When movies and tv shows need a nostalgic needle drop, there’s a particular era they gravitate towards. Showrunners from Stranger Things or the producers of essentially any action movie in the post-Guardians of the Galaxy landscape try to straddle a fine line of appealing to older audiences while staying hip to younger crowds. The ’50s-’60s is boomer/hippie-dippie music; the ’70s is passé arena rock and out-of-date disco; the ’00s-’10s is teeny bopper, autotune club music. The ’90s is getting its day in the sun on shows like Yellowjackets, but one decade seems to unite the masses…well, at least in the eyes of crass Hollywood producers and ad executives.
You may roll your eyes when for no discernible reason “Take on Me” starts playing in the Mario movie or Gru starts doing “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” karaoke, but they know that the sound of a little synth pop can start your brain humming and the neon barrage of arcade colors and MTV videos all come flooding. You may not have lived through it (I wouldn’t be born until six years after the Eighties ended), but the baseline iconography of the decade is etched into all our brains. It’s a blaring saxophone solo; it’s glam metal hair and the most garish outfits ever worn by groups of straight men; it’s the interstitial MTV ads that would run ad nauseum; it’s Adidas jumpsuits and multicolor bomber jackets. When someone is throwing an ’80s costume party, you know exactly how to dress — no matter how accurate it actually all was.
The ’80s was the first decade where the music and the visuals went hand-in-hand. My generation and younger has lived in this pop music world our whole lives, but it’s vital to remember how much of an abrupt shift that music videos and fashion created. When Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” plays, what do you see in your head? Now think about “Smooth Criminal” or “Like a Virgin”. Our relationship to ’80s music was completely shaped by the direct imagery tied to every pop song and quite often, to the movie it soundtracked. For many, this was the end of true artistry in music — dance breaks, glitzy music videos and bold fashion overtaking the body of work at the center. Prog and yacht rock certainly fizzled out in this era.
To make this list, I pored through many other lists of the best ’80s songs and consistently was struck by how often songs were propped up because of their MTV airplay. These lists often settled on the songs that best defined the decade’s iconography rather than judging the music on its own critical worth. The ’80s was an era for iconic music videos and fashion, but the true scope of the decade is complex, wide-ranging, and exceptionally pivotal to what music is made today. What happened in Chicago and Detroit nightclubs essentially created modern electronic music; that feels more important to me than Robert Palmer’s videos. Following the 1979 release of “Rapper’s Delight”, hip-hop exploded into a cultural behemoth by the end of the decade; it was akin to watching a new galaxy form before their very eyes, but the music was predominantly-Black so the masses couldn’t quite appreciate what they were witnessing.
This list of the 500 best songs of the 1980s is my attempt at cutting through all the bullshit. No analyzing Billboard charts or MTV airplay to determine what best defined the stereotypes of the decade. No scrolling through ’80s playlists on streaming sites to find what carelessly gets thrown on at retro parties. As I was picking each song, I didn’t seek out the music video. I respect videos as a separate artform, but it’s ultimately limiting compared to what a great song can always concoct within your own head.
So here it is — my ranking of the 500 best songs of the 1980s. There were no limits on songs per artist or album, but I tried to opt for variety as much as possible. I have a playlist of most of the songs below so you can listen along as you read.
Part two will be out shortly!
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/500-best-songs-of-the-1980s-reverse-order/pl.u-11zBBJyhNBA23kZ
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500. Toto – “Rosanna” (1982)
Yacht rock reached its maximalist commercial peak on this beautifully-mastered single now iconic for drummer Jeff Porcaro’s half-time shuffle groove.
499. Commodores – “Nightshift” (1985)
The post-Lionel Richie version of the Commodores kept chugging with their soulful moving ode to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.
498. Les Rita Mitsouko – “C’est comme ça” (1986)
Working with producer Tony Visconti, this French new wave band honed in on their punkish pop influences for a “la-la-la”-driven banger.
497. The Whispers – “Rock Steady” (1987)
The Whispers were incredibly adaptive, having r&b hits for four decades, and this L.A. Reid/BabyFace-produced funk classic was a bold step forward for new jack swing.
496. Shalamar – “A Night to Remember” (1982)
The brain child of Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and vessel for legendary producer Leon Sylvers III, Shalamar navigated the disco and post-disco landscape with infectious hits like this.
