Top 200 Songs of the '80s

Found On: Speaking In Tongues (1983) What does it mean to feel at home? Talking Heads manage to answer the question by being charmingly obli...

Found On: Madonna (1983) Picked By: MT Something in the way this song sounds just won't let me be. I don't want to be its prisoner,...

Found On: Pretty In Pink (1986) Duckie and Andy at the prom, the fateful reunion with Blaine in the parking lot, "I always believed in...

Found On: Cosmic Thing (1989) Though it’s a far cry from their Rock Lobster roots and doesn’t even feature signature hype man Fred Schneid...

Found On: Making Movies (1980) When you listen to the lyrics of this song you see a love affair play out before your eyes. The melody is al...

Found On: The Joshua Tree (1986) This is what it’s like to fall for someone you know is bad news.

Found On: They Might Be Giants (1986) Picked By: SA Jittery nerd rock at its finest. Beside fun nonsense lyrics like “wake up and smell the...

Found On: East Side Story (1981) Picked By: EV So Paul Carrack steps in on two very talented vocalists (Difford and Tilbrook) and gives Squ...

Found On: Around The World In A Day (1985) A Dylanish story song about Prince’s first time getting it on. I wouldn’t change a note, ‘cause,...

Found On: Appetite For Destruction (1987) Picked By: SB Oh Axel, you old softie. We’d never hear that crazy mo-fo be more honest, open, nost...

Found On: Different Light (1985) Legend has it that Prince was so smitten with Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs that he gave this song to ...

Found On: Too Low For Zero (1983) He’s had a few comebacks in his career, but no song reintroduced Sir Reginald Dwight better than this one...

Found On: Everything's Different Now (1987) A song that demonstrates all of Aimee Mann's considerable gifts as a songwriter as she...

Found On: Double Fantasy (1980) This song makes me smile wistfully every time I hear it. As Lennon sings about being happy now that he'...

Found On: She's So Unusual (1984) She certainly WAS unusual. Lauper played the helium-voiced ditz on Girls Just Wanna Have Fun , lion...

Found On: Bananarama (1984) Even though this is the perfect summer song (duh!), I always see Daniel LaRusso riding his bike to school on th...

Found On: Punch The Clock (1983) Ah, the story of my life, no? - SA I think a lot of people feel that way about this one.

Found On: Full Moon Fever (1989) Quite possibly the most famous song about a good girl and a bad boy ever sung, with trippy lyrics about Jes...

Found On: Songs From The Big Chair (1985) Picked By: BG Head Over Heels captures the feelings of a deep crush with pinpoint accuracy: Some...

Found On: Aretha (1986) George Michael represents well on this we - made - it - through - the - hard - times duet, even out-singing Aretha,...

Found On: The Innocents (1988) "I'm so in love with you/ I'll be forever blue..." Of Erasure's many hits, this is the...

Found On: Madness (1983) Picked By: SA The tale of an urban family that sticks together was the singular American hit single for a band wit...

Found On: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) If you don't admit that this song is *&#%ing amazing, I will send you into the Thunderd...

Found On: America's Greatest Hero (1981) Picked By: BG I'm not ashamed to admit I get chills when I listen to this. Okay, maybe I...

Found On: Volume One (1988) A warm little ditty from five men who, together, comprised the supergroup to end supergroups: Bob Dylan, Roy Or...

Found On: Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) Picked By: SB I don't know why Janet had to be so negative. Consider this title: Love Will Do (With...

Found On: Rhythm Of Youth (1983) Picked By: SB I have a vivid memory of seeing this video at my grandparents’ house on a Saturday morning. ...

Found On: An Innocent Man (1983) Picked By: BG An Innocent Man found Joel paying tribute to the music of his youth. The Longest Time is ...

Found On: The Breakfast Club (1985) One of the best soundtrack songs of all time. - MT I question the location of the parentheses, but I lo...

Found On: Quick Step & Side Kick (1983) Some facts to consider: 1) As of this recording there were actually 6 people in the band. 2) T...

Found On: Forever Your Girl (1988) OK, it's not the greatest "I'm gonna love you forever" song even performed. (That wou...

Found On: So (1986) Another great soundtrack decision ( Say Anything ) by Cameron Crowe. I love Gabriel's voice in this song. - MT

Found On: Pyromania (1983) Whoa-oh! My junior and senior years of college I had a radio show at the school station and I annoyingly opene...

Found On: True Blue (1986) Picked By: SB A rare controversial moment from the queen of '80s pop.

Found On: Eye In The Sky (1982) Picked By: BG Alan Parsons was an engineer for Pink Floyd and his own band’s sound is not far removed. Thou...

Found On: The Warrior (1984) Patty Smyth later joined Don Henley in Adult Contemporary land, but when she came out of the box she was a sas...

Found On: Into The Light (1986) Sooooo gloriously cheesy. It sounds swooning and romantic, but I always wonder if his wife/girlfriend is a ...

Found On: Dream Into Action (1985) I wonder if any non-programmed instruments were actually used on this song? For all I know, Howard Jones...

Found On: Document (1987) Proof that feeling like events are inevitably proceeding toward the demise of all living beings never goes out of...

Found On: Rattlesnakes (1984) A jangly acoustic strum announces a very talented songwriter. This may have the best title on the list. Later...

Found On: Synchronicity (1983) Okay, so the lyrics are creep city. But musically this is one of those rare songs that seems like it was divi...

Found On: Sign O' The Times (1987) In less than 4 minutes, the man that most people associate with sex (and more sex) waxes philosophic...

Found On: Katrina and the Waves (1985) Picked By: EV The perfect opener for your Monday morning mix tape.

Found On: Rio (1982) Energetic and compelling. You just can’t help but sing along. Simon has such a cool voice; it can be breathy on one so...

Found On: Vision Quest (1984) Pretty sure the first time I heard this song it triggered an early stage of puberty. The romantic feelings i...

Found On: Control (1986) Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis added their Minneapolis funk to Janet's self-empowerment, looks and dance skills for ...

Found On: Bad (1987) Even in his heyday Michael was feeling put upon. Each of multi-tracked vocals on the chorus is impassioned and despera...

Found On: Error In The System (1982) Here we have a retelling of David Bowie’s ‘60s hit Space Oddity , but with a twist! In German Schillin...

Found On: It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (1986) Some might tell you that Fight The Power is superior, but this one sold us ...

Found On: Killer On The Rampage (1983) My mom bought me the 45 of this song and I LOVED it. It’s no wonder why it appealed to my 6-year-old ...