Sun Glasses At Night by Corey Heart
    HAHA..i love this song
  • 5. Like a Virgin by Madonna
  • 4. Billy Jean by Micheal Jackson
    great to dance to
  • 3. Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
    :)
  • 2. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    Great beat..love it
  • 1. Under Pressure by Oueen and David Bowie
    great chemistry..wonderfully moving
GREAT SITE! I LOVE THE 80'S!
By: Lisa
  • 10. Mamma Mia! by Abba
    The Original Is Always Better Than The Imitations
  • 9. When Doves Cry by Prince
    Interesting Song, He Said It Was Inspired On His Childhood...
  • 8. Take On Me by Aha
    A White Boy With A Deep Voice Is Interesting....i Loved The Video Too.
  • 7. Reflex by Duran Duran
    Duran Duran Embodies The Whole 80s Retro Era Spunk....... And This Song Is One Of My Favorites!
  • 6. Boys Dont Cry by The Cure
    A Boy Begging For Forgiveness Is Always Good...hehehe At Least To The Straight Chickadees!
  • 5. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
    The Catchy Beat And The Lazy Voice.........
  • 4. Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol
    I Love This Song!!!!!!!!!
  • 3. Call Me by Blondie
    It's So Fun To Sing Along To And Deborah Harry Is The Hottest Leading Lady Ever !!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 2. Love Is A Battlefeild by Pat Benatar
    Because Love Truely Is A Battlefeild?
  • 1. Lovesong by The Cure
    This Song Is So Powerful, You Can Feel The Heartache In The Voice Of Sadness. It's Heartbreaking........
Im Obsessed With The 80s!!!!!!! It Is The Best Era And It's A Shame That Those Years Are Gone......
By: Beuchi
By: The Raygun
  • 10. Wang Chung by Let's Go
    Easily forgotten track among Dance Hall Days & Everbody Have Fun.
  • 9. UB40 by Red Red Wine
    The greatest cover band of all time.
  • 8. U2 by With or Without You
    Never loses its impact.
  • 7. No One is To Blame by Howard Jones
    "And you want her, and she wants you."
  • 6. Romeo & Juliet by Dire Straits
    The subtle guitar solo just does it for me.
  • 5. Holding Back the Years by Simply Red
  • 4. The Flame by Cheap Trick
  • 3. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
    ...say anything. Need I say more?
  • 2. Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
  • 1. Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House
    Great emotion, great music.
By: Merv Ransom
  • 10. Tarzan Boy by Baltimora
    Always puts me in high spirits.
  • 9. One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head
    So perverse, yet so...excellent.
  • 8. Faithfully by Journey
    Love the intenseness of this song. Steve Perry is my hero for this song.
  • 7. Out of Touch by Hall n' Oates
    Hall's mullet along with Oates' porn 'stache combine to make a mighty musical duo.
  • 6. Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil
    Solid.
  • 5. Innocence by Harlequin
    I'm a sucker for the synth. Always have been, always will be.
  • 4. Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
    No interesting comments here, just a really good song. Never get tired of it.
  • 3. Alone by Heart
    Intense and powerful ballad right here.
  • 2. John Waite by Missing You
    The best one hit wonder ever. JW will always have a place in my heart.
  • 1. Foriegner by Yesterday
    I love the sythesizing action right here...not to mention the song that inspired the CP-Squared. Props to Whisk on that one.
Nothing can compare to the 80s in music quality.
By: Michael Clark
This is the best 80's Top Ten list of All Time!!
By: Todd
  • 10. Birthday by Sugarcubes
    Late 80's song....most intriguing sound since the Smiths.
  • 9. Only You by Yaz
    Vince Clark starts his amazing career here
  • 8. Always Something There to Remind Me by Naked Eyes
    Best cover of a song probably ever..
  • 7. Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
    What is the 80's without rambunctious hair and attitude?
  • 6. Take On Me by A-ha
    Funnest (yeah funnest) song around
  • 5. Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
    Their best song and a groundbreaking tune for new wave music
  • 4. How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths
    Ultimate downer song of the 80's. The Smiths at their best.
