"It was a time of Ronald Reagan and Rubik's Cube Miami Vice and Molly Ringwald, Jordache jeans and Joe Montana. But most of all, the 1980s were ten years of totally bitchin' music. Join VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the Eighties as we count down the coolest, gnarliest, most un-bogus songs of the decade that gave us hip-hop, hair metal and a funky little purple man named Prince." ~vh1.com

I give you the list they have compiled. These, according to VH1, are the 100 Greatest Songs Of the 80's!!



1. Bon Jovi / "Livin' on a Prayer"
2. Def Leppard / "Pour Some Sugar On Me"
3. Duran Duran / "Hungry Like the Wolf"
4. Michael Jackson / "Billie Jean"
5. Prince / "When Doves Cry"
6. Hall & Oates / "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"
7. Guns N' Roses / "Sweet Child O' Mine"
8. Madonna / "Like a Virgin"
9. Run-D.M.C. / "Walk This Way"
10. AC/DC / "You Shook Me All Night Long"
11. Journey / "Don't Stop Believin'"
12. Whitney Houston / "How Will I Know"
13. U2 / "With Or Without You"
14. The Bangles / "Walk Like an Egyptian"
15. Van Halen / "Jump"
16. INXS / "Need You Tonight"
17. Whitesnake / "Here I Go Again"
18. Dexy's Midnight Runners / "Come On Eileen"
19. Cyndi Lauper / "Time after Time"
20. Rick Springfield / "Jessie's Girl"
21. Michael Jackson / "Beat It"
22. The Cure / "Just Like Heaven"
23. Cyndi Lauper / "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
24. A-Ha / "Take On Me"
25. Go-Go's / "Our Lips Are Sealed"
26. Guns N' Roses / "Welcome to the Jungle"
27. Kajagoogoo / "Too Shy"
28. Wham! / "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"
29. Talking Heads / "Burning Down the House"
30. Pat Benatar / "Love is a Battlefield"
31. Queen and David Bowie / "Under Pressure"
32. Night Ranger / "Sister Christian"
33. Soft Cell / "Tainted Love"
34. Poison / "Every Rose Has It's Thorn"
35. Phil Collins / "In the Air Tonight"
36. Tommy Tutone / "867-5309 / Jenny"
37. Aerosmith / "Janie's Got a Gun"
38. U2 / "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
39. Modern English / "I Melt With You"
40. The B-52's / "Love Shack"
41. Motley Crue / "Dr. Feelgood"
42. The Clash / "London Calling"
43. ABC / "Look of Love (Part One)"
44. Bananarama / "Cruel Summer"
45. Janet Jackson / "Nasty"
46. The Police / "Every Breath You Take"
47. Twisted Sister / "We're Not Gonna Take It"
48. Bruce Springsteen / "Born in the U.S.A."
49. Beastie Boys / "Fight For Your Right"
50. Eurythmics / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
51. Ratt / "Round and Round"
52. Dead or Alive / "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)"
53. Billy Idol / "White Wedding"
54. Salt-N-Pepa / "Push It"
55. A Flock of Seagulls / "I Ran (So Far Away)"
56. Bonnie Tyler / "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
57. Toni Basil / "Mickey"
58. Culture Club / "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
59. John Mellencamp / "Jack & Diane"
60. Young M.C. / "Bust a Move"
61. Styx / "Mr. Roboto"
62. Berlin / "Take My Breath Away"
63. Devo / "Whip It"
64. Paula Abdul / "Straight Up"
65. Foreigner / "I Want to Know What Love Is"
66. Depeche Mode / "Just Can't Get Enough"
67. REO Speedwagon / "Keep On Loving You"
68. Public Enemy / "Fight the Power"
69. R.E.M / "It's The End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)"
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts/ "I Love Rock N' Roll"
71. Rick James / "Super Freak"
72. The Fixx / "One Thing Leads to Another"
73. Nena / "99 Luftbaloons"
74. George Michael / "Faith"
75. Prince / "Little Red Corvette"
76. Thomas Dolby / "She Blinded Me With Science"
77. New Edition / "Candy Girl"
78. Blondie / "Call Me"
79. Human League / "Don't You Want Me?"
80. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock / "It Takes Two"
81. Cameo / "Word Up!"
82. Squeeze / "Tempted"
83. Prince / "Kiss"
84. Lionel Richie / "All Night Long (All Night)"
85. Robert Palmer / "Addicted to Love"
86. Bow Wow Wow / "I Want Candy"
87. Falco / "Rock Me Amadeus"
88. Chaka Khan / "Ain't Nobody"
89. The Pretenders / "Brass in Pocket"
90. Tone-Loc / "Wild Thing"
91. Katrina and The Waves / "Walking On Sunshine"
92. New Kids on the Block / "You Got It (The Right Stuff)"
93. Gary Numan / "Cars"
94. The Rolling Stones / "Start Me Up"
95. Debbie Gibson / "Only in My Dreams"
96. Men at Work / "Down Under"
97. The Romantics / "What I Like About You"
98. Bobby Brown / "My Perogative"
99. Wang Chung / "Everybody Have Fun Tonight"
100. Loverboy / "Working for the Weekend"

