Last Updated on 18 September 2023
The following list is the Official Definitive List of the 500 best songs from in the 1980s.
I found 14 different ranked lists online of “best 80s songs” and pulled them all into Excel and merged them all to get this definitive compilation. See my Methodology page for the research process that was used, including links to all 14 lists that were averaged.
- Billie Jean, by Michael Jackson
- When Doves Cry, by Prince
- Don’t Stop Believin’, by Journey
- Crazy Train, by Ozzy Osbourne
- Every Breath You Take, by The Police
- Sweet Child o’ Mine, by Guns N’ Roses
- I Love Rock N’ Roll, by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
- Livin’ on a Prayer, by Bon Jovi
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody, by Whitney Houston
- Beat It, by Michael Jackson
- Come on Eileen, by Dexys Midnight Runners
- With or Without You, by U2
- The Message, by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
- What’s Love Got to Do With It, by Tina Turner
- Master Blaster (Jammin’), by Stevie Wonder
- Love Will Tear Us Apart, by Joy Division
- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), by Eurythmics
- Jump, by Van Halen
- Sexual Healing, by Marvin Gaye
- This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody), by Talking Heads
- Total Eclipse of the Heart, by Bonnie Tyler
- Another One Bites the Dust, by Queen
- Take On Me, by A-ha
- Straight Outta Compton, by NWA
- Call Me, by Blondie
- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, by Cyndi Lauper
- Tainted Love, by Soft Cell
- Hungry Like the Wolf, by Duran Duran
- Like a Prayer, by Madonna
- You Shook Me All Night Long, by AC/DC
- All Night Long (All Night), by Lionel Richie
- Walk This Way, by Run-D.M.C.
- I Can’t Go For That, by Hall & Oates
- Everybody Wants to Rule the World, by Tears for Fears
- Time After Time, by Cyndi Lauper
- Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2), by Pink Floyd
- Don’t You Want Me?, by Human League
- In the Air Tonight, by Phil Collins
- Like a Virgin, by Madonna
- Kiss, by Prince
- Flashdance… What a Feeling, by Irene Cara
- There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, by The Smiths
- Jessie’s Girl, by Rick Springfield
- Fight the Power, by Public Enemy
- Don’t You (Forget About Me), by Simple Minds
- Let’s Dance, by David Bowie
- Super Freak, by Rick James
- Back in Black, by AC/DC
- Super Trouper, by Abba
- How Soon Is Now?, by The Smiths
- Thriller, by Michael Jackson
- Under Pressure, by Queen & David Bowie
- West End Girls, by Pet Shop Boys
- Blue Monday, by New Order
- Faith, by George Michael
- How Will I Know, by Whitney Houston
- Push It, by Salt-N-Pepa
- Money for Nothing, by Dire Straits
- Jack & Diane, by John Mellencamp
- Just Like Heaven, by The Cure
- Down Under, by Men At Work
- Welcome to the Jungle, by Guns N’ Roses
- Once in a Lifetime, by Talking Heads
- Upside Down, by Diana Ross
- Purple Rain, by Prince
- Paid in Full, by Eric B. & Rakim
- Walk Like an Egyptian, by The Bangles
- Maneater, by Hall & Oates
- Square Biz, by Teena Marie
- Centerfold, by The J. Geils Band
- Bette Davis Eyes, by Kim Carnes
- Fight for Your Right, by Beastie Boys
- Bizarre Love Triangle, by New Order
- Straight Up, by Paula Abdul
- Just Like Honey, by The Jesus and Mary Chain
- Eye of the Tiger, by Survivor
- Start Me Up, by The Rolling Stones
- Ghost Town, by The Specials
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, by U2
- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, by Wham!
- Pour Some Sugar on Me, by Def Leppard
- Our Lips Are Sealed, by The Go-Go’s
- Need You Tonight, by INXS
- Love Shack, by The B-52’s
- The Power of Love, by Huey Lewis and The News
- Africa, by Toto
- Lady, by Kenny Rogers
- Hot for Teacher, by Van Halen
- Panic, by The Smiths
- Into the Groove, by Madonna
- I Want to Know What Love Is, by Foreigner
- Born in the U.S.A., by Bruce Springsteen
- The Killing Moon, by Echo & the Bunnymen
- Karma Chameleon, by Culture Club
- Love Is a Battlefield, by Pat Benetar
- Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God), by Kate Bush
- Let’s Go Crazy, by Prince
- Addicted to Love, by Robert Palmer
- Bust a Move, by Young MC
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love, by Queen
- Sledgehammer, by Peter Gabriel
- Edge of Seventeen, by Stevie Nicks
- Summer of ’69, by Bryan Adams
- Careless Whisper, by Wham!
