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: Joe
  • 10. Open Arms by Journey
    Journey Rules.
  • 9. Jukebox Hero by Foreigner
    Foreigner? They go hand in hand with Journey from the 80's!
  • 8. Limelight by Rush
  • 7. Tom Sawyer by Rush
  • 6. I've Seen All Good People by Yes
  • 5. Leave it by Yes
  • 4. Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes
    Also, how could anyone forget YES when mentioning the 80's!
  • 3. The Best Of Times by Styx
    What can I say?
  • 2. Babe by Styx
    Again, Styx rewrote the 80's!
  • 1. Come Sail Away by Styx
    How can anyone mention the 80's without mentioning STYX!
What else can I say, I LOVE the 80's!!!!!!!!
By: Rachael
  • 10. Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles
    Pay no mind to the video..strange, really..but the song is great.
  • 9. What's Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner
    "who needs a heart when a heart can be broken..?" it's another one of those songs that can get stuck in your head for hours...as I'm writing this, all these songs keep playing themselves in my head...
  • 8. I Love Rock 'N' Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
    Britney Spears did a remake which totally ruined the classic...I'm sure most people would agree.
  • 7. Paradise City by Guns 'n' Roses
    "take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty...oh won't you please take me home..?" what can I say, it's a classic!
  • 6. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
    This is so hard, trying to put all my favorite songs in order!! this song would always come on my favorite radio station at the same time every nite, so I would always stay up hoping ot hear it.
  • 5. Joker by Steve Miller Band
    Another bit of Steve Miller for you....I'm loving this song.
  • 4. Who Can It Be Now? by Men At Work
    That saxophone part ALWAYS gets in my head and I go around humming it stupidly for hours on end after hearing this.
  • 3. Abra Cadabra by Steve Miller Band
    Sugar ray did a remake of this, but it just can't top the original...
  • 2. Don't You Want Me by Human League
    I saw this video on VH1 for the first time in awhile and now I think I'm gonna have it stuck in my head for all eternity..."don't you want me baby..don't you want me..ohh...?"
  • 1. 867-5309/Jenny by Tommy TuTone
    My all time favorite 80s song...my boyfriend and I actually called the number once, but hung up later...::sigh:: good times....
Here are some runner ups: AC/DC- You Shook Me All Night Long, Madness- Our House, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam- Head to Toe, The Hooters- And We Danced...aww!! I forgot to add this to my list!!! I'm so dumb! All She Wants to Do Is Dance- Don Henley *That's about it!!!*
By: Pablo Diaz
  • 10. All Night Long by Lionel Richie
  • 9. Oh, Sherry by Steve Perry
    My Favorite.
  • 8. Nowhere Fast by Fire Inc.
    Fantastic.
  • 7. Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics
    Another big song from Europe.
  • 6. Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
    The best in dance and fun.
  • 5. 19 by Paul Hardcastle
    To remember horrors while you dance.
  • 4. Give Me Tonight by Shannon
    A true song to dance.
  • 3. There's Something Goin On by Frida
    A real good song....
  • 2. Irresistible by Stephanie de Monaco
    First and last pop singer in the european Royalty; very melodic song.
  • 1. Big In Japan by Alpha Ville
    Number 1 in several countrys for many weeks
The best decade for the music it was the 80's.... Nowadays they recycle those big songs with the new style. But the originals always sounded better.
By: Jessica (child of the eighties)
  • 10. In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
  • 9. Bizzare Love Triangle by New Order
    Another good song to dance to.
  • 8. No Myth by Michael Penn
    "I'll catch the first jump to Soho."
  • 7. You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates
    A great dance song.
  • 6. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
    Such a good song.
  • 5. Hold Me Now by Thompson Twins
  • 4. Boys Of Summer by Don Henley
  • 3. True by Spandau Ballet
    "With a thrill in my head and a pill on my tongue..."
  • 2. Take On Me by A-Ha
    Great song and an amazing video.
  • 1. Love My Way by Psychedelic Furs
    I can listen to this song all day.
By: Sasha
  • 10. Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
    This one is really funny to listen to and there are some lines I can't even understand in the song but I still love it!
  • 9. Down Under by Men at Work
    A very unique song with some unique instruments, really cool.
  • 8. Papa Don't Preach by Madonna
    Madonna had soooo many good ones in the 80's.
  • 7. Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
    Who hasn't jammed to this song?!?! Even today I sometimes put it on just to act like a total nut dancing around to it.
