PurpleAmerica's Top 200 Songs of the 1980s

Rolling Stone Sucks at Making Lists and its '80s List is its Worst; We Try Our Hand at it.

Rolling Stone has long been bereft of relevance when it comes to music, but in recent years it spends so much time and effort making lists. It wouldn’t be so awful but most of these lists are retrospective and the average age and taste of someone working at Rolling Stone compiling these lists has a median of like 19. So when they claim to put together a list of the 200 Best Songs of the 1980’s, the years of my formative youth, I was eager to look at and completely repulsed by their selections. As predicted, it was one of the most ridiculously bad lists they’ve ever produced. You need only look at their top 20 songs which is laughable at it’s lack of impact; most of these songs were not even the best songs by these artists, and only a couple hit a cultural note with a *bang* that you would expect from one of the biggest songs of the decade.

So the good people here at PurpleAmerica, some of us older than others, decided to try our hand at making the top 200 list. Now, one of the things that Rolling Stone did (which was stupid in our opinion but we get why¹) was include only one song per act. For the sake of fairness, we’ll try to adhere to the same.

I began trying to do this in a particular order and saying something about each song. I think I got the top 50 relatively OK. From there it gets a little more subjective and the bottom 100 I just didn’t have time to comment on most of them. I could spend weeks re-arranging the order of the last 100 or so. Nonetheless, I think I have a pretty decent list here.

So without further ado, PurpleAmerica’s Top 200 Songs of the 1980s.

1. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson). Words can’t express the cultural moment that occured the first time Billie Jean aired on MTV. It was like a nuclear explosion forever changing the direction of America. Jackson was everywhere; the only thing comparable to describe it was Taylor Swift today, and that isn’t even close to it yet. Maybe Beatlemania? You could make the argument Beat It deserves to be here instead, and to me its the better song. But Billie Jean came first and it set the standard. Jackson danced and changed pop music forever.

2. Like a Virgin (Madonna). When Madonna first sang this at the very first MTV VMA awards, it was an OK song by an up and coming singer faking an orgasm on stage. When the video hit MTV, half of America’s adolescent males went through puberty and every teen girl wanted to BE her. Now that, is a cultural milestone.

3. With or Without You (U2). Starting with that simple steady beat and then including the bassline, Bono slowly builds up to a crescendo that half near makes you want light up a cigarette afterwards.

4. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey). Any list of ‘80s songs that doesn’t include this or Journey in it is a shitty list (I may have missed it, but I didn’t see Rolling Stone have either).

5. Let’s Go Crazy (Prince). While When Doves Cry was the first song from his Purple Rain album to be released, nothing captured the energy, ability and performance of Prince or the movie like this one. When you think of Prince, the image that most comes to mind is this one.

6. Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen). You could pick any one of the songs from this album. This song in particular has a troubling disconnect between the lyrics and the anthemic way Bruce sings it. Doesn’t matter. This song was huge at a time when blue collar patriotism was running high and nobody was revered more than the Boss.

7. Hungry Like the Wolf (Duran Duran). Early in the MTV days, this song was being played every other hour (partly because MTV didn’t have very many videos to play yet) and people still couldn’t get enough of it.

8. We Are the World (USA for Africa). Not only is this song emblematic of the ‘80s propensity for group volunteer efforts for causes (Band Aid, Artists Against Sun City, etc). but it was the BIGGEST SONG OF THE DECADE. How RollingStone wantonly omitted it is beyond me.

9. Welcome to the Jungle (Guns ‘n Roses). From that iconic opening riff to it’s close this song is 4 minutes and 34 seconds of 1980s heavy metal that defined the genre even to this day.

10. Jump (Van Halen). Eddie went synthesizer and people lost their minds. Debuting on New Years Day 1984, there was no escaping this song until November. It was everywhere.

11. I Love Rock ‘n Roll (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts). The pulsating drum reinforced with the bass and that memorable guitar riff, and Jett’s lyrics. This was the song of 1981 and was the template for which all hard rock songs followed throughout the decade.