- Fast Car, by Tracy Chapman
- My Prerogative, by Bobby Brown
- (Just Like) Starting Over, by John Lennon
- Physical, by Olivia Newton-John
- Here I Go Again, by Whitesnake
- Buffalo Stance, by Neneh Cherry
- Alone, by Heart
- Say Say Say, by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
- Rock the Casbah, by The Clash
- Burning Down the House, by Talking Heads
- This Charming Man, by The Smiths
- Word Up!, by Cameo
- Close to Me, by The Cure
- Hit Me with Your Best Shot, by Pat Benetar
- Together in Electric Dreams, by Philip Oakley & Giorgio Moroder
- Take My Breath Away, by Berlin
- Should I Stay or Should I Go, by The Clash
- Planet Rock, by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force
- I’m Coming Out, by Diana Ross
- Nasty, by Janet Jackson
- You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), by Dead or Alive
- The Mercy Seat, by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
- Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, by Culture Club
- Endless Love, by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
- Footloose, by Kenny Loggins
- The Sweetest Taboo, by Sade
- Shout, by Tears for Fears
- Funkytown, by Lipps, Inc.
- One, by Metallica
- Temptation, by New Order
- When I Think of You, by Janet Jackson
- Express Yourself, by Madonna
- Where Is My Mind?, by Pixies
- April Skies, by The Jesus and Mary Chain
- I Ran (So Far Away), by A Flock of Seagulls
- Miss You Much, by Janet Jackson
- Modern Love, by David Bowie
- You Give Love a Bad Name, by Bon Jovi
- Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), by Phil Collins
- Redemption Song, by Bob Marley & The Wailers
- It’s the End of the World as We Know It, by R.E.M
- Rock with You, by Michael Jackson
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn, by Poison
- That’s What Friends Are For, by Dionne Warwick
- Never Gonna Give You Up, by Rick Astley
- Uptown Girl, by Billy Joel
- Children’s Story, by Slick Rick
- Blister in the Sun, by Violent Femmes
- Master of Puppets, by Metallica
- Sister Christian, by Night Ranger
- Atmosphere, by Joy Division
- Papa Don’t Preach, by Madonna
- I Think We’re Alone Now, by Tiffany
- Comfortably Numb, by Pink Floyd
- Parents Just Don’t Understand, by D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
- Crazy for You, by Madonna
- Hounds of Love, by Kate Bush
- 1999, by Prince
- Celebration, by Kool & the Gang
- Material Girl, by Madonna
- (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life, by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
- Whip It, by Devo
- Panama, by Van Halen
- Borderline, by Madonna
- Mickey, by Toni Basil
- In Between Days, by The Cure
- Keep on Loving You, by REO Speedwagon
- Ebony and Ivory, by Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
- Teen Age Riot, by Sonic Youth
- Paradise City, by Guns N’ Roses
- Rapture, by Blondie
- The Boys of Summer, by Don Henley
- In Your Eyes, by Peter Gabriel
- Atlantic City, by Bruce Springsteen
- Pride (In the Name of Love), by U2
- The Way You Make Me Feel, by Michael Jackson
- Back to Life (However Do You Want Me), by Soul II Soul
- True Colors, by Cyndi Lauper
- Debaser, by Pixies
- Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, by Starship
- Birthday, by The Sugarcubes
- Love T.K.O., by Teddy Pendergrass
- Let’s Hear It for the Boy, by Deniece Williams
- I Can’t Wait, by Nu Shooz
- Free Falling, by Tom Petty
- (I Just) Died in Your Arms, by Cutting Crew
- Heaven Is a Place on Earth, by Belinda Carlisle
- Broken Wings, by Mr. Mister
- Road to Nowhere, by Talking Heads
- I Would Die 4 U, by Prince
- Freak Scene, by Dinosaur Jr.