  • 6. A Little Respect by Erasure
    Erasure had a lot of great hits, but this one stands out as the catchiest and most popular of that time.
  • 5. True Faith by New Order
    Actually anything by New Order was a big hit in the 80's. I can still listen to their songs today and they still sound fresh.
  • 4. True by Spandau Ballet
    Another great ballad and so catchy...this much is true!
  • 3. With Or Without You by U2
    One of the most intense love songs of the 80's, teenagers everywhere could relate to it.
  • 2. Centrefold by J. Giels band
    I haven't met anybody who doesn't at least do a little toe tappin' when they hear this one, it's sooo catchy.
  • 1. Careless Whisper by Wham!/George Michael
    A wonderful ballad and one of the most popular songs played at school dances all over North America.
Some really close runners up for me are: Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leopard), We're Not Gonna Take it (Twisted Sister), Africa (Toto), Hold Me Now (Thompson Twins), and You Spin Me Round. The 80's was full of awesome songs, it is so hard to make a top ten list. It was one of the best decades for song, IMHO.
By: Herb Denmark Jr.
  • 10. Physical by Olivia Newton-John
  • 9. Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
    Okay, so this is an idealistic one. But I had to include a McCartney record.
  • 8. I Love Rock'n' Roll by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
    You can still put a coin in the jukebox at Waffle House!
  • 7. Beat It by Michael Jackson
    Another from Thriller & 1983!
  • 6. Walk Like An Eqyptian by Bangles
    Susanna Hoffs is FINE! And they can play!!!
  • 5. We Are The World by USA For Africa
    One of two from 1985 through 1989.
  • 4. Africa by Toto
    Don't you see a trend here?
  • 3. Jeopardy by Greg Kihn Band
    More proof that white Americans can get on down!!!
  • 2. Every Breath You Take by The Police
    This came out as I got my bachelor's in history from the University of Georgia.
  • 1. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
    My favorite Michael Jackson song was #1 Easter weekend 1983, when the Bulldogs and Lady Dogs made college basketball's Final Four!!
By: Vincent Frank
  • 10. Go Insane by Linsay Buckingham
    No many people remember this one, but it's production quality rivals anything produced by Frank Zappa.
  • 9. Stand Or Fall by The Fixx
    And oldie but goodie....
  • 8. Everybody Wants Some! by Van Halen
    One of their best...and there's plenty from which to choose!
  • 7. Through Being Cool by Devo
    Who can resist a song that has the lyric: "Put that tape on erase/ Rearrange your face/ We always liked Picasso anyway"???
  • 6. Never Say Never by Romeo Void
    It's got the immortal line, "I might like you better if we slept together." A model of the early 80s LA new wave sound....
  • 5. Hello Again by The Cars
    What a great song! The Cars' quirkiness and odd sense of humor shows in this one.
  • 4. I Missed Again by Phil Collins
    Sounds more like Genesis than solo P.C., but maybe that's why I like this tune.
  • 3. Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden
    The greatest heavy metal song ever, in my opinion.
  • 2. Downbound Train by Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band
    Actually and outake from _Nebraska_, this song is dark.
  • 1. When Doves Cry by Prince & The Revolution
    Just...incredible.
My opions on this list will probably change by the time I hit "Send Info."
By: Ben Kramer
By: Brent
  • 10. I Need You Tonite by Peter Wolfe
    Another great song that never got the recognition it deserved. I love the video, that white Lamborghini was my dream car for years. OK, it still is.
  • 9. Teenage Head by Something On My Mind
    Early 80's. Fantastic song that takes me back to early High school.
  • 8. Its' All I Can Do by Cars
    Off the the Candy-O album. This one does not get the recognition that it deserves. I love it!
  • 7. We Run by Strange Advance
  • 6. Saturdays In Silesia by Rational Youth
    Good old Canadian Techno. a GREAT upbeat tune.
  • 5. Day By Day by Doug And The Slugs
    Not everyone will have heard of this. If you can get your hands on this one it will not disappoint. Reminds me of Cab nights at the good old U of L.
  • 4. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    Have you ever really sat and listened to this song. It is awsome!
  • 3. Missing You by John Waite
    Big Pond, Nova Scotia, Fall 1984. I will never forget!!!
  • 2. I Melt With You by Modern english
    There are rare songs that become timeless. This is one of them. I saw the film Valley Girl so many times I had to stop counting. For me Deborah Foreman was the ultimate girl.
  • 1. Every Breath You Take by The Police
    This song is brilliant by any standards. The number 1 song of 1983 and of all time in my book. This song reminds me of some of the best times of my life.