Pretty good list there. Many of those songs are on Singstar and other console karaoke games.

lmao at #52.

"Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley should have made the list.

Ant

No Enya!!!!!!!!!!!

If this was compiled by VH1 employees, it's probably the only 100 songs of the eighties that they know :D

If this was compiled by VH1 employees, it's probably the only 100 songs of the eighties that they know :D
Must be, for Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood is not there!

Who is Enya... :-\\

And I can't beleive that Billie Jean was NUMBER FOUR. Maybe I am a little biased, but Thriller was the best selling album of the deacde.

I love Wang Chung

Who is Enya... :-\\
Enya who had the monster hit with Orinoco Flow.

Who is Enya... :-\\

And I can't beleive that Billie Jean was NUMBER FOUR. Maybe I am a little biased, but Thriller was the best selling album of the deacde.

I love Wang Chung
Of course, where is Thriller (as a single)?

Must be, for Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood is not there!


Funny you mention that...In 1991 I moved to the Dallas TX area and went into a store called Gadzooks...they were a sort of novelty T-shirt kind of place.  I'm only 19 at the time and I asked the clerk if they had any "Frankie Say Relax" shirts...she had to be 16 at the youngest...and she had no clue.  She asked me if that song was new.    ::)

Whilst the list isn't perfect, it's the least disagreeable one I've come across. Not bad at all.

kinda like the david letterman top ten,  almost any other song would have been better than the #1 song!  still, lots of great songs!  some not as good songs but had great videos instead! :)

Must be, for Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood is not there!


Neither is Shout by Tears For Fears.

What does VH1 know about music in the first place?

  Those who compiled the list are obviously playing it safe...

 

   Those who compiled the list are obviously playing it safe...

  
Is this above list hits in the US only?

Is this above list hits in the US only?


  Good question.  Better ask whistledog...

   Good question.  Better ask whistledog...
Could be Canadian?

   Those who compiled the list are obviously playing it safe...

   


It was ranked by VH1 viewers from a random list of songs from VH1's site.

It was ranked by VH1 viewers from a random list of songs from VH1's site.
Random songs, then the list is not complete?

It was ranked by VH1 viewers from a random list of songs from VH1's site.


  Most of what would have been called "College Rock" in the 1980s was pretty much left in the dirt. That's a shame...

Could be Canadian?


Hey! Don't blame us for this.  VH1 isn't even in Canada.  All we can get is crappy MTV and MTV2.  8-P

VH1 is American, and they always make lists based on mainstream popular singles in the US Top 40 (aka all the songs that are greatly overplayed), and I am sure many people will debate the choices.  I know I can ...

At #83 is 'Kiss' by Prince, which truly proves that just because VH1 puts music first, doesn't mean they actually know anything about music.  'Kiss' (The Prince original) is to me the worst song ever made (based on music genres I like)

They did this list a couple years ago, and I actually think it's one of the better ones they've compiled, since it had some interviews with the actual singers/bands, along with some old-school footage at the time combined with whatever they're up to now.

