10+ Best 1980s' Songs & Lyrics - 80s Music Greatest Hits (2023)

Table of Contents
#10. Berlin – Take my Breath Away #9. Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby #8. Modern Talking – You’re My Heart #7. Madonna – Like a Prayer #6. C.Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun #5. Prince – Purple Rain #4. Michael Jackson – Beat it #3. Laura Branigan – Self Control #2. Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall #1. Queen – I Want to Break Free Bonus: Queen – We Will Rock You Top 80’s Songs from 1980 to 1982: The Best Eighties Songs at the Beginning of the Decade Eighties TV Shows, MTV and Other Events from 1980 to 1982 Top 10 Eighties Songs of 1980 and 1981 Top 10 Eighties Songs of 1982 Top 80’s Songs of 1983: The Best Eighties Pop Songs in 1983 Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1983 Top 20 Eighties Songs in 1983 Top 80’s Songs of 1984: German Eighties Bands Climb the Charts Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1984 Top 20 Eighties Songs in 1984 Top 80’s Songs of 1985: The Best Love Songs in the Mid-Eighties Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1985 Top 20 Eighties Songs of 1985 Top 80’s Songs of 1986: The Best Eighties Songs Ever Released in 1986 Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1986 Top 30 Eighties Songs of 1986 Top 80’s Songs of 1987: The Best Eighties Dance Songs in 1987 Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1987 Top 30 Eighties Songs of 1987 Top 80’s Songs of 1988: Best Dance Songs at the End of the Eighties Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1988 Top 20 Eighties Songs of 1988 Top 80’s Songs of 1989: Best Dance Songs in the Last Year of the Eighties Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1989 Top 20 Eighties Songs of 1989 FAQs Videos

Wear your oversized padded blazers on top of your ripped tights or acid wash jeans, grab your walkman and get ready to dig into the top ten songs of the ‘80s. There is a bonus for the ones who can’t get enough of the ‘80s.

Table of Contents

#10. Berlin – Take my Breath Away

Popular ’80s song was featured in the cult movie of all times, “TopGun.” The song also won an Oscar in 1986 for “Best Original Song.”

#9. Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby

A famous party anthem was taken from a real story, actually. Ice was describing a weekend experience that he had, which ended up as this song.

#8. Modern Talking – You’re My Heart

The song was released in 1984 for the first time and became a quite hit by German Duo Modern Talking. They also released it in 1998 for their reunion album as “You’re my soul ‘98”.

#7. Madonna – Like a Prayer

The late ‘80s hit like prayer was one of the eventful songs of those times. The music video caused a considerable amount of reaction.

#6. C.Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Early ’80s song was actually a cover from American musician Robert Hazard. When Cyndi Lauper covered the song, it became a feminist statement of the time.

#5. Prince – Purple Rain

The song “Purple Rain” was the movie’s theme and a crucial plot point. Purple Rain won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score for Prince.

#4. Michael Jackson – Beat it

The song was written by Michael Jackson. He became the first black artist to get frequent airplay on MTV, and “Beat it” helped him grow faster.

(Video) Golden Oldies Greatest Hits - 60s 70s 80s Music Hits - Best 60s 70s 80s Classic Love Songs Playlist

#3. Laura Branigan – Self Control

This party hit is about a girl whose life is dedicated to her exciting nightlife, where she appears to lose control.

#2. Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall

Roger Waters wrote this song about his thoughts on formal education, which were framed at the Cambridgeshire School for Boys during his childhood. He despised his teachers at grammar school and felt they were more interested in keeping the children quiet than in educating them. The wall refers to the emotional barrier Waters built around himself because he wasn’t in touch with reality.

#1. Queen – I Want to Break Free

The song became an anthem for the South African ANC in the late’ 80s, when Nelson Mandela was still in jail, and apartheid policies of the white government were still in place. It was written by Queen Bass player John Deacon from the male viewpoint of the women’s liberation movement.

Bonus: Queen – We Will Rock You

See also: 80s’ love songs

Top 80’s Songs from 1980 to 1982: The Best Eighties Songs at the Beginning of the Decade

“Funkytown,” “Biko,” “Rock with You” and “Rosanna” are just some of the best 80’s songs from 1980-1982.

The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

The 80’s music style did not start with a bang in 1980 – it was a smooth transition from 70’s disco music to 80’s pop that had started with some 80’s-style songs in the late ‘70s and continued to gather momentum throughout the decade. To make the Top 10 hit list of 1980/1981 or 1982 below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but their songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties TV Shows, MTV and Other Events from 1980 to 1982

To really get the feel for a decade, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. On TV, Magnum, P. I. made its debut in 1980 and Dynasty and Falcon Crest in 1981, while 1982 was a whole treasure trove for new and successful TV series like Cagney & Lacey, Cheers, Fame, Family Ties, Simon & Simon, Knight Rider and Remington Steele.

On August 1, 1981 MTV was launched and with it the concept of a music-only channel and VJs to guide viewers through the music selections. This was a tremendous opportunity for bands to extend their message from the audio into the visual realm. In fact, many an 80’s band gained more publicity with their outrageous or notorious videos than their music.

The background for the 80’s pop music decade:

  • Magaret Thatcher was the U.K. Prime Minister; Ronald Reagan succeeded Jimmy Carter as the 40. President of the United States in January 1981; Francois Mitterand was elected President of France in May 1981, and Helmut Kohl replaced Helmut Schmidt in October 1982 as German Chancellor.
  • The Cold War was still raging,
  • the first recognized cases of AIDS were reported in June 1981,
  • Diana Spencer married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981
  • PacMan, the best-selling arcade games of all times was released on May 22, 1980 and the first compact discs (CDs) in 1982
  • West Germany became Euro football champions after beating Belgium 2:1 in 1980 but was beaten by Italy 3:1 in the 1982 FIFA World Cup final in Spain.