495. The Go-Betweens – “Streets of Your Town” (1988)
The Australian indie band reached their peak with this dark acoustic jangle pop anthem on your hometown not always being such a pleasant return.
494. Soft Cell – “Tainted Love” (1981)
Originally a ’60s soul bop from Gloria Jones, this was contemporized with every UK synth pop trick in the book for a simple-yet-catchy smash hit.
493. J.J. Fad – “Supersonic” (1987)
This is adorably kitschy in that early hip-hop style, but the group sneaks in some of the fastest rapping for its time in the last 30 seconds.
492. Stacy Lattisaw – “Attack of the Name Game” (1982)
You’ll immediately recognize this as Mariah Carey’s “Heartbreaker”, but the 15-year-old Stacy Lattisaw takes the Narada Michael Walden beat to stranger, goofier, vocal-pitched territory.
491. Nu Shooz – “I Can’t Wait” (1986)
Originally just a local Portland hit, the single made it to the Netherlands and received the definitive “Dutch Mix” that would get the husband-wife duo signed to Atlantic records.
490. Rush – “Tom Sawyer” (1981)
Even if you don’t fuck with prog rock (or specifically, Geddy Lee) all that much, you’ll start air-shredding on the guitar and drums when this plays in the car.
489. Pharoah Sanders – “You’ve Got to Have Freedom” (1987)
The avant jazz legend launches into one of his greatest melodies to open his most underrated album and maintains the rollicking energy for ten minutes with an all-star backing cast.
488. René & Angela – “I’ll Be Good” (1985)
The r&b duo finally broke through with Street Called Desire featuring this gnarly synth funk jam but had an ugly attorney-laden split afterwards.
487. Anri – “Windy Summer” (1983)
One of the best examples of Japan’s city pop with the synths, horns, sax and bass all turned up to the max.
486. Laurie Spiegel – “Patchwork” (1980)
One of the most revolutionary computer-based composers, Spiegel crafted a version of progressive electronica that hasn’t aged a day.
485. Stetsasonic – “Talkin’ All That Jazz” (1988)
With lush production from Prince Paul, this pioneering rap group confronts the early hip-hop detractors as directly as anyone ever has.
484. Kirsty MacColl – “A New England” (1984)
The British singer/songwriter worked with Billy Bragg to convert his version into a full-fledged pop rock anthem about a young woman not wanting the full weight of the world on her shoulders.
483. Rosanne Cash – “Seven Year Ache” (1981)
Johnny’s daughter forged her own path with this danceable-yet-somber country bar classic.
482. Virginia Astley – “A Summer Long Since Past” (1983)
The classically-trained pianist’s instrumentals evoke such a well-defined sense of longing through calming cycling melodies.
481. Jocelyn Brown – “Somebody Else’s Guy” (1984)
The r&b singer was a bubbling star throughout the entire decade with her closest stab being this soulful post-disco plea for a taken man.
480. Bruce Hornsby & the Range – “The Way It Is” (1986)
This Grammy-winning singer-songwriter broke through with a smooth ballad on the dark corrupt soul at America’s core with lyrics still unfortunately resonating.
479. Butthole Surfers – “Human Cannonball” (1987)
The San Antonio band did everything possible to not be taken seriously, but the propulsive power of their best work ranks with the punk scene’s best.
478. Foreigner – “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
No matter how overplayed and saccharine-sweet it is, this smash hit will still have you belting its chorus if you just open your heart.
477. The S.O.S. Band – “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” (1980)
The S.O.S. stands for Sounds of Success, and they fully earned that name on their debut single, a platinum-selling boogie classic.
476. Brian Wilson – “Love and Mercy” (1988)
The full magic of the ’60s Beach Boys came roaring back on this comeback single which would later be the title of his biopic.
475. Nile Rodgers – “Yum-Yum” (1983)
Certainly too indecent for Chic fans to become a hit, Rodgers’ foray into electro/rap territory is one of the goofiest earworms you can stumble across.
474. Richard & Linda Thompson – “Shoot Out the Lights” (1982)
The British folk rock couple found another gear into harsh blues guitar work on the Shoot Out the Lights title track.
473. Ultravox – “Vienna” (1980)
Somewhere between Gary Numan and The Human League, Ultravox found their most success on this hard-edged new wave ballad.