12. Need You Tonight (INXS). Sometimes the best songs can just be simple. There’s not much to this one, but in 1988, it was the song of the year.

13. Boys of Summer (Don Henley). When MTV began handing out video awards, this one cleaned up in the VMAs first year. It was Henley’s best, and if you ever see this in concert, with just a single guitarist playing, its gold.

14. Summer of ‘69 (Bryan Adams). If you were listening to a radio in the 1980s after this song came out, there was simply no way you could go more than 3 hours without it popping up. It was just everywhere. It may not have been anyone’s favorite, but it was everyone’s “I really like this song” song.

15. Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel). There are so many more Peter Gabriel songs I love more, but this one was endemic in the 1980s. It felt like he was still winning Grammys for it years after it was released.

16. What’s Love Got to Do with It? (Tina Turner). Probably the biggest comeback song ever.

17. Walk This Way (Run D.M.C./Aerosmith). Rap was in its infancy looking for a crossover when producer Rick Rubin gave Run D.M.C. some 70s rock options to cover as a rap song. They selected this one and when Rubin asked Aerosmith for permission, Aerosmith wanted to take part too. Not only did it popularlize rap as a genre, it re-invigorated a classic band who began churning out more hits.

18. How Will I Know? (Whitney Houston). Her first hit “Saving all my Love For You” was a popular ballad. This one showed she could sing an up tempo danceable song too.

19. Money for Nothing (Dire Straits). Perfect for the MTV generation, Sting sang “I want my MTV” to the tune of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” and earned a writer’s credit for it.

20. Livin’ On a Prayer (Bon Jovi). The second song off Slippery When Wet, with its mysterious wawa background vocals (played over the guitar riff) was a hypnotizing story of hope and struggle.

21. Sweet Dreams (are Made of This), (Eurythmics). People didn’t know what to think of this band at first but the quality in their first hit was undeniable. An ‘80s earworm that is now a classic.

22. Under Pressure (Queen with David Bowie). So good, just listen to these isolated vocals. You soon realize, this is one of the best sung songs ever with two pros at the tops of their game.

23. Footloose (Kenny Loggins). In 1984 only five albums hit #1, all of them classics. Michael Jackson (Thriller), Prince (Purple Rain), Springsteen (Born in the USA), Huey Lewis and the News (Sports) and this album. That’s how big it was.

24. In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins). Collins’ most popular 1980s songs came off his “No Jacket Required” album, but this one became a classic in the very first episode of Miami Vice when Crockett and Tubbs took a nighttime joy ride around South Beach and Downtown Miami with this song as its soundtrack. Cue the drum solo.

25. Fight the Power (Public Enemy). This was more than just a song, it was an anthem.

26. Every Breath You Take (The Police). Yes, this song is a little stalkerish. It’s not even their best song. But it was easily their biggest.

27. Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper). There are a number of songs you could put here by Lauper; I’m especially fond of True Colors myself. However, this song is just a fun excuse to party for the double-X chromosome crowd that still resonates.

28. Eye of the Tiger (Survivor). Sylvester Stallone wanted to use Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” for Rocky III but the group declined. Then he heard this song and it became one of the biggest songs of 1983.

29. I Want to Know What Love Is (Foreigner). This one takes its time, starting slow and then climaxing with a gospel choir. Lou Gramm’s vocals are introspective and powerful.

30. Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Jr). As big as the movie that it was tied to. Too bad it was found to infringe on Huey Lewis and the News’ “I Want a New Drug.”

31. The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News). From the Back the Future soundtrack, this was their biggest hit. In truth, there are 7 songs off Sports I could have chosen and couldn’t decide. Its a great album.

32. Come On Eileen (Dexy’s Midnight Runners). Simply one of the best one hit wonders ever, with a fiddle and a banjo to boot.

33. Everybody Have Fun Tonight (Wang Chung). Everybody Wang Chung Tonight.

34. Jessie’s Girl, (Rick Springfield). The #1 song when MTV first aired HAS to make the list. Is there anything more ‘80s than this?

