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: cecilia Torres
  • 10. Don't You Want Me by Human League
    baby muah let's dance!
  • 9. Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac
    this is not a top 10 80's song... this is an unforgetable song
  • 8. Pop Musik by M
    this is the 80's resume song
  • 7. Where's The Party? by Madonna
    hell yeah on friday i want to free my soul
  • 6. Too Shy by Kajagoogoo
    hush hushhhhh
  • 5. 8675309/jenny by Tommy Tutone
    who was jenny??? i got sticked her number who doesn't???
  • 4. Self Control by Laura Branigan
    driving song #2
  • 3. One Night In Bangkok by Murray Heads
  • 2. You Spin Me Right Round by Dead Or Alive
    oh yup what a nice hair!!! i want your love this is my driving song
  • 1. Baila Bolero by Fun Fun
    one of the best dance song who can't 4get "u said good bye hasta luego"
the revival is on... i'm so happy
By: Antonio Garza
  • 10. Der Kommisar by Falco
    Simple Minds, Men at work, Hall & Oates, etc; etc;
  • 9. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
  • 8. The Reflex by Duran Duran
  • 7. Money For Nothing by Dire Straits
    Other ... always something to remind me
  • 6. Rick Astley by Together forever
  • 5. Brian Adams by Summer Of 69
  • 4. Dancing In The Dark - Glory by Bruce Springsteen
  • 3. And We Dance - Day By Day by The Hooters
  • 2. Relax - Major Tom by Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Peter Schilling
  • 1. Jessie's Girl by Rick Sprinfield
By: Robert W
  • 10. Crazy For You by Madonna
    still one of my all-time favorite love songs to this day...
  • 9. Love Bites by Def Leppard
    another great ballad, not bad for a big hair band
  • 8. Invincible by Pat Benatar
    one of my all-time favorite songs from one of my all-time favorite movies...
  • 7. If You Leave by OMD
    another classic song from an all-time favorite movie...
  • 6. Video Killed The Radio Star by Buggles
    here it is, the song that helped revolutionize tv as we know it...
  • 5. Rio by Duran Duran
    just a great song to drive to...
  • 4. I'll Stop The World And Melt With You by Modern English
    this song brings back so many memories... wow...
  • 3. Walking On Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves
    such a cool, upbeat, happy song..
  • 2. Jane Says by Jane's Addiction
    this doesn't really fit the genre, but had to throw in a song from my all-time favorite band...
  • 1. Cruel Summer by Bananarama
    living in arizona, this song just fits, especially this time of year....
it's nearly impossible to encapsulate an entire decade into only 10 songs... this is especially true in the 80's, which was the defining period for the synthesizer.... anywayz, great site that i just happened upon... was definitely a trip down memory lane, and a good trip at that...
By: Panda
  • 10. Solid Rock by Goanna
    Great aussie tune if u dont have this go get it and play it LOUD!!!!
  • 9. Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins
    Best collins tune by far.....
  • 8. Go West by We Close Our Eyes
    Good uplifting tune!!!
  • 7. Africa by Toto
    No comment needed ....
  • 6. Winds Of Change by The Scorpians
    Most underated tune of the 80s a must to listen to and a must to have in any 80s collection!
  • 5. You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi
    Fave BON JOVI tune!! Killer of a chorus!!
  • 4. All You Zombies by Hooters
    My favourite lyrical tune of the 80s!!
  • 3. Rock The Casbah by The Clash
    Self explainatory.... Good 80s feel to it!
  • 2. Here I Go Again On My Own by White Snake
    Awesome 80s track ... Puts a smile on my face every time i listen to it!
  • 1. Land of Confusion by Phill Collins & Genesis
    Top vocals!! massive 80s release
Hope the list gets respect if I had 10 tunes i had to listen to these would be it!!
By: mubz
  • 10. Take My Breath Away by Berlin
    top gun song!!
  • 9. Heaven Is A Place On Earth by Belinda Carlisle
    always on top!
