Playlist of the Week: Top 250 Songs of the ’80s
Each week we’re featuring a playlist to get your mind going and help you assemble your favorites. This week we take a deep dive into the top Billboard hits of the ’80s. The ’80s featured music as varied as you’ll find in perhaps any generation, and the variety in this playlist reflects that diversity.
Here are the Top 250 Songs of the ’80s, with a few more added for honorable mention. We welcome your comments. What songs are ranked too high? What songs are ranked too low? What songs are missing? Make your case. Also, please let us know concepts for playlists you’d like to see — or share a favorite list of your own.
| Rank | Artist | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIMPLE MINDS | Don't You (Forget About Me) | 1985 |
| 2 | JOAN JETT/BLACKHEARTS | I Love Rock 'N Roll | 1982 |
| 3 | BON JOVI | Livin' On A Prayer | 1986 |
| 4 | WHITESNAKE | Here I Go Again | 1987 |
| 5 | JOURNEY | Don't Stop Believin' | 1981 |
| 6 | BRYAN ADAMS | Summer Of '69 | 1985 |
| 7 | RICK SPRINGFIELD | Jessie's Girl | 1981 |
| 8 | SOFT CELL | Tainted Love | 1981 |
| 9 | MODERN ENGLISH | I Melt With You | 1982 |
| 10 | OUTFIELD | Your Love | 1986 |
| 11 | DURAN DURAN | Hungry Like The Wolf | 1982 |
| 12 | PAT BENATAR | Hit Me With Your Best Shot | 1980 |
| 13 | BON JOVI | You Give Love A Bad Name | 1986 |
| 14 | DEF LEPPARD | Pour Some Sugar On Me | 1988 |
| 15 | JOHN C MELLENCAMP | Jack & Diane | 1982 |
| 16 | PAT BENATAR | Love Is A Battlefield | 1983 |
| 17 | EURYTHMICS | Sweet Dreams(Are Made Of This) | 1983 |
| 18 | MEN AT WORK | Down Under | 1982 |
| 19 | AC/DC | You Shook Me All Night Long | 1980 |
| 20 | J. GEILS BAND | Centerfold | 1981 |
| 21 | QUEEN | Another One Bites The Dust | 1980 |
| 22 | BON JOVI | Wanted Dead Or Alive | 1987 |
| 23 | TOMMY TUTONE | 867-5309/Jenny | 1982 |
| 24 | GUNS N' ROSES | Sweet Child O' Mine | 1988 |
| 25 | EDDIE MONEY | Take Me Home Tonight | 1986 |
| 26 | TOM PETTY | Free Fallin' | 1989 |
| 27 | A-HA | Take On Me | 1985 |
| 28 | NAKED EYES | Always Something There To Remind Me | 1983 |
| 29 | JOURNEY | Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) | 1983 |
| 30 | INXS | Need You Tonight | 1988 |
| 31 | SURVIVOR | Eye Of The Tiger | 1982 |
| 32 | JOURNEY | Any Way You Want It | 1980 |
| 33 | DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS | Come On Eileen | 1983 |
| 34 | ROMANTICS | What I Like About You | 1980 |
| 35 | POLICE | Every Breath You Take | 1983 |
| 36 | BILLY IDOL | White Wedding | 1983 |
| 37 | OMD | If You Leave | 1986 |
| 38 | PHIL COLLINS | In The Air Tonight | 1981 |
| 39 | DON HENLEY | Boys Of Summer | 1984 |
| 40 | BILLY IDOL | Mony Mony | 1987 |
| 41 | JOHN C MELLENCAMP | Small Town | 1985 |
| 42 | BLONDIE | Call Me | 1980 |
| 43 | COREY HART | Sunglasses At Night | 1984 |
