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: Everson Corazza
Other favourites: "Christine" (Siouxsie and The Banshees), "Suedehead" (Morrissey), Sera (Legiao Urbana), Head Over Heels (GoGo's), "Shout" (Tears For Fears), There is a Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths), Enola Gay (OMD), The One I Love (REM).
By: bahmer
  • 10. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
    Ultimate auduence participation song. Well, next to YMCA of course
  • 9. And We Danced by The Hooters
    How could you not dance to this one.
  • 8. Your Love? by The Outfield
    Great sound, ghostly yet upbeat.
  • 7. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police
    Mystical journey into the world of fantasy.
  • 6. Who's Crying Now by Journey
    Those who bash Journey are the one's that go home and sing this one in the mirror.
  • 5. Red Skies/Saved By Zero/Stand Or Fall by The Fixx
    Melodic muzik with meaning.
  • 4. Our Lips Are Sealed/We Got The Beat by The Go-Go's
    I have a soft-spot for Female sung fun tunes.
  • 3. Just Got Lucky/Alone Again by Dokken
    Light Metal, not too loud to scare the girls away though. Heck, while I'm in the mood how about "Sister Christian" too by Night Ranger.
  • 2. Panama/Love Walks In/Cabo Wabo by Van Halen
    Van Haggar: loved them Van Halen: loved them more
  • 1. Subdivisions by Rush
    Rush goes pop and doesn't flop. Not on the top band lists for nothing.
Honourable mention: Electric Blue, Love Action, Tainted Love, Cars, I ran, the list could go on forever.
By: Joe Fife
By: David
  • 10. Shout by Tears For Fears
  • 9. Don't Go by Yazoo
  • 8. In Too Deep by Dead or alive
  • 7. Japanese Boy by Aneka
  • 6. Turn Your Back On Me by Kajagoogoo
  • 5. Computer Welt by Kraftwerk
  • 4. Circus Ring by Vitamin Z
  • 3. Arizona Sky by China Crisis
  • 2. Two Tribes (12 Inch Version) by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
  • 1. Burning Flame by Vitamin Z
By: Jerick Sablan
  • 10. Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
    God i wore the t-shirt Frankie says RELAX it used to be my fav.
  • 9. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!
    I LUV DANCING TO THIS SONG!!!
  • 8. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
    Great song!!
  • 7. Nasty by Janet Jackson
    Luv her song!!
  • 6. Mr. Roboto by Styx
    God im crazy to like this song..........
  • 5. I Love Rock 'n' Roll by JoanJett
    Luv this song luv the perosn who sings it!!
  • 4. Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
    LOVE THIS SONG!!!!Girls just wanna have fun.......
  • 3. Material Girl by Madonna
    I alwaz listen to this wen i go shopping its a bad a$$ song!!
  • 2. Like A Virgin by Madonna
    Luv this song!!give props to madona she rocks!!even if she looked so wierd the 80's was wierd....rember this song from the first vma??
  • 1. Whip It by Devo
    I don't knoe y i like this song but its a nice song to dance too!!
god there so much i like but i can't name them all I LUV THE 80's!!!Hope u like my liust.....
By: em
  • 10. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
    two words.. say anything
  • 9. Take On Me by a-ha
  • 8. Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
  • 7. Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
  • 6. Tainted Love by Soft Cell
  • 5. I Melt With You by Modern English
  • 4. Call Me by Blondie
    It's great
  • 3. Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
    dont you like doing the.. HUNGRY LiKE THE WOLF.. HUNGRY LiKE THE WOLF.. part?
  • 2. Pictures Of You by The Cure
    it's so great.. doesnt it just make you look back on the 80s and miss all those people?
  • 1. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
    THiS song is the song that makes people think about the 80s.. the whole breakfast club era.. hey, when this song was used in Lizzie McGuire, you know it's a classic.
i love the 80s
By: Phyllis
By: Vivian
By: nick
By: Jon Simon
  • 10. Drive by The Cars
    The Cars were really hot in 1984. Everyone I knew in my senior class was trying to see them in concert.
  • 9. This Time by Bryan Adams
    Rockin fun tune!
  • 8. Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen
    He's the boss on this one!
