1. Take on Me - a-ha
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
3. Every Breath You Take - Police
4. Like a Virgin - Madonna
5. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
6. Whip It - Devo
7. Don't You Want Me - Human League
8. Jump - Van Halen
9. Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
10. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
11. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) - Eurythmics
12. Blue Monday - New Order
13. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
14. Time after Time - Cyndi Lauper
15. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
16. Rio - Duran Duran
17. Jesse's Girl - Rick Springfield
18. Jenny - Tommy Tutone
19. No More Words - Berlin
20. Rapture - Blondie
21. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
22. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
23. Mr. Roboto - Styx
24. Open Arms - Journey
25. I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
26. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
27. Shake It Up - The Cars
28. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
29. Down Under - Men at Work
30. Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
31. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
32. 1999 - Prince
33. Der Kommissar - After the Fire
34. Our House - Madness
35. Love Shack - B-52's
36. True - Spandau Ballet
37. What's Love Got to Do With It - Tina Turner
38. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
39. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
40. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
41. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
42. Shout - Tears for Fears
43. Drive - The Cars
44. The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
45. Lucky Star - Madonna
46. Venus - Bananarama
47. Careless Whisper - Wham!
48. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
49. We Built this City - Starship
50. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
51. Obsession - Animotion
52. Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday
53. The Look of Love - ABC
54. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
55. Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat
56. Kyrie - Mr. Mister
57. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
58. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Guns and Roses
59. Manic Monday - Bangles
60. If You Leave - OMD
61. Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
62. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
63. Only In My Dreams - Debbie Gibson
64. Kids in America - Kim Wilde
65. Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
66. Shock the Monkey - Peter Gabriel
67. Faith - George Michael
68. Red Red Wine - UB40
69. What's on Your Mind - Information Society
70. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
71. Heaven - Warrant
72. Toy Soldiers - Martika
73. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
74. The Promise - When in Rome
75. Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
76. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
77. The Reflex - Duran Duran
78. It's My Life - Talk Talk
79. People are People - Depeche Mode
80. My Adidas - Run DMC

58. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Guns and Roses


It was done by Poison

There are a few I must disagree with, my friend. I'll indicate as follows:

1. Take on Me - a-ha
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
3. Every Breath You Take - Police
4. Like a Virgin - Madonna
5. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
6. Whip It - Devo
7. Don't You Want Me - Human League
8. Jump - Van Halen
9. Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi.....Not a big Bon Jovi fan, but that's just me.....
10. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
11. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) - Eurythmics
12. Blue Monday - New Order
13. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
14. Time after Time - Cyndi Lauper
15. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode...This was the '80s?
16. Rio - Duran Duran
17. Jesse's Girl - Rick Springfield
18. Jenny - Tommy Tutone
19. No More Words - Berlin.....prefer "The Metro"
20. Rapture - Blondie
21. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
22. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
23. Mr. Roboto - Styx
24. Open Arms - Journey
25. I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
26. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
27. Shake It Up - The Cars
28. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
29. Down Under - Men at Work
30. Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
31. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby...good, but prefer "Hyperactive!"
32. 1999 - Prince
33. Der Kommissar - After the Fire
34. Our House - Madness
35. Love Shack - B-52's
36. True - Spandau Ballet.....Hmmm...Was a bit overplayed, really.
37. What's Love Got to Do With It - Tina Turner
38. Footloose - Kenny Loggins....."I'm All Right" was better.....
39. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
40. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
41. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
42. Shout - Tears for Fears
43. Drive - The Cars
44. The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
45. Lucky Star - Madonna
46. Venus - Bananarama
47. Careless Whisper - Wham!
48. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
49. We Built this City - Starship.....only because it was rated the cheesiest song of the '80s
50. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
51. Obsession - Animotion
52. Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday
53. The Look of Love - ABC
54. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
55. Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat
56. Kyrie - Mr. Mister
57. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
58. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Guns and Roses
59. Manic Monday - Bangles
60. If You Leave - OMD
61. Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
62. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
63. Only In My Dreams - Debbie Gibson
64. Kids in America - Kim Wilde
65. Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
66. Shock the Monkey - Peter Gabriel
67. Faith - George Michael
68. Red Red Wine - UB40
69. What's on Your Mind - Information Society
70. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS.....There are better entries, here.....
71. Heaven - Warrant
72. Toy Soldiers - Martika.....Too one-offish.....
73. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
74. The Promise - When in Rome
75. Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
76. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
77. The Reflex - Duran Duran
78. It's My Life - Talk Talk.....I don't think so...
79. People are People - Depeche Mode
80. My Adidas - Run DMC

Two glaring omissions

A song or songs by Hall and Oates and Phil Collins

I'd say "Out of Touch" and "In the Air Tonight"

