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: Dartanian
Now, for all the LOVE songs Not in any particular order 1. Hard For Me To Say Im Sorry - Chicago 2. When I'm With You - Sherrif 3. Faithfully - Journey 4. My Endless Love - Lionel Richie & What's her face! :-) 5. Father Figure - George Michael 6. Love Bites - Def Leppard 7. (Everything I do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams 8. Drive - Cars 9. Cool Night - Paul Davis 10. Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner 11. Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack 12. Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes 13. Glory Of Love - Peter Cetera 14. It Must Have Been Love - Roxette 15. Against All Odds - Phil Collins 16. More Than Words Can Say - Alias 17. Sister Christian - Night Ranger 18. More Than Words - Extreme 19. Who's Crying Now - Journey 20. True Colors - Cindy Lauper I could easily type out another 20, But I'll leave it as is. Wouldn't this make a great love making CD?
By: Jay Duran
  • 10. The Gost In You by Phsychedelic Furs
    The Furs have many songs....Love My Way, Pretty in Pink , Heartbreak Beat..ect...
  • 9. Doctor..! Doctor..! by Thompson Twins
    I remember the video as well.....The Keyboard solo and vocal arrangement were incredible..
  • 8. A Night Like This by The Cure
    This song It's Just Incredible...Here is one of the best Cure compositions of all times...If you get a chance to view "The Cure in Orange" video , check out this song...and please...Keep watching until the end of the video..It will give you a true picture of the 80's Cure..!
  • 7. If You Leave by OMD
    I remember watching the movie Pretty In Pink and listening to this song..It truely woke me up..! Great 80's soundtrack as well..
  • 6. Forever Young by Alphaville
    Great singing, a little out of tune on a particular bar, but who noticed that anyway..After you listen to this one you'll want to be forever young.. Listen to Big in Japan as well to capture their style..
  • 5. It's a Sin by Pet Shop Boys
    This song is the trademark sound of the Pet Shop Boys...I think everyone remembers this one..
  • 4. Ship of Fools by Erasure
    Another great band..Incredible melodies, smooth vocals and laid back guitar riffs..
  • 3. Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
    Any 80's Depeche Mode song including Enjoy the Silence could make this list..I picked this one because it reflects the true Depeche Mode approach.
  • 2. Human by Human League
    I know it's a soft,laid back balad, but have you listen closely to the drum pattern and rythmic finger snaps at the beginning..? It's just amazing..!
  • 1. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
    Just amazing to see these guys after they got over the Joy Division Era..
I would call this my Synth Pop - New Wave top 10 80's List... The Songs and Bands are not in order of importance...Their Artistic expressions filled our lives at one point or another.. The Smiths, Kraftwerk, The Church, Echo and the Bunnymen, Billy Idol, Anything Box, Falco, Duran Duran and a whole bunch of bands were left out It's hard to Cut it down to 10..
By: Nick
  • 10. Just What I Needed by Cars
  • 9. Rock Lobster by B-52's
    Was it 80s or end of 70s ? Ah well, it rules and it's got the 80s sound anyway :o)
  • 8. Wild Boys by Duran Duran
  • 7. You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) by Dead Or Alive
  • 6. Enola Gay by OMD
  • 5. Dead Man's Party by Oingo Boingo
  • 4. People Are People by Depeche Mode
  • 3. Africa by Toto
  • 2. White Wedding by Billy Idol
  • 1. Blue Monday by New Order
    Why do people keep mentioning bizarre love triangle or shellshock !? I like blue monday so much better. It rules !
It was hard enough to think of the 10 best songs, let alone rank them... so the order here is kind of random.
By: BuckyBoi
By: Pete Zaenker
  • 10. Any radio songs by.. by Greg Kihn
    Greg Kihn had tunes on the radio like "Happy man" 1982 - "Lucky" 1985, "Reunited" 1984 "Jeopardy" 1983. Rockihnroll forever.
