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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top Songs of the 1980s

1970s <-

1980

-> 1990s

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

10/1988

Desire by U2

from Rattle and Hum

680

3
US

37
dance

✫1
rock

✫1
alt.

✫1
UK

[Island 7-99250]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.

08/1982

Down Under by Men at Work

from Business as Usual

537

✫1
US

13
AC

33
dance

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

[R]
charted as Who Can It Be Now? / Down Under in US dance charts
[Columbia 03303]
written by Colin Hay & Ron Strykert

06/1982

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

from Eye of the Tiger

533

✫1
US

27
AC

59
dance

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

[Scotti Brothers 02912]
written by Frankie Sullivan & Jim Peterik

05/1983

Every Breath You Take by The Police

from Synchronicity

530

✫1
US

5
AC

26
dance

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1984]

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #84]
[A&M 2542]
written by Sting

09/1989

Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears

from The Seeds of Love

515

2
US

29
AC

4
rock

✫1
alt.

5
UK

[Polygram 874710 (Fontana)]
written by Roland Orzabal & Curt Smith

12/1984

I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner

from Agent Provocateur

487

✫1
US

3
AC

85
R&B

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

featuring New Jersey Mass Choir & Jennifer Holliday

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #476]
[Atlantic 89596]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner] & Lou Gramm (uncredited)

10/1988

Angel of Harlem by U2

from Rattle and Hum

481

14
US

38
AC

✫1
rock

3
alt.

9
UK

[tribute to Billie Holiday]
[Island 7-99254]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.

11/1981

Centerfold by J. Geils Band

from Freeze Frame

476

✫1
US

12
dance

✫1
rock

3
UK

charted as Centerfold / Flamethrower in US dance charts
[EMI America 8102]
written by Seth Justman

02/1984

Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) by Phil Collins

from Against All Odds: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

470

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
rock

2
UK

[Atlantic 89700 A]
written by Phil Collins

10.

09/1981

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police

from Ghost in the Machine

467

3
US

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

written by Sting

11.

03/1987

With or Without You by U2

from The Joshua Tree

466

✫1
US

23
AC

✫1
rock

4
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #131]
[Island 7-99469]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.

12.

03/1985

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

from Songs from the Big Chair

466

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
dance

2
rock

2
UK

[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1986]
[Polygram 880659 (Mercury)]
written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley & Chris Hughes

13.

12/1981

I Love Rock 'n Roll by Joan Jett

from I Love Rock n' Roll

466

✫1
US

31
dance

✫1
rock

4
UK

as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #484]
[Boardwalk 7-11-135]
written by Alan Merrill & Jake Hooker

14.

04/1986

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

from So

465

✫1
US

✫1
dance

61
R&B

✫1
rock

4
UK

[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 1987]
[Geffen 28718]
written by Peter Gabriel

15.

11/1981

Don't You Want Me by The Human League

from Dare!

454

✫1
US

3
dance

4
rock

✫1
UK

written by Philip Oakey, Jo Callis & Philip Adrian Wright

16.

11/1988

Orange Crush by R.E.M.

from Green

453

✫1
rock

✫1
alt.

28
UK

written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe

17.

05/1982

Abracadabra by Steve Miller Band

from Abracadabra

449

✫1
US

28
AC

14
dance

26
R&B

4
rock

2
UK

[Capitol 5126]
written by Steve Miller

18.

10/1986

Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

from Slippery When Wet

443

✫1
US

✫1
rock

4
UK

[Polygram 888184 (Mercury)]
written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Desmond Child

19.

12/1989

Black Velvet by Alannah Myles

from Alannah Myles

441

✫1
US

7
AC

✫1
rock

2
UK

[Atlantic 88742]
written by Christopher Ward & David Tyson

20.

10/1987

Got My Mind Set on You by George Harrison

from Cloud Nine

440

✫1
US

✫1
AC

4
rock

2
UK

originally recorded by James Ray in 1962; produced by George Harrison & Jeff Lynne
[Dark Horse 28178]
written by Rudy Clark

21.

02/1986

Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer

from Riptide

435

✫1
US

36
dance

✫1
rock

5
UK

produced by Bernard Edwards
[Island 7-99570]
written by Robert Palmer

22.

06/1985

Money for Nothing by Dire Straits

from Brothers in Arms

431

✫1
US

✫1
rock

4
UK

[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 1986]
[Warner 28950]
written by Mark Knopfler & Sting

23.

05/1982

Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran

from Rio

431

3
US

36
dance

✫1
rock

5
UK

[Capitol 5134 (Harvest)]
written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor [Roger Meddows-Taylor] & Andy Taylor

24.

