Top 10 Most 80s Songs of All Time

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the songs that sum up the style and sound of the 1980s!

#10: Eye Of The Tiger (1982)

Survivor

When Sylvester Stallone was denied permission from Queen to use Another One Bites The Dust as part of the soundtrack for Rocky III, he commissioned Survivor to write an original song instead. What they came up with is the type of song that perfectly sums up the Rocky series. The tension of the guitar riffs, the momentum of the band driving the rhythm, and the powerful vocal performance from singer Dave Bickler make this 80s through and through. With Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor not only succeeded in nailing their assignment; they also scored their biggest hit to date.

#9: Maniac (1983)

Michael Sembello

When it comes to dance-floor bangers, few songs sum up the 80s style and aesthetic more than Michael Sembellos Maniac. From its opening bars onwards, this frantic piece of synth-pop does not let up. Michael Sembellos vocals fit so well that they dont get enough credit but they truly tie the whole thing together perfectly. Supposedly the song was written after one co-writer Dennis Matkosky watched a news report on an active serial killer - but you wouldnt know it, just from listening to this slice of 80s magic from the film Flashdance. An enduring anthem thats always reliable when you need to fill a dancefloor.

#8: We Built This City (1985)

Starship

No list of songs that define the 80s would be complete without Starships 1985 hit We Built This City. Sure, a lot of people like to hate on this one. Rolling Stone magazine even ran a poll in 2011 to single out the worst song of the 1980s and Starship won the top prize by a landslide. Harsh? Maybe, maybe not. But this simple song undeniably sticks in your ears. No matter how you feel about this track, it is a real slice of history - a song that sums up a moment in time better than most other releases of its era.

#7: Don't You (Forget About Me) (1985)

Simple Minds

Anthemic synthesiser-driven pop rarely gets better than Dont You (Forget About Me). Written for the iconic 1985 film The Breakfast Club and performed by Simple Minds, this song was destined to be a huge hit. From the punchy opening vocal swell to the instantly catchy verses and chorus, its the type of hit that sounds just as good now as it did in 1985. In particular, the icy synths used in the chorus have aged a lot better than those in many other songs of the era. You can easily place Dont You (Forget About Me) as an 80s song, but that doesnt keep it from aging like the finest of wine.

#6: Relax (1983)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Theres an argument to be made that Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood is one of the punchiest pop songs ever written. Its a song that commands your attention from its opening bars, and once it has it, good luck getting yourself free. This stomper caused so much controversy in the UK because of the bands lewd promotional work and the lyrical content that it was banned outright from the BBC - which only helped it eventually get to number-one. Its the type of pop song that simply could not imagine coming from any other era. Everything it brings to the table oozes with 80s energy and exuberance.

#5: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1983)

Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper was a legitimate revelation when she burst onto the scene in the early 80s with a huge debut album that featured a piece of pop songwriting genius. Though seen as a feminist anthem, the song was actually written by a man, Robert Hazard, a few years before he brought it to Lauper. Sensing that the song would make a lot more sense in the hands of a woman, they tweaked the lyrics and Girls Just Want to Have Fun as we know it was born. Laupers vocal performance on this track introduced her to the world with a huge bang - and the songs empowering edge and undeniable charm have not worn off at all in the decades since its 1983 release.

#4: Never Gonna Give You Up (1987)

Rick Astley

We promise were not rick-rolling you with this one, because, lets face it, we dont have to. Rick Astleys resurgence in pop culture due to the 2000s internet meme was no accident. He just so happened to have summed up an entire decade perfectly with this one. Its not just the corny programmed drums, the sappy lyrics, or the over-the-top vocal performance, its also the music video - which we just cant imagine ever being taken seriously even at the height of the 1980s. Still, over the years, people have grown to actually give this song its due for its immense catchiness and breezy attitude. And we can definitely count ourselves among that number!

#3: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (1984)

Wham!

Cheesy pop music may well have peaked with Whams 1984 smash hit Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, a song that knows exactly what its assignment is. When George Michael wrote this one, he wasnt trying to change the world or spill his heart out on paper. Nope, some songs can just be carefree, fun, and incredibly breezy pieces of pop genius. Sure, its so sugary sweet that youre not always gonna be in the mood to listen to this one. But when Wham! went mining for a hit, they most certainly struck gold when Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go was released.

#2: Thriller (1983)

Michael Jackson

Its one of the greatest pop songs of all-time - and the title track from the most famous pop album of all-time. Of course, Thriller was going to make it onto our list. The video plays off of popular 80s horror movie tropes, and the songs synth-laden intro, though clearly timeless, takes you right back to an era that you might not have even lived through. Jackson was in all-time-great form during this period - and the spooky but infinitely danceable Thriller was a mega-hit to end all other mega-hits. This tune proved to be a magnet for the dancefloor, while still being a legitimately excellent piece of music composition. Modern artists, take notes - this is how its done.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Rio (1982), Duran Duran

Corny Pop Music At Its Very Best

Say You Say Me (1985), Lionel Richie

Melodramatic Pop Balladry With All The Dials Turned Up To 10

Every Rose Has Its Thorn (1988), Poison

Poison Really Went For A Hit-Single With This One

Pour Some Sugar On Me (1988), Def Leppard

Just Some Good Old-Fashioned 80s Glam-Rock

Ghostbusters (1984), Ray Parker Jr.

The 80s Never Got Any Funner Than This Legendary Soundtrack

#1: Take On Me (1985)

a-ha

We dont even need to mention the music video, a-has 1985 single Take On Me is everything we love about this period of time in music. Its the type of song that couldve worked in any era - but were genuinely thankful it got the 80s treatment. The icy synths that kick this one off were an instant earworm to anyone who heard them, but they just so happen to be backed up by a vocal melody full of color and charisma. This is the kind of song people tend to mention when it comes to the 80s aesthetic and sound working perfectly, and we can certainly understand why its still as popular today as ever.

What gem from this decade stands out to you as the most '80s of them all? Let us know in the comments section below.