It also seemed a little more rock, R&B and hair metal based than most of the similar type of countdowns. Of course you know they're gonna have MJ and Madonna on there (understandably so) but you ogtta give them credit for not making "Thriller" #1 like they always do. ;D That's a great song and video, but it gets so predictable, lmao.

I love "Living on a Prayer" so I have no problem with that as the top choice, but of course they left alot of good songs off there, and some they picked I'm so-so on, but it was better than most of these lists.

I cannot see Huey Lewis on the list too!

I'll boldface the ones I agree with and put some comments:


1. Bon Jovi / "Livin' on a Prayer" - classic anthem. Sort of hair metal, pop and a love song all in one
2. Def Leppard / "Pour Some Sugar On Me"
3. Duran Duran / "Hungry Like the Wolf"
4. Michael Jackson / "Billie Jean"
5. Prince / "When Doves Cry"
6. Hall & Oates / "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" - I love H&O but this one is more boring, imo.
7. Guns N' Roses / "Sweet Child O' Mine"
8. Madonna / "Like a Virgin"
9. Run-D.M.C. / "Walk This Way" - innovative, but overrated
10. AC/DC / "You Shook Me All Night Long"
11. Journey / "Don't Stop Believin'"
12. Whitney Houston / "How Will I Know"
13. U2 / "With Or Without You"
14. The Bangles / "Walk Like an Egyptian" - Manic Monday is WAY better
15. Van Halen / "Jump"
16. INXS / "Need You Tonight"
17. Whitesnake / "Here I Go Again"
18. Dexy's Midnight Runners / "Come On Eileen" - overrated one hit wonder
19. Cyndi Lauper / "Time after Time"
20. Rick Springfield / "Jessie's Girl"
21. Michael Jackson / "Beat It"
22. The Cure / "Just Like Heaven"
23. Cyndi Lauper / "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
24. A-Ha / "Take On Me" - BEST NEW WAVE SONG, EVER!
25. Go-Go's / "Our Lips Are Sealed"
26. Guns N' Roses / "Welcome to the Jungle"
27. Kajagoogoo / "Too Shy"
28. Wham! / "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"
29. Talking Heads / "Burning Down the House"
30. Pat Benatar / "Love is a Battlefield" - "We Live For Love" is much better
31. Queen and David Bowie / "Under Pressure"
32. Night Ranger / "Sister Christian"
33. Soft Cell / "Tainted Love"
34. Poison / "Every Rose Has It's Thorn"
35. Phil Collins / "In the Air Tonight"
36. Tommy Tutone / "867-5309 / Jenny"
37. Aerosmith / "Janie's Got a Gun"
38. U2 / "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
39. Modern English / "I Melt With You"
40. The B-52's / "Love Shack"
41. Motley Crue / "Dr. Feelgood"
42. The Clash / "London Calling"
43. ABC / "Look of Love (Part One)"
44. Bananarama / "Cruel Summer"
45. Janet Jackson / "Nasty"  - Love the song, but would've preferred "Escapade" or "Lets Wait Awhile"
46. The Police / "Every Breath You Take"
47. Twisted Sister / "We're Not Gonna Take It"
48. Bruce Springsteen / "Born in the U.S.A."
49. Beastie Boys / "Fight For Your Right" - I actually don't like it that much, but it's funny and was groundbreaking for white rap/rock.
50. Eurythmics / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
51. Ratt / "Round and Round"
52. Dead or Alive / "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)"
53. Billy Idol / "White Wedding" - I like Billy, but this is overrated and just average. "Eyes without a Face" is better
54. Salt-N-Pepa / "Push It"
55. A Flock of Seagulls / "I Ran (So Far Away)"
56. Bonnie Tyler / "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
57. Toni Basil / "Mickey" - necesarry I guess, but annoying
58. Culture Club / "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
59. John Mellencamp / "Jack & Diane" - He's a good singer, but overrated
60. Young M.C. / "Bust a Move"
61. Styx / "Mr. Roboto"
62. Berlin / "Take My Breath Away"
63. Devo / "Whip It"
64. Paula Abdul / "Straight Up"  - I love Paula, but I wish they'd picked "Forever Your Girl" or "Cold Hearted"
65. Foreigner / "I Want to Know What Love Is"
66. Depeche Mode / "Just Can't Get Enough"
67. REO Speedwagon / "Keep On Loving You"
68. Public Enemy / "Fight the Power"
69. R.E.M / "It's The End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)"
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts/ "I Love Rock N' Roll"
71. Rick James / "Super Freak"
72. The Fixx / "One Thing Leads to Another"
73. Nena / "99 Luftbaloons"
74. George Michael / "Faith"
75. Prince / "Little Red Corvette"
76. Thomas Dolby / "She Blinded Me With Science"
77. New Edition / "Candy Girl"
78. Blondie / "Call Me"
79. Human League / "Don't You Want Me?"
80. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock / "It Takes Two"
81. Cameo / "Word Up!" --- Too much hip hop for an 80s list.
82. Squeeze / "Tempted"
83. Prince / "Kiss"
84. Lionel Richie / "All Night Long (All Night)" - His music is awesome, glad Richie made the list at all
85. Robert Palmer / "Addicted to Love"
86. Bow Wow Wow / "I Want Candy"
87. Falco / "Rock Me Amadeus"
88. Chaka Khan / "Ain't Nobody"
89. The Pretenders / "Brass in Pocket"
90. Tone-Loc / "Wild Thing"
91. Katrina and The Waves / "Walking On Sunshine"
92. New Kids on the Block / "You Got It (The Right Stuff)"
93. Gary Numan / "Cars"
94. The Rolling Stones / "Start Me Up" - not a great song per se, but good 80s classic rock that revived their careers.
95. Debbie Gibson / "Only in My Dreams" - Just to tick off woops, but really she's annoying and average. ;D
96. Men at Work / "Down Under" - Comic genuis song, and catchy as hell
97. The Romantics / "What I Like About You"
98. Bobby Brown / "My Perogative" -- would've preffered "Every Little Step" or "Rock Witcha Babe"
99. Wang Chung / "Everybody Have Fun Tonight"
100. Loverboy / "Working for the Weekend" - a fun cheesy song, but not really Top 100 worthy.