Top 10 Eighties Songs of 1980 and 1981

Though “I Don’t Like Mondays” was released in 1979, it is clearly an early 80’s hit. Those who think that Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” was more popular than “Biko” have a point; the former was also a very early 80’s hit of 1977. Here’s the first Top 10 of the decade:

  1. “Bette Davis Eyes” – Kim Carnes (1981)
  2. “Biko” – Peter Gabriel (1980)
  3. “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” – the Police (1981)
  4. “Funkytown” – Lipps, Inc. (1980)
  5. “I don’t like Mondays” – Boomtown Rats (1979)
  6. “Kiss on My List” – Hall & Oates (1981)
  7. “Rock with You” – Michael Jackson (1980)
  8. “Sailing” – Christopher Cross (1980)
  9. “The Tide is High” – Blondie (1981)
  10. “Waiting for a Girl Like You” – Foreigner (1981)

Top 10 Eighties Songs of 1982

The release of movies from Das Boot, Mad Max II and Blade Runner to E.T. and Grease II signifies a split in 80’s hit songs as well: Romantic ballads exist next to metallic and electronic beats, clearly precursors of what was to come later with trance, ambience and techno music.

  1. “Abracadabra” – Steve Miller Band
  2. “Chariots of Fire” – Vangelis
  3. “Don’t You Want Me” – Human League
  4. “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
  5. “Kids in America” – Kim Wilde
  6. “Maneater” – Hall & Oates
  7. “Rosanna” – Toto
  8. “Tainted Love / Where Did Your Love Go” – Soft Cell
  9. “Under Pressure” – Queen and David Bowie
  10. “Who Can It Be Now” – Men at Work

One can clearly see where the 80’s decade is headed: towards computerization and exciting technological advances that also benefit the music industry. Science fiction plays a big part in movies and music videos, while at the same time, romantic ballads and love songs are on the rise.

Top 80’s Songs of 1983: The Best Eighties Pop Songs in 1983

“Beat It,” “Down Under,” “Flashdance” and “Sweet Dreams” are just some of the best 80’s songs of 1983.

The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

(Video) Top 10 Pop Songs Of All Time

In 1983, the 80’s music style that was just breaking through in earlier years had made quite some inroads. To be listed in the Top 20 hit list of 1983 below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but the songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1983

To really get the feel for a decade, let alone a year, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. 1983 was surely an exciting year: Michael Jackson’s music video for the song “Thriller” aired for the first time and went on to become the most famous and most often repeated music video of all times.

1983 was also the year of Flashdance, Star Wars IV: Return of the Jedi, James Bond: Octopussy, Staying Alive, Local Hero, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life and Scarface, among others. On TV, the final episode of M*A*S*H aired, Fraggle Rock, Hotel and the A-Team had their debuts, the popular show Wheel of Fortune was going on and the first episode of The Black Adder was aired.

Other earth-shattering events of 1983 were:

  • Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano started erupting on January 3 and is still flowing as of today.
  • Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie was arrested in Bolivia and charged with war crimes.
  • Björn Borg retired from his tennis career.
  • Nintendo went on sale in Japan and Microsoft Word was released.

Top 20 Eighties Songs in 1983

There were quite a few hit songs in 1983 that are popular until today like “Beat It,” “Down Under” and “Our House” (which many think are not 80’s songs at all), “Relax” (don’t do it!) and “Love Is a Battlefield.” After the Fire’s “Der Kommissar” remained a one-hit wonder, like so many 80’s songs, which is why it makes sense to list them alphabetically by title rather than by band.

  1. “Africa” – Toto
  2. “Beat It” – Micheal Jackson
  3. “Come on Eileen” – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
  4. “Der Kommissar” – After the Fire
  5. “Down Under” – Men at Work
  6. “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” – Culture Club
  7. “Flashdance…What a Feeling” – Irene Cara
  8. “Hungry like the Wolf” – Duran Duran
  9. “Let’s Dance” – David Bowie
  10. “Love Is a Battlefield” – Pat Benatar
  11. “Our House” – Madness
  12. “Relax” – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  13. “Safety Dance” – Men without Hats
  14. “Say It Isn’t So” – Hall & Oates
  15. “Sexual Healing” – Marvin Gaye
  16. “She Blinded Me with Science” – Thomas Dolby
  17. “She Works Hard for the Money” – Donna Summer
  18. “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” – Eurythmics
  19. “Too Shy” – Kajagoogoo
  20. “Uptown Girl” – Billy Joel

One can easily see how TV and movie pop culture influenced the 80’s songs and vice versa and, in fact, continues to do so – who could forget 80’s hits like “Come On Eileen,” “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” and, in the rock genre, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”?

Top 80’s Songs of 1984: German Eighties Bands Climb the Charts

“Forever Young,” “99 Red Balloons,” “Holiday” and “Karma Chameleon” are just some of the best 80’s songs of 1984.

The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

In 1984, it was undeniable that the 80’s music style was a force to be reckoned with, producing typical 80’s bands like Duran Duran, Culture Club, Wham and solo artists like Madonna, Tina Turner and Michael Jackson. This year, German 80’s bands like Alphaville, Modern Talking and Nena contributed with many chart busters.

To make the Top 20 hit list of 1984 below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but the songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1984

To really get the feel for a decade, let alone a year, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. On TV, 1984 brought the debut of the Cosby Show and Miami Vice and the end of shows such as Fantasy Island, Happy Days and Hart to Hart.