- 99 Luftballoons, by Nena
- Rock Me Amadeus, by Falco
- Higher Love, by Steve Winwood
- Everywhere, by Fleetwood Mac
- It Takes Two, by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
- The Tide Is High, by Blondie
- Valerie, by Steve Winwood
- Open Your Heart, by Madonna
- The Way It Is, by Bruce Hornsby
- If You Leave, by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
- It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, by Billy Joel
- Owner of a Lonely Heart, by Yes
- Made of Stone, by The Stone Roses
- Hurts So Good, by John Mellencamp
- What Have I Done to Deserve This?, by Pet Shop Boys
- A Night to Remember, by Shalamar
- Love Action (I Believe In Love), by Human League
- Tom Sawyer, by Rush
- Bad, by Michael Jackson
- Girls, Girls, Girls, by Motley Crue
- Hard to Say I’m Sorry, by Chicago
- Just a Friend, by Biz Markie
- Straight to Hell, by The Clash
- Private Eyes, by Hall & Oates
- Never Too Much, by Luther Vandross
- Waiting For a Girl Like You, by Foreigner
- What I Like About You, by The Romantics
- We Got the Beat, by The Go-Go’s
- Gloria, by Laura Branigan
- Faithfully, by Journey
- Missing You, by John Waite
- Hello, by Lionel Richie
- The Breaks, by Kurtis Blow
- Little Red Corvette, by Prince
- Fool’s Gold, by The Stone Roses
- Drive, by The Cars
- The Glamorous Life, by Sheila E.
- Holiday, by Madonna
- Can’t Fight This Feeling, by REO Speedwagon
- Never Let Me Down Again, by Depeche Mode
- Father Figure, by George Michael
- These Dreams, by Heart
- Got My Mind Set on You, by George Harrison
- Man in the Mirror, by Michael Jackson
- Sharp Dressed Man, by ZZ Top
- Raspberry Beret, by Prince
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin, by Michael Jackson
- Part-Time Lover, by Stevie Wonder
- Head Over Heels, by Tears for Fears
- Fuck tha Police, by N.W.A
- Dr. Feelgood, by Motley Crue
- Brass in Pocket, by The Pretenders
- You Made Me Realise, by My Bloody Valentine
- We Are the World, by USA for Africa
- Just the Two of Us, by Bill Withers
- One More Try, by George Michael
- Drag Rap, by The Showboys
- This Is the Day, by The The
- Pull Up to the Bumper, by Grace Jones
- So Emotional, by Whitney Houston
- Me, Myself and I, by De La Soul
- Woman in Love, by Barbra Streisand
- Maniac, by Michael Sembello
- La Bamba, by Los Lobos
- Right Here Waiting, by Richard Marx
- Listen to Your Heart, by Roxette
- Song to the Siren, by This Mortal Coil
- In the Dead of Night, by U.K.
- It’s a Sin, by Pet Shop Boys
- 9 to 5, by Dolly Parton
- Could You Be Loved, by Bob Marley & The Wailers
- St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion), by John Parr
- You Can Call Me Al, by Paul Simon
- Ghostbusters, by Ray Parker, Jr.
- Cult of Personality, by Living Colour
- Ace of Spaces, by Motorhead
- Islands in the Stream, by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
- Danger Zone, by Kenny Loggins
- Heaven, by Bryan Adams
- Photograph, by Def Leppard
- If I Could Turn Back Time, by Cher
- Waiting Room, by Fugazi
- Mony Mony, by Billy Idol
- Greatest Love of All, by Whitney Houston
- Invisible Touch, by Genesis
- Red Red Wine, by UB40
- Venus, by Bananarama
- I Melt With You, by Modern English
- A Groovy Kind of Love, by Phil Collins
- We’re Not Gonna Take It, by Twisted Sister
- Heat of the Moment, by Asia
- Everything She Wants, by Wham!