| 44 | A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS | I Ran (So Far Away) | 1982 |
| 45 | TEARS FOR FEARS | Shout | 1985 |
| 46 | BILLY IDOL | Rebel Yell | 1985 |
| 47 | PINK FLOYD | Another Brick In The Wall | 1980 |
| 48 | VAN HALEN | Jump | 1984 |
| 49 | STEVIE NICKS | Edge Of Seventeen | 1982 |
| 50 | DEF LEPPARD | Photograph | 1983 |
| 51 | POLICE | Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic | 1981 |
| 52 | JOHN C MELLENCAMP | Hurts So Good | 1982 |
| 53 | YES | Owner Of A Lonely Heart | 1983 |
| 54 | 38 SPECIAL | Caught Up In You | 1982 |
| 55 | REO SPEEDWAGON | Take It On The Run | 1980 |
| 56 | PRINCE | When Doves Cry | 1984 |
| 57 | PETER GABRIEL | In Your Eyes | 1986 |
| 58 | FIXX | One Thing Leads To Another | 1983 |
| 59 | HUMAN LEAGUE | Don't You Want Me | 1981 |
| 60 | CUTTING CREW | (I Just) Died In Your Arms | 1987 |
| 61 | CLASH | Rock The Casbah | 1982 |
| 62 | POISON | Every Rose Has Its Thorn | 1988 |
| 63 | TUBES | She's A Beauty | 1983 |
| 64 | 38 SPECIAL | Hold On Loosely | 1980 |
| 65 | PRINCE | 1999 | 1982 |
| 66 | PRINCE | Let's Go Crazy | 1984 |
| 67 | BRYAN ADAMS | Run To You | 1984 |
| 68 | QUEEN/DAVID BOWIE | Under Pressure | 1981 |
| 69 | NIGHT RANGER | Sister Christian | 1984 |
| 70 | GUNS N' ROSES | Paradise City | 1988 |
| 71 | ZZ TOP | Sharp Dressed Man | 1983 |
| 72 | DAVID BOWIE | Let's Dance | 1983 |
| 73 | CYNDI LAUPER | Girls Just Want To Have Fun | 1983 |
| 74 | SOFT CELL | Where Did Our Love Go | 1982 |
| 75 | BILLY IDOL | Dancing With Myself | 1981 |
| 76 | MEN AT WORK | Who Can It Be Now? | 1982 |
| 77 | ROLLING STONES | Start Me Up | 1981 |
| 78 | TEARS FOR FEARS | Everybody Wants To Rule The World | 1985 |
| 79 | SCANDAL | The Warrior f/Patty Smyth | 1984 |
| 80 | U2 | Pride (In The Name Of Love) | 1984 |
| 81 | U2 | I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For | 1987 |
| 82 | CLASH | Should I Stay Or Should I Go | 1982 |
| 83 | EDDY GRANT | Electric Avenue | 1983 |
| 84 | PAT BENATAR | We Belong | 1984 |
| 85 | BILLY JOEL | It's Still Rock And Roll... | 1980 |
| 86 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | Dancing In The Dark | 1984 |
| 87 | DEAD OR ALIVE | You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) | 1985 |
| 88 | U2 | With Or Without You | 1987 |
| 89 | GREG KIHN BAND | Breakup Song | 1981 |
| 90 | TALKING HEADS | Burning Down The House | 1983 |
| 91 | LOVERBOY | Working For The Weekend | 1981 |
| 92 | PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION | Kiss | 1986 |
| 93 | SCORPIONS | No One Like You | 1982 |
| 94 | ROBERT PALMER | Addicted To Love | 1986 |
| 95 | FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD | Relax | 1984 |
| 96 | PRINCE | Little Red Corvette | 1983 |
| 97 | JOHN C MELLENCAMP | Pink Houses | 1983 |
| 98 | MICHAEL JACKSON | Billie Jean | 1983 |
| 99 | QUEEN | Crazy Little Thing Called Love | 1980 |