1984 was the year of the 80’s hit movies with Footloose, Police Academy, Sixteen Candles, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Karate Kid, Beverly Hills Cop and Terminator releasing.

Other events of 1984 were:

  • The Winter Olympics were held in Sarajewo, Yugoslavia.
  • In Bhopal, India, methyl isocyanite leaked from a Union Carbide pesticide plant, killing 2,000 people instantly and more than 20,000 later in one of the worst industrial disasters.
  • Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi was assassinated on October 31.
  • One of the worst famines in Ethiopia kills a million people by the end of the year.
  • Crack cocaine was introduced in Los Angeles.
  • France become Euro Cup champions after beating Spain 2:0.
  • The Macintosh computer was introduced.

Top 20 Eighties Songs in 1984

1984 can safely be called the year of the German bands with Nena, Alphaville and Modern Talking taking up coveted Top 5 spots around the world. In fact, Modern Talking, though not much of a success in the US and UK, was doing well all over Europe and went on to become the single most successful pop group in Germany by sales.

  1. “99 Red Balloons” / “99 Luftballons” – Nena
  2. “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” – Phil Collins
  3. “Eyes without a Face” – Billy Idol
  4. “Footloose” – Kenny Loggins
  5. “Forever Young” – Alphaville
  6. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
  7. “Here Comes the Rain Again” – Eurythmics
  8. “Holiday” – Madonna
  9. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” – Stevie Wonder
  10. “Jump (For My Love)” – the Pointer Sisters
  11. “Karma Chameleon” – Culture Club
  12. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” – Yes
  13. “Shout” – Tears for Fears
  14. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson
  15. “What’s Love Got to Do With It” – Tina Turner
  16. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” – Wham
  17. “When Doves Cry” – Prince & the Revolution
  18. “That’s Why They Call It the Blues” – Elton John
  19. “The Wild Boys” – Duran Duran
  20. “You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul” – Modern Talking

In 1984, one can see how the divide in movies – either romantic comedies or sleek sci-fi or action movies – is also visible in the hit songs of the year: Romantic ballads like “When Doves Cry,” “Here Comes the Rain Again” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You” exist next to typical spunky 80’s beats like “Footloose,” “Holiday” and “Shout.” Don’t the titles just say it all?

Top 80’s Songs of 1985: The Best Love Songs in the Mid-Eighties

“Material Girl,” “Private Dancer,” “Take On Me” and “We Are the World ” are just some of the best 80’s songs of 1985.

The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

In 1985, the 80’s music style had firmly established itself and bands like Duran Duran, a-ha and Wham and solo artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson were trademarks of the decade. To make the Top 20 hit list of 1985 below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but the songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1985

To really get the feel for a decade, let alone a year, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. Popular movies of 1985 were the Breakfast Club, Police Academy II, Rambo, A View to a Kill, the Gooniesand Back to the Future on the lighter side but also Out of Africa and The Color Purple.

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Apart from VH1 launching in the US and Elmo being introduced as a new character on Sesame Street, 1985 brought forth such worldwide hit shows as EastEnders, Moonlighting, MacGyver, the Golden Girls and the mini series North and Southabout the American Civil War based on John Jakes’ bestseller, starring Patrick Swayze and James Read.

Other important events of 1985 were:

  • The wreck of the Titanic was found.
  • Mike Tyson won his first professional fight in Albany, NY.
  • Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union.
  • The FBI pressed charges against five suspected mafia dons in New York City.
  • Bill Watterson’s comic strip Calvin and Hobbes was first published in various American dailies.
  • The charity song “We Are the World” was recorded by USA for Africa in January.
  • Two Live Aid concerts in Philadelphia, PA and London raise over 50 million pound for famine relief in Africa.
  • Commodore went public with the Amiga PC in July, Nintendo was released in September, also the computer game Tetris, and Microsoft came out with Windows 1.0 in November.

Top 20 Eighties Songs of 1985

In view of ever more visual stimulation from music videos and video games to new technologies, it is no wonder that Madonna proudly proclaims that she is a “Material Girl,” inspiring women the world over. On the other end of the spectrum, artists like a-ha, Sade, Tina Turner, Wham, Eurythmics and even Kool & the Gang lure with romantic songs.

In another genre, 1985 was also the year that both Bryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen came out with their famous rock anthems – “Summer of ’69” and “Born in the U.S.A.,” respectively. Here’s the Top 20:

  1. “A View to a Kill” – Duran Duran
  2. “Careless Whisper” – Wham
  3. “Cherish” – Kool & the Gang
  4. “Don’t You (Forget About me)” – Simple Minds
  5. “I Want to Know What Love Is” – Foreigner
  6. “Material Girl” – Madonna
  7. “Part-time Lover” – Stevie Wonder
  8. “The Power of Love” – Huey Lewis & the News
  9. “Private Dancer” – Tina Turner
  10. “Saving All My Love for You” – Whitney Houston
  11. “Say You, Say Me” – Lionel Richie
  12. “Shout” – Tears for Fears
  13. “Smooth Operator” – Sade
  14. “Sussudio” – Phil Collins
  15. “Take on Me” – a-ha
  16. “Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina and the Waves
  17. “We Are the World” – USA for Africa
  18. “We Built This City” – Starship
  19. “Would I Lie to You” – Eurythmics
  20. “You’re the Inspiration” – Chicago

While 1984 was all about the raw energy of the 80’s, with 14 out of 20 songs, 1985 seems to tilt in favor of love songs. And who could resist, with Whitney Houston “saving all her love” and Huey Lewis & the News proclaiming the “power of love”?

