100 Greatest Songs From 1984

Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.

Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. When Doves Cry
Prince
2. Like a Virgin
Madonna
3. What's Love Got To Do With It?
Tina Turner
4. Born In the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
5. Purple Rain
Prince & The Revolution
6. Careless Whisper
Wham! (feat. George Michael)
7. Take on Me
A-Ha
8. The Boys of Summer
Don Henley
9. Let's Go Crazy
Prince & The Revolution
10. Summer of '69
Bryan Adams
11. I Want to Know What Love Is
Foreigner
12. How Soon is Now?
Smiths
13. Pride (In the Name of Love)
U2
14. I Feel for You
Chaka Khan
15. Crazy for You
Madonna
16. Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now)
Phil Collins
17. I Just Called to Say I Love You
Stevie Wonder
18. Dancing in the Dark
Bruce Springsteen
19. Missing You
John Waite
20. Material Girl
Madonna
21. Shout
Tears for Fears
22. You Spin Me 'Round (Like a Record)
Dead or Alive
23. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Wham!
24. Let's Hear it For the Boy
Deniece Williams
25. Footloose
Kenny Loggins
26. Better Be Good to Me
Tina Turner
27. Ghostbusters
Ray Parker Jr.
28. Do They Know It's Christmas?
Band Aid
29. I'm on Fire
Bruce Springsteen
30. Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)
Billy Ocean
31. Smooth Operator
Sade
32. We're Not Gonna Take It
Twisted Sister
33. Nightshift
Commodores
34. Fresh
Kool & The Gang
35. People Are People
Depeche Mode
36. The Glamorous Life
Sheila E.
37. Glory Days
Bruce Springsteen
38. Rock You Like a Hurricane
Scorpions
39. Hot for Teacher
Van Halen
40. Two Tribes
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
41. Smalltown Boy
Bronski Beat (feat. Jimmy Somerville)
42. I Wonder If I Take You Home
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
43. I Would Die 4 U
Prince & The Revolution
44. Axel F
Harold Faltermeyer
45. It's My Life
Talk Talk
46. Dress You Up
Madonna
47. Private Dancer
Tina Turner
48. Drive
The Cars
49. Solid
Ashford & Simpson
50. We Belong
Pat Benatar

51. You Might Think
The Cars
52. Cherish
Kool & The Gang
53. Round and Round
Ratt
54. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Elton John
55. Radio Ga Ga
Queen
56. Run to You
Bryan Adams
57. The Old Man Down the Road
John Fogerty
58. Cover Me
Bruce Springsteen
59. My Hometown
Bruce Springsteen
60. Panama
Van Halen
61. You're the Inspiration
Chicago
62. I Miss You
Klymaxx
63. Rock Box
Run-D.M.C.
64. Easy Lover
Philip Bailey with Phil Collins
65. Hard Habit to Break
Chicago
66. Don't Look Any Further
Dennis Edwards
67. Jungle Love
The Time
68. New Attitude
Patti LaBelle
69. All She Wants to Do is Dance
Don Henley
70. Obsession
Animotion
71. My Ever Changing Moods
Style Council
72. I'll Wait
Van Halen
73. Nelson Mandela
The Special AKA
74. Roxanne Roxanne
U.T.F.O.
75. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
Smiths
76. So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
R.E.M.
77. Oh Sherrie
Steve Perry
78. I Want to Break Free
Queen
79. Self Control
Laura Branigan
80. Lovergirl
Teena Marie
81. Freaks Come Out At Night
Whodini
82. Jam on It
Newcleus
83. Hey D.J.
The World's Famous Supreme Team
84. The Killing Moon
Echo & The Bunnymen
85. Roxanne's Revenge
Roxanne Shante
86. Friends
Whodini
87. William, it was Really Nothing
Smiths
88. What Difference Does it Make?
Smiths
89. Pink Cadillac
Bruce Springsteen
90. Somebody
Bryan Adams
91. I Can't Drive '55
Sammy Hagar
92. Close (To the Edit
Art of Noise
93. Through the Fire
Chaka Khan
94. I Will Dare
Replacements
95. Turn on the News
Hüsker Dü
96. Room 123 (She's Strange)
Cameo
97. One Night in Bangkok
Murray Head
98. Do What You Do
Jermaine Jackson
99. Suddenly
Billy Ocean
100. Can't Fight This Feeling
REO Speedwagon
20 more worth mentioning.
101. Out of Touch
Daryl Hall & John Oates
102. The Heat Is On
Glenn Frey
103. Sea of Love
Honeydrippers
104. Last Christmas
Wham!
105. Wouldn't It Be Good?
Nik Kershaw
106. Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
Scritti Politti
107. If Ever You're In My Arms Again
Peabo Bryson
108. High Energy
Evelyn Thomas
109. Meeting in the Ladies Room
Klymaxx
110. Somebody Else's Guy
Jocelyn Brown
111. Too Late for Goodbyes
Julian Lennon
112. Everything She Wants
Wham!
113. The Warrior
Scandal feat. Patty Smyth
114. Blue Jean
David Bowie
115. NeverEnding Story
Limahl
116. The Power of Love
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
117. Rain Forest
Paul Hardcastle
118. Big In Japan
Alphaville
119. Tarzan Boy
Baltimora
120. Forever Young
Alphaville
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1984
An unheralded great record from 1984
Jeff's choice:
Greatest Single Re-entry:
* Waiting in Vain (#31 UK)
Bob Marley & The Wailers

Jeff's choice:
* Unity
Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown
Lew's choice:
* A Fine, Fine Day
Tony Carey
Bruce's choice:
* The Roof Is On Fire
Rock Master Scott
Brett's choice:
* Gotta Get A Record Out
Green
Ryan's choice:
* Don't Sing
Prefab Sprout
    1983   |   1985

Edited By:
Last Updated: 2014-03-14