1. Take on Me - a-ha
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
3. Every Breath You Take - Police
4. Like a Virgin - Madonna
5. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
6. Whip It - Devo
7. Don't You Want Me - Human League
8. Jump - Van Halen
9. Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
10. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
11. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) - Eurythmics
12. Blue Monday - New Order
13. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
14. Time after Time - Cyndi Lauper
15. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
16. Rio - Duran Duran
17. Jesse's Girl - Rick Springfield
18. Jenny - Tommy Tutone
19. No More Words - Berlin
20. Rapture - Blondie
21. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
22. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
23. Mr. Roboto - Styx
24. Open Arms - Journey
25. I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
26. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
27. Shake It Up - The Cars
28. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
29. Down Under - Men at Work
30. Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
31. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
32. 1999 - Prince
33. Der Kommissar - After the Fire
34. Our House - Madness
35. Love Shack - B-52's
36. True - Spandau Ballet
37. What's Love Got to Do With It - Tina Turner
38. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
39. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
40. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
41. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
42. Shout - Tears for Fears
43. Drive - The Cars
44. The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
45. Lucky Star - Madonna
46. Venus - Bananarama
47. Careless Whisper - Wham!
48. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
49. We Built this City - Starship
50. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
51. Obsession - Animotion
52. Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday
53. The Look of Love - ABC
54. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
55. Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat
56. Kyrie - Mr. Mister
57. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
58. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Guns and Roses
59. Manic Monday - Bangles
60. If You Leave - OMD
61. Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
62. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
63. Only In My Dreams - Debbie Gibson
64. Kids in America - Kim Wilde
65. Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
66. Shock the Monkey - Peter Gabriel
67. Faith - George Michael
68. Red Red Wine - UB40
69. What's on Your Mind - Information Society
70. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
71. Heaven - Warrant
72. Toy Soldiers - Martika
73. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
74. The Promise - When in Rome
75. Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
76. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
77. The Reflex - Duran Duran
78. It's My Life - Talk Talk
79. People are People - Depeche Mode
80. My Adidas - Run DMC


Overall, it's a pretty good list...but "Love Shack" is sort of a '90sish song. True, peak new wave B-52s is "Dance This Mess Around" or "Rock Lobster", from their 1979 debut album. "Bizarre Love Triangle" is IMO the best New Order hit that I've heard. There needs to be way more Prince on there ("Kiss", "When Doves Cry", "Little Red Corvette", "Let's Go Crazy.") Also, there's no XTC-"Making Plans for Nigel", despite being from 1979, or "Generals and Majors", are amazing songs that define new wave post-punk. And "Up the Junction" by Squeeze, and "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" by PSB. And no Smiths! "How Soon Is Now" is just one of many that could be on there. "Looking for a New Love" by Jody Watley is definitive late '80s dance and definitely belongs on there. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", too, and "Brass in Pocket" and "Hymn to Her" by the Pretenders.

That's Ok, James.

He left out The Tubes, too.

(I hope Quay Lewd doesn't get wind of this, or we're gonna see Johnny Bugger come out!)

There needs to be way more Prince on there ("Kiss", "When Doves Cry", "Little Red Corvette", "Let's Go Crazy.")


It seems like whoever made this list only had 1 song from each artist.  I only see 1 where an artist is listed twice (Duran-Duran).  Overall, the list seems to capture the variety and changes during the era.

The only complaint I would have is in the choice of song for Devo.  While "Whip It" is probably their best known song, "Freedom Of Choice" is actually much more iconic of the group and their style.  Compared to most of their work, "Whip It" to me just feels more like a "Pop Song" done to get radio airplay.

http://www.devomidi.com

Not a bad list, but definitly needing to give the Smiths some credit and the Jam. I'll add:

Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Everyday I write the book
The Smiths - This Charming Man
The Jam - Town Called Malice
The Clash - Rock The Casbah
Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
The Bangles - Eternal Flame
Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Yazoo - Only You
The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way
Erasure - Sometimes

They are the few that I can think of right now...

Great list
But there`s no:
INXS - Need you tonight
Howard Jones - New Song
The Cure - Just like heaven
Madonna - Holiday
38 Special - Caught up in you
RUN DMC/Aerosmith - Walk this way
The Police - Every little things she does is magic
Scorpions - Rock you like hurricane
Def Leppard - Pour some sugar on me
Night Ranger - Sister christian
Motley crue- Girls girls girls
Cinderella - Gypsy road
Poison - Nothin but a good time
Lita Ford - Kiss me deadly