- She Drives Me Crazy, by Fine Young Cannibals
- Janie’s Got a Gun, by Aerosmith
- About a Girl, by Nirvana
- 867-5309/Jenny, by Tommy Tutone
- Mr. Crowley, by Ozzy Osbourne
- Eternal Flame, by The Bangles
- Say You, Say Me, by Lionel Richie
- Ain’t Nobody, by Chaka Khan
- Easy Lover, by Philip Bailey & Phil Collins
- On My Own, by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
- White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It), by Grandmaster & Melle Mel
- Forget Me Nots, by Patrice Rushen
- Walking on Sunshine, by Katrina and The Waves
- Relax, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
- Lean on Me, by Club Nouveau
- I Just Called to Say I Love You, by Stevie Wonder
- Abracadabra, by Steve Miller Band
- Cities in Dust, by Siouxsie and The Banshees
- Kyrie, by Mr. Mister
- Paul Revere, by Beastie Boys
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), by Michael Jackson
- Kiss on My List, by Hall & Oates
- Who Can It Be Now, by Men at Work
- Out of Touch, by Hall & Oates
- Rock You Like a Hurricane, by The Scorpions
- Coming Up (Live at Glasgow), by Paul McCartney
- The One I Love, by R.E.M.
- Cruel Summer, by Bananarama
- Separate Ways, by Journey
- Dancing in the Dark, by Bruce Springsteen
- It’s My Life, by Talk Talk
- Pride and Joy, by Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Cold Hearted, by Paula Abdul
- Woman, by John Lennon
- Pacific State, by 808 State
- Take Me Home Tonight, by Eddie Money
- She Blinded Me With Science, by Thomas Dolby
- Town Called Malice, by The Jam
- Anything for You, by Gloria Estefan
- Sussudio, by Phil Collins
- Cars, by Gary Numan
- Since Yesterday, by Strawberry Switchblade
- One Thing Leads to Another, by The Fixx
- Rip it Up, by Orange Juice
- Miami Vice Theme, by Jan Hammer
- Please Don’t Go, by KC and the Sunshine Band
- Rio, by Duran Duran
- Do That to Me One More Time, by Captain & Tennille
- Baby, I Love Your Way, by Will to Power
- Hells Bells, by AC/DC
- I Will Dare, by The Replacements
- You Make My Dreams (Come True), by Hall & Oates
- Open Arms, by Journey
- Tell It to My Heart, by Taylor Dayne
- Baby, Come to Me, by Patti Austin and James Ingram
- Don’t Believe the Hype, by Public Enemy
- Nomi Song, by Klaus Nomi
- Shake the Disease, by Depeche Mode
- Break My Stride, by Matthew Wilder
- White Wedding, by Billy Idol
- Head to Toe, by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
- Live to Tell, by Madonna
- Separate Lives, by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
- The Look, by Roxette
- Roll With It, by Steve Winwood
- Pretty In Pink, by The Psychedelic Furs
- I Love a Rainy Night, by Eddie Rabbitt
- Ashes to Ashes, by David Bowie
- Bring the Noise, by Public Enemy
- Nothing’s Shocking, by Jane’s Addiction
- When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going, by Billy Ocean
- Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do), by Christopher Cross
- Lost in Your Eyes, by Debbie Gibson
- You Got It (The Right Stuff), by New Kids on the Block
- Teardrops, by Womack & Womack
- Tempted, by Squeeze
- Working for the Weekend, by Loverboy
- Fairytale Of New York, by The Pogues
- Love Will Never Do (Without You), by Janet Jackson
- Too Shy, by Kajagoogoo
- One More Night, by Phil Collins
- Everybody Have Fun Tonight, by Wang Chung
- Here Comes the Rain Again, by Eurythmics
- Wishing Well, by Terence Trent D’Arby
- Rosanna, by Toto
- We Didn’t Start the Fire, by Billy Joel
- Chariots of Fire, by Vangelis
- End of the Century, by Ramones
- Love Can’t Turn Around, by Farley “Jackmaster” Funk and Jesse Saunders
- Magic, by Olivia Newton-John
- At This Moment, by Billy Vera and The Beaters
- Don’t Wanna Lose You, by Gloria Estefan
- Stuck with You, by Huey Lewis and the News
- Don’t Dream It’s Over, by Crowded House
- Human Nature, by Michael Jackson
- Blame It on the Rain, by Milli Vanilli
- Flying High Again, by Ozzy Osbourne
- That’s Entertainment, The Jam