Top 80’s Songs of 1986: The Best Eighties Songs Ever Released in 1986

“Papa Don’t Preach,” “Take My Breath Away,” “the Final Countdown” and “Kiss” are just some of the best 80’s songs of 1986.
The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

In 1986, the 80’s music style further ascertained itself and bands like Bananarama, the Human League, Mr. Mister and the Pet Shop Boys gained ground. To make the Top 30 hit list of 1986 below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but the songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1986

To really get the feel for a decade, let alone a year, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. On TV, 1986 introduced the Oprah Winfrey Show, Matlock and the hit series ALF.

Apart from successes like Stand By Me, Crocodile Dundee, Highlander, Platoon, Police Academy III, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and Aliens, 1986 also gave rise to 80’s cult classics like Nine ½ Weeks, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Offand Top Gun.

Other important events of 1986:

  • The space shuttle Challenger disintegrated just 73 seconds after its launch.
  • In Chernobyl, Ukraine, a nuclear reactor exploded, releasing significant amounts of radioactive material, therefore creating the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
  • The first computer virus was spread.
  • Argentina became World Football Champions after defeating West Germany 3:2 in Mexico.
  • Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson.

Top 30 Eighties Songs of 1986

1986, a little beyond the peak of the decade, was no doubt the year of 80’s trademark anthems. Any song of the 1986 Top 30 could be picked randomly as the song of the decade. Who could forget “Take My Breath Away” from the hit movie Top Gun, the Bangles’ cheeky, calisthenics-inspiring “Walk like an Egyptian,” Europe’s “Final Countdown” or the Communards’ plea “Don’t Leave Me This Way” – baby! Here’s the Top 30:

  1. “All I Need is a Miracle” – Mike + the Mechanics
  2. “Dancing on the Ceiling” – Lionel Richie
  3. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” – Communards
  4. “The Final Countdown” – Europe
  5. “Glory of Love” – Peter Cetera
  6. “Hip to Be Square” – Huey Lewis & the News
  7. “How Will I Know’ – Whitney Houston
  8. “Human” – The Human League
  9. “Invisible Touch” – Genesis
  10. “Kiss” – Prince and the Revolution
  11. “Kyrie” – Mr. Mister
  12. “The Next Time I Fall” – Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
  13. “Nikita” – Elton John
  14. “Papa Don’t Preach” – Madonna
  15. “Rock Me Amadeus” – Falco
  16. “Sledgehammer’ – Peter Gabriel
  17. “Sometimes” – Erasure
  18. “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King
  19. “The Sun Always Shines on TV” – a-ha
  20. “Sweet Sixteen” – Billy Idol
  21. “Take My Breath Away” – Berlin
  22. “Through the Barricades” – Spandau Ballet
  23. “True Colors” – Cyndi Lauper
  24. “Venus” – Bananarama
  25. “Walk like an Egyptian” – the Bangles
  26. “Warriors of the Wasteland” – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  27. “The Way It Is” – Bruce Hornsby & the Range
  28. “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” – Jermaine Stewart
  29. “West End Girls” – the Pet Shop Boys
  30. “You’re the Voice” – John Farnham

While 1985 was still dominated by love songs, the upbeat songs typical of 80’s music took over again in 1986, no doubt inspired by and inspiring the many action movies of the year.

Top 80’s Songs of 1987: The Best Eighties Dance Songs in 1987

“Litte Lies,” “Notorious,” “La Isla Bonita” and “Bad” are just some of the best 80’s songs of 1987.

The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

If 1986 was the year of the 80’s anthems, the trend continued in 1987, with many pop bands jumping on the 80’s bandwagon. To make the Top 30 hit list of 1987 below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but the songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1987

To really get the feel for a decade, let alone a year, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. In 1987, the Simpsons made their first appearance on TV, and the Bold and the Beautiful, Married … with Children, Full House, A Different World and 21, Jump Street premiered.

With over 200 movie releases, 1987 was an unusual year that brought forth a high number of (romantic) comedy hits like Mannequin, the Secret of My Success, Beverly Hills Cop II, 3 Men and a Baby, Spaceballs and Roxanne, dance hits like Dirty Dancing and La Bamba, but also James Bond: the Living Daylights, Full Metal Jacket, RoboCop, Fatal Attraction and Lethal Weapon on the action front.

Other important events of 1987:

  • Mathias Rust, a 19-year-old from West Germany, was detained after evading Russian air defenses and landing his Cessna on the Red Square in Moscow.
  • The world population reached five billion.
  • 19th October was named Black Monday after stock market levels fell around the world.
  • Larry Wall created the programming language Perl while Thomas and John Knoll developed the first version of Photoshop.
  • The “happy drug” Prozac was made available in the US.

Top 30 Eighties Songs of 1987

How can one sum up 1987? The best is to let the 80’s music hits speak for themselves: While U2 are still pondering to be “with or without you,” Jody Watley is already “looking for a new love”; Cutting Crew “died (in someone’s) arms tonight,” while Kim Wilde “just keeps hangin’ on.”

