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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z OtherTop 1000

Top Rock Songs of the 1980s

1970s <-1980-> 1990s
    

Video playlist


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1.
12/1981
455

✫1
US




3
dance


4
rock


✫1
UK
2.
04/1982
442

✫1
US
✫1
AC




8
R&B
34
rock


✫1
UK
[Columbia 02860]
written by Paul McCartney
3.
10/1982
438

✫1
US
13
AC


33
dance


✫1
rock


✫1
UK
[R]
charted as Who Can It Be Now? / Down Under in US dance charts
[Columbia 03303]
written by Colin Hay & Ron Strykert
4.
06/1982
434

✫1
US
27
AC


59
dance


✫1
rock


✫1
UK
[Scotti Brothers 02912]
written by Frankie Sullivan & Jim Peterik
5.
03/1985
429

✫1
US
✫1
AC
76
country


✫1
R&B
27
rock


✫1
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1986]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1986]
benefit recording by all-star group
[Columbia 04839]
written by Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie
6.
02/1986
417

✫1
US




4
dance
6
R&B




✫1
UK
charted as Rock Me Amadeus / Vienna Calling in US dance charts
[A&M 2821]
written by Rob Bolland, Ferdi Bolland & Falco
7.
03/1985
417

✫1
US
2
AC


✫1
dance


2
rock


2
UK
[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1986]
[Polygram 880659 (Mercury)]
written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley & Chris Hughes
8.
07/1982
416

✫1
US
31
AC






6
rock


✫1
UK
as Dexy's Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express
[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1983]
[Mercury 76189]
written by Kevin Rowland, "Big" Jim Paterson & Billy Adams
9.
05/1983
411

✫1
US
5
AC


26
dance


✫1
rock


✫1
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1984]
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #84]
[A&M 2542]
written by Sting
10.
01/1981
408

2
US
4
AC






26
rock


✫1
UK
[Geffen]
written by John Lennon
11.
05/1982
408

✫1
US
28
AC


14
dance
26
R&B
4
rock


2
UK
[Capitol 5126]
written by Steve Miller
12.
03/1983
407

✫1
US




✫1
dance
14
R&B
8
rock


✫1
UK
featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar
co-produced by Nile Rodgers
[EMI America 8158]
written by David Bowie
13.
10/1988

Desire by U2

from Rattle and Hum   
406

3
US




37
dance


✫1
rock
✫1
alt.
✫1
UK
[Island 7-99250]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.
14.
10/1983
406

✫1
US
3
AC


2
dance
2
R&B
24
rock


2
UK
as Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
[Epic 04169]
written by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
15.
11/1985
406

✫1
US
26
AC


✫1
dance
36
R&B
37
rock


✫1
UK
[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1987]
[R]
[EMI America 8307]
written by Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe
16.
06/1989

Batdance by Prince

from Batman   
403

✫1
US




✫1
dance
✫1
R&B


18
alt.
2
UK
[Warner 22924]
written by Prince
17.
12/1984
399

✫1
US
3
AC




85
R&B
✫1
rock


✫1
UK
featuring New Jersey Mass Choir & Jennifer Holliday
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #476]
[Atlantic 89596]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner] & Lou Gramm (uncredited)
18.
11/1981
398

✫1
US




12
dance


✫1
rock


3
UK
charted as Centerfold / Flamethrower in US dance charts
[EMI America 8102]
written by Seth Justman
19.
09/1982
394

2
US
8
AC


34
dance
39
R&B
21
rock


✫1
UK
charted as I'm Afraid of Me / Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? in US dance charts
[Epic/Virgin 03368]
written by Boy George, Mikey Craig (as Michael Craig), Roy Hay & Jon Moss
20.
01/1987
386

