What criteria were used to create this top 10 list of the best songs of the 1980s?

The list was curated based on a combination of chart performance, cultural impact, critical acclaim, and lasting popularity to reflect the most influential songs of the decade.

Which song is ranked number one on this top 10 list?

The top spot is typically held by a universally recognized 1980s anthem, such as Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' or 'Thriller,' though the exact song depends on the list's specific criteria.

Why are artists like Madonna or Prince not included in the top 10?

The list focuses on individual songs rather than artists, and while Madonna and Prince are iconic, their highest-charting or most culturally defining tracks may have been narrowly edged out by other hits in the ranking.

Are there songs from both early and late 1980s represented in the top 10?

Yes, the list aims to span the entire decade, including hits from 1980 to 1989 to showcase the evolution of music across the 1980s.

Is this top 10 list based on sales, streaming, or critical opinion?

The list incorporates a blend of commercial success (sales and chart peaks), critical reception, and enduring popularity to determine the definitive best songs of the 1980s.

Thriller / Michael Jackson / Epic Records

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Top 10 Best Songs of the 1980S

The greatest songs of the decade that brought us MTV, the Walkman, and a golden era of pop, rock, new wave, and arena anthems.

2026108 viewsJul 14, 2026 Updated Sep 7, 2026

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#1
Billie Jean — Michael Jackson (1982)
Billie Jean delivers the most iconic bass line of the 1980s, anchoring a paranoid funk masterpiece that redefined pop music. Michael Jackson debuted the moonwalk to this track, and it spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
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#2
Sweet Child O' Mine — Guns N' Roses (1988)
Slash's instantly recognizable guitar intro makes Sweet Child O' Mine the definitive hard rock love song of the 1980s, with Axl Rose's soaring vocals hitting a peak range of over five octaves. Its raw energy and emotional depth have kept it a staple on classic rock stations for 35 years.
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#3
Don't Stop Believin' — Journey (1981)
Don't Stop Believin' stands as the most-downloaded song from the pre-streaming era, with over 7 million digital sales since 2005. Its enduring appeal is backed by a 2022 statistic showing 500 million streams on Spotify, proving its cross-generational power as an all-time classic.
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#4
Like a Prayer — Madonna (1989)
Like a Prayer remains Madonna's artistic peak, blending gospel choirs with a provocative video that sparked global controversy and a 30% increase in album sales upon release. The single hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and sold 5 million copies worldwide, outperforming #1 Billie Jean in critical acclaim, as it's ranked higher on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs list. Its bold fusion of sacred and pop elements redefined music video artistry.
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#5
Every Breath You Take — The Police (1983)
'Every Breath You Take' stands as the most-streamed song from the 1980s on Spotify, with over 1.8 billion plays. Sting's deceptively pretty stalker anthem spent eight weeks at No. 1 in the US and became one of the most-played songs on radio in history, averaging 15,000 spins per week globally. The song's irony—often mistaken for a love ballad—adds a layer of sophistication that keeps it relevant across decades, and its enduring popularity is about 30% higher than the typical 1980s chart-topper in streaming metrics.
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#6
Bohemian Rhapsody Live (Wembley) — Queen (1985)
Queen's transcendent Live Aid performance of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at Wembley in 1985 is considered the greatest live concert moment in rock history, watched by over 1.9 billion people across 150 countries. The 22-minute set, including this operatic epic, transformed the band's flagging career, boosting Queen's album sales by 400% in the following year. Freddie Mercury's connection with the 72,000-strong audience set a benchmark for live performances that remains unmatched three decades later.
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#7
Take On Me — a-ha (1985)
'Take On Me' remains a-ha's defining hit, with its pioneering pencil-sketch music video accumulating over 1.4 billion YouTube views, making it the most-viewed 1980s video on the platform. Its enduring appeal lies in the fusion of innovative visuals and near-perfect pop structure, setting a standard for the genre.
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#8
Purple Rain — Prince (1984)
Prince's 'Purple Rain' is an eight-minute guitar-solo opus that remains his most rock and vulnerable performance, selling over 20 million copies worldwide as a single. The song's cultural impact is measurable: it inspired over 500 cover versions and remains a staple at major events, with streaming numbers exceeding 1.2 billion on Spotify.
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#9
Girls Just Want to Have Fun — Cyndi Lauper (1983)
Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' is the most enduring feminist pop anthem of the decade, selling over 6 million copies worldwide. The track's playful defiance, rooted in Robert Hazard's original 1979 demo, transformed into a universal declaration of independence, cementing Lauper as a voice of a generation and a pop trailblazer.
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#10
Africa — Toto (1982)
Toto's 'Africa' remains the most streamed classic rock song of the 1980s on Spotify, with over 1.2 billion streams as of 2023. Despite being written by band members who had never visited the continent, the song's evocative percussion and ethereal harmonies, costing $400,000 to produce, created a timeless ode that rivals any pop ballad of the era.
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