  • 9. Been In Love Before by Cutting Crew
    Unusual ballad that made the top 30 in 1987.
  • 8. Always With Me, Always With You by Joe Satriani
    The reason he is on here is because he played with the Greg Kihn band, and shortly after that he made his mark. Still remember the unusuality of the cover and the fact that rock radio would play an instrumental.
  • 7. Messiahs Die Young by Men Without Hats
    Some of my friends agree that the 1984 album "Folk of the 80's part 3" is a complete classic.
  • 6. Anna Belle Lee by Greg Kihn band
    Taken from the severely underrated "Glass House rock" album (1980) this is a haunting ballad.
  • 5. Africa by Toto
    Kind of like "Eyes of a stranger" is that is a definitive song with great percussion.
  • 4. 500 Miles by The Hooters
    Actually any of the Hooters radio tunes still bring back good vibes.
  • 3. Hard To Say I'm Sorry by Chicago
    There should be a law against bad remakes. By the way - who cares if it is schlock.
  • 2. The Payolas by Eyes of a stranger
    classic Canadian tune from 1982. Bob Rock went on to become a very famous producer in the late 80's.
  • 1. The Breakup song by Greg Kihn band
    Never fails to this day. My question is: why was this band so underrated? Greg had a powerful rock voice, the songs were catchy as heck and the band from 76 - 82 was very fine. Oh, and has anybody got in on the secret that the albums "Next of Kihn" and especially "Greg Kihn again" are some of the best pop/rock albums ever?
If you like it, its good!
By: Bishounen
By: Kate
By: Frederic Renaud
  • 10. Final Countdown by Europe
    Still good, even in 2001
  • 9. Never by Heart
    Their best song as far as I'm concern.
  • 8. Come Go With Me by Exposé
    great songs!
  • 7. Fascinated by Company B
    hehe!
  • 6. Obsession by Animotion
    That's one of the song you were hearing in background in entertainment shows like E.T.
  • 5. Uptown Girl by Billy Joel
    Great on a jukebox in 1986
  • 4. It's Only Love by Bryan Adams & Tina Turner
    Yeah!
  • 3. Love Is a Battlefield by Pat Banetar
    Yeah!
  • 2. Why Can't this be love by Van Halen
    same thing here...fantastic in 86
  • 1. Self Control by Laura Brannigan
    ahhh 1984!! :) Reminds me of Knight Rider.
Tarzan Boy - Baltimora Touch Me/I surrender/do ya do ya/Naughty Girl - Samantha Fox New Girl Now - Honeymoon suite Crying Over You - Platinum Blonde Sususudio - Phil Collins So much more...
By: David Zerbel
By: Daniel Strang
  • 10. Always something there to remind me by Naked Eyes
    Pure New wave......simply irresistable.......always nice melodies and dreamy.
  • 9. Dead Man's Party by Oingo Boingo
    This song was one of my favorite songs since birth. this band created some of the most odd tunes which totally ruled.
  • 8. How Soon is Now? by The Smiths
    Another masterpiece by the Haunting 4 piece (or 2 piece).
  • 7. Space Age Love Song by Flock of Seaguls
    This song was incredibly spacy and beautiful. The band was very creative with effects combining keyboard and guitar.
  • 6. Don't Stand So Close To Me by The Police
    The police musically were one of the most definitive bands of the 80's and created absuletely awsome music.
  • 5. Dig for Fire by Pixies
    One of the wierdest and most inspiring bands to ever exist. Frank Black, David Loveing, Kim Deal, came up with the most entertaining and collest tunes of the mid/late 80's before there early 90's dissolve.
  • 4. William It Was Really Nothing by The Smiths
    Johnny Marr and Morrissey make the most haunting melodies that ever existed and will continue to haunt for years to come.
  • 3. Goodbye Horses by Q Lazzarus
    A very haunting, spacy, eerie, song that will remain mysterious for the rest of the living world's existance.
