Best Songs of the 1980s

I found several lists of the best songs of the 1980s and combined them into a single meta-list, which is organized by rank (that is, with the songs on the most lists at the top).  The listing for each song includes the title, the performer, the year of the performance, the songwriter(s), the year the song was written, and whether the song was featured in any films.  In the case of multiple versions of the song by different artists, I have chosen the version that was the biggest hit.  Please note: these are not my personal opinions.

On 8 lists

  • Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses (1988). Wr: Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagen & Steven Adler (1988).

On 7 lists

  • When Doves Cry – Prince & the Revolution, in the movie Purple Rain (1984). Wr: Prince (1984).
  • With or Without You – U2 (1987). Wr: Bono & U2 (1986).

On 6 lists

  • Jump – Van Halen (1983). Wr: Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony & David Lee Roth (1983).

On 5 lists

  • Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie (1981). Wr: Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, John Deacon & Brian May (1981).
  • Beat It – Michael Jackson (1982). Wr: Michael Jackson (1982).
  • Billie Jean – Michael Jackson (1982). Wr: Michael Jackson (1982).
  • Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners (1982). Wr: Kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson & Billy Adams (1982).
  • Every Breath You Take – The Police (1983). Wr: Sting (1982).
  • Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – The Eurythmics (1983). Wr: Annie Lennox & David A. Stewart (1982).
  • Blue Monday – New Order (1983). Wr: Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris & Bernard Summer (1982).
  • Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler (1983). Wr: Jim Steinman (1983).
  • Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi (1986). Wr: Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Desmond Child (1986).
  • Push It – Salt-N-Pepa (1986). Wr: Hurby Azor & Ray Davies (1986).
  • Faith – George Michael (1987). Wr: George Michael (1987).

On 4 lists

  • Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division (1980). Wr: Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris & Bernard Summer (1979).
  • Call Me – Blondie (1980). Wr: Debbie Harry & Giorgio Moroder (1979).
  • Once In A Lifetime – Talking Heads (1980). Wr: David Byrne, Brian Eno, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth & Jerry Harrison (1980).
  • Don’t You Want Me – The Human League (1981). Wr: Jo Callis, Philip Oakey & Philip Adrian Wright (1981).
  • In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins (1981). Wr: Phil Collins (1980).
  • Down Under – Men at Work (1981). Wr: Colin Hay & Ron Strykert (1980).
  • Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper (1983). Wr: Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman (1983).
  • This Charming Man – The Smiths (1983). Wr: Johnny Marr & Morrissey (1983).
  • Take On Me – a-ha (1984). Wr: Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket & Pål Waaktaar (1984).
  • I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner (1984). Wr: Mick Jones & Lou Gramm (1984).
  • Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) – Kate Bush (1985). Wr: Kate Bush (1984).
  • Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears (1985). Wr: Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley & Chris Hughes (1985).
  • Walk This Way – Run-D.M.C. (feat. Steven Tyler & Joe Perry) (1986). Wr: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (1975).
  • Kiss – Prince and The Revolution (1986). Wr: Prince (1985).
  • Just Like Heaven – The Cure (1987). Wr: Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams & Lol Tolhurst (1987).
  • Need You Tonight – INXS (1987). Wr: Andrew Farriss & Michael Hutchence (1987).
  • Like A Prayer – Madonna (1989). Wr: Madonna & Patrick Leonard (1989).
  • The Humpty Dance – Digital Underground (1989). Wr: Humpty Hump (1989).

On 3 lists

  • Back in Black – AC/DC (1980). Wr: Angus Young, Malcolm Young & Brian Johnson (1980).
  • Tainted Love – Soft Cell (1981). Wr: Ed Cobb (1964).
  • Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (1981). Wr: Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain & Neal Schon (1981).
  • I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) – Daryl Hall and John Oates (1981). Wr: Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates (1981).
  • Ghost Town – The Specials (1981). Wr: Jerry Dammers (1981).
  • I Love Rock ‘n Roll – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1982). Wr: Alan Merrill & Jake Hooker (1975).
  • Jack & Diane – John Cougar (1982). Wr: John Mellencamp (1982).
  • Eye of the Tiger – Survivor, featured in the film Rocky III (1982). Wr: Frankie Sullivan & Jim Peterik (1982).
  • Here I Go Again – Whitesnake (1982). Wr: David Coverdale & Bernie Marsden (1982).
  • Rock the Casbah – The Clash (1982). Wr: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon & Topper Headon (1982).
  • Ain’t Nobody – Rufus and Chaka Khan (1983). Wr: David “Hawk” Wolinski (1983).
  • All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie (1983). Wr: Lionel Richie (1983).
  • Let’s Dance – David Bowie (1983). Wr: David Bowie (1982).
  • Like a Virgin – Madonna (1984). Wr: Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly (1984).
  • West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys (1984). Wr: Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe (1984).
  • What’s Love Got To Do With It – Tina Turner (1984). Wr: Terry Britten & Graham Lyle (1984).
  • Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen (1984). Wr: Bruce Springsteen (1984).
  • How Will I Know – Whitney Houston (1985). Wr: George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam & Narada Michael Walden (1984).
  • Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds, featured in the film The Breakfast Club (1985). Wr: Keith Forsey & Steve Schiff (1984).
  • Just Like Honey – The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985). Wr: William Reid & Jim Reid (1985).
  • (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) – Beastie Boys (1986). Wr: Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin & Tom Cushman (1986).
  • Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order (1986). Wr: Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris & Bernard Sumner (1986).
  • Take My Breath Away – Berlin, featured in the film Top Gun (1986). Wr. Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock (1986).
  • Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard (1987). Wr: Joe Elliott, Robert John “Mutt” Lange, Phil Collen, Steve Clark & Rick Savage (1986).
  • Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac (1987). Wr: Christine McVie (1986).
  • I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston (1987). Wr: George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam (1986).
  • I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2 (1987). Wr: Bono & U2 (1987).
  • It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M. (1987). Wr: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe (1987).
  • I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers (1988), featured in the film Benny & Joon (1993). Wr: Charlie Reid & Craig Reid (1987).
  • It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock (1988). Wr: Robert Ginyard (1988).
  • Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry (1988). Wr: Neneh Cherry, Cameron McVey, Jamie Morgan & Philip Ramacon (1988).
  • Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice (1989). Wr: Vanilla Ice, Earthquake, Queen & David Bowie (1983).