150 Greatest Rock Songs of the 1980s
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock Music & related sub-genres from the 1980s. These songs are ranked based upon their initial and lasting popularity, as well as their influence and impact on the evolution of Rock and Roll and its sub-genres.
Rock Songs 1980s
1. Billie Jean
Michael Jackson
2. Every Breath You Take
The Police
3. When Doves Cry
Prince
4. Sexual Healing
Marvin Gaye
5. I Love Rock 'N' Roll
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
6. Don't You Want Me?
The Human League
7. Tainted Love
Soft Cell
8. Like a Virgin
Madonna
9. The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
10. Beat It
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
2. Every Breath You Take
The Police
3. When Doves Cry
Prince
4. Sexual Healing
Marvin Gaye
5. I Love Rock 'N' Roll
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
6. Don't You Want Me?
The Human League
7. Tainted Love
Soft Cell
8. Like a Virgin
Madonna
9. The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
10. Beat It
Michael Jackson
11. Sweet Dreams
Eurythmics
12. Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses
13. Call Me
Blondie
14. Celebration
Kool & The Gang
15. Super Freak Part I
Rick James
16. Another One Bites the Dust
Queen
17. You Shook Me All Night Long
AC/DC
18. Walk This Way
Run-D.M.C.
19. Whip It
Devo
20. Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper
21. Planet Rock
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
22. What's Love Got To Do With It?
Tina Turner
23. Born In the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
24. With Or Without You
U2
25. Purple Rain
Prince
26. Physical
Olivia Newton-John
27. Don't Stop Believin'
Journey
28. Money For Nothing
Dire Straits
29. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)
Beastie Boys
30. Into the Groove
Madonna
31. Jump
Van Halen
32. Love Will Tear Us Apart
Joy Division
33. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
U2
34. Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
35. Pour Some Sugar On Me
Def Leppard
36. Flashdance...What a Feeling
Irene Cara
37. All Night Long (All Night)
Lionel Richie
38. Blue Monday
New Order
39. Relax
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
40. Addicted To Love
Robert Palmer
41. Kiss
Prince
42. Livin On a Prayer
Bon Jovi
43. Rapture
Blondie
44. 1999
Prince
45. Rock the Casbah
The Clash
46. Hungry Like the Wolf
Duran Duran
47. In the Air Tonight
Phil Collins
48. Careless Whisper
Wham! feat. George Michael
49. Take On Me
A-Ha
50. Start Me Up
Rolling Stones
51. Our Lips Are Sealed
Go-Go's
52. It Takes Two
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
53. Word Up!
Cameo
54. Come On Eileen
Dexys Midnight Runners
55. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Culture Club
56. Jessie's Girl
Rick Springfield
57. The Boys of Summer
Don Henley
58. Let's Go Crazy
Prince
59. Summer of '69
Bryan Adams
60. Like a Prayer
Madonna
61. How Will I Know?
Whitney Houston
62. Back In Black
AC/DC
63. Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
64. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston
65. Push It
Salt-N-Pepa
66. Bad
Michael Jackson
67. Welcome To the Jungle
Guns N' Roses
68. My Prerogative
Bobby Brown
69. Fight the Power
Public Enemy
70. Free Fallin'
Tom Petty
71. Nasty
Janet Jackson
72. Faith
George Michael
73. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
R.E.M.
74. Back To Life
Soul II Soul
75. Love Shack
B-52's
76. Pump Up the Jam
Technotronic feat. Felly
77. The Breaks
Kurtis Blow
78. One
Metallica
79. Walk Like An Egyptian
Bangles
80. Personal Jesus
Depeche Mode
81. Bust a Move
Young MC
82. Once In a Lifetime
Talking Heads
83. The Power of Love
Huey Lewis & The News
84. I Want To Know What Love Is
Foreigner
85. Papa Don't Preach
Madonna
86. Endless Love
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
87. Sledgehammer
Peter Gabriel
88. Take My Breath Away
Berlin
89. Everybody Wants To Rule the World
Tears For Fears
90. Don't You (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds
91. Let's Dance
David Bowie
92. Don't Dream It's Over
Crowded House
93. West End Girls (1985 version)
Pet Shop Boys
94. Need You Tonight
INXS
95. I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
Hall & Oates
96. We Are the World
U.S.A. For Africa
97. How Soon Is Now?
Smiths
98. Fuck Tha Police
N.W.A
99. Straight Up
Paula Abdul
100. Me, Myself, And I
De La Soul
101. Under Pressure
David Bowie (with Queen)
102. The Power
Snap!