35. Photograph, (Def Leppard). Def Leppard made hard rock pop and set the standard for the genre for a decade.

36. Rosanna, (Toto). I realize Gen Z and Millenials have a thing for Africa, but this is the better song.

37. Arthur’s Theme, (Christopher Cross). This is the one that goes “When you get caught between the moon and New York City…” Seriously, how many awards did it win? A ton.

38. Addicted to Love, (Robert Palmer). Simple song, simple video. Simply Irresistable.

39. Don’t You Want Me (Human League). An early ‘80s techno/new wave hit that has endured the test of time.

40. Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode). DM had a lot of great songs, but this one was the biggest earworm of them all and the first from the classic Violator album.

41. Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler). A song so over the top and grand you can’t help but love it.

42. Legs (ZZ Top). No matter how long this song was out, it simply would not go away. It hung around forever after its release.

43. (You Can Still) Rock in America, (Night Ranger). A total banger of a song. Some would say Sister Christian was the better song covering a lot of the same content, but coming out of that incredible solo to the bridge, everyone’s singing “YOu can stilll…….ROCK IN AMER-I-CA…..”

44. Down Under, (Men at Work). You can’t think Australia without humming this song a little. It also taught most outside of Australia what vegemite was.

45. All Night Long, Lionel Ritchie. His first foray outside the Commodores was also his best.

46. Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes. The perfect crossover song to cover the 70s into the 80s. Savvy techno disco beats with a catchy riff.

47. Loverboy, Billy Ocean. I could talk for hours about the musical genius that was Billy Ocean, but need to keep this moving. Also perhaps the worst video in the history of MTV.

48. Celebration, Kool and the Gang. Celebrate good times come on. This song alone warrants KATG’s induction to the RnR HOF.

49. Funkytown (Lipps, Inc). Pseudo Echo made a nice cover of it later in the 80s, but the original is still the best. Everyone wants to go to…Funkytown.

50. Working for the Weekend (Loverboy). At 5 pm Friday, every week, this song is played somewhere. Practically everywhere.

51. Karma Chameleon (Culture Club). There’s a few Culture Club songs that are better, but this was undoubtedly their biggest.

52. Faith, (George Michael). Had a hard time placing this one. It could go much higher, but there’s just so many other great songs too. Liked his Listen Without Prejudice Album more than anything on this one.

53. We Didn’t Start the Fire. A hodgepodge of poetic Boomer history spewed out in rhyme. Catchy as all hell.

54. Every Rose Has It’s Thorn (Poison). Poison’s up tempo rock songs are way better, especially their first hit “Talk Dirty to Me,” but there’s no denying this was THE power ballad of the 80s.

55. Don’t You (Forget About Me), (Simple Minds). In a decade defined by Gen X, this song from the soundtrack of the decades most definitive Gen X movie stands out.

56. Take On Me (A Ha). I remember hearing somewhere that an analysis of key, chords, lyrics, and melodies resulted in this song being the “happiest” song of the 80s. I don’t know about that, but it is pretty damn good.

57. I Just Called to Say I Love You, (Stevie Wonder). You know how you can tell the Rolling Stone list really sucks? This was the most played song of the 1980s and failed to make the list. The people who put that list together likely have never even seen a phone book.

58. Jack and Diane, (John Mellencamp). A little ditty that everyone above the age of 30 knows by heart.

59. Relax (Frankie Goes to Hollywood). One of the greatest dance hits ever. One of the biggest fashion gets in the ‘80s was a “Frankie says ‘Relax’” T Shirt.

60. Alone (Heart), Heart turned more towards pop songs in the 1980s but this one showcases the two sisters great; Nancy Wilson’s powerful guitars on the chorus and Ann Wilson’s pipes all get a work out with this bipolar banger.

61. Take My Breath Away, (Berlin). The bassline was used as to score the love scenes in Top Gun. If you still play those first 3 or 4 notes, everyone who has heard the original can identify the song.