| 100 | PAT BENATAR | Shadows Of The Night | 1982 |
| 101 | REO SPEEDWAGON | Keep On Loving You | 1980 |
| 102 | ROMANTICS | Talking In Your Sleep | 1983 |
| 103 | CARS | You Might Think | 1984 |
| 104 | POLICE | Don't Stand So Close To Me | 1981 |
| 105 | GUNS N' ROSES | Welcome To The Jungle | 1988 |
| 106 | BRYAN ADAMS | Cuts Like A Knife | 1983 |
| 107 | SCORPIONS | Rock You Like A Hurricane | 1984 |
| 108 | BILLY SQUIER | Everybody Wants You | 1982 |
| 109 | WANG CHUNG | Dance Hall Days | 1984 |
| 110 | POISON | Nothin' But A Good Time | 1988 |
| 111 | AC/DC | Back In Black | 1980 |
| 112 | AEROSMITH | Dude (Looks Like A Lady) | 1987 |
| 113 | DURAN DURAN | Rio | 1982 |
| 114 | DEF LEPPARD | Animal | 1987 |
| 115 | AEROSMITH | Rag Doll | 1987 |
| 116 | PRINCE | Raspberry Beret | 1985 |
| 117 | MICHAEL JACKSON | Beat It | 1983 |
| 118 | B-52'S | Love Shack | 1989 |
| 119 | ZZ TOP | Legs | 1984 |
| 120 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | Glory Days | 1985 |
| 121 | BILLY SQUIER | The Stroke | 1981 |
| 122 | JOURNEY | Faithfully | 1983 |
| 123 | ASIA | Heat Of The Moment | 1982 |
| 124 | KENNY LOGGINS | Danger Zone | 1986 |
| 125 | ROBERT PALMER | Simply Irresistible | 1988 |
| 126 | 'TIL TUESDAY | Voices Carry | 1985 |
| 127 | TOM PETTY | Runnin' Down A Dream | 1989 |
| 128 | HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS | Power Of Love | 1985 |
| 129 | TOM PETTY | I Won't Back Down | 1989 |
| 130 | MADNESS | Our House | 1983 |
| 131 | ANIMOTION | Obsession | 1985 |
| 132 | OZZY OSBOURNE | Crazy Train | 1980 |
| 133 | KENNY LOGGINS | Footloose | 1984 |
| 134 | RICK JAMES | Super Freak | 1981 |
| 135 | MEN WITHOUT HATS | Safety Dance | 1983 |
| 136 | JOHN PARR | St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) | 1985 |
| 137 | DEVO | Whip It | 1980 |
| 138 | BON JOVI | Runaway | 1984 |
| 139 | TEARS FOR FEARS | Head Over Heels | 1985 |
| 140 | ZZ TOP | Gimme All Your Lovin | 1983 |
| 141 | DIRE STRAITS | Money For Nothing | 1985 |
| 142 | JOAN JETT/BLACKHEARTS | I Hate Myself For Loving You | 1988 |
| 143 | BEASTIE BOYS | (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right | 1986 |
| 144 | BLUE OYSTER CULT | Burnin' For You | 1981 |
| 145 | STRAY CATS | Rock This Town | 1982 |
| 146 | DEF LEPPARD | Hysteria | 1988 |
| 147 | PET SHOP BOYS | West End Girls | 1986 |
| 148 | GEORGIA SATELLITES | Keep Your Hands To Yourself | 1986 |
| 149 | FOREIGNER | Juke Box Hero | 1981 |
| 150 | BANGLES | Walk Like An Egyptian | 1986 |
| 151 | CARS | Shake It Up | 1981 |
| 152 | UB40 | Red Red Wine | 1983 |
| 153 | GO-GO'S | Our Lips Are Sealed | 1981 |
| 154 | R.E.M. | The One I Love | 1987 |
| 155 | GENESIS | That's All | 1983 |
| 156 | DEF LEPPARD | Love Bites | 1987 |
| 157 | FOREIGNER | Urgent | 1981 |
| 158 | DEF LEPPARD | Rock Of Ages | 1983 |
| 159 | GO-GO'S | We Got The Beat | 1982 |
| 160 | SCANDAL | Goodbye To You | 1982 |