103. Karma Chameleon
Culture Club
104. Shout
Tears for Fears
105. Dancing In The Dark
Bruce Springsteen
106. Little Red Corvette
Prince
107. Saving All My Love For You
Whitney Houston
108. Any Way You Want It
Journey
109. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
U2
110. (I've Had) The Time of My Life
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
111. Down Under
Men At Work
112. Rhythm Nation
Janet Jackson
113. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Poison
114. Black Velvet
Alannah Myles
115. Upside Down
Diana Ross
116. Rock This Town
Stray Cats
117. Fame
Irene Cara
118. Walking On Sunshine
Katrina & The Waves
119. The Final Countdown
Europe
120. Burning Down The House
Talking Heads
121. (I Just) Died In Your Arms
Cutting Crew
122. Freeway Of Love
Aretha Franklin
123. Wicked Game
Chris Isaak
124. Man In the Mirror
Michael Jackson
125. Bette Davis Eyes
Kim Carnes
126. Teen Age Riot
Sonic Youth
127. She Works Hard For the Money
Donna Summer
128. I Ran (So Far Away)
A Flock of Seagulls
129. The Way You Make Me Feel
Michael Jackson
130. There She Goes
La's
131. Express Yourself
Madonna
132. Manic Monday
Bangles
133. Epic
Faith No More
134. La Bamba
Los Lobos
135. Broken Wings
Mr. Mister
136. Personal Jesus
Depeche Mode
137. Everytime You Go Away
Paul Young
138. Follow The Leader
Eric B. & Rakim
139. Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler
140. Thriller
Michael Jackson
141. Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)
Billy Ocean
142. I Feel For You
Chaka Khan
143. Rockit
Herbie Hancock
144. Love is a Battlefield
Pat Benatar
145. Crazy For You
Madonna
146. Luka
Suzanne Vega
147. I Just Called To Say I Love You
Stevie Wonder
148. I'm So Excited
Pointer Sisters
149. Crazy Train
Ozzy Osbourne
150. Eye Of The Tiger (Theme from "Rocky III")
Survivor
Eurythmics
12. Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses
13. Call Me
Blondie
14. Celebration
Kool & The Gang
15. Super Freak Part I
Rick James
16. Another One Bites the Dust
Queen
17. You Shook Me All Night Long
AC/DC
18. Walk This Way
Run-D.M.C.
19. Whip It
Devo
20. Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper
21. Planet Rock
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
22. What's Love Got To Do With It?
Tina Turner
23. Born In the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
24. With Or Without You
U2
25. Purple Rain
Prince
26. Physical
Olivia Newton-John
27. Don't Stop Believin'
Journey
28. Money For Nothing
Dire Straits
29. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)