  • 8. She's Got Legs by ZZ Top
    yes she does...
  • 7. You Shook Me All Night Long by ACDC
    sexxxxxyy tune
  • 6. Back In Black by ACDC
    crazyyyyyy amazingness
  • 5. It Must Have Been Love by Roxette
    *cry cry*
  • 4. I Hate Myself For Lovin` You by Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
    never gets old
  • 3. I Drove All Night/time After Time by Cindi Lauper
    lovelyy words
  • 2. Out Of Touch by Hall And Oates
    remix by uniting nations is cool too
  • 1. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship
    amazing song from `mannequinn`
80S RULEEEEE!!!!!!!
By: Rock to Rock
  • 10. Bang You Head by Quiet Riot
    Tell me its a 80s song and I'll love ya.
  • 9. Don't Do Me Like That by Tom Petty
    Like the beat and the lyrics. cool tune
  • 8. Nighttrain by Guns n' Roses
    Good and true.
  • 7. Pink Houses by John Cougar Mellancamp
    good song, so true
  • 6. Nobody's Fool by Cinderella
    Just do
  • 5. Stranglehold by Ted Nugent
    Positive its a 90's song, but I'm including it because I can't leave it out.
  • 4. Rock Of Ages by Def Leppard
    Same as 3
  • 3. Too Late For Love by Def Leppard
    Can't stop saying the lyrics, they sound so cool
  • 2. Those Shoes by Eagles
    Love the lyrics, not sure whether its a 80's song or not
  • 1. The Stroke by Billy Squier
    Love the beat and mostly the lyrics!
I am not sure whether or not these songs are from the 80's the early 90's or the late 70's, but in any case they are good
By: Andres David Osorio
By: Jorge Rangel
  • 10. Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung
    It provokes to go out and party isn't it??
  • 9. Tarzan Boy by Baltimora
    Let's continue the party lol
  • 8. Eyes Without A Face by Billy Idol
    A list without this song is not complete, although I know there are a lot of songs to create a lot of different lists, but indeed this is one of the greatest.
  • 7. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
    I just love this song, as I know you all too.
  • 6. Big In Japan by Alphaville
    My God what a great song!!!! Just love it!!! I think of this song when i hear about 80's.
  • 5. The Promise by When In Rome
    I remember my ex girlfriend with this song. I still love you Veronica. I'll always do!!
  • 4. Lessons In Love by Level 42
    I never get tired of this song. Nice melodies, nice lyrics, very cool.
  • 3. Great Southern Land by Icehouse
    No one chose this song, it's really amazing!!! if you haven't heard of it please look for it. You won't regret at all. By the way, thanks for the song Alex. Friends for ever!!!!
  • 2. Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode
    My favorite Band, it's difficult to select the best depeche's song but i had to choose one to represent them on this list. By the way, the Ultra album rules!!!!!!!!!!
  • 1. Innuendo by Queen
    This song has everything you could ask. It has great lyrics, change of melodies along the song, powerful guitars, spanish guitars, great voice, great drums, its just perfect. Hope you liked my list.
As many of you (if not everyone) i was a little bit frustrated because there are many songs i would like to add and a list of 10 is just a .1% of what I have in mind. But this list represents part of the 80's we all loved and still love. U2, INXS, Foreigner, Duran Duran, Men at Work, Men Without Hats, Sade, Fleetwood Mac, Police, Peter Gabriel..... I mean I could name hundreds of bands; they all are great and they all changed my life. I also like heavy metal bands, i love the 80's but my passion is heavy metal, i'll add a list of some heavy metal songs too.
By: Nathan
  • 10. We Built This City by Starship
    from 20 years of music starship/jefferson starship/jefferson airplane create a very high tech sounding song
  • 9. Don't You Know What The Night Can Do? by Steve Winwood
    Don't you know what the night can dooo?
