100 Greatest Songs From 1982

record cover art for Billie Jean	by Michael Jackson and Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye
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.

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson single cover Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye single cover The Message single cover Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics single cover Rock the Casbah - Clash single cover Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran single cover Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? - single cover Come on Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners single cover
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.
No.
Song
Artist
1 Billie Jean Michael Jackson
2 Sexual Healing Marvin Gaye
3 The Message Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
4 Beat It Michael Jackson
5 Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) Eurythmics
6 Planet Rock Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
7 1999 Prince
8 Rock the Casbah Clash
9 Hungry Like The Wolf Duran Duran
10 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? Culture Club
11 Come On Eileen Dexys Midnight Runners
12 Little Red Corvette Prince
13 Eye Of The Tiger (Theme from "Rocky III") Survivor
14 Thriller Michael Jackson
15 Up Where We Belong Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
16 I Ran (So Far Away) A Flock of Seagulls
17 I'm So Excited Pointer Sisters
18 She Blinded Me With Science Thomas Dolby
19 The Look Of Love ABC
20 I Melt With You Modern English
21 Jack And Diane John Cougar
22 Gloria Laura Branigan
23 Situation Yaz
24 Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The Clash
25 Africa Toto
26 Total Eclipse Of The Heart Bonnie Tyler
27 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Michael Jackson
28 It's Raining Men Weather Girls
29 Back On The Chain Gang Pretenders
30 Our House Madness
31 Hurts So Good John Cougar
32 Pass The Dutchie Musical Youth
33 Atomic Dog George Clinton
34 You Dropped A Bomb On Me Gap Band
35 Maneater Hall & Oates
36 Abracadabra Steve Miller Band
37 Too Shy Kajagoogoo
38 Hard To Say I'm Sorry Chicago
39 The Safety Dance Men Without Hats
40 Always Something There To Remind Me Naked Eyes
41 Only You Yaz
42 Don't Go Yaz
43 Love Come Down Evelyn "Champagne" King
44 Twilight Zone Golden Earring
45 Looking For The Perfect Beat Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
46 Jump To It Aretha Franklin
47 I Want Candy Bow Wow Wow
48 Electric Avenue Eddy Grant
49 White Wedding Billy Idol
50 Always On My Mind Willie Nelson
51 And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going Jennifer Holliday
52 Time (Clock Of The Heart) Culture Club
53 Bad To The Bone George Thorogood
54 Let It Whip Dazz Band
55 Forget Me Nots Patrice Rushen
56 Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Indeep
57 Puttin' On The Ritz Taco
58 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) Michael Jackson
59 Rosanna Toto
60 I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) Michael McDonald
61 Town Called Malice The Jam
62 Rio Duran Duran
63 Truly Lionel Richie
64 (Keep Feeling) Fascination Human League
65 Dirty Laundry Don Henley
66 Heat Of The Moment Asia
67 Candy Girl New Edition
68 Save A Prayer Duran Duran
69 Human Nature Michael Jackson
70 Shock The Monkey Peter Gabriel
71 Steppin' Out Joe Jackson
72 Poison Arrow ABC
73 Do I Do Stevie Wonder
74 Mad World Tears For Fears
75 More Than This Roxy Music
76 The Number Of The Beast Iron Maiden
77 Goodbye To You Scandal
78 Run To The Hills Iron Maiden
79 Mexican Radio Wall of Voodoo
80 Save It For Later The English Beat
81 Love My Way Psychedelic Furs
82 Senses Working Overtime XTC
83 The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow) The Jam
84 Blister In The Sun Violent Femmes
85 A Night To Remember Shalamar
86 Allentown Billy Joel
87 Buffalo Gals Malcolm McLaren
88 Temptation New Order
89 Everybody Wants You Billy Squier
90 House Of Fun Madness
91 Early In The Morning Gap Band
92 Beat Surrender The Jam
93 Just An Illusion Imagination
94 Outstanding Gap Band
95 Let's Go To Bed The Cure
96 I Love A Man In Uniform Gang of Four
97 My City Was Gone Pretenders
98 Private Investigations Dire Straits
99 Bang The Drum All Day Todd Rundgren
100 No One Like You Scorpions
20 more worth mentioning.
101 You've Got Another Thing Comin' Judas Priest
102 You and I Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle
103 Hot In The City Billy Idol
104 Promised You A Miracle Simple Minds
105 Avalon Roxy Music
106 Temptation Heaven 17
107 Uncertain Smile The The
108 Hold Me Fleetwood Mac
109 Come Dancing Kinks
110 Gypsy Fleetwood Mac
111 Caught Up In You .38 Special
112 The Girl Is Mine Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
113 I Know There's Somethin' Goin' On Frida
114 Cutie Pie One Way
115 I Can Make You Feel Good Shalamar
116 Goody Two Shoes Adam & The Ants
117 Southern Cross Crosby, Stills & Nash
118 I Like It DeBarge
119 Don't Make Me Wait Peech Boys
120 Down Home Blues Z.Z. Hill
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1982
Jeff's Choice - Greatest Single Re-Entry
* I Will Always Love You (#53 pop and #1 country) Dolly Parton
Jeff's Choice - An unheralded great record from 1982
* Morse Code of Love Capris
Lew's Choice:
* Someday, Someway Marshall Crenshaw
Bruce's Choice:
* The Harder They Come Rocker's Revenge (feat. Donnie Calvin)
Brett's Choice:
* Hilly Fields (1892) Nick Nicely
Ryan's Choice:
* Party Fears Two Associates
Adam's Choice:
* I'll Drink to You Duke Jupiter