I think I counted 49 I boldfaced, so literally about half the list is songs I like. Here's others I would've put on if it were me making the list:


Rick Astley - probably "Never Gonna Give You Up" (just a feelgood dance/pop classic, defined the late 80s)

Huey Lewis - "Power of Love" is such a pop anthem and it was in BTTF, or maybe "Heart of Rock and Roll"

Billy Ocean - either "Caribbean Queen" or "When the Going Gets Tough" are tropical laid back party songs.

Starship - "We Built this City" might be cheesy, but it's a classic feeling good pop/rock song

Genesis - "Invisible Touch" is catchy, I wish more people knew Phil Collins for songs like these instead of AC

Tears for Fears - how the hell can't "Everybody Wants to Rule the world" be on there!

Survivor - anything BESIDES "Eye of the Tiger" (classic as it might be, its overrated). Not that unique of a pop/arena rock band, but songs like "High on You" emphasize fun 80s music, imo.

Kool and the Gang - my personal favorite is "Stone Love" (a midtempo song from 1987 but I dont think it's very well known) but at least something like "Fresh" or "Cherish" oughta be on there. Great rockish R&B music that made you feel good.

Crowded House - "Don't Dream it's Over" (great slow late-period new wave)

Don Henley - "Boys of Summer" is one of those token 80s songs, way better than any Eagles stuff!

Missing Persons - "Walking in LA" is actually their best song I think, and even more wavish than "Words"

Eddie Money - "Take Me Home Tonight" is a feelgood pop/rock song that most people probably recognize.

any Cars songs (one of the biggest new wave bands overall), probably either "Shake it Up" or "Drive"

Eric Carmen - probably "Hungry Eyes" since it's from Dirty Dancing and most people recognize it. Classic upbeat love song.