  • 8. Rhythm Of Love by Yes
    Yes discovers how popular their hit Owner Of A Lonely Heart is so they create songs with the exact same style in Big Generator this is one of my favorites listen to the harmonies at the beginning and you will love it
  • 7. The Sun Always Shines On T.V. by A-Ha
    one of their other greatest hits on Hunting High And Low
  • 6. Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes
    Move Yourself you always live your life never thinking of the future
  • 5. Take On Me by A-Ha
    I LOVE THE HUNTING HIGH AND LOW ALBUM
  • 4. Roll With It by Steve Winwood
    when life is too much roll with it baby
  • 3. Love Is Reason by A-Ha
    love the synthesizers in this
  • 2. If I Didn't Love You by Squeeze
    great song
  • 1. While You See A Chance by Steve Winwood
    this song is really good Arc Of A Diver is one of my favorite albums
here we are part 2 of my fav 80s songs
By: Ron Saunders
  • 10. Little Red Corvette by Prince
    My favorite Prince song.
  • 9. Save It For Later by The English Beat
    This song made me a fan of ska.
  • 8. Touch Of Grey by The Grateful Dead
    I was really stoked when they had a hit in 1987. I was just out of basic training when I first heard it.
  • 7. Cars by Gary Numan
    The first video I remember seeing.
  • 6. A Shot In The Dark by Ozzy Osbourne
    The first time I heard this song I was laying in a hospital bed, waiting for hernia surgery. For some reason it found it's way into my heart.
  • 5. I've Got My Mind Set On You by George Harrison
    Very cathcy song if not a bit goofy. I love it though.
  • 4. Everyday I Write The Book by Elvis Costello
    I just love this song. I never tire of hearing it.
  • 3. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    This song was popular when I was in 8th grade. After the song's popularity died out it was difficult to find. For many years the only copy I had of it was one I recorded off the radio. Now it seems it's on almost every 80's comp CD.
  • 2. Walking On The Moon by The Police
    I didn't realize how much I liked this song until I heard it played by a DJ at a club one night. It's hard to appreciate some songs played on cassette tapes with a $50 boombox.
  • 1. I.G.Y by Donald Fagen
    For years I couldn't find this song on CD. Thank you computer age, the song sounds awesome on my system.
I basically grew up in the 80's so the music will always mean a lot to me.
By: Libby
By:
  • 10. I Ran by Flock of Seagulls
    The list is held together by bookend songs with long intros. In an era of one-hit wonders, the 'gulls fit nicely at the top.
  • 9. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    How a song with banjos and fiddles and a video with a guy in overalls chasing a girl through the streets makes my top 10 is still beyond me.
  • 8. Waiting For A Girl Like You by Foreigner
    ...and still waiting:(
  • 7. Something About You by Level 42
    I can still remember singing this tune on the way back from a high school field trip to a local amusement park. Good times!
  • 6. Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes
    "Rhythm of Love" is another great tune by them.
  • 5. Boys Of Summer by Don Henley
    Reminds me of summer and baseball.
  • 4. Self Control by Laura Branigan
    The late-great Branigan had me waiting on edge to record this song on my clock radio/tape recorder as I had to have it on my mix tapes!
  • 3. Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung
    I can't believe I'm voting for a song from a band with "Wang" in it!
  • 2. Let's Go Crazy by Prince, The Artist Formerly Known As
    "let's look for the purple banana 'til they put us in the truck, let's go." Only he could fit a line like that in there and still contemplate the meaning of life in the same song!
  • 1. Fantasy by Aldo Nova
    Great combo of gritty guitar and synthesizer sound.
Also receving votes: "Keep on Loving You" by Reo Speedwagon; "Down Under" by Men at Work; "Wrapped around Your Finger" by the Police; "Let's Dance" by David Bowie; "Shout" by Tears for Fears; "Just Like Heaven" by the Cure; "So in Love" by OMD; "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring"; "No One Like You" by the Scorpions; and "Jump/Panama" by Van Halen.