  • 3. 99 Luftballons by Nena
    Incredible and powerful 80's tune that just kicks butt
  • 2. Pride (In The Name of Love) by U2
    U2 at it's best - music just doesn't get much better than this
  • 1. Forever Young by Alphaville
    The dance version of this song is clearly the greatest song ever created. It's the 80's in every way
By: Monica
  • 10. Take Me With You by Prince and the Revolution
  • 9. One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head
  • 8. Putting on the Ritz by Taco
  • 7. We Belong by Pat Benetar
    Sweet song
  • 6. In my Room by Yaz
    The year was 1981, but the song takes you to another time and place. Very stark and sparse, and hauntingly beautiful.
  • 5. Running up That Hill by Kate Bush
  • 4. Girlfriend is Better by Talking Heads
    Nice Futuristic sound
  • 3. Save it for Later by The English Beat
    This song absolutely embodies the sound of the 80's-- quirky lyrics, an upbeat tempo, catchy chorus and horns!
  • 2. But Not Tonight by Depeche Mode
    Classic Mode from their album Black Celebration
  • 1. No Promises by Icehouse
    A moody dance masterpiece!
By: Mia
  • 10. Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime in the Jukebox) by The Flirts
    Ultimate 80's chick song...maybe that why I love it!!!
  • 9. Love My Way by Psychadelic Furs
    Beautiful 80's love song.
  • 8. I feel love by Bronski Beat
    Great dance music for the 80's and now...
  • 7. The Metro by Berlin
    I will never forget the video...
  • 6. Pass the Dutchie by Musical Youth
    These kids had the right idea, just that society didn't catch on to them.
  • 5. Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode
    Can't have an 80's list without Depeche Mode
  • 4. My Sharona by Knack
    Oh my little pretty one, my pretty one...when are you gonna give some time sharona...oh you make my motor run...MY, MY, MY SHARONA!!!
  • 3. Life in A Northern Town by Dream Academy
  • 2. I Eat Cannibals by Total Coelo
    Classic, I will never forget it!!
  • 1. Strip by Adam Ant
By: Jeff Yanagi
  • 10. Little Red Corvette by Prince
    Anything he writes is golden!
  • 9. His Eyes by Pseudo Echo
    a song by a great band that has been underrated and underplayed. Give it a shot and you shall see how great it really is!
  • 8. Your Love by The Outfield
  • 7. Tenderness by General Public
    GREAT!
  • 6. The Warrior by Scandal
    Shootin at the walls of Heartache BANG BANG! :)
  • 5. Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams
  • 4. We Built This City by Jefferson Starship
    Great song to dance to. 'WE BUILT THIS CITY ON ROCK AND ROLL!'
  • 3. Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money
    the song speaks for itself.
  • 2. Will you still love me? by Chicago
    One of the greatest love ballads to this day!
  • 1. Just Like Heaven by The Cure
    how can you not like this song? it's stellar
By: Paul McWeeney
  • 10. Dear Prudence by Siouxsie and the Banshees
    Its beautiful and so are you dear prudence won't you come out tonight..................LOOK AROUND..AROUND..AROUND...1983
  • 9. Baby Love by Regina
    Boy theres no one home tonight the timing could be right to forget the rules were out of school until tomorrow.........Baby Love(you are my)...1986
  • 8. Prove your Love by Taylor Dayne
    Prove your love..........got to prove your love.........1988
  • 7. Don't break my heart by UB40
    Don't break my heart you make me love alot and buy you silly things i would rather be with you than anyone else.......1985
  • 6. Him by Ruppert Holmes
    Over by the window theres a pack of cigarettes not my brand you understand sometimes the girl forgets.......1980
  • 5. Slow Hand by The pointer sisters
    I need a lover with a slow hand.......i need somebody who would spend some time........1981
  • 4. Rock the Casbar by The Clash
    The crazy casbar sings......WOY......Someday you will join them........Rock the Casbar, Rock the Casbar......1982
  • 3. The politics of Dancing by Reflex
    We got the message i heard it on the airwaves the politications are now DJ'S.............1984
  • 2. Room in your heart by Living in a box
    There could be..........Room in your heart.....1989
  • 1. Town to Town by Microdisney
    Shes nervous and her best friend is waiting she is trying to pronounce my name............1987
Top ten songs from 1980-89 how freaky is that-i guess im just an 80s freak like the rest of us, some songs may catch you out though...........