07/1982

Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners

from Too-Rye-Ay

430

✫1
US

31
AC

6
rock

✫1
UK

as Dexy's Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express
[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1983]
[Mercury 76189]
written by Kevin Rowland, "Big" Jim Paterson & Billy Adams

25.

08/1981

Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

428

2
US

14
dance

✫1
rock

7
UK

[Rolling Stones 21003]
written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

26.

05/1987

Alone by Heart

from Bad Animals

427

✫1
US

2
AC

3
rock

3
UK

[Capitol 44002]
written by Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg

27.

05/1984

Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen

from Born in the U.S.A.

423

2
US

7
dance

✫1
rock

4
UK

[Columbia 04463]
written by Bruce Springsteen

28.

03/1983

Let's Dance by David Bowie

from Let's Dance

422

✫1
US

✫1
dance

14
R&B

8
rock

✫1
UK

featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar
co-produced by Nile Rodgers
[EMI America 8158]
written by David Bowie

29.

03/1987

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2

from The Joshua Tree

420

✫1
US

16
AC

2
rock

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #93]
[Island 7-99430]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.

30.

10/1981

Waiting for a Girl Like You by Foreigner

from 4

420

2
US

5
AC

✫1
rock

8
UK

[Atlantic 3868]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner] & Lou Gramm

31.

02/1985

Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds

from The Breakfast Club: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

419

✫1
US

36
AC

9
dance

✫1
rock

7
UK

[A&M 2703]
written by Keith Forsey & Steve Schiff

32.

01/1984

Jump by Van Halen

from 1984

415

✫1
US

17
dance

88
R&B

✫1
rock

7
UK

[Warner 29384]
written by Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen & Michael Anthony

33.

11/1984

Easy Lover by Philip Bailey

from Chinese Wall

411

2
US

15
AC

7
dance

3
R&B

5
rock

✫1
UK

with Phil Collins
[Columbia 04679]
written by Philip Bailey, Phil Collins & Nathan East

34.

06/1984

Missing You by John Waite

from No Brakes

409

✫1
US

7
AC

27
dance

✫1
rock

9
UK

[EMI America 8212]
written by John Waite, Mark Leonard & Chas Sandford

35.

09/1989

Love Shack by The B-52's

from Cosmic Thing

408

3
US

7
dance

✫1
alt.

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #243]
[Warner 22817 (Reprise)]
written by Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland & Cindy Wilson

36.

06/1986

Higher Love by Steve Winwood

from Back in the High Life

406

✫1
US

7
AC

✫1
rock

13
UK

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1987]
[Warner 28710 (Island)]
written by Steve Winwood & Will Jennings

37.

05/1986

Invisible Touch by Genesis

from Invisible Touch

406

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
rock

15
UK

[Atlantic 89407]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

38.

11/1983

Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes

from 90125

405

✫1
US

3
dance

69
R&B

✫1
rock

28
UK

[Atco 99817]
written by Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire & Trevor Horn

39.

03/1983

Is There Something I Should Know? by Duran Duran

from Duran Duran [US reissue]

404

4
US

34
dance

3
rock

✫1
UK

written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor [Roger Meddows-Taylor] & Andy Taylor

40.

11/1980

Keep On Loving You by REO Speedwagon

from Hi Infidelity

404

✫1
US

9
rock

7
UK

[Epic 50953]
written by Kevin Cronin

41.

10/1983

Union of the Snake by Duran Duran

from Seven and the Ragged Tiger

400

3
US

33
dance

2
rock

3
UK

[Capitol 5290]
written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor [Roger Meddows-Taylor] & Andy Taylor

42.

06/1988

Roll with It by Steve Winwood

from Roll with It

400

✫1
US

✫1
AC

21
dance

30
R&B

✫1
rock

53
UK

[Virgin 99326]
written by Steve Winwood, Will Jennings, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.

43.

12/1985

Kyrie by Mr. Mister

from Welcome to the Real World

396

✫1
US

11
AC

✫1
rock

11
UK

[RCA 14258]
written by Richard Page, Steve George & John Lang

44.

02/1989

I'll Be You by The Replacements

from Don't Tell a Soul

392

51
US

✫1
rock

✫1
alt.

[Warner 22992 (Sire)]
written by Paul Westerberg

45.

06/1985

St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) by John Parr

from St. Elmo's Fire: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

391

✫1
US

16
AC

2
rock

6
UK

produced by David Foster
[Atlantic 7-89541]
written by David Foster & John Parr

46.

03/1989

Good Thing by Fine Young Cannibals

from The Raw & the Cooked

391

✫1
US

12
AC

20
dance

39
rock

2
alt.

7
UK

[MCA 53639]
written by Roland Gift, David Steele & Andy Cox

47.

