100 Greatest Songs From 1984

record cover art for Like a Virgin by Madonna and What's Love Got To Do With It? by Tina Turner
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.

Like A Virgin - Madonna single cover What's Love Got To Do With It? - Tina Turner single cover Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen single cover Take On Me - A-Ha single cover The Boys Of Summer - Don Henley single cover Summer Of '69 - Bryan Adams single cover Pride (In The Name Of Love) - U2 single cover I Feel For You - Chaka Khan single cover
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release).
Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
No.
Song
Artist
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 & The Revolution
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 & The Revolution
10 Summer Of '69 Bryan Adams
11 I Want To Know What Love Is Foreigner
12 How Soon Is Now? Smiths
13 Pride (In The Name Of Love) U2
14 I Feel For You Chaka Khan
15 Crazy For You Madonna
16 Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now) Phil Collins
17 I Just Called To Say I Love You Stevie Wonder
18 Dancing In The Dark Bruce Springsteen
19 Missing You John Waite
20 Material Girl Madonna
21 Shout Tears for Fears
22 You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record) Dead or Alive
23 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go Wham!
24 Let's Hear It For The Boy Deniece Williams
25 Footloose Kenny Loggins
26 Better Be Good To Me Tina Turner
27 Ghostbusters Ray Parker Jr.
28 Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid
29 I'm On Fire Bruce Springsteen
30 Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) Billy Ocean
31 Smooth Operator Sade
32 We're Not Gonna Take It Twisted Sister
33 Nightshift Commodores
34 Fresh Kool & The Gang
35 People Are People Depeche Mode
36 The Glamorous Life Sheila E.
37 Glory Days Bruce Springsteen
38 Rock You Like A Hurricane Scorpions
39 Hot For Teacher Van Halen
40 Two Tribes Frankie Goes To Hollywood
41 Smalltown Boy Bronski Beat feat. Jimmy Somerville
42 I Wonder If I Take You Home Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
43 I Would Die 4 U Prince & The Revolution
44 Axel F Harold Faltermeyer
45 It's My Life Talk Talk
46 Dress You Up Madonna
47 Private Dancer Tina Turner
48 Drive The Cars
49 Solid Ashford & Simpson
50 We Belong Pat Benatar
51 You Might Think The Cars
52 Cherish Kool & The Gang
53 Round And Round Ratt
54 Sad Songs (Say So Much) Elton John
55 Radio Ga Ga Queen
56 Run To You Bryan Adams
57 The Old Man Down The Road John Fogerty
58 Cover Me Bruce Springsteen
59 My Hometown Bruce Springsteen
60 Panama Van Halen
61 You're The Inspiration Chicago
62 I Miss You Klymaxx
63 Rock Box Run-D.M.C.
64 Easy Lover Philip Bailey with Phil Collins
65 Hard Habit To Break Chicago
66 Don't Look Any Further Dennis Edwards
67 Jungle Love The Time
68 New Attitude Patti LaBelle
69 All She Wants To Do Is Dance Don Henley
70 Obsession Animotion
71 My Ever Changing Moods Style Council
72 I'll Wait Van Halen
73 Nelson Mandela The Special AKA
74 Roxanne Roxanne U.T.F.O.
75 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Smiths
76 So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry) R.E.M.
77 Oh Sherrie Steve Perry
78 I Want To Break Free Queen
79 Self Control Laura Branigan
80 Lovergirl Teena Marie
81 Freaks Come Out At Night Whodini
82 Jam On It Newcleus
83 Hey D.J. The World's Famous Supreme Team
84 The Killing Moon Echo & The Bunnymen
85 Roxanne's Revenge Roxanne Shante
86 Friends Whodini
87 William, It Was Really Nothing Smiths
88 What Difference Does It Make? Smiths
89 Pink Cadillac Bruce Springsteen
90 Somebody Bryan Adams
91 I Can't Drive '55 Sammy Hagar
92 Close (To The Edit) Art of Noise
93 Through The Fire Chaka Khan
94 I Will Dare Replacements
95 Turn On The News Hüsker Dü
96 Room 123 (She's Strange) Cameo
97 One Night In Bangkok Murray Head
98 Do What You Do Jermaine Jackson
99 Suddenly Billy Ocean
100 Can't Fight This Feeling REO Speedwagon
20 more worth mentioning.
101 Out Of Touch Daryl Hall & John Oates
102 The Heat Is On Glenn Frey
103 Sea Of Love Honeydrippers
104 Last Christmas Wham!
105 Wouldn't It Be Good? Nik Kershaw
106 Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) Scritti Politti
107 If Ever You're In My Arms Again Peabo Bryson
108 High Energy Evelyn Thomas
109 Meeting In The Ladies Room Klymaxx
110 Somebody Else's Guy Jocelyn Brown
111 Too Late For Goodbyes Julian Lennon
112 Everything She Wants Wham!
113 The Warrior Scandal (featuring Patty Smyth)
114 Blue Jean David Bowie
115 NeverEnding Story Limahl
116 The Power of Love Frankie Goes to Hollywood
117 Rain Forest Paul Hardcastle
118 Big In Japan Alphaville
119 Tarzan Boy Baltimora
120 Forever Young Alphaville
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1984
Jeff's Choice - Greatest Single Re-Entry
* Waiting in Vain Bob Marley & The Wailers (#31 UK)
Jeff's Choice - An unheralded great record from 1984
* Unity Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown
Lew's Choice:
* A Fine, Fine Day Tony Carey
Bruce's Choice:
* The Roof Is On Fire Rock Master Scott
Brett's Choice:
* Gotta Get A Record Out Green
Ryan's Choice:
* Don't Sing Prefab Sprout