✫1
US
✫1
AC






16
rock


✫1
UK
[Grunt 5109]
written by Diane Warren & Albert Hammond
21.
01/1989
385

✫1
US
✫1
AC






5
rock


2
UK
[Atlantic 7-88964]
written by Mike Rutherford & B. A. Robertson
22.
09/1981
384

3
US








✫1
rock


✫1
UK
written by Sting
23.
11/1984
384

2
US
15
AC


7
dance
3
R&B
5
rock


✫1
UK
with Phil Collins
[Columbia 04679]
written by Philip Bailey, Phil Collins & Nathan East
24.
11/1989
384

✫1
US
✫1
AC






7
rock


2
UK
[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1990]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1991]
[Atlantic 88774]
written by Phil Collins
25.
12/1981
383

✫1
US




31
dance


✫1
rock


4
UK
as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #484]
[Boardwalk 7-11-135]
written by Alan Merrill & Jake Hooker
26.
12/1989
383

✫1
US
7
AC






✫1
rock


2
UK
[Atlantic 88742]
written by Christopher Ward & David Tyson
27.
06/1984
383

✫1
US
9
AC


6
dance
✫1
R&B
38
rock


2
UK
[Arista 9212]
written by Ray Parker Jr
28.
06/1987
382

✫1
US
4
AC
57
country




11
rock


✫1
UK
[Slash 28336]
written by traditional
29.
02/1983
382

✫1
US
7
AC






23
rock


✫1
UK
produced by Jim Steinman
[Columbia 03906]
written by Jim Steinman
30.
04/1986
379

✫1
US




✫1
dance
61
R&B
✫1
rock


4
UK
[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 1987]
[Geffen 28718]
written by Peter Gabriel
31.
02/1984
377

✫1
US
2
AC






✫1
rock


2
UK
[Atlantic 89700 A]
written by Phil Collins
32.
11/1981
376

✫1
US
12
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B
28
rock


8
UK
[RCA 12357]
written by Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen
33.
10/1987
371

✫1
US
✫1
AC






4
rock


2
UK
originally recorded by James Ray in 1962; produced by George Harrison & Jeff Lynne
[Dark Horse 28178]
written by Rudy Clark
34.
01/1981
371

✫1
US




✫1
dance
33
R&B
35
rock


5
UK
charted as Rapture / The Tide Is High in US dance charts
[Chrysalis 2485]
written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein
35.
02/1983
369

✫1
US
36
AC


2
dance


16
rock


2
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #356]
[RCA 13533]
written by Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart [David Allan Stewart]
36.
04/1984
366

✫1
US




15
dance


35
rock


✫1
UK
37.
07/1985
363

✫1
US
4
AC










2
UK
[Warner 29011]
written by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (as PÃ¥l Waaktaar), Magne Furuholmen & Morten Harket (as Morten HÃ¥rket)
38.
02/1985
357

✫1
US
✫1
AC




80
R&B
4
rock


4
UK
[Atlantic 89588]
written by Phil Collins
39.
06/1984
353

✫1
US




✫1
dance
✫1
R&B
31
rock


4
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #52]
charted as When Doves Cry / 17 Days in US dance charts
[Warner 29286]
written by Prince
40.
08/1981
353

✫1
US
✫1
AC






13
rock


7
UK
[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1981]
[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1981]
[Warner 49787]
written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager & Peter Allen
41.
10/1986
352

✫1
US








✫1
rock


4
UK
[Polygram 888184 (Mercury)]
written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Desmond Child
42.
10/1987
352

✫1
US




7
dance
73
R&B
12
rock


2
UK
charted as Need You Tonight / Mediate in US dance charts
[Atlantic 89188]
written by Andrew Farriss & Michael Hutchence
43.
12/1983
351