  • 2. Disorder by Joy Division
    A completely mysterious band that left behind some beautiful haunting music.
  • 1. In Between Days by The Cure
    Simply one of the best songs ever recorded by any artist. Beside the fact that the Cure is one of the best bands of all time.
There are so many bands that I wanted to put on the top ten. I probably should have grouped the bands......any way some more stuff you should reserch... SAME AS IT EVER WAS.....By Talking Heads ANYTHING ANYTHING...... By Drama Rama ANY Cure..........Any Smiths Bangles, New Order, Soft Cell, David Bowie, Gary Newman, Boo Radleys, INXS, Extreme, Gun Club, Valentine Killers, Descendants, Go's Go's (from my home town)
By: Sam Haynes
  • 10. Lay It On The Line by Triumph
    Just excellent musicianship
  • 9. Blue Collar Man by Styx
    Got me into work when I hated the job many times.
  • 8. Stone Cold by Rainbow
    Love Richie Blackmoor's guitar.
  • 7. You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll by Ozzy Osbourne
    Can't talk 80s rock without mentioning Ozzie
  • 6. Moving in Stereo by Cars
    Love how his voice moves between speakers.
  • 5. Rock On by David Essex
    Who needs instruments?
  • 4. Shot Down by April Wine
    Have a lot of great memories of when this came out
  • 3. The Zoo by Scorpions
    Jamminest song of the decade.
  • 2. Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen
    God bless Freddie Mercury.
  • 1. Distant Early Warning by Rush
    Rush is the best band every.
This is my rock list. I also have an 80s alternative list. Honorable Mention Dio – Rainbow in the Dark Van Halen – And the Cradle Will Rock Billy Thorpe – Children of the Sun Guns ‘n’ Roses – Mr. Brownstone Moxy – Sail On, Sail Away Roger Hodgson – Had a Dream Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar on Me Night Ranger – Sister Christian Donnie Iris – Ah! Leah! Molly Hatchet – Dreams I’ll Never See ZZ Top – Tush
By: Sam Haynes
  • 10. Der Kommissar by After the Fire
    Cold war rebel music.
  • 9. I Ran by Flock of Seagulls
    Hey, get a haircut!
  • 8. 99 Red Balloons by Nina Hagen
    Another no brainer
  • 7. What Are Words For by Missing Persons
    I really love the vocals to this.
  • 6. Secret Separation by Fixx, The
    What a great band.
  • 5. Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant
    No shock here.
  • 4. Goodbye to You by Scandal
    Patty Smyth if you read this I want to marry you.
  • 3. What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes
    No, really. What's going on?
  • 2. Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart
    Always confuses me why people wear sunglasses when the sun's down.
  • 1. Don't Dream it’s Over by Crowded House
    Great break up song.
My top 80s alternative song list. Honorable Mention: Clash, The – Rock the Casbah Eddie Grant – Electric Avenue Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf Beastie Boys – Sabotage Falco – Rock Me Amadeus Josie Cotton – Johnny are you Queer Kings – Switchin’ to Glide Squeeze – Tempted
By: G. P. Worthman
  • 10. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
    "You are only coming through in waves, your lips move but I can't hear what your saying..."
  • 9. Freedom of Choice by Devo
    "Freedom from choice, is what we want..."
  • 8. Life During Wartime by Talking Heads
    "This ain't no party. This ain't no disco. This ain't no fooling around..."
  • 7. Fight the Power by Public Enemy
    "Elvis was a hero to some but he never meant shit to me..."
  • 6. Handle with Care by Traveling Wilburys
    "I still have some love to give..."
  • 5. Shock the Monkey by Peter Gabriel
    "Watch the monkey get hurt..."
  • 4. Touch of Grey by Grateful Dead
    "I will get by..."
  • 3. Like A Prayer by Madonna
    "Let the choir sing!..."
