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100 Greatest Songs From 1986

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.
No.
Song
Artist

Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C. Aerosmith - single cover
(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Beastie Boys single cover
Livin' On A Prayer single cover
Nasty - Janet Jackson single cover
Push It - Salt-N-Pepa single cover
Papa Don't Preach - Madonna single cover
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel single cover
Take My Breath Away - Berlin single cover
1 Walk This Way Run-D.M.C. & Aerosmith
2 (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) Beastie Boys
3 Kiss Prince & The Revolution
4 Livin' On A Prayer Bon Jovi
5 Nasty Janet Jackson
6 Push It Salt-N-Pepa
7 Papa Don't Preach Madonna
8 Sledgehammer Peter Gabriel
9 Take My Breath Away Berlin
10 Don't Dream It's Over Crowded House
11 The Final Countdown Europe
12 What Have You Done For Me Lately? Janet Jackson
13 (I Just) Died In Your Arms Cutting Crew
14 Higher Love Steve Winwood
15 The Way It Is Bruce Hornsby & The Range
16 Live To Tell Madonna
17 Manic Monday Bangles
18 Open Your Heart Madonna
19 When I Think Of You Janet Jackson
20 In Your Eyes (Theme From "Say Anything") Peter Gabriel
21 Land Of Confusion Genesis
22 Looking For A New Love Jody Watley
23 Venus Bananarama
24 You Give Love A Bad Name Bon Jovi
25 I Can't Wait Nu Shooz
26 True Colors Cyndi Lauper
27 La Isla Bonita Madonna
28 C'est La Vie Robbie Nevil
29 Sweet Love Anita Baker
30 Lean On Me Club Nouveau
31 Rumors Timex Social Club
32 Bizarre Love Triangle New Order
33 Human Human League
34 Why Can't This Be Love? Van Halen
35 The Rain Oran "Juice" Jones
36 Danger Zone Kenny Loggins
37 Wanted Dead Or Alive Bon Jovi
38 Graceland Paul Simon
39 Don't Give Up Peter Gabriel with Kate Bush
40 On My Own Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
41 I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) Aretha Franklin & George Michael
42 Shake You Down Gregory Abbott
43 Harlem Shuffle Rolling Stones
44 The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades Timbuk 3
45 Keep Your Hands To Yourself Georgia Satellites
46 Breakout Swing Out Sister
47 Tuff Enuff Fabulous Thunderbirds
48 You Keep Me Hangin' On Kim Wilde
49 Let's Wait Awhile Janet Jackson
50 If You Leave Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
51 Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) Glass Tiger
52 Everybody Have Fun Tonight Wang Chung
53 The Lady In Red Chris De Burgh
54 Invisible Touch Genesis
55 There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) Billy Ocean
56 Big Time Peter Gabriel
57 Don't Get Me Wrong Pretenders
58 Amanda Boston
59 Dancing On The Ceiling Lionel Richie
60 Love You Down Ready For the World
61 Candy Cameo
62 Brass Monkey Beastie Boys
63 True Blue Madonna
64 The Pleasure Principle Janet Jackson
65 Only In My Dreams Debbie Gibson
66 Notorious Duran Duran
67 You Can Call Me Al Paul Simon
68 Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent Gwen Guthrie
69 Glory Of Love (Theme From "The Karate Kid") Peter Cetera
70 Somewhere Out There Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram
71 Stuck With You Huey Lewis & The News
72 Sweet Freedom Michael McDonald
73 Throwing It All Away Genesis
74 Tonight, Tonight, Tonight Genesis
75 Missionary Man Eurythmics
76 Dreams Van Halen
77 Take Me Home Tonight Eddie Money
78 Sweet Sixteen Billy Idol
79 Wild Wild Life Talking Heads
80 Caught Up In The Rapture Anita Baker
81 There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Smiths
82 Back In the High Life Again Steve Winwood
83 Don't Leave Me This Way Communards
84 Suburbia Pet Shop Boys
85 It's Tricky Run-D.M.C.
86 Stripped Depeche Mode
87 No Sleep Till Brooklyn Beastie Boys
88 Typical Male Tina Turner
89 Like A Rock Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
90 Peter Gunn Art Of Noise & Duane Eddy
91 Control Janet Jackson
92 Touch Me (I Want Your Body) Samantha Fox
93 Love Can't Turn Around Farley "Jackmaster" Funk
94 (Bang Zoom) Let's Go Go Real Roxanne
95 Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
96 Who Wants To Live Forever? Queen
97 Something So Strong Crowded House
98 Fall On Me R.E.M.
99 Dear God XTC
100 Panic Smiths
20 more worth mentioning.
101 Digging Your Scene Blow Monkeys
102 Give Me The Reason Luther Vandross
103 Bigmouth Strikes Again Smiths
104 My Adidas Run-D.M.C.
105 Blood And Roses Smithereens
106 Red Rain Peter Gabriel
107 Smoking Gun Robert Cray
108 Eric B. Is President Eric B. & Rakim
109 Welcome To The Boomtown David & David
110 Ship Of Fools World Party
111 Behind The Wall Of Sleep Smithereens
112 Master Of Puppets Metallica
113 Move Your Body (House Music Anthem) Marshall Jefferson
114 Boom Boom (Let's Go Back To My Room) Paul Lekakis
115 Hold It Now, Hit It Beastie Boys
116 Holiday Rap MC Miker & DJ Sven
117 Caravan Of Love Housemartins
118 Come Go With Me Expose
119 Jack Your Body Steve "Silk" Hurley
120 Angel Of Death Slayer
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1986
Jeff's Choice - Greatest Single Re-Entry
* Stand By Me Ben E. King (#9 US in 1986, #1 UK, 3 weeks in 1987)
Jeff's Choice - An unheralded great record from 1986
* Great Gosh A'Mighty (It's a Matter of Time) Little Richard
Lew's Choice:
* On The Beach Chris Rea
Bruce's Choice:
* Strokin' Clarence Carter
Brett's Choice:
* Didn't We Have A Nice Time (And All My Friends Are Here) Tempest
Ryan's Choice:
* Steaming Train Talulah Gosh


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