2
US
42
AC


22
dance


23
rock


✫1
UK
44.
08/1985
350

✫1
US
3
AC






4
rock


4
UK
[RCA 14136]
written by Richard Page, Steve George & John Lang
45.
08/1986
350

✫1
US
24
AC


37
dance


4
rock


4
UK
[Virgin 99481]
written by Nick Van Eede
46.
12/1983
349

✫1
US
✫1
AC




78
R&B
10
rock


3
UK
[Portrait 04432]
written by Rob Hyman & Cyndi Lauper
47.
05/1985
348

✫1
US








42
rock


2
UK
48.
05/1984
348

✫1
US
8
AC


21
dance
2
R&B
51
rock


3
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1985]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1985]
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #309]
[Capitol 5354]
written by Terry Britten & Graham Lyle
49.
03/1985
347

✫1
US
✫1
AC






14
rock


4
UK
[Columbia 04867]
written by Daryl Hall
50.
02/1983
347

✫1
US






✫1
R&B
14
rock


3
UK
featuring Eddie Van Halen
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1984]
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #337]

[Epic 03759]
written by Michael Jackson
51.
05/1987

Alone by Heart

from Bad Animals   
345

✫1
US
2
AC






3
rock


3
UK
[Capitol 44002]
written by Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg
52.
12/1983
345

2
US




✫1
dance
80
R&B
16
rock


2
UK
[Portrait 04120]
written by Robert Hazard
53.
01/1986
345

2
US
10
AC






43
rock


2
UK
[Columbia 05757]
written by Prince (as Christopher)
54.
01/1989
344

✫1
US




✫1
dance
54
R&B


5
alt.
5
UK
[MCA 53483]
written by Roland Gift, David Steele & Andy Cox
55.
01/1983
343

2
US




6
dance
18
R&B
12
rock


2
UK
[Portrait 03793]
written by Eddy Grant
56.
02/1986
342

✫1
US




36
dance


✫1
rock


5
UK
produced by Bernard Edwards
[Island 7-99570]
written by Robert Palmer
57.
07/1985
341

2
US
3
AC


23
dance
3
R&B
29
rock


3
UK
[Capitol 5491]
written by Terry Britten & Graham Lyle
58.
12/1984
340

✫1
US




✫1
dance
56
R&B
6
rock


4
UK
59.
09/1983
340

3
US
2
AC






22
rock


✫1
UK
[Columbia 04149]
written by Billy Joel
60.
06/1985
340

✫1
US








✫1
rock


4
UK
[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 1986]
[Warner 28950]
written by Mark Knopfler & Sting
61.
07/1983
339

✫1
US
✫1
AC


38
dance


17
rock


4
UK
[Columbia 04138]
written by Billy Joel
62.
10/1982
338

✫1
US
14
AC


18
dance
78
R&B
18
rock


6
UK
[RCA 13354]
written by Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates
63.
04/1983

True by Spandau Ballet

from True   
334

4
US
✫1
AC




76
R&B
34
rock


✫1
UK
[Chrysalis 42720]
written by Gary Kemp
64.
09/1989
333

3
US




7
dance




✫1
alt.
2
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #243]
[Warner 22817 (Reprise)]
written by Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland & Cindy Wilson
65.
08/1981
332

8
US




4
dance


12
rock


✫1
UK
written by Ed Cobb, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr. (as Eddie Holland)
66.
09/1985
329

✫1
US
16
AC


23
dance
10
R&B
29
rock


5
UK
[instrumental]
[MCA 52666]
written by Jan Hammer
67.
03/1987
328

✫1
US
23
AC






✫1
rock


4
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #131]
[Island 7-99469]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.
68.
03/1983
325

4
US




34
dance


3
rock


✫1
UK
69.
03/1981
325

✫1
US
15
AC


26
dance


5
rock


10
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1982]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1982]
[EMI America 8077]
written by Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon
70.
08/1981
324

2
US




14
dance


✫1
rock


7
UK
[Rolling Stones 21003]
written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
71.
10/1981
322

2
US
5
AC






✫1
rock


8
UK
[Atlantic 3868]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner] & Lou Gramm
72.
02/1985
322

✫1
US
36
AC


9
dance


✫1
rock


7
UK
[A&M 2703]
written by Keith Forsey & Steve Schiff
73.
09/1989
322

2
US
29
AC






4
rock
✫1
alt.
5
UK
[Polygram 874710 (Fontana)]
written by Roland Orzabal & Curt Smith
74.
06/1985
321