| 161 | INXS | What You Need | 1986 |
| 162 | QUIET RIOT | ... On Feel The Noize | 1983 |
| 163 | JOHN CAFFERTY/BEAVER BROWN BND | On The Dark Side | 1983 |
| 164 | GEORGE MICHAEL | Faith | 1987 |
| 165 | FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS | She Drives Me Crazy | 1989 |
| 166 | ROXETTE | The Look | 1989 |
| 167 | PRETENDERS | Brass In Pocket | 1980 |
| 168 | VAN HALEN | Panama | 1984 |
| 169 | BANANARAMA | Cruel Summer | 1984 |
| 170 | TOM PETTY/HEARTBREAKERS | Refugee | 1980 |
| 171 | VAN HALEN | Why Can't This Be Love | 1986 |
| 172 | CURE | Love Song | 1989 |
| 173 | AEROSMITH | Janie's Got A Gun | 1989 |
| 174 | DEPECHE MODE | Personal Jesus | 1989 |
| 175 | DON HENLEY | Dirty Laundry | 1982 |
| 176 | R.E.M. | It's The End Of The World As We Know It | 1988 |
| 177 | EURYTHMICS | Here Comes The Rain Again | 1983 |
| 178 | MIDNIGHT OIL | Beds Are Burning | 1987 |
| 179 | TWISTED SISTER | We're Not Gonna Take It | 1984 |
| 180 | CARS | Magic | 1984 |
| 181 | U2 | Where The Streets Have No Name | 1987 |
| 182 | MR. MISTER | Kyrie | 1985 |
| 183 | HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS | Heart And Soul | 1983 |
| 184 | BILLY JOEL | You May Be Right | 1980 |
| 185 | WHEN IN ROME | The Promise | 1988 |
| 186 | THOMPSON TWINS | Hold Me Now | 1984 |
| 187 | DAVID BOWIE | Modern Love | 1983 |
| 188 | KATRINA & THE WAVES | Walking On Sunshine | 1985 |
| 189 | DON HENLEY | All She Wants To Do Is Dance | 1985 |
| 190 | AEROSMITH | Angel | 1987 |
| 191 | INXS | New Sensation | 1988 |
| 192 | HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS | Do You Believe In Love | 1982 |
| 193 | RATT | Round And Round | 1984 |
| 194 | STEVE PERRY | Oh Sherrie | 1984 |
| 195 | PROCLAIMERS | I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) | 1989 |
| 196 | RUSH | Tom Sawyer | 1981 |
| 197 | HOWARD JONES | Things Can Only Get Better | 1985 |
| 198 | HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS | Heart Of Rock & Roll | 1984 |
| 199 | CYNDI LAUPER | Time After Time | 1984 |
| 200 | JOHN C MELLENCAMP | Authority Song | 1984 |
| 201 | J. GEILS BAND | Freeze-Frame | 1982 |
| 202 | PETER SCHILLING | Major Tom (Coming Home) | 1983 |
| 203 | BRYAN ADAMS | Heaven | 1985 |
| 204 | AFTER THE FIRE | Der Kommissar | 1983 |
| 205 | AEROSMITH | Love In An Elevator | 1989 |
| 206 | BANGLES | Manic Monday | 1985 |
| 207 | HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS | I Want A New Drug | 1984 |
| 208 | CURE | Just Like Heaven | 1987 |
| 209 | LOVERBOY | Turn Me Loose | 1981 |
| 210 | JOHN WAITE | Missing You | 1984 |
| 211 | HALL & OATES | Maneater | 1982 |
| 212 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | Born In The U.S.A. | 1984 |
| 213 | DURAN DURAN | The Reflex | 1984 |
| 214 | MR. MISTER | Broken Wings | 1985 |
| 215 | STEVIE NICKS | Stand Back | 1983 |