By: Shaun Reid
  • 10. Coming Home by Falco
  • 9. Jeanny by Falco
    Goes together with song no. 10
  • 8. Everything Counts by Depeche Mode
  • 7. I Treni Di Tozeur by Alice & Franco Battiato
    Best Eurovision song of the 80's
  • 6. The First Picture Of You by The Lotus Eaters
    Wy this song wasn't huge is a mystery
  • 5. The look of love by ABC
    Mmmm!
  • 4. Crazy by Icehouse
    The best Australian band ever
  • 3. Ich will Spass by Markus
  • 2. Major Tom by Peter Schilling
    This one has to be the German version as well:-)
  • 1. 99 Luftballons by Nena
    Just forget about the English version....
By: Jordan Kenney
  • 10. Forever Young by Alphaville
    Most people remember 'Big in Japan.' This band isn't big anywhere anymore. I'd have to say 'Forever Young' is their best single. This band is still playing shows and releasing albums. I've seen Alphaville once (2001)
  • 9. Shout by Tears for Fears
    Let it all out! Who doesn't know this song?
  • 8. Space Age Love Song by Flock of Seagulls
    Everyone loves 'I Ran.' This Seagulls single is much better.
  • 7. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
    Choosing between this, Blue Monday and True Faith is no easy feat. That's a love triangle.
  • 6. How Soon is Now? by The Smiths
    Now who hasn't felt this way? They're the only band that could get vulgar to rhyme with heir.
  • 5. Rio by Duran Duran
    Is Rio a woman's name?
  • 4. Save a Prayer by Duran Duran
    The most romantic one night stand I ever had. Haven't seen Duran Duran despite a few attempts
  • 3. Pride(In the Name of Love) by U2
    Probably their most recognized song, followed closely by With or Without you. This song still carries the same emotional weight today. Seen U2 once (2001)
  • 2. Pictures of You by The Cure
    My favorite break-up song ever. Seen the Cure once (2000)
  • 1. Stripped by Depeche Mode
    Not a very well known 80s song, this was probably the best single Depeche Mode put out in the 80s. And since Depeche Mode is the best band ever... I've seen Depeche Mode twice ('98 and 2001) and Dave Gahan once(2003)
I was so tempted to write Depeche Mode songs in every slot but that wouldn't be fair. Of Course I couldn't put in all the bands I wanted, but I tried to spread it out. These may not be the most well known songs of the 80s but they're, in my opinion, some of the best.
By: B.Munga
  • 10. Dont Go by Pseudo Echo
  • 9. Computer One by Dear Enemy
  • 8. So Long by Fisher Z
  • 7. Shadows of the night by Pat Benetar
  • 6. Industrial Disease by Dire Straits
  • 5. To Look At You by INXS
  • 4. Take the L (out of lover) by The Motels
  • 3. Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi
  • 2. Take on me by a ha
  • 1. Feed the World by Band Aid
By: Taber
By: Cassady
By: Leonardo
  • 10. Tarzan Boy by Baltimora
  • 9. Unforgettable Fire by U2
  • 8. Your Love by The Outfield
  • 7. Fading like a flower by Roxette
  • 6. I ran by Flock of Seagulls
  • 5. Where the Streets Have no name by U2
  • 4. It must have been love by Roxette
  • 3. Every Breath You Take by The Police
  • 2. Bad by U2
  • 1. With or Without you by U2
I never thought it would be sooo hard to choose only 10. Although I'm not from the 80's, I just love it, U2 is my favourite band. Also like the songs: Roxette - Listen to your Heart ... Devo - That's Good ... Guns n Roses - Sweet Child of Mine ... The Smiths - How soon is now ... REM - losing my religion ... toto - africa ... ok I should stop now
By: sam alaam
i think the star that i mentioned where the best in the world,not only in uk or usa.

Previous List or Next List

We also have pages on this topic devoted to the 70s and 90s

Do You Have a List to Share?

Please check out the Top Ten Music Songs submission page.