Thompson Twins - "Hold Me Now" is a midtempo new wave classic.

Cheap Trick - not a huge fan, but "The Flame" is one of the best power ballads. Its different than the typical corny hair band ones (more poppy, kinda accoustic and feels sincere)

Boy Meets Girl "Waiting for a Star to Fall" - inoffensive, breezy late '80s pop love song. So cheesy that its good.

Jackson Browne - (even though I actually prefer Lawyers in Love). "Somebody's Baby" was from Fast Times and it's one of those upbeat love songs that I think paints a good picture of innocent 80s music.

Tina Turner - "We Don't Need Another Hero" - not only is it from Mad Max but the song itself takes you on an adventure. Much better than Whats Love Got to Do With it (that's good too, but a little overrated).

Oh grow up  ::) Ironically said by somebody's who's probably 10, 15 years younger  Deborah Gibson's music have matured over time and she's one of the most underrated artists ever! I never bash anybody based on their taste. Personally, I think Paula's ballads are mediocre, but people are intitled to what they listen to.

Back on topic:

Actually all songs are good (though should be ranked differently), except for Journey.  8-P

Many omissions. especially Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)"

The number one song should have been WITHOUT A DOUBT Billie Jean. It was MJ's biggest hit and more or less skyrocketed MTV to national popularity. I think 'Every Breath You Take' should be numero dos, 'When Doves Cry' should be 3, and 'The Message' should be 4. 'Walk This Way' is another top 10, as is 'Sweet Child of Mine', 'Another Brick in the Wall, part 2', and 'Like a Virgin' (even if I don't like Madonna, that song had a lot of influence). Bon Jovi were a late 80's band and had no really powerful songs, though I do like much of their material. Def Leppard should be in the top 25, but not #2 by any means. 'Jump' should have been higher.

I think I counted 49 I boldfaced, so literally about half the list is songs I like. Here's others I would've put on if it were me making the list:


Rick Astley - probably "Never Gonna Give You Up" (just a feelgood dance/pop classic, defined the late 80s)

Huey Lewis - "Power of Love" is such a pop anthem and it was in BTTF, or maybe "Heart of Rock and Roll"

Billy Ocean - either "Caribbean Queen" or "When the Going Gets Tough" are tropical laid back party songs.

Starship - "We Built this City" might be cheesy, but it's a classic feeling good pop/rock song

Genesis - "Invisible Touch" is catchy, I wish more people knew Phil Collins for songs like these instead of AC

Tears for Fears - how the hell can't "Everybody Wants to Rule the world" be on there!

Survivor - anything BESIDES "Eye of the Tiger" (classic as it might be, its overrated). Not that unique of a pop/arena rock band, but songs like "High on You" emphasize fun 80s music, imo.

Kool and the Gang - my personal favorite is "Stone Love" (a midtempo song from 1987 but I dont think it's very well known) but at least something like "Fresh" or "Cherish" oughta be on there. Great rockish R&B music that made you feel good.

Crowded House - "Don't Dream it's Over" (great slow late-period new wave)

Don Henley - "Boys of Summer" is one of those token 80s songs, way better than any Eagles stuff!

Missing Persons - "Walking in LA" is actually their best song I think, and even more wavish than "Words"

Eddie Money - "Take Me Home Tonight" is a feelgood pop/rock song that most people probably recognize.

any Cars songs (one of the biggest new wave bands overall), probably either "Shake it Up" or "Drive"

Eric Carmen - probably "Hungry Eyes" since it's from Dirty Dancing and most people recognize it. Classic upbeat love song.

Thompson Twins - "Hold Me Now" is a midtempo new wave classic.

Cheap Trick - not a huge fan, but "The Flame" is one of the best power ballads. Its different than the typical corny hair band ones (more poppy, kinda accoustic and feels sincere)

Boy Meets Girl "Waiting for a Star to Fall" - inoffensive, breezy late '80s pop love song. So cheesy that its good.