62. Centerfold, (J.Geils Band). My favorite song before I even knew what a Centerfold was.

63. You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC). Released with Back in Black, it became a huge hit in the mid-80s when it was included on the Who Made Who album and in Stephen King’s directoral disaster, “Maximum Overdrive.”

64. Let My Love Open the Door (Pete Townsend). As both an upbeat song and then re-released as a slow ballad, this song is beautiful, cheerful, and optimistic. You can’t help but love it.

65. Word Up, (Cameo). In the mid-80s, rap was starting to take off, but it was more hip hop dance songs like this one that really were popular.

66. Hey Ladies, (Beastie Boys). I thought about putting their first big hit, “Fight for your Right” here, but honestly, I love Hey Ladies more, and Paul’s Boutique is an underappreciated masterpiece.

67. Kickstart my Heart, (Motley Crue). This one is 110% pure adrenaline punishing beat and unrelenting bass that you can’t help but bang your head to.

68. Physical, (Olivia Newton John). People forget what a huge hit this was at the beginning of the decade because Newton-John was largely a ‘70s star. But this changed her image and held the #1 spot for 12 weeks in 1980.

69. Chariots of Fire, Vangelis. Every time you heard this song, you imagined runners on a beach in slow motion. Parodied an infinite number of times.

70. Jump (For My Love), (Pointer Sisters). This came out at the same time as Van Halen’s “Jump” and they added the parenthetical to differentiate it. Great song.

71. Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye). Gaye’s last big hit was also an unimpeachable classic.

72. Fashion, David Bowie. Great foot-stomping beat put to Bowie’s perfect lyrics. As MTV VJ Alan Hunter would always point out, he appears in the video.

73. Stop Dragging My Heart Around, (Stevie Nicks w. Tom Petty). This duet between Nicks and Petty would be better than anything else either of them did in the decade, but it is such a great classic song.

74. Handle With Care, (Traveling Wilburys). This supergroup including the aging Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison and Roy Orbison is just calm reflection on later life. It’s beautiful and poignant.

75. I Melt With You, (Modern English). It was already a fantastic ‘80s New Wave classic from earlier in the ‘80s, but then they released it again later after re-recording it.

76. Middle of the Road (The Pretenders). You can have early Pretenders. This song was easily their best, with one of the best guitar solos of the 1980s and one of the most misheard lyrics ever.

77. Walk Like an Egyptian (The Bangles). Of all the Bangles songs, this is one I absolutely abhor. (Instead, listen to their ripping cover of “Hazy Shade of Winter”) You know what?— it was everywhere back in the day and listen to any 80s station today and they’ll play it sooner than you think. It was the biggest selling song the year it was released. Does it have to be on the list? Yes.

78. Cum on Feel the Noize (Quiet Riot) Does the first Heavy Metal song to hit #1 deserve to be on a list of the best songs of the 1980s? Yes, yes it does. Glaring omission Rolling Stone.

79. I’m Too Sexy, (Right Said Fred). Another annoying, crappy novelty song that I can’t help but acknowledge was everywhere in the ‘80s and demonstrates the kind of crap people listened to then.

80. Pump Up the Volume (M/A/R/R/S). This dance club hit was mesmerizing as it changes pace and cites incomprehensible lyrics. Addictive as all hell.

81. Push It (Salt n Pepa). This came along not only when rap was finally coming into it’s own, but as women were getting in on the action.

82. Going Back to Cali, (L.L. Cool J). Yo, I don’t think so.

83. I Ran, (Flock of Seagulls). The haircuts and odd video caught your attention. This song would burrow into your brain for hours afterward though.

84. Kyrie, (Mr. Mister). People forget that christian rock was breaking through a little in in the ‘80s. This was probably the biggest to do so.

85. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears). And they still do.

86. Rock Me Amadeus (Falco). Germany, and in particular Berlin, was the focus of the Cold War and received a lot of attention in the ‘80s. This song, entirely in German about the Austrian composer, was the decades most unlikely hit.

87. We’re Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister). What was originally a cheeky, humorous video turned into an anti-establishment anthem for the ages. And when Dee Snider testified before the PMRC, it was the perfect moment of art meeting reality.