I have chosen a fair number that I did not see elsewhere on this extensive list. Some of these are a bit obscure, but trust me, every single tune I have listed deserves to be on this list. check them out if you can find them. Honorable mention to the following: Hypnotize me-Wang Chung, Might as well be on Mars-Pukka Orchestra, Another Nail in my Heart-Squeeze, Peace of mind-Grapes of Wrath, and One Time One Night-Los Lobos
By: David
  • 10. Ice Ice baby by Vanilla Ice
  • 9. I Wanna Be A Cowboy by Boys Don't Cry
  • 8. I Love Rock And Roll by Joan Jett
  • 7. Hey Mickey by Go Go's
  • 6. Wild Wild West by Esacape Club
  • 5. Jesse's Girl by Rick SpringField
  • 4. White Wedding by Billy Idol
  • 3. My Best Friend's Girl by Cars
  • 2. You Spin Me Round by Dead Or Alive
  • 1. Scatman by The Scatman
By: Matt Gagner
By: Wayne M.
  • 10. Run To You by Bryan Adams
  • 9. If I'd Been The One by 38 Special
  • 8. The River by Bruce Springsteen
  • 7. Take The Long Way Home by Supertramp
  • 6. Tonight Tonight Tonight by Genesis
    Obscure but excellent.
  • 5. Heat Of The Moment by Asia
    Too bad these guys never followed their 1st album with anything worth listening to.
  • 4. You May Be Right by Billy Joel
  • 3. Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
  • 2. Ah! Leah by Donnie Iris
    Still remember listening to this song endlessly, cranked...great guitar!
  • 1. In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
By: Scott
By: Leon Kinsella
  • 10. Say It Isn't So by Hall and Oates
    Very underrated band but were class.....
  • 9. I Will Always Love You by Taylor Dayne
    Not only did she great her voice was outstanding.
  • 8. Don't Look Down by Go West
    How good was this one!
  • 7. If You Let Me Stay by Terrence Trent D'Arby
    Great singer spent more time on the tube than anything else, though.
  • 6. Rooms On Fire by Fleetwood mac
    While maybe I'm just thinking that the rooms are all on fire.
  • 5. I Don't Want To Be A Hero by Johnny Hates Jazz
    I wonder what there up to these days?
  • 4. Body Talk by Immagination
    A real sleazy tune, but has its moments.
  • 3. Sweet Sixteen by Billy Idol
    How good was this chap...
  • 2. Each Time You Break My Heart by Nick Keman
    Cool still! Now he's earning a living as a painter
  • 1. Love On Your Side by Thompson Twins
    Even there hair styles were good(not quite).
By: Alex Poffo
  • 10. The End Of The World by REM
  • 9. With Or Without You by U2
  • 8. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
    I agree, the best love song ever...
  • 7. Save A Prayer by Duran Duran
  • 6. Take On Me by A-ha
  • 5. Broken Wings by Mr. Mister
  • 4. Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
  • 3. Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins
    Just the beggining of this song.. Destroys!
  • 2. Forever Young by Alphaville
    Let us die young or let us live forever...
  • 1. Sunday Morning by The Bolshoi
By: Malcolm Frank
  • 10. St. Elmo's Fire by John Parr
    Loved the movie as well...
  • 9. Walk Of Life by Dire Straits
    Great tune.
  • 8. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
    From the album that probably redefined pop music in the 80's. Michael defnitley was the king.
  • 7. Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
    Another great rock song.
  • 6. Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns 'n' Roses
    Great band,amazing song..best debut rock album ever.
  • 5. Last Christmas by Wham!
    Always popular during the holidays.
  • 4. The End Of The Innocence by Don Henley
    His best song since "Hotel California" with The Eagles.
  • 3. Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams
    No eighties collection will be complete without a Bryan Adams song.
  • 2. Key Largo by Bertie Higgins
    What a cool song. Beautiful tune.
  • 1. Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon
    Unforgettable ballad, probably their best song ever.
I guess I was too young at the time to totally appreciate how great the music of the 80's actually was, but I have to admit now, without a doubt that there was no greater decade of music.
By: ponen longchar
  • 10. The Deeper The Love by Whitesnake
    I'm very much into love songs...so any good love song is a favourite of mine...this one goes the same!
  • 9. With Or Without You by U2
    Once again, the lyrics too good here. The name itself tells the powerfulness of the song...lyrics do matter, right?
