150 Greatest Rock Songs of the 1980s

Michael Jackson and single record sleeve for Every Breath You Take
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock Music & related sub-genres from the 1980s. These songs are ranked based upon their initial and lasting popularity, as well as their influence and impact on the evolution of Rock and Roll and its sub-genres.

Last Updated: 2023-11-01
Greatest Rock Songs 1980s
  1. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
  2. Every Breath You Take - The Police
  3. When Doves Cry - Prince
  4. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
  5. I Love Rock 'N' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
  6. Don't You Want Me? - The Human League
  7. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
  8. Like a Virgin - Madonna
  9. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
10. Beat It - Michael Jackson
11. Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
12. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
13. Call Me - Blondie
14. Celebration - Kool & The Gang
15. Super Freak Part I - Rick James
16. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
17. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
18. Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C.
19. Whip It - Devo
20. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
21. Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
22. What's Love Got To Do With It? - Tina Turner
23. Born In the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
24. With Or Without You - U2
25. Purple Rain - Prince
26. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
27. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
28. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
29. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Beastie Boys
30. Into the Groove - Madonna
31. Jump - Van Halen
32. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
33. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
34. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
35. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
36. Flashdance...What a Feeling - Irene Cara
37. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
38. Blue Monday - New Order
39. Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
40. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
41. Kiss - Prince
42. Livin On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
43. Rapture - Blondie
44. 1999 - Prince
45. Rock the Casbah - The Clash
46. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
47. In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
48. Careless Whisper - Wham! feat. George Michael
49. Take On Me - A-Ha
50. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
51. Our Lips Are Sealed - Go-Go's
52. It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
53. Word Up! - Cameo
54. Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
55. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? - Culture Club
56. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
57. The Boys of Summer - Don Henley
58. Let's Go Crazy - Prince
59. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
60. Like a Prayer - Madonna
61. How Will I Know? - Whitney Houston
62. Back In Black - AC/DC
63. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
64. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
65. Push It - Salt-N-Pepa
66. Bad - Michael Jackson
67. Welcome To the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
68. My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
69. Fight the Power - Public Enemy
70. Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
71. Nasty - Janet Jackson
72. Faith - George Michael
73. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - R.E.M.
74. Back To Life - Soul II Soul
75. Love Shack - B-52's
76. Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic feat. Felly
77. The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
78. One - Metallica
79. Walk Like An Egyptian - Bangles
80. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode
81. Bust a Move - Young MC
82. Once In a Lifetime - Talking Heads
83. The Power of Love - Huey Lewis & The News
84. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
85. Papa Don't Preach - Madonna
86. Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
87. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
88. Take My Breath Away - Berlin
89. Everybody Wants To Rule the World - Tears For Fears
90. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
91. Let's Dance - David Bowie
92. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
93. West End Girls (1985 version) - Pet Shop Boys
94. Need You Tonight - INXS
95. I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) - Hall & Oates
96. We Are the World - U.S.A. For Africa
97. How Soon Is Now? - Smiths
98. Fuck Tha Police - N.W.A
99. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
100. Me, Myself, And I - De La Soul

101. Under Pressure - David Bowie (with Queen)
102. The Power - Snap!
103. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
104. Shout - Tears for Fears
105. Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen
106. Little Red Corvette - Prince
107. Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
108. Any Way You Want It - Journey
109. Pride (In The Name Of Love) - U2
110. (I've Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
111. Down Under - Men At Work
112. Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
113. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
114. Black Velvet - Alannah Myles
115. Upside Down - Diana Ross
116. Rock This Town - Stray Cats
117. Fame - Irene Cara
118. Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
119. The Final Countdown - Europe
120. Burning Down The House - Talking Heads
121. (I Just) Died In Your Arms - Cutting Crew
122. Freeway Of Love - Aretha Franklin
123. Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
124. Man In the Mirror - Michael Jackson
125. Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
126. Teen Age Riot - Sonic Youth
127. She Works Hard For the Money - Donna Summer
128. I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock of Seagulls
129. The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
130. There She Goes - La's
131. Express Yourself - Madonna
132. Manic Monday - Bangles
133. Epic - Faith No More
134. La Bamba - Los Lobos
135. Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
136. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode
137. Everytime You Go Away - Paul Young
138. Follow The Leader - Eric B. & Rakim
139. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
140. Thriller - Michael Jackson
141. Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) - Billy Ocean
142. I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
143. Rockit - Herbie Hancock
144. Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benatar
145. Crazy For You - Madonna
146. Luka - Suzanne Vega
147. I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
148. I'm So Excited - Pointer Sisters
149. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
150. Eye Of The Tiger (Theme from "Rocky III") - Survivor


Billie Jean by Michael Jackson single cover
Every Breath You Take by the Police single cover
When Doves Cry single cover
Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye single cover
I Love Rock 'n' Roll by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts single cover
Don't You Want Me? by Human League single cover



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