88. She Drives Me Crazy, (Fine Young Cannibals). Those long guitar notes ringing out before the verse are just so identifiable. The high pitched singing is a little ear spliting, but the chorus is so singable.

89. Heart and Soul (T’Pau) Some really great harmonies in this song. Probably the best song ever from a band named after a Star Trek character.²

90. 99 Luftballons, (Nena). The second song entirely in German to make the list. A pop-synth song about the end of the world basically personified Cold War 1983. It didn’t matter what she was saying, we all just liked the tune.

91. Girl You Know It’s True, (Milli Vanilli). You know you liked this song. It didn’t matter who sung it. Admit it. It’s OK.

92. Don’t Mean Nothing, Richard Marx. Richard Marx is the entire background music to the 1980s. If people are talking at a party or in a public place, I’m willing to bet Marx was on.

93. Here I Go Again (Whitesnake). Jaguars and Tawny Kitaen wouldn’t be big deals at all if the song just didn’t rock. It did and then some.

94. Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Great White). This perfect cover was one of the best hard rock songs of the latter 80s.

95. Der Kommissar, (After the Fire). Originally written by Falco, After the Fire translated it to English and released it here. Classic Cold War song.

96. Maniac, (Michael Sambello). Flashdance was a huge hit in the early 1980s and this song was emblematic of what the movie was about.

97. The Look, (Roxette). The greatest thing to come out of Sweden since ABBA. That is until Ace of Base in the 1990s.

98. Wild Thing, (Tone Loc). Lets Do it.

99. Tainted Love (Soft Cell). Frankly, I forgot about this song until it showed up in a Levi’s commercial. Then I was like “Oh Yeah, the guy who made a song on his casio keyboard.”

100. Oh Yeah, (Yello). Known mostly as the song playing over the credits of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, this song became a staple of ‘80s dance floors.

101. Love Shack (B-52s) Another song I can’t stand but was so prolific, how do you keep it off the list?

102. It’s The End Of the World, R.E.M. Such a random mishmash of incoherence that blends perfectly together; and the title and chorus are pure poetry.

103. Back To Life, (Soul II Soul). Some great rhythms going on in the background of this one, and some top notch vocals.

104. Got My Mind Set On You (George Harrison) Interesting note about this one; Harrison had to reshoot the video for the US MTV because the girl in the original video wasn’t wearing a bra. What can I say; sensibilities were a little uptight about stupid shit in the 1980s. Especially considering “I Want Your Sex” was out at the same time and getting play every hour on MTV.

105. So Alive (Love and Rockets). Smooth and seductive. Great song.

106. Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies). This cover of the Velvet Underground classic is better than the original.

107. Opportunities, Pet Shop Boys. This thick tech driven track personified the 80s greed like no other song could.

108. That’s What Friends Are For (Dionne Warwick and Friends). Amid the AIDS epidemic, this song fundraiser was the biggest hit of 1986.

109. Once in a Lifetime, (Talking Heads)

110. Higher Love, (Steve Winwood).

111. Rhythm is Gonna Get You, (Miami Sound Machine)

112. Just Like Heaven (The Cure) Probably the hardest song to place on this list. I could easily put it in the top 50 or even leave it off. Just so much variability; some love it, some not so much.

113. Let’s Go All the Way (Sly Foxx)

114. Nasty, (Janet Jackson)

115. Invisible Touch, (Genesis)

116. Life in a Northern Town (The Dream Academy)

117. Hold Me Now (Thompson Twins)

118. What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy), (Information Society)

119. Blue Monday, (New Order)

120. La Bamba (Los Lobos)

121. Dancing With Myself (Billy Idol)

122. Only in My Dreams (Debbie Gibson)

123. You Got Another Thing Coming (Judas Priest)

124. Kids in America (Kim Wilde)

125. Tell It To My Heart (Taylor Dayne)

126. I Just Died in Your Arms (Cutting Crew)

127. Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House)

128. I Got You (Split Enz)

129. She’s a Beauty (The Tubes)

130. Heat of the Moment (Asia)

131. Maneater (Hall and Oates)

132. Twilight Zone (Golden Earring)

133. Words, (Missing Persons). If there is a song from the ‘80s that perfectly encapsulates what people argue online most about today, it’s this one.