472. Simply Red – “Holding Back the Years” (1985)
Mick Hucknall’s soulful voice could carry many a ballad, but the breakthrough single remains his band’s lasting legacy.
471. Orchestra Baobab – “Mouhamadou Bamba” (1980)
The Senegalese band were the house act of the Baobab club in Dakar with an all-star veteran cast from the mbalax genre, and they crafted gentle lasting melodies found here.
470. Dead Kennedys – “Holiday in Cambodia” (1980)
From the band name to the “Pol Pot” bridge chant, the American punk act excelled at righteous provocation with this single being their most lasting legacy.
469. Crash Crew – “On the Radio” (1983)
A mostly-forgotten early hip-hop group signed to Sugar Hill records, Crash Crew left their pioneering mark with this single featuring some of the first singing to be heard on a rap record.
468. The Durutti Column – “Sketch for Summer” (1980)
Guitarist Vini Reilly and producer Martin Hannett came together for Factory records to craft a stunning collection of art rock instrumentals kicked off by this aptly-named debut single.
467. The Jam – “That’s Entertainment” (1980)
Massive in the UK, the Jam peaked with this acoustic pop hit about the relenting noise and excitement of walking through London.
466. Newcleus – “Jam on It” (1983)
The DJs who formed Newcleus had a distaste for “corny” hip-hop, so they leaned into crafting a P-Funk style of Electro rap that greatly advanced the genre’s production value.
465. Jane’s Addiction – “Jane Says” (1988)
An untraditional alternative hit, Jane’s Addiction’s debut single never flares up into a large chorus and coasts on mostly two acoustic chords.
464. The English Beat – “Save It for Later” (1982)
Bassist David Steele disliked this song so much he prevented it from being recorded until their third album despite frontman Dave Wakeling having wrote it as a teenager.
463. Virgo – “Do You Know Who You Are?” (1989)
Made in the aftermath of the Chicago House boom, the 1989 classic electronic album Virgo was made by a couple of art students who incorporated dreamier acid house elements into the mix.
462. The System – “You Are in My System” (1982)
Better known for the more traditional ’80s hit “Don’t Disturb This Groove”, the synth-rock duo found a more interesting spacious lane with their breakthrough single.
461. Wipers – “When It’s Over” (1981)
Known for bringing heavier rock to the Pacific Northwest (Kurt Cobain loved them), Wipers molded a distinct brand of driving bleak post-punk best found on the Youth of America closer.
460. LiLiPUT – “Die Matrosen” (1982)
Originally named Kleenex until the tissue company threatened to sue, this Swiss punk act continued the legacy of acts like the Slits & X-Ray Spex for female-led angry melodies.
459. Bob Dylan – “Jokerman” (1983)
The story of ’80s Dylan is novel-worthy, plagued by incredible lows and woeful decision-making, and yet the occasional classic would still slip through like this soft rock/reggae cut.
458. Kano – “I’m Ready” (1980)
The Italo-disco producer trio are only known for this song which helped propel disco into more electronic territory.
457. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers – “Islands in the Stream” (1983)
A karaoke duo classic, this smash hit from the two country stars is a twinkling smooth soul ballad with just an ounce of twang.
456. A Flock of Seagulls – “I Ran (So Far Away)” (1982)
Beneath the weird spiky hair of their frontman, this new wave band excelled at effortlessly cool and futuristic rhythms like on their biggest international hit.
455. The Gap Band – “Outstanding” (1982)
A face-meltingly funky bass line has kept this R&B hit churning as a BBQ playlist classic for decades.
454. Sleezy D. – “I’ve Lost Control” (1986)
Coming out of the Chicago house scene, this single from Derrick Harris might have been the creation of acid house with the use of the TR-808 drum machine and TB-303 bass synthesizer.
453. MC Lyte – “Paper Thin” (1988)
The first female rapper to release a solo album was more than a music trivia footnote as displayed on the album’s 5-minute centerpiece where she drags a cheating man through the mud.
452. Loose Ends – “Hangin’ on a String” (1985)
The UK R&B band found success locally and overseas with this single, a clear bridge from the funk/boogie of the early ’80s to the soulful new jack swing of the late ’80s.
451. The Primitives – “Crash” (1988)
The UK pop rock band is only known for this jangly bop, a defining template for future ’90s alternative acts seeking radio airplay.
Bitter Melodies 