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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

12/1981

Don't You Want Me by The Human League

from Dare!

455

✫1
US

3
dance

4
rock

✫1
UK

written by Philip Oakey, Jo Callis & Philip Adrian Wright

04/1982

Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

from Tug of War

442

✫1
US

✫1
AC

8
R&B

34
rock

✫1
UK

[Columbia 02860]
written by Paul McCartney

11/1980

The Tide Is High by Blondie

from Autoamerican

441

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
UK

charted as Rapture / The Tide Is High in US dance charts
[Chrysalis 2465]
written by Howard Barrett, Tyrone Evans & John Holt

10/1982

Down Under by Men at Work

from Business as Usual

438

✫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

434

✫1
US

27
AC

59
dance

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

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

09/1988

A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins

from Buster: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

432

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
UK

[Atlantic 89017]
written by Toni Wine & Carole Bayer Sager

02/1981

Being with You by Smokey Robinson

from Being with You

432

2
US

4
AC

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Tamla 54321]
written by Smokey Robinson

07/1980

Upside Down by Diana Ross

from Diana

431

✫1
US

18
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

2
UK

produced by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers; charted as Upside Down / I'm Coming Out in US dance charts
[Motown 1494]
written by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards

03/1985

We Are the World by USA for Africa

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

429

✫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

10.

02/1988

Together Forever by Rick Astley

from Whenever You Need Somebody

427

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
dance

2
UK

produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman
[RCA 8319]
written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken & Pete Waterman

11.

05/1987

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston

from Whitney

424

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
dance

2
R&B

✫1
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9598]
written by George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam

12.

06/1985

Saving All My Love for You by Whitney Houston

from Whitney Houston

423

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Arista 9381]
written by Gerry Goffin & Michael Masser

13.

09/1980

Woman in Love by Barbra Streisand

from Guilty

422

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
UK

[Columbia 11364]
written by Barry Gibb & Robin Gibb

14.

03/1980

Funkytown by Lipps, Inc.

from Mouth to Mouth

419

✫1
US

✫1
dance

2
R&B

2
UK

charted as Funkytown / All Night Dancing in US dance charts
[Casablanca 2233]
written by Steven Greenberg

15.

03/1989

Like a Prayer by Madonna

from Like a Prayer

419

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
dance

20
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #300]
[Sire 27539]
written by Madonna & Patrick Leonard

16.

02/1986

Rock Me Amadeus by Falco

from Falco 3

417

✫1
US

4
dance

6
R&B

✫1
UK

charted as Rock Me Amadeus / Vienna Calling in US dance charts
[A&M 2821]
written by Rob Bolland, Ferdi Bolland & Falco

17.

03/1985

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

from Songs from the Big Chair

417

✫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

18.

07/1982

Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners

from Too-Rye-Ay

415

✫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

19.

05/1983

Every Breath You Take by The Police

from Synchronicity

411

✫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

20.

06/1986

Papa Don't Preach by Madonna

from True Blue

410

✫1
US

16
AC

4
dance

✫1
UK

[Sire 28660]
written by Brian Elliot & Madonna

21.

03/1986

On My Own by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald

from Winner in You

409

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[MCA 52770]
written by Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

22.

01/1981

Woman by John Lennon

from Double Fantasy

408

2
US

4
AC

26
rock

✫1
UK

[Geffen]
written by John Lennon

23.

05/1982

Abracadabra by Steve Miller Band

from Abracadabra

408

✫1
US

28
AC

14
dance

26
R&B

4
rock

2
UK

[Capitol 5126]
written by Steve Miller

24.

03/1983

Let's Dance by David Bowie

from Let's Dance

407

✫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

25.

10/1988

Desire by U2

from Rattle and Hum

406

3
US

37
dance

✫1
rock

✫1
alt.

✫1
UK

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

26.

10/1983

Say, Say, Say by Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney

from Pipes of Peace

406

✫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

27.

08/1984

I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder

from The Woman in Red: Selections from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

406

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1984]

[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1984]
[Motown 1745]
written by Stevie Wonder

28.

11/1985

West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys

from Please

406

✫1
US

26
AC

✫1
dance

36
R&B

37
rock

✫1
UK

[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1987]
[R]
[EMI America 8307]
written by Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe

29.

02/1984

Hello by Lionel Richie

from Can't Slow Down

405

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Motown 1722]
written by Lionel Richie

30.

