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: Lavigs
By: Blair
  • 10. Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
  • 9. Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
  • 8. Back In Black by AC/DC
  • 7. Crossfire by Stevie Ray Vaughn
  • 6. Back In The Saddle by Aerosmith
    Steven Tyler is amazing on the microphone.
  • 5. I'll Be There For You by Bon Jovi
    great love song
  • 4. November Rain by Guns N' Roses
    Greatest band of the eighties. No-one compares to Slash and Axl is amazing.
  • 3. Everybody Wants You by Billy Squire
    awesome guitar riffs
  • 2. Goodbye To Romance by Ozzy Osbourne
    Incredible feeling
  • 1. She Talks To Angels by The Black Crows
Can't forget Smoke on the water (deep purple) goodnight saigon and the longest time (billy joel)
By: sara
  • 10. Big Area by Then Jericho
    powerful song, always scream out the words and strain my lungs
  • 9. Somewhere In My Heart by Aztec Camera
    always undecided between aztec and deacon blue
  • 8. Tanita Tikaram by Cathedral Song
    soft, but gorgeous
  • 7. I've Been Losing You by A-ha
    a-ha grow up
  • 6. Angel Eyes by Wet Wet Wet
    who wouldn't get wet wet wet to this song?
  • 5. Hymn To Her by Pretenders
    i just like the lyrics
  • 4. It Doesn't Have To Be This Way by The Blow Monkeys
    just plain sing-along-cool
  • 3. Eloise by The Damned
    the best version of this song.
  • 2. Love And Pride by King
    the hair, the hair! and those boots!!!
  • 1. Gold by Spandau Ballet
    the eighties in one, short word!
By: Henrik
By: Giannis
  • 10. Sorry For Laughing by Josef K
  • 9. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
  • 8. Eternal Flame by The Bangles
  • 7. Here Is The House by Depeche Mode
  • 6. I'm Not Scared by Pet Shop Boys
  • 5. Take On Me by A-ha
  • 4. Oblivious by Aztec Camera
  • 3. Love Is A Shield by Camouflage
  • 2. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths
  • 1. Palm Of My Hand by The Pale Fountains
By: Drew MacDonald
  • 10. Angel by Madonna
    Great lyrics!
  • 9. Obsession by Animotion
    A Great Dance song.
  • 8. Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby
    Favourite song of the decade.
  • 7. Physical by Olivia Newton John
    I enjoy the video for this one! Love that headband.
  • 6. How Will I Know by Whitney Houston
    Her First Big Hit.
  • 5. Every Little Step by Bobby Brown
    good song bobby!
  • 4. Now And Forever by Anne Murray
    No countdown the year this song came out would be compete without this song.
  • 3. Take On Me by A-ha
    Best song of the 80's
  • 2. Every Little Kiss by Bruce Hornsby
    An Excellent Dance Tune
  • 1. I Can't Wait by Nu Shooz
    Great Lyrics
By: Kin
  • 10. Careless Whisper by Wham!
    Simply the best drama romantic song with great bassguitar
  • 9. Human by Human league
    Heheh... the only song I like from them.. a neat ballad
  • 8. Do Me Right by Pebbles
    Great R&B song
  • 7. I Wonder If I Take You Home by Lisa Lisa And The Cult Jam
    Great disco dance hit..
  • 6. I Should Be So Lucky by Kylie Minogue
    A good summertwist beat
  • 5. Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley
    Has a good beat with a summer twist
  • 4. The Reflex by Duran Duran
    the rock / synth music
  • 3. Broken Wings by Mr. Mister
    Nice balad... very relaxing..
  • 2. With Or Without You by U2
    Way far beyond...
  • 1. Take On Me by A-ha
    Artistic clip... nice comic love :D
I'm convinced that in 1984 the song: Evelyn Thomas - High Energy is the root of House music..
By: Monika
  • 10. Rhythm Of The Night by DeBarge
    Catchy, happy fluff froma totally forgettable movie.
  • 9. I Can't Wait by Nu Shooz
  • 8. Sweet Dreams by Air Supply
  • 7. True by Spandau Ballet
    Slight, warm, soft and sincere (if a little cheesy). In other words, what all great '80s ballads were made of. (See Air Supply)
  • 6. You Got It All by The Jets
    One of several great songs by the Jets. Whatever happened to them??