| 216 | BRYAN ADAMS | Somebody | 1985 |
| 217 | U2 | New Year's Day | 1983 |
| 218 | HOOTERS | And We Danced | 1985 |
| 219 | HEART | What About Love | 1985 |
| 220 | BILLY SQUIER | Lonely Is The Night | 1981 |
| 221 | TONE-LOC | Funky Cold Medina | 1989 |
| 222 | GOLDEN EARRING | Twilight Zone | 1982 |
| 223 | PETER GABRIEL | Sledgehammer | 1986 |
| 224 | JACKSON BROWNE | Somebody's Baby | 1982 |
| 225 | BON JOVI | Bad Medicine | 1988 |
| 226 | STEVE MILLER | Abracadabra | 1982 |
| 227 | GENESIS | Invisible Touch | 1986 |
| 228 | REO SPEEDWAGON | Can't Fight This Feeling | 1985 |
| 229 | AEROSMITH | What It Takes | 1989 |
| 230 | EDDIE MONEY | Shakin' | 1982 |
| 231 | TOTO | Africa | 1982 |
| 232 | PRINCE | I Would Die 4 U | 1984 |
| 233 | GREG KIHN BAND | Jeopardy | 1983 |
| 234 | GARY NUMAN | Cars | 1980 |
| 235 | MADONNA | Into The Groove | 1985 |
| 236 | JOURNEY | Who's Crying Now | 1981 |
| 237 | GREAT WHITE | Once Bitten Twice Shy | 1989 |
| 238 | DEF LEPPARD | Foolin' | 1983 |
| 239 | GO-GO'S | Vacation | 1982 |
| 240 | JOURNEY | Open Arms | 1982 |
| 241 | MADONNA | Like A Prayer | 1989 |
| 242 | NAKED EYES | Promises, Promises | 1983 |
| 243 | INXS | Devil Inside | 1988 |
| 244 | TOM PETTY/HEARTBREAKERS | Don't Come Around Here No More | 1985 |
| 245 | DEF LEPPARD | Armageddon It | 1988 |
| 246 | CROWDED HOUSE | Don't Dream It's Over | 1987 |
| 247 | MOTLEY CRUE | Home Sweet Home | 1985 |
| 248 | LOVERBOY | Lovin' Every Minute Of It | 1985 |
| 249 | STEVE WINWOOD | Higher Love | 1986 |
| 250 | STYX | Too Much Time On My Hands | 1980 |
| Honorable Mention | |||
| 251 | YOUNG MC | Bust A Move | 1989 |
| 252 | EDDIE MONEY | Think I'm In Love | 1982 |
| 253 | WANG CHUNG | Everybody Have Fun Tonight | 1986 |
| 254 | KIM WILDE | You Keep Me Hangin' On | 1986 |
| 255 | WHITESNAKE | Is This Love | 1987 |
| 256 | TALKING HEADS | Once In A Lifetime | 1980 |
| 257 | DEPECHE MODE | People Are People | 1985 |
| 258 | POLICE | Wrapped Around Your Finger | 1983 |
| 259 | ROD STEWART | Young Turks | 1981 |
| 260 | TONE-LOC | Wild Thing | 1988 |
| 261 | TOM PETTY/HEARTBREAKERS | You Got Lucky | 1982 |
| 262 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | Hungry Heart | 1980 |
| 263 | HEART | Never | 1984 |
| 264 | CLASH | Train In Vain | 1980 |
| 265 | JOHN C MELLENCAMP | R-O-C-K In The USA | 1986 |
| 266 | GENESIS | Land Of Confusion | 1986 |
| 267 | MOTLEY CRUE | Girls, Girls, Girls | 1987 |
| 268 | MADONNA | Holiday | 1983 |
| 269 | GENESIS | Misunderstanding | 1980 |
| 270 | NENA | 99 Red Balloons | 1983 |
| 271 | PHIL COLLINS | Sussudio | 1985 |
| 272 | STEVIE NICKS/TOM PETTY | Stop Draggin' My Heart Around | 1981 |
| 273 | VAN HALEN | (Oh) Pretty Woman | 1982 |
| 274 | KENNY LOGGINS | I'm Alright | 1980 |
| 275 | PETE TOWNSHEND | Let My Love Open The Door | 1980 |
| 276 | B-52'S | Roam | 1989 |
Please join our FREE Newsletter