06/1986

Take My Breath Away by Berlin

from Top Gun: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

405

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
UK

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1986]

[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1986]
produced by Giorgio Moroder
[Columbia 05903]
written by Giorgio Moroder & Tom Whitlock

31.

09/1983

All Night Long (All Night) by Lionel Richie

from Can't Slow Down

404

✫1
US

✫1
AC

5
dance

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[Motown 1698]
written by Lionel Richie

32.

04/1983

Flashdance ... What a Feeling! by Irene Cara

from Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture

404

✫1
US

4
AC

✫1
dance

2
R&B

2
UK

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1983]

[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1983]
[Casablanca 811440]
written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey & Irene Cara

33.

08/1987

Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley

from Whenever You Need Somebody

403

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
UK

[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1988]
produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman
[RCA 5347]
written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken & Pete Waterman

34.

06/1989

Batdance by Prince

from Batman

403

✫1
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

18
alt.

2
UK

[Warner 22924]
written by Prince

35.

04/1981

Medley: Stars on 45 by Stars on 45/Starsound

from Stars on Long Play

403

✫1
US

11
AC

18
dance

2
UK

[venus, sugar sugar, no reply, i'll be back, drive my car, do you want to know a secret, we can work it out, i should have known better, nowhere man, you're going to lose that girl, stars on 45]
[Radio 3810]
written by various

36.

07/1988

Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin

from Spontaneous Inventions

402

✫1
US

7
AC

11
R&B

2
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1989]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1989]
[EMI/Manhattan 50146]
written by Bobby McFerrin

37.

11/1980

(Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon

from Double Fantasy

402

✫1
US

17
AC

✫1
UK

[Geffen 49604]
written by John Lennon

38.

02/1988

Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car by Billy Ocean

from Tear Down These Walls

401

✫1
US

5
AC

25
dance

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Jive 9678]
written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Billy Ocean

39.

08/1987

I Just Can't Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson

from Bad

401

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

with Siedah Garrett
[Epic 07253]
written by Michael Jackson

40.

01/1983

Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

from Thriller

399

✫1
US

9
AC

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #58]

[Epic 03509]
written by Michael Jackson

41.

01/1987

I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin & George Michael

from Aretha [1986 album]

399

✫1
US

2
AC

12
dance

5
R&B

✫1
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9559]
written by Simon Climie & Dennis Morgan

42.

09/1985

Part-Time Lover by Stevie Wonder

from In Square Circle

399

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Tamla 1808]
written by Stevie Wonder

43.

12/1984

I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner

from Agent Provocateur

399

✫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)

44.

11/1981

Centerfold by J. Geils Band

from Freeze Frame

398

✫1
US

12
dance

✫1
rock

3
UK

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

45.

12/1988

Straight Up by Paula Abdul

from Forever Your Girl

398

✫1
US

39
AC

3
dance

2
R&B

3
UK

[Virgin 99256]
written by Elliot Wolff

46.

04/1984

Let's Hear It for the Boy by Deniece Williams

from Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture

398

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[Columbia 04417]
written by Tom Snow & Dean Pitchford

47.

02/1980

Call Me by Blondie

from American Gigolo: The Original Soundtrack Collection

396

✫1
US

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #283]
produced by Giorgio Moroder
[Chrysalis 2414]
written by Debbie Harry & Giorgio Moroder

48.

02/1989

Eternal Flame by The Bangles

from Everything

396

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
UK

[Columbia 68533]
written by Susanna Hoffs, Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg

49.

09/1982

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? by Culture Club

from Kissing to Be Clever

394

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

50.

08/1984

Careless Whisper by George Michael

from Make It Big

392

✫1
US

✫1
AC

8
R&B

✫1
UK

[Columbia 04691]
written by George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley

51.

02/1982

Mickey by Toni Basil

from Word of Mouth

390

✫1
US

3
dance

2
UK

[Chrysalis 2638]
written by Mike Chapman & Nicky Chinn

52.

11/1985

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean

from The Jewel of the Nile: Music from the 20th Century Fox Motion Picture Soundtrack

386

2
US

2
AC

31
dance

6
R&B

✫1
UK

[Jive 9432]
written by Wayne Brathwaite (as Wayne Anton Braithwaite), Barry Eastmond (as Barry James Eastmond), Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Billy Ocean

53.

01/1987

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship

from No Protection

386

✫1
US

✫1
AC

16
rock

✫1
UK

[Grunt 5109]
written by Diane Warren & Albert Hammond

54.