  • 5. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
  • 4. Heaven by Bryan Adams
  • 3. Ya Mo B There by James Ingram & Michael McDonald
  • 2. Being With You by Smokey Robinson
  • 1. Out Of Touch by Hall & Oates
    I saw H&O in concert last month, and "Out of Touch" sounds even MORE awesome live!
By: Mary Shenesey
  • 10. Please Please, Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths
    My favorite song from the smiths
  • 9. Borderline by Madonna
    All of Madonna's music from the eighties is fabulous
  • 8. Blasphemous Rumors by Depeche Mode
    Love this song
  • 7. Invincible by Pat Benatar
    Remember the movie "legend of Billie Jean." I do it was a great eighties movie. If you haven't it is a must see.
  • 6. Dance Along The Edge by Concrete Blonde
    I love Johnette Napolitano. Anything she does is great.
  • 5. Show Me by Cover Girls
    A definite 80's group. you know you are from the 80's if you can remember them.
  • 4. The American Soviet by CCCP
    Just a really good underground song
  • 3. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart
    This is just a funny song, if anyone can remember it
  • 2. Good Enough (Goonies) by Cyndi Lauper
    This song just take me back to the cheesy 80's and I love it. It's funny how many people don't remember this song
  • 1. This Woman's Work by Kate Bush
    This is just the most beautiful song I have ever heard. Kate Bush just makes incredibly touching music
By: alvin prithi
michael jackson was the best performer in the 80's
By: MEL
  • 10. Night Train by Visage
    Another summer song but loads of great memories - as well as the rest of the songs in my list - but music kind a helps you remember memories of Summer (when England used to get one) dont you think? Rounding down 10 songs is impossible but I hope you like my choice xxx
  • 9. Edge Of Heaven by Wham!
    Wasn't upset when they split up unlike most girls....... but what a great song!
  • 8. Cloud Bursting by Kate Bush
    Very talented lady in my opinion
  • 7. Slave To The Rythm by Grace Jones
    one thing to mention - michael parkinson ?!
  • 6. Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell
    Had to be there to appreciate it - but i love it!
  • 5. Sign Of The Times by Belle Stars
    reminds me of snow!
  • 4. Down Under by Men At Work
    Always makes me smile!
  • 3. Rip It Up by Orange Juice
    Such a cool track
  • 2. Walkin' On Sunshine by Rockers Revenge
    I think if i'm not mistaken this was an autumn/winter song which I have never got sick of hearing.
  • 1. Africa by Toto
    Just a fantastic song!
By: Jamie
  • 10. Every Breath You Take by The Police
  • 9. Need You Tonight by INXS
  • 8. When Doves Cry by Prince
  • 7. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
  • 6. Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor
  • 5. Straight Up by Paula Abdul
    Late 80's, but still a great tune!
  • 4. Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
  • 3. Like A Prayer by Madonna
    madonna is and will always be amazing!!!!
  • 2. Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
  • 1. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
    jon bon jovi!!!!! yeahhhhh!!!
Theres nothing to it... the 80's ROCKED!!!!!
By: The Ryno
To me, no music will ever be better than the 80s
By: Antonio
  • 10. Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds
    The first two chords, followed by EH-EH-EH-EH..... and people in the disco got crazy! It does happen now also? I'm not sure.
  • 9. Such A Shame by Talk Talk
    If I had to choose only one song as representative of 80's, this is it: probably not the best, but the most "80's" in my opinion
  • 8. Hard To Say I'm Sorry by Chicago
    Great ballad, great atmosphere
  • 7. Big In Japan by Alphaville
    You know when the first notes of a song immediately bring to your mind some people and places and make you feel good?
  • 6. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
    This was pure energy. Rock.
  • 5. A Forest by The Cure
    Well, how could I forget about them?
  • 4. Save A Prayer by Duran Duran
    Now I wasn't a big fan of Simon Le Bon & C., but this was really a great song
  • 3. Africa by Toto
    One of those songs you'll never be tired to listen
  • 2. Bad by U2
    Best song from the best album of the best 80's band.
  • 1. Invisible Sun by The Police
    The start of this song has something really unique
The best album of 80's (and also 70's, 90's, ever): Pink Floyd - The Wall
By: Farid Alampour
  • 10. The Last Time I Cried by Chris De Burgh
  • 9. Big In Japan by Alphaville
  • 8. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship
  • 7. Self Control by Laura Brannigan
  • 6. You Can Win If You Want by Modern Talking
  • 5. It's A Sin by Pet Shop Boys
  • 4. West Berlin by Camel
  • 3. You're My Heart,You're My Soul by Modern Talking
  • 2. Atlantis Is Calling by Modern Talking
    Modern Talking was the best pop group in the 80's. I Love Thomas Anders.