- Saving All My Love for You, by Whitney Houston
- You May Be Right, by Billy Joel
- Didn’t We Almost Have It All, by Whitney Houston
- Lovesong, by The Cure
- Shake Your Rump, by Beastie Boys
- Where the Streets Have No Name, by U2
- Wanted Dead or Alive, by Bon Jovi
- Could’ve Been, by Tiffany
- Land of Confusion, by Genesis
- Loving the Alien, by David Bowie
- Your Love, by Frankie Knuckles & Jamie Principle
- Personal Jesus, by Depeche Mode
- Two Hearts, by Phil Collins
- The Reflex, by Duran Duran
- Shake You Down, by Gregory Abbott
- Wind Beneath My Wings, by Bette Midler
- Toy Soldiers, by Martika
- Shakedown, by Bob Seger
- We Built This City, by Starship
- Voices Carry, by ‘Til Tuesday
- People Are People, by Depeche Mode
- Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car, by Billy Ocean
- Don’t Stand So Close to Me, by The Police
- Cold Shot, by Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Another Day in Paradise, by Phil Collins
- Harden My Heart, by Quarterflash
- There’ll Be Sad Songs (to Make You Cry), by Billy Ocean
- Mr. Roboto, by Styx
- Forever Your Girl, by Paula Abdul
- The Flame, by Cheap Trick
- Gypsy, by Fleetwood Mac
- A View to a Kill, by Duran Duran
- Always, by Atlantic Starr
- Human, by Human League
- Everytime You Go Away, by Paul Young
- Truly, by Lionel Richie
- Ask, by The Smiths
- Mad World, by Tears for Fears
- Glory of Love, by Peter Cetera
- You Keep Me Hangin’ On, by Kim Wilde
- Genius of Love, by Tom Tom Club
- Get Up, by Van Halen
- The Pleasure Principle, by Janet Jackson
- I’m Still Standing, by Elton John
- Legs, by ZZ Top
- Girl I’m Gonna Miss You, by Milli Vanilli
- Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, by Paul Simon
- For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Metallica
- Smooth Operator, by Sade
- Things Can Only Get Better, by Howard Jones
- When I See You Smile, by Bad English
- Lorelei, by Cocteau Twins
- Only in My Dreams, by Debbie Gibson
- Sara, by Starship
- Let the Music Play, by Shannon
- Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen
- Metal Fatigue, by Allan Holdsworth
- Small Town, by John Mellencamp
- Here Comes Your Man, by Pixies
- Don’t Worry, Be Happy, by Bobby McFerrin
- London Calling, by The Clash
- The Final Countdown, by Europe
- Never, by Heart
- Look of Love, by ABC
- Pleasant Dreams, by Ramones
- Roll Me Away, by Bob Seger
- Together Forever, by Rick Astley
- She’s a Beauty, by The Tubes
- Bad Love, by Eric Clapton
- Everyday Is Like Sunday, by Morrisey
- O Superman (For Massenet), by Laurie Anderson
- Run to You, by Bryan Adams
- Unchained, by Van Halen
- Waiting for a Star to Fall, by Boy Meets Girl
- Heavy Metal, by Sammy Hagar
- Monkey Gone To Heaven, by Pixies
- Tell Her About It, by Billy Joel
- Sign ‘O’ the Times, by Prince
- Get on Your Feet, by Gloria Estefan
- Seek and Destroy, by Metallica
- Kokomo, by The Beach Boys
- I Will Follow, by U2
- Pump Up The Volume, by MARRS
- Celebrated Summer, by Hüsker Dü
- Glory Days, by Bruce Springsteen
- Going Underground, by The Jam
- I’m on Fire, by Bruce Springsteen
- Round and Round, by Ratt
- Black Limousine, by The Rolling Stones
- Damaged, by Black Flag
- I Wanna Be Adored, by The Stone Roses
- The River, by Bruce Springsteen
- Computer Love, by Kraftwerk
- Never Say Never, by Romeo Void
- More Than This, by Roxy Music
- Pure, by The Lightning Seeds
- Two Tribes, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
- Black and Blue, by Van Halen
- Ceremony, by New Order
- Goodbye Horses, by Q Lazzarus
- Somebody, by Bryan Adams
- Follow the Leader, by Eric B. & Rakim
- Beat Dis, by Bomb the Bass
- Other Arms, by Robert Plant
- Run to the Hills, by Iron Maiden
- Mama, by Genesis
- Moody, by ESG
- DJ Premier in Deep Concentration, by Gang Starr
- Mean Street, by Van Halen
- The Whole of the Moon, by The Waterboys
- Bad, by U2
- Can’t Be Sure, by The Sundays
- Moments in Love, by Art of Noise
- Epic, by Faith No More
- Oh Sherrie, by Steve Perry
