Best 1980s Songs Ranked

The 1980s are commonly remembered for a great increase in the use of digital recording, associated with the usage of synthesizers, with synth-pop music and other electronic genres featuring non-traditional instruments increasing in popularity. Also during this decade, several major electronic genres were developed, including electro, techno, house, freestyle, and Eurodance, rising in prominence during the 1990s and beyond. Throughout the decade, R&B, hip hop, and urban genres were becoming commonplace, particularly in the inner-city areas of large, metropolitan cities; rap was especially successful in the latter part of the decade, with the advent of the golden age of hip hop. These urban genres—particularly rap and hip hop—would continue their rise in popularity through the 1990s and 2000s. Here are the best 1980s songs ranked.

Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS songs of 1980’s below! Click to experience the music at its finest!

15. When Doves Cry – Prince & The Revolution

“Doves Cry is one of the top songs of all time! Thriller was a great Album but beat it or Billie Jean are not even close to doves cry, People may not like prince but you can’t take away what he has done for music. THE ICON”

14. Purple Rain – Prince & The Revolution

“If you lived during the 80’s, you know how prolific Prince was to the music scene. MTV played his stuff constantly, almost as much as Michael Jackson. Great artist. When you try to visualize 80s in your head, you might think of puffy hairs, net tank-tops, rock or pop, but all of it looks so much more 80s when covered by purple rain.”

13. Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears

“Absolutely takes me back in time to the sweet rides, waiting in the parking lot after school with your friends. Not having a care in the world but feeling on top of the world at the same time. No bills. Just living, loving and laughter. 80s rules the world!”

12. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor

“Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan wrote The Eye of the Tiger for Rocky III. When Sylvester Stallone drafted the movie, he used Another One Bites the Dust, but he could not secure the rights to that song. Therefore, the team developed this inspirational pump up song. Initially, the duo was bothered by the lack of rhyming of eye and tiger, but they soon realized that their first draft rhymed rival with survival and decided to go with Eye of the Tiger as Stallone had already included that ling in the script.”

11. Every Breath You Take – The Police

“Sting wrote this song for The Police’s Synchronicity album while sitting at the same desk where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels. On the surface, this song’s key makes one think it’s a love song, but it has a very sarcastic undertone. Synchronicity was the last album from The Police because it was apparent that Sting was no longer willing to listen to his band, and they were angry about being ignored. Sting started to write a pop ballad, but he did not write a harmonic development in the middle, which was the last part of the song finished. Therefore, the song’s storyteller remains trapped as a protagonist.”

10. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen

“Queen – Another One Bites The Dust is one of the greatest examples of Queen and the rock genre as a whole, their playing style and their personality. Written by John Deacon, it’s just plain and simply awesome, from the crazy great low bass line from John Deacon to the distinct vocal style of Freddie Mercury, giving this track a great start to begin with. And don’t even get me started on the CPR drum beat. It’s one of the things that makes this song. Hang on, the vocals are terrific, the bass line is funky, the drum beat keeps the tone of the song, and the guitar adds to the funkiness of the bass.”

9. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

“One of the greatest song of all times from a great band. This song walks into any playlist any day. Listen to it, realize it’s true potential and beauty, fall in love with it and listen to it again and if you don’t like it you do not deserve to listen to music at all.”

8. The Final Countdown – Europe

“Europe turned out to be one of the most successful bands in the world when this one hit wonder was realeased as a number 1 hit single In 25 countries all over the world. In the beginning they were very very slowly climbing the charts until this song came out then they took off to Venus at the very top of the charts. This is one of the greatest songs of the 80’s.”

7. Jump – Van Halen

“Jump was the first song of the 80s to be recorded at Van Halen’s new Los Angeles studio called 5150 Studio. The studio’s name comes from the police code for a mental case. The 1984 album featuring this song was the last time that David Lee Roth appeared with this band. The band may have written parts of this song on the tour bus as early as 1979, but they always felt that it did not fit the overall theme of any of their albums.”

6. Thriller – Michael Jackson

“The music put together still is ahead of its time… Masterpiece of music history. Revolutionary in every way and made MTV the life of songs… Truly a THRILLER. Now it’s 2023 and still there’s no dance single that can match the funk of 40 thousand years.”

5. Take On Me – a-ha

“All of the songs on this list are worthy to be on it – and as a pop song it is in a unwinnable contest against the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. However, this is one of the best pop songs to come in the 80s, and is still one of the best songs today. A catchy tune that is SO 80s style with amazing voice skills by Morten Harket. Not taking metal into consideration, one of the best songs to have come from Norway.”

4. Beat It – Michael Jackson

“His voice, his movies, his fusion of pop and rock. Ever since I was a child in the 80s listening to his songs I knew there was something special about him. Remembering going over to my uncle and aunts place with my parents.They had a big stereo system, the kids and adults would all just jam out to MIchael. Always will be the best singer and dancer to me. Legends never die.”

3. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses

“Whenever I listen to this song I feel so fired up and excited, by the way Axl is singing and how awesome Slash is playing in song. I sing it wherever I go! Clearly one of the best songs ever his vocal range is extravagant I can’t even go that high!”

2. Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi

“This song is a masterpiece. People will be jamming to this song thousands of years from now. Simply the greatest song ever. The band is also the best. Bon Jovi has been there for me when I was down. It’s like he was singing “I’ll be there for you” to me.”

1. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

“Billie Jean is the best song. Almost any age group can recognize it and even knows the singer which is unusual. It just such a great universal song for everyone to love. The way he danced it makes it stand out even more in our minds. FLAWLESS, SUPERB AND AMAZING, from the background music, especially the bassline, the lyrics, meaning and content, his voice and style… billie jean truly not just the best song of the 80’s but one of the greatest compositions of all time.”