  • 7. Uptown Girl by Billy Joel
    Another fun tune. I made a very polished extended remix of this tune. Feel free to email me for the mp3.
  • 6. Wrapped Around Your Finger by The Police
    I wish they didnt break up! ;-(
  • 5. Eyes Without A Face by Billy Idol
    Smooth tune, Billy. Who's great idea was it to add the woman's voice in French for the chorus??
  • 4. Show Me by The Pretenders
    Crissy is so talented!
  • 3. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    Just a fun song!
  • 2. Take On Me by a-ha
    When this song came out I went, "Wow! Who the hell is this??" and was hooked on these guys. Although they didnt have other US hits they are worth exploring. By the way, the original version of this song was called "Lesson One" and is quite different than the studio re-tooled version with help from their producer Tony Mansfield.
  • 1. Out Of Touch by Hall & Oates
    How can we talk about the 80's without saying "Hall and Oates"??
I miss the 80's. It seemed like such a fun and easy going time at least in music and entertainment. A far cry from the kinda of stuff now. Sad.
By: Darryl
  • 10. Worlds Away by Strange Advance
    I couldn't end a top 10 without at least one Canadian title. Gary O's "Shades Of 45" could also have been used. Strange Advance was a nice footnote to the electric new wave.
  • 9. Ashes To Ashes by David Bowie
    Bowie's last great single to be greater than his new wave contemporaries. It was reprised in the television show The Young Ones to humorous effect.
  • 8. Love Like Blood by Killing Joke
    As melodic as post-punk gets.
  • 7. Town Called Malice by The Jam
    It must be love of irony; Upbeat music, dark lyrics. Social lyrics (ie. government) was a popular theme of many British bands of the early 80's.
  • 6. Fall On Me by R.E.M.
    The first REM song in which I knew the lyrics. Mike Mills' backing is the pefect addition to their otherwise finest moment.
  • 5. Same Old Scene by Roxy Music
    The 80's have barely begun when this was played on the radio. This includes my favorite instrumental break of any song with the buildup of keyboards and horns to the point of near-distortion. A nice love song. Oh, the memories.
  • 4. Another Nail In My Heart by Squeeze
    The best pop number. It should have been a bigger US hit. No 80's new wave collection should be without a Squeeze record.
  • 3. American Squirm by Nick Lowe
    Heck, even Lowe's "Cruel To Be Kind" would have worked here. I have worn out 3 copies of the album Labour Of Lust (including a CD version).
  • 2. I Confess by The (English) Beat
    A fantastic Caribbean-flavored love-triangle-gone-wrong tune.
  • 1. Change by Tears For Fears
    Many Tears For Fears tunes could be on this list. "Change" continues the Janov theme in The Hurting (an excellent LP, I might add) with lyrics about loss and emotion. The half-note bass line throughout is also interesting.
If asked on another day (maybe even another HOUR), the Top 10 would be different. Fortunately for me, I have a new wave radio show in Memphis that lets me play this kind of music without any interference from the modern corporate playlist.
By: Jeff
  • 10. It's A Mistake by Men At Work
    Always wanna crank up this song.
  • 9. It's My Life by Talk Talk
    Always liked this song a lot. Not sure why.
  • 8. Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac
    Feel good song.
  • 7. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
    Don't forget about this song.
  • 6. Hold Me Now by The Thompson Twins
    Another one that you can can't ever get sick of.
  • 5. Love Will Find a Way by Yes
    Simply a great song.
  • 4. Is There Something I Should Know? by Duran Duran
    A Duran Duran song has to go on any complete 80's list. As a child of the 80's I was a big fan.
  • 3. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by Dream Academy
    Song from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Amazing.
  • 2. Pictures Of You by Cure
    Later 80's but possibly my favorite song period.
  • 1. Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
    This song defines all of what 80's music was about. I never get sick of it.
I had to leave out a ridiculous amount of very worthy songs, but all those listed are guaranteed top notch. I could fill out a top 100 list easily.
By: Mauricio
and there is a lot, lot, lot more... 80´ the best decade in music!!!