✫1
US
16
AC






2
rock


6
UK
produced by David Foster
[Atlantic 7-89541]
written by David Foster & John Parr
75.
03/1989
321

✫1
US
12
AC


20
dance


39
rock
2
alt.
7
UK
[MCA 53639]
written by Roland Gift, David Steele & Andy Cox
76.
08/1985
316

7
US




4
dance


3
rock


✫1
UK
77.
08/1986
314

✫1
US
✫1
AC






2
rock


12
UK
[Chrysalis 43019]
written by Chris Hayes & Huey Lewis
78.
05/1984
313

2
US




7
dance


✫1
rock


4
UK
[Columbia 04463]
written by Bruce Springsteen
79.
11/1984
312

2
US




27
dance


42
rock


2
UK
80.
11/1980
311

✫1
US








9
rock


7
UK
[Epic 50953]
written by Kevin Cronin
81.
09/1989
310

✫1
US
5
AC






6
rock


7
UK
[Columbia 73021]
written by Billy Joel
82.
03/1987
306

✫1
US
16
AC






2
rock


6
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #93]
[Island 7-99430]
written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.
83.
01/1984

Jump by Van Halen

from 1984   
304

✫1
US




17
dance
88
R&B
✫1
rock


7
UK
84.
11/1983
302

3
US
8
AC


✫1
dance


9
rock


4
UK
[Arista 1-9164]
written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie & Joe Leeway
85.
07/1986
302

✫1
US
✫1
AC






3
rock


15
UK
as Bruce Hornsby and The Range
[RCA 5023]
written by Bruce Hornsby
86.
05/1986
302

✫1
US
3
AC






✫1
rock


15
UK
[Atlantic 89407]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford
87.
06/1986
301

✫1
US
7
AC






✫1
rock


13
UK
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1987]
[Warner 28710 (Island)]
written by Steve Winwood & Will Jennings
88.
07/1988
301

✫1
US








3
rock


11
UK
[Polygram 870402 (Mercury)]
written by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage & Robert John "Mutt" Lange
89.
01/1984
301

✫1
US








2
rock


6
UK
[Columbia 04310]
written by Kenny Loggins & Dean Pitchford
90.
01/1983
301

5
US




25
dance


23
rock


✫1
UK
91.
01/1984
300

2
US




3
dance
✫1
R&B
31
rock


6
UK
featuring Michael Jackson
[Motown 1702]
written by Rockwell (as Kennedy Gordy) & Curtis Anthony Nolen
92.
05/1982
299

3
US




36
dance


✫1
rock


5
UK
93.
01/1985
297

✫1
US
30
AC


4
dance
8
R&B
10
rock


12
UK
[Atlantic 89560]
written by Phil Collins
94.
06/1984
297

✫1
US
7
AC


27
dance


✫1
rock


9
UK
[EMI America 8212]
written by John Waite, Mark Leonard & Chas Sandford
95.
12/1985
294

✫1
US
11
AC






✫1
rock


11
UK
[RCA 14258]
written by Richard Page, Steve George & John Lang
96.
11/1982
293

10
US
9
AC






24
rock


✫1
UK
[Atlantic 89933]
written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.
97.
05/1981
293

2
US
✫1
AC






6
rock


13
UK
[Dark Horse 49725]
written by George Harrison
98.
06/1988
289

✫1
US
✫1
AC


21
dance
30
R&B
✫1
rock


53
UK
99.
10/1983
289

3
US




33
dance


2
rock


3
UK
100.
11/1985
288

2
US
35
AC






11
rock


5
UK
[Scotti Bros. 4-05663]
written by Frankie Sullivan & Jim Peterik

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