Beastie Boys
30. Into the Groove
Madonna
31. Jump
Van Halen
32. Love Will Tear Us Apart
Joy Division
33. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
U2
34. Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
35. Pour Some Sugar On Me
Def Leppard
36. Flashdance...What a Feeling
Irene Cara
37. All Night Long (All Night)
Lionel Richie
38. Blue Monday
New Order
39. Relax
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
40. Addicted To Love
Robert Palmer
41. Kiss
Prince
42. Livin On a Prayer
Bon Jovi
43. Rapture
Blondie
44. 1999
Prince
45. Rock the Casbah
The Clash
46. Hungry Like the Wolf
Duran Duran
47. In the Air Tonight
Phil Collins
48. Careless Whisper
Wham! feat. George Michael
49. Take On Me
A-Ha
50. Start Me Up
Rolling Stones
51. Our Lips Are Sealed
Go-Go's
52. It Takes Two
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
53. Word Up!
Cameo
54. Come On Eileen
Dexys Midnight Runners
55. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Culture Club
56. Jessie's Girl
Rick Springfield
57. The Boys of Summer
Don Henley
58. Let's Go Crazy
Prince
59. Summer of '69
Bryan Adams
60. Like a Prayer
Madonna
61. How Will I Know?
Whitney Houston
62. Back In Black
AC/DC
63. Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
64. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston
65. Push It
Salt-N-Pepa
66. Bad
Michael Jackson
67. Welcome To the Jungle
Guns N' Roses
68. My Prerogative
Bobby Brown
69. Fight the Power
Public Enemy
70. Free Fallin'
Tom Petty
71. Nasty
Janet Jackson
72. Faith
George Michael
73. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
R.E.M.
74. Back To Life
Soul II Soul
75. Love Shack
B-52's
76. Pump Up the Jam
Technotronic feat. Felly
77. The Breaks
Kurtis Blow
78. One
Metallica
79. Walk Like An Egyptian
Bangles
80. Personal Jesus
Depeche Mode
81. Bust a Move
Young MC
82. Once In a Lifetime
Talking Heads
83. The Power of Love
Huey Lewis & The News
84. I Want To Know What Love Is
Foreigner
85. Papa Don't Preach
Madonna
86. Endless Love
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
87. Sledgehammer
Peter Gabriel
88. Take My Breath Away
Berlin
89. Everybody Wants To Rule the World
Tears For Fears
90. Don't You (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds
91. Let's Dance
David Bowie
92. Don't Dream It's Over
Crowded House
93. West End Girls (1985 version)
Pet Shop Boys
94. Need You Tonight
INXS
95. I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
Hall & Oates
96. We Are the World
U.S.A. For Africa
97. How Soon Is Now?
Smiths
98. Fuck Tha Police
N.W.A
99. Straight Up
Paula Abdul
100. Me, Myself, And I
De La Soul
101. Under Pressure
David Bowie (with Queen)
102. The Power
Snap!
103. Karma Chameleon
Culture Club
104. Shout
Tears for Fears
105. Dancing In The Dark
Bruce Springsteen
106. Little Red Corvette
Prince
107. Saving All My Love For You
Whitney Houston
108. Any Way You Want It
Journey
109. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
U2
110. (I've Had) The Time of My Life
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
111. Down Under
Men At Work
112. Rhythm Nation
Janet Jackson
113. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Poison
114. Black Velvet
Alannah Myles
115. Upside Down
Diana Ross
116. Rock This Town
Stray Cats
117. Fame
Irene Cara
118. Walking On Sunshine
Katrina & The Waves
119. The Final Countdown
Europe
120. Burning Down The House
Talking Heads
121. (I Just) Died In Your Arms
Cutting Crew
122. Freeway Of Love
Aretha Franklin
123. Wicked Game
Chris Isaak
124. Man In the Mirror
Michael Jackson
125. Bette Davis Eyes
Kim Carnes
126. Teen Age Riot
Sonic Youth
127. She Works Hard For the Money
Donna Summer
128. I Ran (So Far Away)
A Flock of Seagulls
129. The Way You Make Me Feel
Michael Jackson
130. There She Goes
La's
131. Express Yourself
Madonna
132. Manic Monday
Bangles
133. Epic
Faith No More
134. La Bamba
Los Lobos
135. Broken Wings
Mr. Mister
136. Personal Jesus
Depeche Mode
137. Everytime You Go Away
Paul Young
138. Follow The Leader
Eric B. & Rakim
139. Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler
140. Thriller
Michael Jackson
141. Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)
Billy Ocean
142. I Feel For You
Chaka Khan
143. Rockit
Herbie Hancock
144. Love is a Battlefield
Pat Benatar
145. Crazy For You
Madonna
146. Luka
Suzanne Vega
147. I Just Called To Say I Love You
Stevie Wonder
148. I'm So Excited
Pointer Sisters
149. Crazy Train
Ozzy Osbourne
150. Eye Of The Tiger (Theme from "Rocky III")
Survivor
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Edited By: Jeff B.
Last Updated: 2023-11-01