By: timur
By: Maarten Verstraeten
  • 10. Words Don't Come Easy by F.R. David
  • 9. Voyage Voyage by Desireless
  • 8. Sunglasses At Night by Corey Hart
  • 7. (I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight by Cutting Crew
  • 6. Strange by Grace Jones
  • 5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics
  • 4. Bird Of Paradise by Snowy White
    How can you forget about this song!!
  • 3. Atomic by Blondie
  • 2. It's A Sin by Pet Shop Boys
  • 1. I Promised Myself by Nick Kamen
    This is just a classic
By: Dave Atkinson
  • 10. Heartbeat by Don Johnson
    come on, it's Don Johnson, the guy ruled the 80s.
  • 9. You Belong To The City by Glenn Frey
    Just think of Miami Vice
  • 8. Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
  • 7. Tokyo Rose by Idle Eyes
  • 6. Talking In Your Sleep by The Romantics
  • 5. Standing In Line by Haywire
    Trust me, just have a listen.
  • 4. Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung
  • 3. Rock This Town by The Stray Cats
    Again, so nostalgic.
  • 2. Boys Of Summer by Don Henley
    This is just a great song
  • 1. Africa by Toto
    This is the best 80s song ever, if you don't bvelieve me, just listen to it once again!
Never neglect Hall & Oates, Men at Work, Mr. Mister, Journey, AC/DC, the list, is endless
By: Kane Cohen
  • 10. Back To Life by Soul II Soul
    I know this song barely scrapes into the 80's, and it's sound is more like the 90's, but stuff it, it's so good I'm gonna include it! Ground-breaking rhythm, and it introduced the world to the UK Black sound.
  • 9. The Sun Always Shines On TV by a-ha
    I know I keep going for the 'mediocre follow-ups', but that's usually 'cos they're less crowd-pleasing and more what the band are about. This pompous, over-blown, heart-on-you-sleeve second single explodes right before your very ears! I think it's their best song.
  • 8. Catch Me I'm Falling by Real Life
    Aussie band whose biggest song was 'Send Me An Angel' (and no that songe wasn't by the freaking Pet Shop Boys). This song is actually better, and was either the follow-up single or predecessor to 'Angel'. And they had big hair.
  • 7. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On by Robert Palmer
    Follow-up single to the monotone 'Addicted To Love', much better production and absolutely danceable. Thankfully he left his guitar in the boot of his car. More funk than I thought he had in him.
  • 6. Cloudbusting by Kate Bush
    Utah Saints should be indicted for Crimes Against Music for destroying her wicked chorus on this piece of driven, pulsating, climactic piece of music. Check out the video too. So many Kate Bush songs could be nominated.
  • 5. Into The Groove by Madonna
    Forget what I said about Madonna, this song is like having The Red Shoes on your feet - so much ecstasy tied up in this song if you close your eyes on the dancefloor you actually feel like you're flying!
  • 4. La, La, La, He, He, Hee by Prince
    B-side to 'Sign O the Times'. Prince rocked where Michael Jackson rolled (hee hee), and this little-heard gem is so much fun. Crisp funk sound and trite lyrics. Find the 12" and flip it over.
  • 3. I'm Not Perfect But I'm Perfect For You by Grace Jones
    Forget Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, this woman is what the 80's was all about - style, glamour, frickin scary! You could cut your fingers on her flat-top. This song sums her up entirely.
  • 2. Shout by Tears For Fears
    Howsabout that chorus! Goosebump stuff.
  • 1. The Look of Love by ABC
    In my humble opinion the most perfect pop song of all time. Martin Fry's golden voice, those lush strings. I thought I died and went to heaven.
Anything by ABC could be included, and Kylie Minogue's SAW days. Heaps of One-hit-wonders (like some band called USA For Africa) helped epitomise the 80's sound.
By: Eric
  • 10. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) by John Parr
    One of the best motivational songs ever. It has that pulsing beat that races along with the meaning of the lyrics, and John Parr does a great job singing it, too.
  • 9. Red Red Wine by UB40
    Wow! Mixing pop with a lot of Reggae. Now THAT'S fantastic! Catchy tune, too.
  • 8. Voices Carry by 'Til Tuesday
    GREAT vocals! It has a great beat and a fantastic chorus melody. Very singable, and it's another song you wouldn't mind getting stuck in your head.