  • 2. Graceland by Paul Simon
    "And she said losing love is like a window in your heart. Everybody sees you're blown apart, everybody sees the wind blow..."
  • 1. One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head
    "I get my kicks ABOVE the waistline, sunshine..."
Others: Elvis Costello - Veronica, Erasure - Au L'Amour, Midnight Oil - Beds are Burning, Devo - Whip It, Prince - Delirious, Enya - Orinoco Flow, Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party, Joe Jackson - I'm the Man
By: Francois Arsenault
  • 10. Ah Leah by Donny Iris
    (1981)I'm not sure why I like this one hit wonder so much, but I do.
  • 9. Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
    (1981)was there ever a catchier opening riff?
  • 8. Tom Sawyer by Rush
    (1981) Symmetry, a perfect blend of guitars, synth, vocals and of course those drums, that wall of sound.
  • 7. Sausalito Summer Night by Diesel
    (1981)Driving through the Rockies in a '71 Buick. Everybody has to have the 'road trip' experience, complete with it's own soundtrack.
  • 6. Too Bad by Doug and the Slugs
    (1980)just the whackiest guys to come out of Vancouver BC. And now immortilized as a TV theme song...sigh
  • 5. Making Plans For Nigel by XTC
    (1980)what song writing skills, and this was just the beginning for this under-appreciated band.
  • 4. Enola Gay by OMD
    (1981)Early OMD, a happy pop song about a pretty damn dark subject...cool!
  • 3. Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins
    (1980)Hey, being in Vernon BC for the summer, what a song, what a summer!
  • 2. Planet Clare by B-52's
    (1980)SNL on a cold January night and there they were, laying it live, the B52's, and life had changed for me...
  • 1. Take A Chance With Me by Roxy Music
    (1982)...working in New Brunswick (Canada), a hot summer day and this playing in my room on my brand new JBL speakers, man did that sound good!
A Canadian top 10 (not nessessarily Canadian songs though!) A great page, hope you don't mind a list from north of the border. My wife and I still love the decade. I'll concentrate on the early 80's as there seems to be no shortage of great picks from the latter part of the decade. ...and just cause I can... and honourable mentions: The The - Uncertain Smile (1983), another amazing tune in either it's LP or extended mix GoGo's (1982) Our Lips Are Sealed, these girls were so damn cute! Simple Minds (1982) Love Song, okay, so there was another great opening riff.
By: ShAnNoN mAriE
So many others so hard to narrow it down...
By: Tiffany
  • 10. Lovesong by The Cure
    This is my favorite Cure song! I think if anyone has heard The Cure, it has been this song!
  • 9. How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths
    I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it! Still love it!
  • 8. Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper
    Love it! Come on, who doesn't??!!!!!!
  • 7. Shout by Tears for Fears
    I have always loved this song! classic!
  • 6. Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar
    Great song also, good vid too.
  • 5. Throwing It All Away by Genesis
    This song is truly a classic! got me into Genesis!
  • 4. Anything, Anything by Dramarama
    I absolutely love this song! I t was even in Nightmare on Elm St. part 4! Pretty impressive!
  • 3. Blood and Roses by The Smithereens
    This is the song that made me a fan of the Smithereens!
  • 2. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    I had to put it! this video is still number one to this day!
  • 1. Wild Boys by Duran Duran
    This song is so awesome! It has a video to match too( okay, so the monster is totally cheesy...but they are a great band!)
I agree with you on having duran duran be the top choice!they are a truly remarkable band, my favorite, not to mention.........
By: Jessica
  • 10. The Right Stuff by New Kids On The Block
    they just had to show up
  • 9. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
    Did you ever notice how many one-hit wonders there are??
  • 8. I Need You Tonight by INXS
    I love this song
  • 7. You're The Inspiration by Chicago
    Just a little inside joke
  • 6. Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
    I've had this song sung to me a million time (Check out my name) so I thought it deserved to be on the list.