134. Blister in the Sun (Violent Femmes)

135. Always Something There to Remind Me (Naked Eyes)

136. Rock the Casbah (The Clash)When the U.S. invaded Kuwait in 1990 during Desert Storm, this was the first song played on Radio at the bases.

137. Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny), (Elton John) This beautiful tribute to the late John Lennon was Elton John’s best song. SO much better than Candle in the Wind.

138. You Got Lucky (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

139. Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes)

140. I Can Dream About You (Dan Hartman)

141. Sunglasses at Night (Corey Hart)

142. You Might Think (The Cars)

143. The Warrior (Scandal)

144. Shadows of the Night (Pat Benatar)

145. Obsession, Animotion

146. Rockit (Herbie Hancock)

147. Nobody Told Me (John Lennon). Strange Days Indeed.

148. Rhythm of the Night (Debarge)

149. Major Tom (Peter Schilling)

150. One Night in Bangkok (Murray Head)

151. Beds are Burning, (Midnight Oil)

152. I Feel For You (Chaka Khan)

153. Take it On the Run (REO Speedwagon)

154. You Belong to the City (Glenn Frey)

155. You’re the Inspiration (Chicago)

156. Nightshift (Commodores)

157. I Knew You Were Waiting (George Michael and Aretha Franklin)

158. Smooth Operator (Sade)

159. Axel F (Harold Faltermayer)

160. Valotte (Julian Lennon)

161. California Girls (David Lee Roth)

162. Never Going to Give You Up (Rick Astley). C’mon. You knew this one had to pop up somewhere.

163. Make Me Lose Control (Eric Carmen)

164. I’ve Had the Time of My Life (Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes)

165. Don’t Worry Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin)

166. Love Song, (Tesla)

167. Kokomo (The Beach Boys)

168. Mercedes Boy (Pebbles)

169. Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)

170. The Way It Is (Bruce Hornsby and the Range)

171. Wait (White Lion)

172. Brand New Lover (Dead or Alive)

173. Run Runaway (Slade)

174. 867-5309/Jenny (Tommy Tutone). If you were older than 7 in 1982, you dialed the number. Don’t deny you didn’t .

175. You Dropped a Bomb on Me (The Gap Band)

176. Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant)

177. Hold On Loosely (.38 Special)

178. We Got the Beat (The Go-Gos)

179. Think I’m in Love (Eddie Money)

180. I Love a Rainy Night (Eddie Rabbit)

181. Elvira (Oak Ridge Boys)

182. Jeopardy (Greg Kihn Band)

183. The Stroke (Billy Squier). Billy Squier doesn’t get near the credit he deserves for some really great rock songs.

184. Whip It (Devo)

185. Heart of Glass (Blondie)

186. A Girl Like You (Smithereens)

187. Lost In Love (Air Supply)

188. Video Killed the Radio Star (The Buggles) I know it’s been said a billion times but the first song on MTV has to make the list. MTV was such a principle way people listened to music in the 1980s.

189. Tusk (Fleetwood Mac). Best song featuring a college band ever.

190. Summertime Girls (Y & T)

191. Abracadabra (Steve Miller Band)

192. 18 and Life (Skid Row). In the ‘80s there was an unmistakeable formula; first release the intro song, then the power ballad, then the bangers. This song was Skid Row’s second but wasn’t that much of a power ballad. That’s OK.

193. Straight Up (Paula Abdul)

194. Round and Round (Ratt)

195. I Know There’s Something Going On (Frida)

196. She Blinded Me with Science (Thomas Dolby)

197. Up Where We Belong (Joe Cocker and Jennfer Warnes)

198. The Safety Dance (Men Without Hats)

199. Mickey (Toni Basil)

200. Bust a Move (Young MC)

201. (One more for good measure….) The Glamorous Life (Sheila E)

Dishonorable Mention: “We Built this City” (Starship). This was a HUGE song when it was out. It also personified the typical ‘80s synth infused pop that was so popular in the decade. When it’s on an ‘80s station, it blends in perfectly with whatever else they’re playing. The problem is that it is also one of the dumbest, nonsensical, idiotic songs ever recorded and I just can’t bring myself to put it on the list.