01/1989

The Living Years by Mike + the Mechanics

from The Living Years

385

✫1
US

✫1
AC

5
rock

2
UK

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

55.

09/1981

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police

from Ghost in the Machine

384

3
US

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

written by Sting

56.

11/1984

Easy Lover by Philip Bailey

from Chinese Wall

384

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

57.

11/1989

Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins

from … But Seriously

384

✫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

58.

04/1986

Live to Tell by Madonna

from True Blue

384

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
UK

[Sire 28717]
written by Madonna & Patrick Leonard

59.

12/1981

I Love Rock 'n Roll by Joan Jett

from I Love Rock n' Roll

383

✫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

60.

12/1989

Black Velvet by Alannah Myles

from Alannah Myles

383

✫1
US

7
AC

✫1
rock

2
UK

[Atlantic 88742]
written by Christopher Ward & David Tyson

61.

06/1984

Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr

from Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album

383

✫1
US

9
AC

6
dance

✫1
R&B

38
rock

2
UK

[Arista 9212]
written by Ray Parker Jr

62.

09/1983

Karma Chameleon by Culture Club

from Colour By Numbers

383

✫1
US

3
AC

67
R&B

✫1
UK

[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1984]
[Virgin/Epic 04221]
written by Boy George, Jon Moss, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay & Phil Pickett

63.

10/1989

All Around the World by Lisa Stansfield

from Affection

382

3
US

7
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Arista 9928]
written by Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney & Andy Morris

64.

06/1987

La Bamba by Los Lobos

from La Bamba: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

382

✫1
US

4
AC

57
country

11
rock

✫1
UK

[Slash 28336]
written by traditional

65.

02/1983

Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

from Faster Than the Speed of Night

382

✫1
US

7
AC

23
rock

✫1
UK

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

66.

04/1986

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

from So

379

✫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

67.

10/1986

You Keep Me Hangin' On by Kim Wilde

from Another Step

378

✫1
US

30
AC

6
dance

2
UK

[MCA 53024]
written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.

68.

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

377

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
rock

2
UK

[Atlantic 89700 A]
written by Phil Collins

69.

05/1984

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!

from Make It Big

377

✫1
US

4
AC

27
dance

✫1
UK

[Columbia 04552]
written by George Michael

70.

11/1981

I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) by Hall & Oates

from Private Eyes

376

✫1
US

12
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

28
rock

8
UK

[RCA 12357]
written by Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen

71.

07/1981

Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

from Endless Love: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

374

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

7
UK

[Motown 1519]
written by Lionel Richie

72.

04/1989

If You Don't Know Me by Now by Simply Red

from A New Flame

373

✫1
US

✫1
AC

38
R&B

2
UK

[Elektra 69297]
written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff

73.

12/1985

How Will I Know by Whitney Houston

from Whitney Houston

372

✫1
US

✫1
AC

3
dance

✫1
R&B

5
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9434]
written by George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam & Narada Michael Walden

74.

04/1980

Coming Up by Paul McCartney

from McCartney II

372

✫1
US

48
AC

64
dance

2
UK

[live]
[Columbia 11263]
written by Paul McCartney

75.

10/1987

Got My Mind Set on You by George Harrison

from Cloud Nine

372

✫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

76.

12/1989

Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul

from Forever Your Girl

371

✫1
US

45
AC

24
dance

3
R&B

2
UK

with The Wild Pair
rap by Derrick Delite from the Soul Purpose
[Virgin 99158]
written by Oliver Leiber

77.

01/1981

Rapture by Blondie

from Autoamerican

370

✫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

78.

07/1987

Who's That Girl by Madonna

from Who's That Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

370

✫1
US

5
AC

44
dance

78
R&B

✫1
UK

[Sire 28341]
written by Madonna & Patrick Leonard

79.

07/1989

Hangin' Tough by New Kids on the Block

from Hangin' Tough

370

✫1
US

✫1
UK

[R]
[Columbia 68960]
written by Maurice Starr

80.

07/1989

Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx

from Repeat Offender

370

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
UK

[EMI 50219]
written by Richard Marx

81.

02/1983

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics

from Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

369

✫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]

82.

12/1984

Everything She Wants by Wham!

from Make It Big

369

✫1
US

4
AC

7
dance

12
R&B

2
UK

double A-side with Last Christmas in the UK ; charted as Everything She Wants / Like a Baby in US dance charts
[Columbia 04840]
written by George Michael