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Fleetwood Mac tell “little lies” – the Pet Shop Boys’ “sin” is Belinda Carlisle’s “heaven on earth.” Samantha Fox demands “touch me” while Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes have the “time of their lives.” Notorious? Maybe, but these are the eighties! Here is the Top 30 of 1987, in alphabetical order:

  1. “Bad” – Michael Jackson
  2. “Breakout” – Swing Out Sister
  3. “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” – Cutting Crew
  4. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” – Crowded House
  5. “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)” – Beastie Boys
  6. “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” – Belinda Carlisle
  7. “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” – Aretha Franklin and George Michael
  8. “Is This Love” – Whitesnake
  9. “I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tiffany
  10. “It’s a Sin” – the Pet Shop Boys
  11. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
  12. “I want your sex” – George Michael
  13. “La Bamba” – Los Lobos
  14. “La Isla Bonita” – Madonna
  15. “The Lady in Red” – Chris Deburgh
  16. “Land of Confusion” – Genesis
  17. “Little Lies” – Fleetwood Mac
  18. “Living in a Box” – Living in a Box
  19. “Looking for a New Love” – Jody Watley
  20. “Mandolin Rain’ – Bruce Hornsby & the Range
  21. “Mary’s Prayer” – Danny Wilson
  22. “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” – Starship
  23. “Notorious” – Duran Duran
  24. “Running in the Family” – Level 42
  25. “Rhythm is Gonna Get You” – Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
  26. “Someday” – Glass Tiger
  27. “(I’ve had) The Time of My Life” – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
  28. “Touch Me” – Samantha Fox
  29. “With or Without You” – U2
  30. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” – Kim Wilde

Three all-time hits stick out in 1987: Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita,” forcing everyone to sing in Spanish, Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and George Michael’s “I want your sex,” daring only the bold to sing along. “The Time of My Life” and “La Bamba” became hits because of Dirty Dancing and La Bamba. Overall, a year more tilted towards fast beats and new styles, initiated by the Beastie Boys’ “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party).”

Top 80’s Songs of 1988: Best Dance Songs at the End of the Eighties

“Alphabet Street,” “Father Figure,” “Kokomo” and “the Loco-motion” are just some of the best 80’s songs of 1988.

The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

In 1988, the 80’s music style that was just breaking through in earlier years had made quite some inroads. To be listed in the Top 20 hit list of 1988 list below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but the songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1988

To really get the feel for a decade, let alone a year, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. 1988 brought the Wonder Years, Roseanne and Murphy Brown and MTV declared rap commercially viable with its show Yo! MTV Raps. Ending TV series this year were Magnum, P.I., Cagney & Lacey and Hotel.

Though not quite as busy as 1987, 1988 also saw over 200 new movie releases, dominated by action or light comedies like Rambo III, Crocodile Dundee II, Die Hard, Midnight Run versus Coming to America, Beetle Juice, A Fish Called Wanda, Twins, the Naked Gun, Cocktail and the animation sensation Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The biggest hit of the year came at the end: thought-inspiring Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise in the lead roles.

Other important events of 1988 were:

  • The Soviet Union introduced the concept of perestroika, economic restructuring, egged on by Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.
  • The Iran–Iraq war ended after approximately one million casualties.
  • One of the worst air show disasters took place at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
  • A peaceful candle demonstration in Bratislava was the decade’s first mass demonstration against communism in Czechoslovakia.
  • George H. W. Bush became president-elect after defeating Ronald Reagan and Benazir Bhutto Pakistan’s Prime Minister, the first woman to head an Islam-dominated state.
  • The Summer Olympics were held in Seoul, South Korea.
  • The Netherlands became European football champions after defeating the Soviet Union 2:0.
  • Super Mario Bros. 3 was released in Japan.

Top 20 Eighties Songs of 1988

Hits that stick out from the 1988 playlist are Michael Jackson’s controversial “Dirty Diana,” Kylie Minogue’s “The Loco-motion” and Prince’s “Alphabet Street.” Bobby McFerrin summed up the motto of the 80’s: Spend, indulge, invest in the future and don’t worry, be happy. Here’s the Top 20 of 1988, in alphabetical order:

  1. “Alphabet Street” – Prince
  2. “China in Your Hand” – T’Pau
  3. “Dirty Diana” – Michael Jackson
  4. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – Bobby McFerrin
  5. “Father Figure” – George Michael
  6. “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” – Billy Ocean
  7. “Got My Mind Set on You” – George Harrison
  8. “Groovy Kind of Love” – Phil Collins
  9. “Kokomo” – the Beach Boys
  10. “A Little Respect” – Erasure
  11. “The Loco-motion” – Kylie Minogue
  12. “Prove Your Love” – Taylor Dayne
  13. “Say You Will” – Foreigner
  14. “Shattered Dreams” – Johnny Hates Jazz
  15. “She’s Like the Wind” – Patrick Swayze featuring Wendy Fraser
  16. “Sign Your Name” – Terence Trend D’Arby
  17. “Together Forever” – Rick Astley
  18. “The Twist” – Fat Boys
  19. “What Have I Done to Deserve This” – the Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield
  20. “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” – Whitney Houston

With 1988, the eighties were almost drawing to a close and the many hits in new genres prove that other bands were ready to take the reign, alternative rockers Midnight Oil with “Beds are Burning” for example, or reggae/dub band UB 40 with “Red Red Wine” and hip hop sensation Salt-N-Pepa with hits like “Push It.”

Top 80’s Songs of 1989: Best Dance Songs in the Last Year of the Eighties

“Eternal Flame,” “Like a Prayer,” “the Look” and “Straight Up” are just some of the best 80’s songs of 1989.

The eighties – hate them or love them, but they’re surely hard to ignore. Eighties fashion, typical 80’s bands and 80’s hairstyles – even those who are too young to remember get drawn into this crazy decade as 80’s music is still popular all over the world.

With 1989, the decade of the 80’s came to a close and with it typical 80’s music. Alternative rock, rap and hip hop were just waiting to take over and already influenced the music of the late 80’s heavily. To make the Top 20 hit list of 1989 below, bands could be from anywhere in the world but their songs had to fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • Be pop or dance songs – not rock, R&B or any other genre;
  • exemplify the 80’s music style: be fresh, bold and full of spunk (not purely instrumental songs);
  • artists were chosen only among 80’s bands, with the eighties being the decade of their biggest hits;
  • only one hit song per 80’s solo artist or band was included per year for variety sake.