  • 8. Without Your Love by TNT
    One of the best love songs I've ever heard.
  • 7. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    The riffs are too good here...good! You've reminded me to go and purchase the cassette as I've lost it
  • 6. Name by Goo Goo Dolls
    woh!..A superb song..very powerful lyrics. Actually I didn't like the song at first. My brother used to blast this song in the music system like anything..so I didn't have much choice but to hear it as we used to listen together then...and that's how I slowly started liking the song...anyway thanx to him.
  • 5. Boys Of Summer by Don Henly
    This song gives you the late eighties kind of feeling whenever you listen to it...moreover, this song has something in common with my childhood years.
  • 4. Beautiful Girl by INXS
    Just listen and enjoy.
  • 3. Breaking Down by Skid Row
    The tune is good in this song...ummm.. not to forget the guitar part which is simple but very much into the song
  • 2. All I Want by Toad The Wet Sprocket
    Well..first of all..it's a very catchy song and the rest follow..I mean like the guitar part and the backing vocals..overall its a very good song to listen to.
  • 1. How Come You Are Not Dead Yet? by Joey Tempest
    I like this song because of the words....this song proves to be useful for those who've been dumbed by their own partners..got it??
By: gad mercado
  • 10. Flesh For Lulu by Postcards From Paradise
  • 9. Worlds Apart by Cactus World News
  • 8. Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) by Icicle Works
    whenever i hear this in the car i just wanna drive real fast.
  • 7. Inside Out by The Mighty Lemon Drops
  • 6. The Worst Year Of My Life by The Wild Swans
  • 5. On Paper by Three O'clock
  • 4. Uncertain Smile by The The
    another rarely played new wave classic.
  • 3. Xmal Deutshland by Incubus Succubus Ii
    what can i say? goth new music rules!!!
  • 2. More To Lose by Seona Dancing
    long live this philippine station called xb102.7...they made this song popular during its time.
  • 1. State Of Art by Friends Again
    do people remember this song? it isn't played as much even on days that 80s music are played...
man this list could go on and on...how can anyone forget the great new wave music of the 80s?
By: Patrick
  • 10. In A Big Country by Big Country
    Strong, powerful, motivational, upbeat, awesome song!
  • 9. Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
    Any U2 is great - this one is extra meaningful to me.
  • 8. Take The L by The Motels
    What a voice on Martha- filled with emotion. I always felt sorry for her when I listened to this song.
  • 7. White Lines by Grandmaster Flash With Mel Melle
    Dang dang diggity dang a dang - love to dance to this one - get higher baby!
  • 6. Poison Arrow by ABC
    Who broke my heart? You did - You did!
  • 5. Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode
    Love this song.
  • 4. Escalator Of Life by Robert Hazard
    Where have you gone, Robert? We're shopping at the human mall...we want it all!
  • 3. Ah, Leah! by Donnie Iris
    Zeta Tau Alpha - motivational song - Lock Haven University!
  • 2. Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
    How could you not love this song?
  • 1. I Melt With You by Modern English
    I can sing this song word for word and remember where I was when I first heard it- my favorite 80's tune
I am an 80's fanatic. I only listen to 80's music. It was my era - what a decade!
By: Simone Bregni
  • 10. Desire by Roni Griffith
    Nice catchy techno song.
  • 9. Mongoloid by Devo
    We are not men! We are Devo!
  • 8. Charlotte Sometimes by The Cure
    Sooooo sad : )
  • 7. Siberia by Diaframma
    Italy's second best wave band of the 80s.. this song is from 1984.
  • 6. Istambul by Litfiba
    Italy's best wave band of the '80s! Try it!
  • 5. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division
    Simply stunning...
  • 4. Beat The Clock by Sparks
    Excellent technobeat!
  • 3. The Sun And The Rainfall by Depeche Mode
    Or pretty much everything else DM did back then.
  • 2. Vivre Sur Video/Living On Video by Trans-X
    My second favourite technopop/wave/dance song. It took me 17 years to find the French version...
  • 1. Angel Face by Shock
    My all-time favourite technopop-wave-dance song. It took me about 20 years to track down title/author!
Does anybody know who sung a German wave/synth song, back in 1984, entitled (approximately, I don't speak German) Die Klantz Dimenzionen? I guess there was an English version, too, entitled "Trial Dimension". It doesn't seem to be by Peter Schilling. It begins with something like "Achtung/Contact/Infietacht???/Sollischklemmen???/ [I apologize to all the German speakers here!]

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