By: dick mchugh
  • 10. Bang Your Head by Quiet Riot
    sums up time well spent
  • 9. I Wanna Rock by Twisted Sister
    sums up life
  • 8. Running With The Devil by Van Halen
    everyone knows van halen songs
  • 7. Living After Midnight by Judas Priest
  • 6. Get The **** Out by Skid Row
  • 5. Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses
    greatest guitar solo
  • 4. Born To Raise Hell by Motorhead
  • 3. Live Wire by Motley Crue
  • 2. Fuel by Metallica
  • 1. Paradise City by Guns N' Roses
    My favorite band, best riffs, vocals, guitars. simply put its the best song ever
its dissappointing not seeing any other metal fans on this site, i know theres a hell of a lot more out there
By: Nadia
  • 10. Sometimes When We Touch by Dan Hill
  • 9. You Are The Girl by The Cars
  • 8. Billy Jean by Michael Jackson
  • 7. Secret by OMD
  • 6. West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys
  • 5. Your Wildest Dreams by The Moody Blues
  • 4. Something About You by Level 42
  • 3. Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield & Maggie Reilly
  • 2. Always Gonna Love You by Gary Moore
  • 1. Broken Land by The Adventures
    It's music for my soul
By: Chris
  • 10. Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode
  • 9. That's What I Like About You by The Romatics
  • 8. Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye
    First kissed to this song
  • 7. Where The Streets Have No Name by U2
    might be my favourite song by by favourite band. 80's or otherewise.
  • 6. Radio Free Europe by REM
    I first heard it on college radio station, been an REM fan ever since.
  • 5. Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat
  • 4. Tears On Your Anorak by The Drivers
    I only heard it a few timeswhen i was very young, and loved it. I wasn't sure who song or what it exactly the title was until just recently --> I love the internet
  • 3. A Little Respect by Erasure
    I can listen to hit 100 times in a row
  • 2. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    Quintessential one hit wonder (in North America anyway)
  • 1. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
    when I first started going to clubs this song always seemed to be playing when i entered
I could go on and on...
By: Ramiro
  • 10. Boys Don´t Cry by The Cure
    Rober Smith again, with this great song
  • 9. She Bop by Cyndi Lauper
    The greatest performer of the decade with another hit
  • 8. Pet Sematary by The Ramones
    I don´t wanna be bury, in a pet cementery and this song doesn´t want to be out from my top 10 !
  • 7. Friday I´m In Love by The Cure
    Nothing to say, a sweet song
  • 6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
    A great song performed by one of the greatest bands of the history
  • 5. Maria by Blondie
    Made me cry, great and simple
  • 4. We Close Our Eyes by Go West
    I love it, a great song to dance
  • 3. The Final Countdown by Europe
    A lot of energy in this song, great
  • 2. Eternal Flame by The Bangles
    A great song by a great group
  • 1. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
    When I hear the word "80s", I remember this song
A personal point of view, but I think that most of you will agree with me
By: cie
People, how could you forget these? And for #11, Call Me, by Blondie. 12, Burning for you, Blue Oyster Cult, 13, Love my way, psychedelic furs...
By: sebastian
  • 10. Under Pressure by Queen And David Bowie
  • 9. Footloose by Kenny Logins
  • 8. Walk Of Life by Dire Straits
  • 7. Come On Eileen by Dexy´s Midnight Runners
  • 6. Rebel In Me by Jimmy Cliff
  • 5. Jack And Diane by J0hn Cougar Mellencamp
  • 4. Take On Me by A-ha
  • 3. Layla by Eric Clapton
  • 2. Waiting For Your Love by Toto
  • 1. Africa by Toto
80S MUST LAST FOREVER
By: Ryan Reisert
Other possible songs include "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies, "Bad" by U2, "Once In A Lifetime" by Talking Heads, "Hold On Tight" by ELO, "Message To My Girl" by Split Enz, or "Don't Come Around Here No More" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
By: Kate
Blondie ruled the 80's

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