09/1985

We Built This City by Starship

from Knee Deep in the Hoopla

389

✫1
US

37
AC

37
dance

✫1
rock

12
UK

[Grunt 14170]
written by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert & Peter Wolf

48.

08/1986

Stuck with You by Huey Lewis & the News

from Fore!

389

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
rock

12
UK

[Chrysalis 43019]
written by Chris Hayes & Huey Lewis

49.

06/1987

La Bamba by Los Lobos

from La Bamba: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

389

✫1
US

4
AC

57
country

11
rock

✫1
UK

[Slash 28336]
written by traditional

50.

02/1985

One More Night by Phil Collins

from No Jacket Required

386

✫1
US

✫1
AC

80
R&B

4
rock

4
UK

[Atlantic 89588]
written by Phil Collins

51.

01/1984

Footloose by Kenny Loggins

from Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture

386

✫1
US

2
rock

6
UK

[Columbia 04310]
written by Kenny Loggins & Dean Pitchford

52.

11/1980

(Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon

from Double Fantasy

385

✫1
US

17
AC

✫1
UK

[Geffen 49604]
written by John Lennon

53.

08/1986

(I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew

from Broadcast

382

✫1
US

24
AC

37
dance

4
rock

4
UK

[Virgin 99481]
written by Nick Van Eede

54.

08/1985

Broken Wings by Mr. Mister

from Welcome to the Real World

381

✫1
US

3
AC

4
rock

4
UK

[RCA 14136]
written by Richard Page, Steve George & John Lang

55.

05/1989

So Alive by Love and Rockets

from Love and Rockets

380

3
US

20
dance

9
rock

✫1
alt.

79
UK

charted as So Alive / Bike Dance in US dance charts
[RCA 8956]
written by Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins & David J

56.

01/1989

The Living Years by Mike + the Mechanics

from The Living Years

376

✫1
US

✫1
AC

5
rock

2
UK

[Atlantic 7-88964]
written by Mike Rutherford & B. A. Robertson

57.

01/1987

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship

from No Protection

376

✫1
US

✫1
AC

16
rock

✫1
UK

[Grunt 5109]
written by Diane Warren & Albert Hammond

58.

03/1986

Why Can't This Be Love by Van Halen

from 5150

375

3
US

✫1
rock

8
UK

[Warner 28740]
written by Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen & Alex Van Halen

59.

10/1983

Say, Say, Say by Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney

from Pipes of Peace

372

✫1
US

3
AC

2
dance

2
R&B

24
rock

2
UK

as Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
[Epic 04169]
written by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson

60.

12/1980

Rapture by Blondie

from Autoamerican

371

✫1
US

✫1
dance

33
R&B

35
rock

5
UK

charted as Rapture / The Tide Is High in US dance charts
[Chrysalis 2485]
written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein

61.

07/1983

King of Pain by The Police

from Synchronicity

368

3
US

33
AC

✫1
rock

17
UK

[A&M 2569]
written by Sting

62.

09/1980

Don't Stand So Close to Me by The Police

from Zenyatta Mondatta

368

10
US

11
rock

✫1
UK

written by Sting

63.

05/1987

Shakedown by Bob Seger

from Beverly Hills Cop II: The Motion Picture Soundtrack Album

368

✫1
US

✫1
rock

88
UK

[MCA 53094]
written by Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey & Bob Seger

64.

08/1985

Dancing in the Street by David Bowie and Mick Jagger

366

7
US

4
dance

3
rock

✫1
UK

written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson & Ivy Jo Hunter

65.

12/1984

Shout by Tears for Fears

from Songs from the Big Chair

365

✫1
US

✫1
dance

56
R&B

6
rock

4
UK

written by Roland Orzabal & Ian Stanley

66.

04/1982

Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

from Tug of War

364

✫1
US

✫1
AC

8
R&B

34
rock

✫1
UK

[Columbia 02860]
written by Paul McCartney

67.

10/1987

Need You Tonight by INXS

from Kick

361

✫1
US

7
dance

73
R&B

12
rock

2
UK

charted as Need You Tonight / Mediate in US dance charts
[Atlantic 89188]
written by Andrew Farriss & Michael Hutchence

68.

09/1986

Amanda by Boston

from Third Stage

359

✫1
US

13
AC

✫1
rock

84
UK

[MCA 52756]
written by Tom Scholz

69.

12/1983

Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

from She's So Unusual

359

✫1
US

✫1
AC

78
R&B

10
rock

3
UK

[Portrait 04432]
written by Rob Hyman & Cyndi Lauper

70.

10/1988

When Love Comes to Town by U2

from Rattle and Hum

357

68
US

2
rock

10
alt.

6
UK

with B.B. King
[Island 7-99225]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.

