Sunday, December 31, 1989

Top 100 Songs from 1980 to 1989

Top 100 Songs of the Decade:

1980-1989

These are the top 100 songs from the 1980s according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are figured by combining sales figures, chart data, radio airplay, video airplay, streaming figures, awards, and appearances on best-of lists.

Check out other “songs of the decade” lists here.

Check out the Dave’s Music Database book, Music of the 1980s.

Spotify Podcast:

Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Music of the 1980s which references songs on this list. It debuted December 14, 2021 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database.


1. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982)
2. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
3. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987)
4. Prince “When Doves Cry” (1984)
5. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981)
6. U2 “With or Without You” (1987)
7. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
8. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross “Endless Love” (1981)
9. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
10. Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1983)

11. AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980)
12. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart”(1980)
13. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
14. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (1982)
15. U.S.A. for Africa “We Are the World” (1985)
16. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)
17. Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989)
18. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981)
19. Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me” (1987)
20. Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981)

21. Queen “Another One Bites the Dust” (1980)
22. Kool & the Gang “Celebration” (1980)
23. Aha “Take on Me” (1984)
24. Blondie “Call Me” (1980)
25. New Order “Blue Monday” (1983)
26. U2 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (1987)
27. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
28. Dexy’s Midnight Runner “Come on Eileen” (1982)
29. Olivia Newton-John “Physical” (1981)
30. Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1983)

31. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983)
32. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message” (1982)
33. Run-D.M.C. with Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” (1986)
34. Kenny Rogers “Lady” (1980)
35. Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985)
36. Willie Nelson “Always on My Mind” (1982)
37. Lionel Richie “All Night Long (All Night)” (1983)
38. George Michael “Careless Whisper” (1984)
39. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983)
40. Prince & the Revolution “Kiss” (1986)

41. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981)
42. Lipps Inc. “Funkytown” (album cut: 1979, single: 1980)
43. Tina Turner “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” (1984)
44. Irene Cara “Flashdance...What a Feelin’” (1983)
45. Prince & the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984)
46. Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (1984)
47. Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987)
48. Madonna “Like a Virgin” (1984)
49. The B-52’s “Love Shack” (1989)
50. AC/DC “Back in Black” (1980)

51. Diana Ross “Upside Down” (1980)
52. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985)
53. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
54. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
55. Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas? ” (1984)
56. Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
57. Kenny Loggins “Footloose” (1984)
58. Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (1983)
59. Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986)
60. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” (1987)

61. Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me” (1985)
62. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984)
63. Rick Springfield “Jessie’s Girl” (1981)
64. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983)
65. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
66. Phil Collins “Another Day in Paradise” (1989)
67. Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” (1988)
68. Michael Jackson “Thriller” (1982)
69. The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” (1984)
70. Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” (1984)

71. Public Enemy “Fight the Power” (1989)
72. Rick James “Super Freak” (1981)
73. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981)
74. Tom Petty “Free Fallin’” (1989)
75. Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” (1982)
76. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987)
77. Dolly Parton “9 to 5” (1980)
78. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton “Islands in the Stream” (1983)
79. Bryan Adams “Summer of ‘69” (1984)
80. Berlin “Take My Breath Away” (1985)

81. John Cougar Mellencamp “Jack and Diane” (1982)
82. Dionne & Friends (Dionne Warwick with Elton John, Gladys Knight, & Stevie Wonder) “That's What Friends Are For” (1985)
83. J. Geils Band “Centerfold” (1981)
84. George Michael “Faith” (1987)
85. Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party” (1986)
86. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1980)
87. Tears for Fears “Shout” (1984)
88. Toto “Africa” (1982)
89. Phil Collins “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) ” (1984)
90. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls’ (1985)

91. Queen with David Bowie “Under Pressure” (1981)
92. INXS “Need You Tonight” (1987)
93. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
94. Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987)
95. Culture Club “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” (1982)
96. Bangles “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986)
97. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983)
98. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988)
99. Lionel Richie “Say You, Say Me” (1985)
100. REO Speedwagon “Keep on Loving You” (1980)


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First posted 1/21/2011; last updated 12/14/2021.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for your article, you must have spent a lot of time creating it. It is really necessary for many people

    ReplyDelete