Eighties Movies, 80’s TV Shows and Other Events of 1989

To really get the feel for a decade, let alone a year, it makes sense to take a look at related areas like movies, TV shows and world events. 1989 brought TV viewers Seinfeld, Saved by the Bell, Doogie Howser, M.D., Baywatch, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Family Matters and the first full episode of the Simpsons. Ending in 1989 were hit shows like Simon & Simon, Moonlighting, Dynasty, Miami Vice and the Benny Hill Show.

1989 saw many movie sequels: Ghostbusters II, Lethal Weapon II, Back to the Future II, Karate Kid III and Star Trek V: the Final Frontier – all hits. Apart from lighter entertainment like When Harry Met Sally, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and thrillers like Pet Cemetery, Batman and the War of the Roses, 1989 provided unusual entertainment with Dead Poets’ Society, Sex, Lies and Videotape, Driving Miss Daisy and Born on the Fourth of July.

In political events, 1989 saw a crackdown on communism in Eastern Europe:

  • Hungary dismantled parts of its barbed-wire fence with Austria, causing the first cracks in the Iron Curtain.
  • The Berlin Wall fell on November 9th, allowing citizens to travel freely from east to west after decades.
  • An uprising overthrew communist dictator Ceausescu in Romania.
  • Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. President George H.W. Bush released statements indicating that the Cold War between their countries may come to an end.
  • Students’ protest in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square for economic change and democratic reform are suppressed violently.
  • The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker, ran aground in Alaska, spilling 240,000 barrels of oil.
  • NATO celebrates its 40th anniversary and France the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.
  • Motorola introduced the personal cellular phone.

Top 20 Eighties Songs of 1989

The last year of the 80’s bid the decade farewell with such classics as the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame,” Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” Michael Jackson “Smooth Criminal” and “She Drives Me Crazy” by the Fine Young Cannibals. Even Milli Vanilli made an appearance before being caught for lip-syncing all their songs. Here’s the last Top 20 of the decade:

  1. “Another Day in Paradise” – Phil Collins
  2. “Back to Life” – Soul II Soul
  3. “Batdance” – Prince
  4. “Buffalo Stance” – Neneh Cherry
  5. “Eternal Flame” – the Bangles
  6. “Girl You Know It’s True” – Milli Vanilli
  7. “I Drove All Night” – Cyndi Lauper
  8. “If I Could Turn Back Time” – Cher
  9. “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” – Simply Red
  10. “Like a Prayer” – Madonna
  11. “A Little Respect” – Erasure
  12. “The Look” – Roxette
  13. “The Lover in Me” – Sheena Easton
  14. “Right Here Waiting” – Richard Marx
  15. “She Drives Me Crazy” – Fine Young Cannibals
  16. “Smooth Criminal” – Michael Jackson
  17. “Straight Up” – Paula Abdul
  18. “Toy Soldiers” – Martika
  19. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” – Billy Joel
  20. “What I Am” – Edie Brickel and the New Bohemians

Though many were no doubt relieved to see the eighties and their often monotonous beats go, it shouldn’t be forgotten that they did pave the way for new genres and a new generation of artists. Hip hoppers Tone Loc hit the charts with “Funky Cold Medina” in 1989, just like new wave rockers the B 52’s with “Love Shack.” Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet” and INXS’ “Suicide Blonde” eased the transition already the year after in 1990.

FAQs

Who has the most top 10 hits in the 1980s? ›

Michael Jackson had the highest number of top hits at the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1980s (9 songs).

What was the biggest hit of the 1980s? ›

  1. Do They Know It's Christmas? Artist: Band Aid.
  2. Relax. Artist: Frankie Goes To Hollywood. ...
  3. Last Christmas/Everything She Wants. Artist: Wham! ...
  4. I Just Called To Say I Love You. Artist: Stevie Wonder. ...
  5. Eye of the Tiger. Artist: Survivor. ...
  6. Don't You Want Me. Artist: The Human League. ...
  7. Two Tribes. ...
  8. Careless Whisper. ...
Nov 10, 2022

What was the No 1 song in 1980? ›

The two longest running number-one singles of 1980 are "Call Me" by Blondie and "Lady" by Kenny Rogers with each single obtaining six weeks on top of the chart.

Who had the most top 40 hits in the 1980s? ›

Stevie Wonder

Still, with 21 of his total of 64 American pop hits charting in the '80s, Wonder undoubtedly sits among the top of the best-selling musical artists from the age of Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna.

Who has the most Top 10 hits of all time? ›

With 40 top 10 hits in the Hot 100 over her career, Swift surpassed Madonna as the woman with the most top 10s in the chart's history. (Madonna has 38 top 10 singles.) Swift is only surpassed by Drake, who counts 59 top 10 hits.

What was the biggest hit of 1983? ›

KARMA CHAMELEON

What was the top 40 in 1980? ›

Here are the Top 10 Songs on the 1980 Year-end Top 100 Songs according to Billboard:
  • Call Me—Blondie.
  • Another Brick in the Wall, Part II—Pink Floyd.
  • Magic—Olivia Newton John.
  • Rock With You—Michael Jackson.
  • Do That To Me One More Time—Captain & Tennille.
  • Crazy Little Thing Called Love—Queen.
  • Coming Up—Paul McCartney.
Jul 28, 2020

What was the biggest hit in 1985? ›

1. Careless Whisper - Wham!

What was the #1 song of 1981? ›

Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1981
No.TitleArtist(s)
1"Bette Davis Eyes"Kim Carnes
2"Endless Love"Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
3"Lady"Kenny Rogers
4"(Just Like) Starting Over"John Lennon
96 more rows

What song was number one in 1986? ›

Aside from becoming the unofficial anthem for the fight against AIDS, “That's What Friends Are For” also became the No. 1 song of 1986. The song won Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and for Song of the Year at the 1987 Grammys.