Some other ‘80s Songs that didn’t crack the list to Check Out

• I Wish I Had A Girl, Henry Lee Summer

• Missing You, John Waite

• Turning Japanese, The Vapors

• Edge of a Broken Heart, Vixen

• Escape (The Pina Colada Song) (Rupert Holmes)

• Power Windows, Billy Falcon

• Waiting for a Star to Fall, Boy Meets Girl

• Future’s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades), Timbuk3

• Wild Wild West, The Escape Club

• The Living Years, Mike and the Mechanics

• The Final Countdown, Europe

• 9 to 5, Dolly Parton

• Naughty Girls Need Love Too, Samantha Foxx

• Lost in Emotion, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

• Islands in the Stream, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

• Turn Up the Radio, Autograph

• You Can Call Me Al, Paul Simon

• Up All Night, Slaughter

• Fantasy, Aldo Nova

• Lunatic Fringe, Red Rider

• Pac Man Fever (Buckner and Garcia).

• Too Much Time on My Hands (Styx)

• Warrant, Down Boys

• Strip, Adam Ant

• Breakaway, Big Pig

• I Want Candy, Bow Wow Wow

• In a Big Country, Big Country

• Burnin’ For You, Blue Oyster Cult

• I Want to Be A Cowboy, Boys Don’t Cry

• The Boys are Back in Town, The Bus Boys

• Seventeen, Winger

• Let the Day Begin, The Call"

• Dancing in the Streets (Mick Jagger and David Bowie)

• State of Shock (The Jacksons, with Mick Jagger)

• Mixed Emotions, The Rolling Stones

• Old Time Rock n Roll, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band

• She’s Tight, Cheap Trick

• Under the Milky Way, The Church

• Girl Like You, Edwyn Collins

• Buffalo Stance, Nenah Cherry

• Coming of Age, Damn Yankees

• Ah Leah, Donnie Iris

• Radioactive, The Firm

• When the Heart Rules the Mind, GTR

• One Thing Leads to Another, The Fixx

• Heaven’s on Fire, KISS

• Hippy Hippy Shake, George Sattelites

• Feel it Again, Honeymoon Suite

• And We Danced, The Hooters

• No One is to Blame, Howard Jones

• Old Man Down the Road, John Fogerty

• Do It Again, The Kinks

• Good Time, INXS with Jimmy Barnes

• Straight Outta Compton (NWA)

• Pump Up the Jam (Technotronic)

• Rumors (Timex Social Club)

• Lean on Me (Club Nouveau)

• Oh Sheila (Ready for the World)

• Cool in Now (New Edition)

• My Perrogative (Bobby Brown)

• We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off (Jermaine Stewart)

• Dancing in the Sheets (Shalamar)

• Midnight Blue, Lou Gramm

• Love My Way, Psychedelic Furs

• True, Spandau Ballet

• Poison Arrow, ABC

• Rock You Like a Hurricane (Scorpions)

• Its My Life, (Talk Talk)

• What Do all the People Know, The Monroes

• I Know What Boys Want, The Waitresses

• Anything by Weird Al Yankovic

• Anything by UB40

And there you have it. I had a list of about another 30 or so songs that could have made it but I don’t think I would remove any of the ones above. Disagree? Think I missed something? Please put it in the comments and let me know your thoughts on the quintessential ‘80s songs.

Put some of your faves in the comments!

1. If we didn’t restrict in this way, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Duran Duran, et.al. would take up many more entries on the list, preventing us from including a lot of really great songs. Restricting it to one per group makes for a more diverse list, including many more iconic 80s songs.

2. In fairness, the only other one I can think of is “Inside Out” by Eve 6.