Top Ten Songs
Of Each Year 1980-1989
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity/influence and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.
Top Ten Songs From 1980
1. Call Me - Blondie
2. Celebration - Kool & The Gang
3. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
4. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
5. Whip It - Devo
6. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
7. Rapture - Blondie
8. Back In Black - AC/DC
9. The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
10. Once In a Lifetime - Talking Heads
2. Celebration - Kool & The Gang
3. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
4. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
5. Whip It - Devo
6. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
7. Rapture - Blondie
8. Back In Black - AC/DC
9. The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
10. Once In a Lifetime - Talking Heads
Top Ten Songs From 1981
1. I Love Rock 'N' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
2. Don't You Want Me? - Human League
3. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
4. Super Freak Part I - Rick James
5. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
6. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
7. In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
8. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
9. Our Lips Are Sealed - Go-Gos
10. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
2. Don't You Want Me? - Human League
3. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
4. Super Freak Part I - Rick James
5. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
6. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
7. In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
8. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
9. Our Lips Are Sealed - Go-Gos
10. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
Top Ten Songs From 1982
1. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
2. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
3. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
4. Beat It - Michael Jackson
5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
6. Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
7. 1999 - Prince
8. Rock the Casbah - Clash
9. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
10. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
2. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
3. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
4. Beat It - Michael Jackson
5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
6. Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
7. 1999 - Prince
8. Rock the Casbah - Clash
9. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
10. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
Top Ten Songs From 1983
1. Every Breath You Take - Police
2. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
3. Jump - Van Halen
4. Flashdance...What a Feeling - Irene Cara
5. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
6. Blue Monday - New Order
7. Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
8. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
9. Let's Dance - David Bowie
10. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
2. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
3. Jump - Van Halen
4. Flashdance...What a Feeling - Irene Cara
5. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
6. Blue Monday - New Order
7. Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
8. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
9. Let's Dance - David Bowie
10. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Top Ten Songs From 1984
1. When Doves Cry - Prince
2. Like a Virgin - Madonna
3. What's Love Got To Do With It? - Tina Turner
4. Born In the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
5. Purple Rain - Prince
6. Careless Whisper - Wham! feat. George Michael
7. Take On Me - A-Ha
8. The Boys of Summer - Don Henley
9. Let's Go Crazy - Prince
10. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
2. Like a Virgin - Madonna
3. What's Love Got To Do With It? - Tina Turner
4. Born In the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
5. Purple Rain - Prince
6. Careless Whisper - Wham! feat. George Michael
7. Take On Me - A-Ha
8. The Boys of Summer - Don Henley
9. Let's Go Crazy - Prince
10. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
Top Ten Songs From 1985
1. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
2. Into the Groove - Madonna
3. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
4. Word Up! - Cameo
5. How Will I Know? - Whitney Houston
6. Walk Like An Egyptian - Bangles
7. The Power of Love - Huey Lewis & The News
8. Everybody Wants To Rule the World - Tears For Fears
9. (Don't You) Forget About Me - Simple Minds
10. West End Girls (1985 version) - Pet Shop Boys
2. Into the Groove - Madonna
3. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
4. Word Up! - Cameo
5. How Will I Know? - Whitney Houston
6. Walk Like An Egyptian - Bangles
7. The Power of Love - Huey Lewis & The News
8. Everybody Wants To Rule the World - Tears For Fears
9. (Don't You) Forget About Me - Simple Minds
10. West End Girls (1985 version) - Pet Shop Boys
Top Ten Songs From 1986
1. Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C.
2. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Beastie Boys
3. Kiss - Prince
4. Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
5. Nasty - Janet Jackson
6. Push It - Salt-N-Pepa
7. Papa Don't Preach - Madonna
8. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
9. Take My Breath Away - Berlin
10. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
2. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Beastie Boys
3. Kiss - Prince
4. Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
5. Nasty - Janet Jackson
6. Push It - Salt-N-Pepa
7. Papa Don't Preach - Madonna
8. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
9. Take My Breath Away - Berlin
10. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
Top Ten Songs From 1987
1. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
2. With or Without You - U2
3. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
4. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
5. Bad - Michael Jackson
6. Welcome To the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
7. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
8. Faith - George Michael
9. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - R.E.M.
10. Need You Tonight - INXS
2. With or Without You - U2
3. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
4. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
5. Bad - Michael Jackson
6. Welcome To the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
7. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
8. Faith - George Michael
9. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - R.E.M.
10. Need You Tonight - INXS
Top Ten Songs From 1988
1. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
2. One - Metallica
3. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
4. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
5. My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
6. It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
7. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
8. Wild Thing - Tone-Loc
9. Parents Just Don’t Understand - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
10. Fuck Tha Police - N.W.A
2. One - Metallica
3. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
4. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
5. My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
6. It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
7. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
8. Wild Thing - Tone-Loc
9. Parents Just Don’t Understand - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
10. Fuck Tha Police - N.W.A
Top Ten Songs From 1989
1. Like a Prayer - Madonna
2. Fight the Power - Public Enemy
3. Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
4. Love Shack - B-52s
5. Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic feat. Felly
6. Back To Life - Soul II Soul
7. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode
8. Bust a Move - Young MC
9. Me, Myself, and I - De La Soul
10. Fool's Gold - Stone Roses
2. Fight the Power - Public Enemy
3. Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
4. Love Shack - B-52s
5. Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic feat. Felly
6. Back To Life - Soul II Soul
7. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode
8. Bust a Move - Young MC
9. Me, Myself, and I - De La Soul
10. Fool's Gold - Stone Roses
Edited By: Jeff B.
Last Updated: 2013-01-04
Last Updated: 2013-01-04