  • 7. The Flame by Cheap Trick
    Awesome love song! It's so romantic and pretty deep...
  • 6. Africa by Toto
    I don't really know what this song is about, but it's still a classic. Pefectly recorded, and I love the African-sounding instruments.
  • 5. With Or Without You by U2
    Definitely one of the saddest songs from the 80's. The vocals are totally amazing.
  • 4. Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
    THE rock song from the 80's. It's one one of those that you don't mind getting stuck in your head.
  • 3. Take On Me by a-ha
    It's a classic! I mean, who doesn't like this song? It's awesome...and so is the video...
  • 2. True by Spandau Ballet
    The greatest love song from the 80's!
  • 1. Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles
    This song really started the 80's, and the lyrics are true! Video DID kill the radio star. With all that and a catchy beat, it's definitely #1.
By: Tom Ortiz
  • 10. Talk Talk by It's My Life
    One of the best 80's songs. Never got tired of it until No Doubt had to do it.
  • 9. Endicott by Kid Creole & The Coconuts
    Great effort by the kid. A little silly but a lot of fun.
  • 8. Beautiful World by Devo
    It's ashame that one of their more serious songs is now only remembered because of a commercial.
  • 7. Don't Go by Yaz
    If it wasn't for this song being sampled so often, this song could have been rereleased as a radio hit.
  • 6. Beautiful Ones & International Lover (Tie) by Prince
    The performances on these 2 songs were incredible. I had a lot of fun playing International lover for the ladies but when I heard Beautiful Ones, I realized how serious Prince was.
  • 5. Rock 'n' Roll Dreams Come Through by Jim Steiman (Rory Dodd vocals)
    Although it wasn't Jim Steiman himself singing, it just showcased how great a songwriter he was. Meatloaf covered this song in the 90's.
  • 4. Major Tom (Coming Home) by Peter Schilling
    This song should have fared better then the other German acts that came out in the decade.
  • 3. Mary's Prayer by Danny Wilson
    Great melody and great words. They actually got away with saying "ten hail mary's".
  • 2. Free by Prince
    From the 1999 lp this song should have been released as a single.
  • 1. Try Jah Love by Third World
    One of the better dance records of the 80's and with a good meaning.
Deserves mentioning, Twilight Zone - Golden Earring, Overkill - Men at Work, The Walls Came Down - The Call, Working Girl - The Members, Hearts - Marty Balin, Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners, Rule to Survival (Looking for Love) - NOIA, Take it Easy on Me - Little River Band, My Kinda Lover - Billy Squier, Perfect - Fairground Attraction. There are so many.
By: Kurt B
  • 10. Pictures Of You by The Cure
    Only band to make it here twice. And to think, I couldn't STAND his voice the first time I heart the Cure. Anyone remember how long it took to get 'used' to Robert Smith's singing voice? I sure do...
  • 9. Plainsong by The Cure
    Depressing. Came out in '89, but definitely all 80s Cure sound.
  • 8. Blasphemous Rumours by Depeche Mode
    Can't beat this song w/ a stick. For the former Xtian teen who realizes religions is a crock of sh!t and is quickly growing up...
  • 7. Save A Prayer by Duran Duran
    Disovered this before I even knew Depeche/ The Cure existed. At the time though, sure was a different/wonderful song.
  • 6. The Ghost In You by Psychedelic Furs
    Either that or Love My Way. Someone had to squeeze the Fur onto this page.
  • 5. She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult
    Ian sure looked awesome. Great song too.
  • 4. Blue Monday by New Order
    Listened to this song hundreds if not thousands of time with friends over the course of several years.
  • 3. Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
    Popular, but still didn't lose its waver followers. Holds this position on it's beautiful musicality alone.
  • 2. How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths
    Hadn't been anything like it at the time. Hasn't been anything like it since. My #1 is #1 because Ministry with this song single handedly created Industrial music. Don't argue with me on this either.
  • 1. Everyday Is Halloween by Ministry
    Underrated song. Foreshadows the ulta hip stuff Alain would put out later; although the girls will run from his work after this 12" single

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