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This list was created by consolidating 12 lists which focused exclusively on the 1980s. Then any of the songs making those lists were ranked according to total points in Dave’s Music Database. All of these songs also make the DMDB’s Top 1000 Songs of the 20th century.



The DMDB Top 100 Songs of 1980-1989


  1. Every Breath You Take…The Police (1983)
  2. Billie Jean…Michael Jackson (1983)
  3. Sweet Child O’ Mine…Guns N’ Roses (1988)
  4. When Doves Cry…Prince (1984)
  5. We Are the World…U.S.A. for Africa (1985)
  6. I Love Rock and Roll…Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1981)
  7. With or Without You…U2 (1987)
  8. Beat It…Michael Jackson (1983)
  9. Endless Love…Lionel Richie & Diana Ross (1981)
  10. Always on My Mind…Willie Nelson (1982)

  11. Bette Davis Eyes…Kim Carnes (1981)
  12. Love Will Tear Us Apart…Joy Division (1980)
  13. Don’t You Want Me?...The Human League (1981)
  14. Careless Whisper…George Michael (1984)
  15. What’s Love Got to Do with It?...Tina Turner (1984)
  16. Flashdance…What a Feelin’…Irene Cara (1983)
  17. Like a Prayer…Madonna (1989)
  18. That’s What Friends Are For…Dionne & Friends (Dionne Warwick with Elton John, Gladys Knight, & Stevie Wonder) (1985)
  19. Eye of the Tiger…Survivor (1982)
  20. Lady…Kenny Rogers (1980)

  21. Wind Beneath My Wings…Bette Midler (1989)
  22. I Just Called to Say I Love You…Stevie Wonder (1984)
  23. Jump…Van Halen (1984)
  24. Physical…Olivia Newton-John (1981)
  25. 9 to 5…Dolly Parton (1980)
  26. Like a Virgin…Madonna (1984)
  27. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go…Soft Cell (1981)
  28. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This…Eurythmics (1983)
  29. Sexual Healing…Marvin Gaye (1982)
  30. The Message…Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (1982)

  31. Take on Me…Aha (1984)
  32. Call Me…Blondie (1980)
  33. You Shook Me All Night Long…AC/DC (1980)
  34. Do They Know It’s Christmas?…Band Aid (1984)
  35. Pride (In the Name of Love)…U2 (1984)
  36. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For…U2 (1987)
  37. Up Where We Belong…Joe Cocker with Jennifer Warnes (1982)
  38. The Rose…Bette Midler (1980)
  39. He Stopped Loving Her Today…George Jones (1980)
  40. Blue Monday…New Order (1983)

  41. Another One Bites the Dust…Queen (1980)
  42. Ebony and Ivory…Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (1982)
  43. Girls Just Want to Have Fun…Cyndi Lauper (1983)
  44. Little Red Corvette…Prince (1983)
  45. Another Day in Paradise…Phil Collins (1989)
  46. Relax…Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1983)
  47. Money for Nothing…Dire Straits (1985)
  48. Islands in the Stream…Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (1983)
  49. Walk This Way…Run-D.M.C. with Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (1986)
  50. I Want to Know What Love Is…Foreigner (1984)

  51. Celebration…Kool & the Gang (1980)
  52. I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me…Whitney Houston (1987)
  53. All Night Long (All Night)…Lionel Richie (1983)
  54. Upside Down…Diana Ross (1980)
  55. Down Under…Men at Work (1982)
  56. Everybody Wants to Rule the World…Tears for Fears (1985)
  57. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?...Culture Club (1982)
  58. Fast Car…Tracy Chapman (1988)
  59. Say You, Say Me…Lionel Richie (1985)
  60. I’ve Had the Time of My Life…Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (1987)

  61. Faith…George Michael (1987)
  62. Back in Black…AC/DC (1980)
  63. Just Like Starting Over…John Lennon (1980)
  64. Livin’ on a Prayer…Bon Jovi (1986)
  65. How Soon Is Now?...The Smiths (1985)
  66. Born in the U.S.A….Bruce Springsteen (1984)
  67. Karma Chameleon…Culture Club (1983)
  68. Dancing in the Dark…Bruce Springsteen (1984)
  69. Hello…Lionel Richie (1984)
  70. Funkytown…Lipps Inc. (1980)

  71. You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party (1986)
  72. Come on Eileen…Dexy’s Midnight Runners (1982)
  73. Time after Time…Cyndi Lauper (1983)
  74. Higher Love…Steve Winwood (1983)
  75. Sledgehammer…Peter Gabriel (1986)
  76. Never Gonna Give You Up…Rick Astley (1987)
  77. Once in a Lifetime…Talking Heads (1981)
  78. Welcome to the Jungle…Guns N’ Roses (1987)
  79. Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)…Christopher Cross (1981)
  80. Take My Breath Away…Berlin (1986)

  81. In the Air Tonight…Phil Collins (1981)
  82. Start Me Up…The Rolling Stones (1981)
  83. Woman in Love…Barbra Streisand (1980)
  84. Abracadabra…The Steve Miller Band (1982)
  85. Don’t Worry Be Happy…Bobby McFerrin (1988)
  86. Hungry Like the Wolf…Duran Duran (1982)
  87. Addicted to Love…Robert Palmer (1986)
  88. Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983)
  89. Slow Hand…The Pointer Sisters (1981)
  90. Theme from ‘New York New York’…Frank Sinatra (1980)

  91. Say, Say, Say…Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (1983)
  92. The Boys of Summer…Don Henley (1984)
  93. Forever and Ever, Amen…Randy Travis (1987)
  94. La Bamba…Los Lobos (1987)
  95. Kiss…Prince (1986)
  96. Maneater…Daryl Hall & John Oates (1982)
  97. Roll with It…Steve Winwood (1988)
  98. On My Own…Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (1986)
  99. Centerfold…J. Geils Band (1981)
  100. Jack and Diane…John Cougar (Mellencamp) (1982)

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This page last updated January 21, 2011.