What was the #1 song in 1982? ›

Physical

What was the number one song in 1987? ›

Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1987
No.TitleArtist(s)
1"Walk Like An Egyptian"The Bangles
2"Alone"Heart
3"Shake You Down"Gregory Abbott
4"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"Whitney Houston
96 more rows

What was the #1 R&B song in 1980? ›

"Rock With You" and "Upside Down" by Diana Ross were the only two soul chart-toppers of 1980 to also reach number one on the all-genre Hot 100 chart.

What was the #1 song in 1979? ›

The Doobie Brothers reached #1 on April 14th with “What a Fool Believes”. It went on to win for song and album of the year. That song, co-written by Kenny Loggins, is now a perfect example of the Yacht Rock genre of the late 70s.

Who topped the charts in the 80s with A Good Heart? ›

"A Good Heart" is a song by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as the first single from his self-titled debut album. It was released in 1985 on Virgin Records.

What was the number one song in November 1980? ›

Woman in Love

What is the biggest hit song of all time? ›

According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.

Who had top 10 hits in four decades? ›

Mariah Carey Confirmed As The First Artist To Top The Billboard Hot 100 Chart Across Four Decades.

What is the #1 most listened to song of all time? ›

There's even a dispute over the exact title. Yet “It's a Small World,” also known as “It's a Small, Small World” and “It's a Small World (After All),” is very likely the most played song in music history — nearly 50 million times.

What song was No 1 in 1983? ›

The longest running number-one single of 1983 is "Every Breath You Take" by the Police at eight weeks. That year, 9 acts reached number one for the first time: Toto, Patti Austin, James Ingram, Dexys Midnight Runners, Irene Cara, The Police, Eurythmics, Michael Sembello, and Bonnie Tyler.

What was the biggest hit of 1984? ›

DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?

What was the biggest hit in 2009? ›

Top Hits of 2009
  • Walking On A DreamEmpire of the Sun.
  • She WolfShakira.
  • Run This TownJAY-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West.
  • Just DanceLady Gaga, Colby O'Donis.
  • MonsterSkillet.
  • Kiss Me Thru The PhoneSoulja Boy, Sammie.
  • Live Your LifeT.I., Rihanna.
  • Use SomebodyKings of Leon.

What was popular in the late 80s? ›

The 1980s saw the emergence of electronic dance music and new wave, also known as Modern Rock. As disco fell out of fashion in the decade's early years, genres such as post-disco, Italo disco, Euro disco, and dance-pop became more popular. Rock music continued to enjoy a wide audience.

What songs were big in 1980? ›

Top 100 Hits of 1980/Top 100 Songs of 1980
  • Call Me - Blondie.
  • Another Brick In the Wall - Pink Floyd.
  • Magic - Olivia Newton-John.
  • Rock With You - Michael Jackson.
  • Do That to Me One More Time - The Captain and Tennille.
  • Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen.
  • Coming Up - Paul McCartney.
  • Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.

What was the number 1 song in August 1980? ›

Young American singer-songwriter Christopher Cross completes a meteoric rise from obscurity when his hit ballad “Sailing” reaches the top of the Billboard pop chart on August 30, 1980.

What was the best selling song of 1985? ›

The biggest songs of 1985 revealed, including Jennifer Rush, Madonna and A-ha. 1985 saw the release of several now-iconic songs, but the biggest of them all that year was power ballad The Power Of Love by Jennifer Rush.

What was the top hit June 1985? ›

Everybody Wants to Rule the World” hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June of 1985, and gave us one of the catchiest hooks of the season (song number four on this list has it beat, and song six is really close.)

What was the number 1 song in 1988? ›

Michael Jackson snagged No. 1 with the iconic “Man In the Mirror,” and let's not forget that 1988 was also the year George Harrison emerged from a five-year hiatus with “Got My Mind Set On You.”

What song was #1 in 1989? ›

The two longest running number-one singles of 1989 are "Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson and "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins, which each charted at number one for four weeks.

What song was #1 in Feb 1981? ›

On February 21, 1981, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Recorded for the film of the same name, “9 to 5” became a pop culture phenomenon.

What was the number one song in January 1981? ›

List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1981
Issue dateSongArtist
January 10"(Just Like) Starting Over"John Lennon
January 17
January 24
January 31"The Tide Is High"Blondie
48 more rows

What Song was #1 in January 1986? ›

List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1986
Issue dateSongArtist
January 11"Say You, Say Me"Lionel Richie
January 18
January 25"That's What Friends Are For"Dionne Warwick & Friends
February 1
48 more rows

What Song was #1 in December 1986? ›

The Bangles made their mark that year, too, holding No. 1 for two straight weeks in December with “Walk Like An Egyptian.”

What was the 1 Song in 1985? ›

Careless Whisper

What songs were popular the summer of 1982? ›

But these were a few of the hot songs of the summer (May-August 1982): “Ebony and Ivory” – Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. “Don't You Want Me” – The Human League. “Let It Whip” – Dazz Band.

What was popular in 1982? ›

Pac-Man! It was a pretty awesome year for movies, music and television in 1982. Cheers, E.T., Thriller, Blade Runner, Tron, Tootsie, "Little Red Corvette," Knight Rider, Toto's "Africa," Captain Kirk yelling "KHAAAAN!" The sayings "I pity the fool" and "Just say no" both entered the vernacular.