Jackson Browne - (even though I actually prefer Lawyers in Love). "Somebody's Baby" was from Fast Times and it's one of those upbeat love songs that I think paints a good picture of innocent 80s music.

Tina Turner - "We Don't Need Another Hero" - not only is it from Mad Max but the song itself takes you on an adventure. Much better than Whats Love Got to Do With it (that's good too, but a little overrated).


When I think of Tears For Fears I normally think of Shout.  That was the song that knocked Thriller out of the number 1 spot and stayed there for three weeks and SFTBC went quintuple platinum for inexess of 5,0000 units sold.  It was also their first shot at a Grammy. 

When I think of Tears For Fears I normally think of Shout.  That was the song that knocked Thriller out of the number 1 spot and stayed there for three weeks and SFTBC went quintuple platinum for inexess of 5,0000 units sold.  It was also their first shot at a Grammy. 


Oh, right on I didn't even realize that. 8) Thriller was (I think) early 1983 but I didn't know it was that high on the charts for two years. Yeah "Shout" is a good song too, as is "Head Over Heels" and TFF are totally recognizable as 80s music. I probably have the most sentimental attachment to "Rule the World" though.

I think I counted 49 I boldfaced, so literally about half the list is songs I like. Here's others I would've put on if it were me making the list:


Rick Astley - probably "Never Gonna Give You Up" (just a feelgood dance/pop classic, defined the late 80s)

Huey Lewis - "Power of Love" is such a pop anthem and it was in BTTF, or maybe "Heart of Rock and Roll"

Billy Ocean - either "Caribbean Queen" or "When the Going Gets Tough" are tropical laid back party songs.

Starship - "We Built this City" might be cheesy, but it's a classic feeling good pop/rock song

Genesis - "Invisible Touch" is catchy, I wish more people knew Phil Collins for songs like these instead of AC

Tears for Fears - how the hell can't "Everybody Wants to Rule the world" be on there!

Survivor - anything BESIDES "Eye of the Tiger" (classic as it might be, its overrated). Not that unique of a pop/arena rock band, but songs like "High on You" emphasize fun 80s music, imo.

Kool and the Gang - my personal favorite is "Stone Love" (a midtempo song from 1987 but I dont think it's very well known) but at least something like "Fresh" or "Cherish" oughta be on there. Great rockish R&B music that made you feel good.

Crowded House - "Don't Dream it's Over" (great slow late-period new wave)

Don Henley - "Boys of Summer" is one of those token 80s songs, way better than any Eagles stuff!

Missing Persons - "Walking in LA" is actually their best song I think, and even more wavish than "Words"

Eddie Money - "Take Me Home Tonight" is a feelgood pop/rock song that most people probably recognize.

any Cars songs (one of the biggest new wave bands overall), probably either "Shake it Up" or "Drive"

Eric Carmen - probably "Hungry Eyes" since it's from Dirty Dancing and most people recognize it. Classic upbeat love song.

Thompson Twins - "Hold Me Now" is a midtempo new wave classic.

Cheap Trick - not a huge fan, but "The Flame" is one of the best power ballads. Its different than the typical corny hair band ones (more poppy, kinda accoustic and feels sincere)

Boy Meets Girl "Waiting for a Star to Fall" - inoffensive, breezy late '80s pop love song. So cheesy that its good.

Jackson Browne - (even though I actually prefer Lawyers in Love). "Somebody's Baby" was from Fast Times and it's one of those upbeat love songs that I think paints a good picture of innocent 80s music.

Tina Turner - "We Don't Need Another Hero" - not only is it from Mad Max but the song itself takes you on an adventure. Much better than Whats Love Got to Do With it (that's good too, but a little overrated).


I love practically every song you have listed here, McFly.  :) It would've been cool to see some of those songs on VH1's list.

^ Thanks Coqueta. :) You seem to have really good music taste. Yeah I think VH1 tends to do the "safe" route with songs people know really well.

Agree that The Cars are overlooked

And BTW, Cameo isn't hip hop and hip hop was great in the '80's  8)