  • 5. And So It Goes by Billy Joel
    Aching. Soothing. Wonderful
  • 4. Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes
    It's just so simple!
  • 3. Material Girl by Madonna
    Her Best. And bonus points for showing up in Moulin Rouge
  • 2. Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
    Me and my sister are obsessed!
  • 1. Take One Me by A-ha
    Admit it! You can't resist!
By: Craig Stewart
  • 10. Arc Of A Diver by Steve Winwood
    Exquisite... I believe this came out in '80.
  • 9. New Years Day by U2
    Another runner...
  • 8. Just A Job To Do by Genesis
    Phil Collins at his best...
  • 7. Big Log by Robert Plant
    Unforgettable melody...
  • 6. Give To Live by Sammy Hagar
    Before Van Halen days when Sammy was good and not cheezy...
  • 5. Hold On by Santana
    That stratocastor goes right through the roof...
  • 4. Rain On The Scarecrow by John Cougar-Mellencamp
  • 3. Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes
  • 2. Go by Asia
    Do the same with this one. Makes you want to just run...
  • 1. Sanctify Yourself by Simple Minds
    Listen to this loud enough to where your ears cannot take it. Great ending.
I realize some of these are off the norm, but they are the "middle" of the 80s sound that I liked.
By: Roy Goodhand
  • 10. (Tie)Legs-Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top
    Great songs, but I have no place to put them but at the bottom.
  • 9. (Tie)Forever Young (Both versions) by Rod Stewart-Alphaville
    I know these songs don't go together, but they have the same title and they both rule.
  • 8. (Tie)Sowing The Seeds Of Love-Tarzan Boy by Tears For Fears-Baltimora
    It's nice to see I'm not the only one who likes Tarzan Boy.
  • 7. (Tie)Money For Nothing-If You Leave by Dire Straits-OMD
    (Too many ties...) I want my MTV!!!
  • 6. (Tie)Eat It-Dare To Be Stupid-1999 by Weird Al Yankovic-Prince
    Weird combo, eh? But these songs are so good, they somehow go together.
  • 5. (Tie)Everybody Wants To Rule The World-Rio by Tears For Fears-Duran Duran
    What is up with all of these songs from British bands?
  • 4. (Tie)Beat It-Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Michael Jackson-Cyndi Lauper
    I was going to put the theme to Pee-Wee's Playhouse so the number of Cyndi Lauper songs would be the same as the number of one-hit-wonders. Beat It. All you've gotta do is say those two words and I'll be your friend if you're talking about Michael Jackson.
  • 3. (Tie)Billie Jean-Shout-Something About You by Michael Jackson-Tears For Fears-Level 42
    First of all, I feel it's my duty to make Michael Jackson cool again. Next, I have friends who think Tears For Fears is a one-hit-wonder band. Lastly, I like most 80's one-hit-wonders.
  • 2. (Tie)Ghostbusters-Take On Me by Ray Parker Jr.-A-ha
    I love these songs so much, I had to make them both #2, because there is no song out there that I think is better than Thriller, even if VH1 says Billie Jean is better.
  • 1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    He is NOT weird. Michael Jackson rules!
Yes, I know I'm supposed to put only 10 songs, but there are over 100 that I think are so good they deserve to be on this list. That's why I have so many ties.
By: Krystin Pananski
  • 10. I Hate Myself For Lovin You by Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
  • 9. Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac
  • 8. Strap Me In by The Cars
  • 7. Don't Stop Believin by Journey
  • 6. So Far Away by Dire Straits
  • 5. Say Goodbye by Triumph
  • 4. Alone by Heart
  • 3. Send My Heart by The Adventures
  • 2. The Riddle by Nik Kershaw
  • 1. Crybaby by Utopia
    One of those songs that even though I play it an average of 6 to 7 times a day , it never gets old. Surely stands the test of time
I really do miss the eighties , ok , time to turn my shirt collar down and get back to real life :-)

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.