What is the 80s most famous for? ›

The 1980s, often remembered for its materialism and consumerism, also saw the rise of the "yuppie," an explosion of blockbuster movies and the emergence of cable networks like MTV, which introduced the music video and launched the careers of many iconic artists, and the emergence of the AIDS crisis, which would go on ...

What was popular in the late 90s? ›

Slip dresses, bomber jackets, scrunchies and plaid flannel shirts were all the rage during the '90s — and many of these fashion trends are working their way back into vogue (although some of these pieces may have never left your closet).

What was the top 10 in 1987? ›

Top 100 Hits of 1987/Top 100 Songs of 1987
  • Walk Like an Egyptian - Bangles.
  • Alone - Heart.
  • Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott.
  • I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston.
  • Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship.
  • C'est La Vie - Robbie Nevil.
  • Here I Go Again - Whitesnake.
  • The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby and the Range.

What was the number one song in 1977? ›

Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1977
No.TitleArtist(s)
1"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"Rod Stewart
2"I Just Want to Be Your Everything"Andy Gibb
3"Best of My Love"The Emotions
4"Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)"Barbra Streisand
96 more rows

What was the #1 R&B song in 1987? ›

Luther Vandross had two chart-topping singles during the year. The first, "Stop to Love", was named the R&B single of the year.

What was the #1 R&B song in 1978? ›

Both Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams topped the chart for the first time when they collaborated on "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" in April, and Quincy Jones, a successful producer, composer and band leader since the 1950s, gained his first chart-topping soul single in his own right with "Stuff Like That".

What was the #1 R&B song in 2008? ›

Alicia Keys' song "Like You'll Never See Me Again" was the most popular R&B song on US radio in 2008, and ranked at the number one position on the list of the top 50 most played songs.

What was the number one R&B song in 1983? ›

Aretha Franklin (pictured in 1968) topped the chart for the 19th time with "Get It Right".

Who was the #1 selling artist of the 1980's? ›

1 Michael Jackson

As the decade's best-selling artist, it may come as a surprise to note that Michael Jackson only released two albums. However, it certainly helps out when one is the best-selling album of all time as his 1982 record Thriller has sold an astonishing 70 million copies worldwide.

Who dominated the charts in the 80s? ›

Pop. The 1980s saw the reinvention of Michael Jackson, and the worldwide superstardom of Prince, Madonna and Whitney Houston, who were all among the most successful musicians during this time.

Who was the biggest music star in the 80s? ›

21 Of The Most Famous Singers Of The 1980s
  • Michael Jackson.
  • Madonna.
  • Freddie Mercury.
  • Whitney Houston.
  • Prince.
  • George Michael.
  • Bruce Springsteen.
  • Tina Turner.
Jan 10, 2023

Who was the biggest selling singles artist of the 80s? ›

Best Selling Singles of the 80s
PositionArtistTitle
1Rick AstleyNever Gonna Give You Up
2StarshipNothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
3Whitney HoustonI Wanna Dance With Somebody
4Bee GeesYou Win Again
6 more rows

Who won artist of the decade 1980s? ›

Artist of the Decade

The results were Elvis Presley (1950s), The Beatles (1960s), Stevie Wonder (1970s), and Michael Jackson (1980s).

What was the most sold song in 1980? ›

BEST-SELLING SINGLES FROM EACH YEAR OF THE 1980S
  • 1980 - Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police. ...
  • 1981 -Tainted Love - Soft Cell. ...
  • 1982 -Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners. ...
  • 1983 -Karma Chameleon - Culture Club. ...
  • 1984 -Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid. ...
  • 1985 -The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush.

Who was the best-selling female singer of the 80s? ›

Topping our list of the best 80s female singers, Tina Turner delivered some of the decade's biggest hits while also becoming one of the most-revered live performers on the planet.

Who is the king of rock 80s? ›

Michael Jackson is considered the King of Pop and Elvis Presley the King of Rock 'n' Roll, but in the '80s Prefab Sprout took a shot at those titles and the result is the fun King Of Rock N Roll.

Who was called the Queen of rock? ›

Janis Joplin was dubbed the first queen of rock 'n' roll, and her voice is singular. She was rough around the edges, vulnerable and charismatic, and she paved the way for countless women in rock. Mid-1960s San Francisco was a mecca for counterculture musicians.

Who was the best band in the 80s? ›

Van Halen enjoyed the most consistent commercial dominance of any '80s rock band, releasing no less than six different multi-platinum albums between 1980 and 1988.

Who was the biggest pop star in 1984? ›

1984: Prince

It was one of the biggest years in pop history for any artist. Lionel Richie wasn't that far behind Prince, releasing hits like "Hello" and "All Night Long." The same goes for Cyndi Lauper, who became one of the biggest female pop stars of the decade with her album "She's So Unusual."

Who has the biggest song in history? ›

According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.

Who was the most famous male singer in the 80s? ›

15 Of The Most Famous Male Singers Of The 1980s
  • Michael Jackson.
  • Prince.
  • David Bowie.
  • Boy George.
  • Elton John.
  • Huey Lewis.
  • Bryan Adams.
  • Billy Joel.
Jul 25, 2022

What was the 1 song in 1985? ›

Careless Whisper

What was the biggest selling single of 1985? ›

The biggest songs of 1985 revealed, including Jennifer Rush, Madonna and A-ha. 1985 saw the release of several now-iconic songs, but the biggest of them all that year was power ballad The Power Of Love by Jennifer Rush.

What was the biggest selling album of 1985? ›

Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A., which spent four weeks at number one in 1984, topped the chart again for three weeks, ending at the top of the 1985 year-end chart, helped by the success of his Born in the U.S.A. Tour that visited North America, Europe and Australia.

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