1. Take on Me - a-ha
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
3. Every Breath You Take - Police
4. Like a Virgin - Madonna
5. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
6. Whip It - Devo
7. Don't You Want Me - Human League
8. Jump - Van Halen
9. Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
10. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
11. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) - Eurythmics
12. Blue Monday - New Order
13. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
14. Time after Time - Cyndi Lauper
15. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
16. Rio - Duran Duran
17. Jesse's Girl - Rick Springfield
18. Jenny - Tommy Tutone
19. No More Words - Berlin
20. Rapture - Blondie
21. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
22. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
23. Mr. Roboto - Styx
24. Open Arms - Journey
25. I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
26. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
27. Shake It Up - The Cars
28. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
29. Down Under - Men at Work
30. Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
31. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
32. 1999 - Prince
33. Der Kommissar - After the Fire
34. Our House - Madness
35. Love Shack - B-52's
36. True - Spandau Ballet
37. What's Love Got to Do With It - Tina Turner
38. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
39. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
40. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
41. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
42. Shout - Tears for Fears
43. Drive - The Cars
44. The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
45. Lucky Star - Madonna
46. Venus - Bananarama
47. Careless Whisper - Wham!
48. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
49. We Built this City - Starship
50. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
51. Obsession - Animotion
52. Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday
53. The Look of Love - ABC
54. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
55. Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat
56. Kyrie - Mr. Mister
57. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
58. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Guns and Roses
59. Manic Monday - Bangles
60. If You Leave - OMD
61. Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
62. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
63. Only In My Dreams - Debbie Gibson
64. Kids in America - Kim Wilde
65. Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
66. Shock the Monkey - Peter Gabriel
67. Faith - George Michael
68. Red Red Wine - UB40
69. What's on Your Mind - Information Society
70. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
71. Heaven - Warrant
72. Toy Soldiers - Martika
73. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
74. The Promise - When in Rome
75. Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
76. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
77. The Reflex - Duran Duran
78. It's My Life - Talk Talk
79. People are People - Depeche Mode
80. My Adidas - Run DMC


I am utterly amazed that that the person who made this list only had 1 Michael Jackson song on the list.  "Beat It" and "Thriller" should both have been in the Top 15 atleast

Also some other songs that should have made it...

"With or Without You" - U2 (1987)

"Need You Tonight" - INXS (1988)

"Call Me" - Blondie (1980)

"Centerfold" - J Geils Band (1982)

"Another One Bites The Dust" - Queen (1980)

"Sexual Healing" - Marvin Gaye (1983)

"Owner of a Lonely Heart" - Yes (1984)

"Rockit" - Herbie Hancock (1983)

Also, no Kate Bush! "Running Up That Hill" is essential '80s listening.

'Love Shack' was a 90s song, I think...you should also listen to early rap like N.W.A.'s 'F*ck the Police', 'Straight Outta Compton', Sonic Youth, Pixies.etc

'Love Shack' was a 90s song, I think...you should also listen to early rap like N.W.A.'s 'F*ck the Police', 'Straight Outta Compton', Sonic Youth, Pixies.etc


I think, overall, the list focuses overmuch on the early-mid '80s, if I had to criticize it, and tries to diversify itself from new wave too much. XTC's "Generals and Majors" and the Smith's "How Soon Is Now?", or The Pretenders' "Brass in Pocket", definitely belong on it. Still a pretty good list...but early alt rock is lacking, such as the bands Trimac mentioned.

I think, overall, the list focuses overmuch on the early-mid '80s, if I had to criticize it, and tries to diversify itself from new wave too much. XTC's "Generals and Majors" and the Smith's "How Soon Is Now?", or The Pretenders' "Brass in Pocket", definitely belong on it. Still a pretty good list...but early alt rock is lacking, such as the bands Trimac mentioned.


To really get an idea of 80s music you can't just listen to the well known songs, the hits or the songs the music press tells you were 'influential', but have to sample music from as many genres as possible, to get the most 'accurate' picture (if that's even possible). Early punk such as the Dead Kennedys and the Clash also is conspicuously missing from the list.

'Love Shack' was a 90s song, I think...


Depends on where you're from, I s'pose...

It didn't hit in the UK until Spring 1990, but was a hit in their homeland in the Autumn of 1989...


15. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode...This was the '80s?

Certainly was...Autumn of 1981 in the UK and also the first of their many top 10 hits...

To really get an idea of 80s music you can't just listen to the well known songs, the hits or the songs the music press tells you were 'influential', but have to sample music from as many genres as possible, to get the most 'accurate' picture (if that's even possible). Early punk such as the Dead Kennedys and the Clash also is conspicuously missing from the list.


160 songs would be more necessary to get the full feel of the '80s. Here are songs by some groups not even covered that I consider "necessary":

"Androgynous"-The Replacements
"Candle"-Sonic Youth
"Where Is My Mind?"-The Pixies
"Luka"-Suzanne Vega
"Fast Car"-Tracy Chapman
"Running Up That Hill"-Kate Bush
"Atrocity Exhibition"-Joy Division
"Generals and Majors"-XTC
"Tempted"-Squeeze
"How Soon Is Now?"-The Smiths
"Brass in Pocket"-The Pretenders
"Looking for a New Love"-Jody Watley
"Straight Up"-Paula Abdul
"Everyday I Write the Book"-Elvis Costello

I would have included a couple songs by Peter Gabriel and Wang Chung.