71.

11/1989

Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins

from … But Seriously

357

✫1
US

✫1
AC

7
rock

2
UK

[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1990]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1991]
[Atlantic 88774]
written by Phil Collins

72.

05/1987

Here I Go Again by Whitesnake

from Whitesnake

357

✫1
US

4
rock

9
UK

[R]
[Geffen 28339]
written by David Coverdale & Bernie Marsden

73.

02/1983

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics

from Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

357

✫1
US

36
AC

2
dance

16
rock

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #356]
[RCA 13533]
written by Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart [David Allan Stewart]

74.

04/1982

Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp

from American Fool

356

2
US

✫1
rock

as John Cougar
written by John Mellencamp & George Green (as George M. Green)

75.

06/1986

Throwing It All Away by Genesis

from Invisible Touch

356

4
US

✫1
AC

✫1
rock

22
UK

[Atlantic 89372]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

76.

06/1985

The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & the News

from Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack

355

✫1
US

6
AC

22
dance

81
R&B

✫1
rock

[Chrysalis 42876]
written by Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes & Johnny Colla

77.

11/1989

Downtown Train by Rod Stewart

from Storyteller: The Complete Anthology 1964-1990

355

3
US

✫1
AC

✫1
rock

10
UK

[Warner 22685]
written by Tom Waits

78.

07/1986

The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby

from The Way It Is

355

✫1
US

✫1
AC

3
rock

15
UK

as Bruce Hornsby and The Range
[RCA 5023]
written by Bruce Hornsby

79.

03/1987

Big Love by Fleetwood Mac

from Tango in the Night

355

5
US

23
AC

7
dance

2
rock

9
UK

[Warner 28398]
written by Lindsey Buckingham

80.

04/1980

Coming Up by Paul McCartney

from McCartney II

355

✫1
US

48
AC

64
dance

2
UK

[live]
[Columbia 11263]
written by Paul McCartney

81.

10/1987

Brilliant Disguise by Bruce Springsteen

from Tunnel of Love

354

5
US

5
AC

✫1
rock

20
UK

[Columbia 07595]
written by Bruce Springsteen

82.

07/1989

Lovesong by The Cure

from Disintegration

354

2
US

8
dance

27
rock

2
alt.

18
UK

written by Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson (as Paul S. Thompson), Lol Tolhurst (as Laurence Tolhurst) & Boris Williams

83.

07/1988

Love Bites by Def Leppard

from Hysteria

354

✫1
US

3
rock

11
UK

[Polygram 870402 (Mercury)]
written by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage & Robert John "Mutt" Lange

84.

07/1980

Morning Train (Nine to Five) by Sheena Easton

from Take My Time

353

✫1
US

✫1
AC

3
UK

[EMI America 8071]
written by Florrie Palmer

85.

07/1980

More Than I Can Say by Leo Sayer

from Living in a Fantasy

351

2
US

✫1
AC

2
UK

[Warner 49565]
written by Sonny Curtis & Jerry Allison

86.

06/1988

Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer

from Heavy Nova

351

2
US

✫1
rock

44
UK

[EMI-Manhattan 50133]
written by Robert Palmer

87.

03/1985

We Are the World by USA for Africa

from We Are the World: U.S.A. for Africa

351

✫1
US

✫1
AC

76
country

✫1
R&B

27
rock

✫1
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1986]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1986]
benefit recording by all-star group
[Columbia 04839]
written by Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie

88.

06/1984

Drive by The Cars

from Heartbeat City

349

3
US

✫1
AC

3
rock

5
UK

[Elektra 69706]
written by Ric Ocasek

89.

01/1989

She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals

from The Raw & the Cooked

349

✫1
US

✫1
dance

54
R&B

5
alt.

5
UK

[MCA 53483]
written by Roland Gift, David Steele & Andy Cox

90.

02/1983

Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

from Faster Than the Speed of Night

348

✫1
US

7
AC

23
rock

✫1
UK

produced by Jim Steinman
[Columbia 03906]
written by Jim Steinman

91.

01/1983

Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant

from Killer on the Rampage

348

2
US

6
dance

18
R&B

12
rock

2
UK

[Portrait 03793]
written by Eddy Grant

92.

03/1981

Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes

from Mistaken Identity

348

✫1
US

15
AC

26
dance

5
rock

10
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1982]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1982]
[EMI America 8077]
written by Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon

93.

09/1982

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? by Culture Club

from Kissing to Be Clever

347

2
US

8
AC

34
dance

39
R&B

21
rock

✫1
UK

charted as I'm Afraid of Me / Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? in US dance charts
[Epic/Virgin 03368]
written by Boy George, Mikey Craig (as Michael Craig), Roy Hay & Jon Moss