  • 1. Stationary Traveller by Camel
    Camel was the best Rock group for ever. I Love Andrew Latimer.
By: Jason
By: Stein-Vidar
By: Kevin Kirwan
By: Ashley Blair
  • 10. Madame Butterfly by Malcom McCLAREN
    The Guy behind the song "Buffalo Gals" and the group "Sex Pistols". This song brough rock to opera, one wicked, wicked song!!!!
  • 9. How Soon is Now? by The Smiths
    This song is so edgy. One of the best songs of all time.
  • 8. Girls on Film by Duran Duran
    Great Band!!!
  • 7. Nova Heart by The Spoons
    Canadian New Wave Band, awesome song....
  • 6. Atomic by Blondie
    This song sold 500,000 in 17 days in the UK....What an Incredible song, sexy and so COOL!!!
  • 5. Planet Claire by B' 52's
    This 1980 song should have been a Monster Hit, sadly it was a bomb...
  • 4. The Message by GrandMaster Flash
    2 years after Blondie's Rapture, this song is probally the best and most important rap song of all time
  • 3. Take On Me by A-Ha
    This Song is so catchy, I love it....
  • 2. Rapture by Blondie
    The first rap song to hit #1, this song broke the doors down for Run Dmc and Aerosmith, Beastie Boys and so on...
  • 1. Call Me by Blondie
    #1 Charted Song of 1980 on BillBoard, this song from American Gigolo Soundtrack defines the 1980s like no other song.
My personal opinion, that Blondie was the defintive act of the 1980's. By 1983 they were no longer a band, but the 3 #1 singles they had in the 80's really defined it. They brought techno new wave to mass millions, because of Deborah Harry's vocal and visiual appeal. Madonna owes alot to the doors that Deborah opened up. Honourable mention is the Mega Smash "The Tide is High" which brought Reggae flavoured music to millions of people around the Globe, the same year they did the same for Rap with Rapture.
By: HoE
  • 10. Eyes Without A Face by Billy Idol
    I love the lyrics and music to this song.....
  • 9. Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper
    "If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting....time after time......."
  • 8. Planet Claire by B-52's
    This has one of the greatest beats to it....this song is what the 80's were..
  • 7. When Doves Cry by Prince
    Prince is one of the best musicians ever...
  • 6. Burning Up by Madonna
    "Do you want to see me down on my knees..I'm bendin over backwards now will you be pleased,...I'm not the others I'll do anything.....I'm not the same I have no SHAME...I'm on fire.."....This song IS Madonna....
  • 5. With Or Without You by U2
    BoNO is one of the best singers ever...
  • 4. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns and Roses
    ArE YoU in the Jungle BABY??!!??
  • 3. Roxanne by The Police
    This is one of the best reggae/punk/mix songs ever!!!!
  • 2. Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House
    "hey now, hey now....don't dream it's over...." The best one hit wonder....
  • 1. BorderLine by Madonna
    This is Madonna's best song and video....she is beautiful in this one....this song started her off.........
Top Ten Female Artists- 1. Madonna "Like A Virgin" 2. Expose "Seasons Change" 3. Sweet Sensation "Victim of Love" 4. Cyndi Lauper "All through the night" 5. The Bangels "Eternal Flame" 6. Sa- Fire "Don't break my Heart" 7. Debbie Gibson "Foolish Love" 8. Roxette "It Must've been love" 9. The Pretenders "Middle of the road" 10. Lisa Lisa and the cult jam "Take me home" Top Ten Male Artists- 1. U2 "New Year's Day" 2. The Police "Every Breath You Take" 3. Billy Idol "White Wedding" 4. Prince "Erotic City" 5.Beastie Boys "Paul Revere" 6. Guns and Roses "November Rain" 7. AC DC "Back in Black" 8. B-52's "Rock Lobster" 9. Aerosmith "Janie got a Gun" 10. Rick James "Fire and Desire" 80's is the best decade of music.....it changed with technology allowing new forms of music....I love all kinds of 80's music from punk,new wave,funk and dance, hip hop, heavy metal, freestyle , breakin beats' or just pop.....i love it all..but couldn't fit each song on here.....if there was a top 1000 on the other hand.....

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