Panda's Top 150 Songs of the 1980's

To say that compiling this list of the top 150 songs of the 80's was considerably harder to do than expected would be an understatement. I compiled my list of favorite songs over several days and realized the list was 440+ tracks. That wasn't going to work. After considerable refinement, I was able to narrow the list down to these 150 amazing songs. And, yes, I can hear it now. Where are many of the widely acknowledged great songs of the 80's? Well, likely, they can be found on my list of 440 tracks, but ultimately they didn't make it here.

I would like to clarify that this is not an attempt to be a music critic and determine the intrinsically best 150 tracks from the 80's. I'll leave that to The Rolling Stone editors. This is my personal list of favorites. And while I may not be an expert music critic, I am an expert in what I like. And these tracks represent those interests.

I also reserve the right to cross any genre I choose. I definitely steer towards rock, but have interests across multiple genres, and that is reflected on the graphic you see. No country, that just wasn't my thing in the 80's, though I've dabbled more in that area in recent years.

So, give the list a view, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Couldn't Leave These Off the List (101 - 150)

150	Be Good Johnny – Men At Work    1981
149	Abacab – Genesis    1981
148	Perfect Strangers – Deep Purple 1984
147	Enough is Enough – April Wine   1982
146	Still of the Night – Whitesnake 1987
145	Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins    1983
144	All You Zombies – The Hooters   1985
143	Cum on Feel the Noize – Quiet Riot  1983
142	I Feel For You – Chaka Khan 1984
141	Dirty Boulevard – Lou Reed  1989
140	Why Me? – Planet P Project  1983
139	Super Freak – Rick James    1981
138	Jessie's Girl – Rick Springfield    1981
137	The Lovecats – The Cure 1983
136	Fast Car – Tracy Chapman    1988
135	Keep on Loving You – REO Speedwagon 1980
134	For Whom the Bell Tolls – Metallica 1984
133	Mony Mony – Billy Idol  1981
132	Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood   1983
131	When We Was Fab – George Harrison   1988
130	Material Girl – Madonna 1984
129	Learning to Fly – Pink Floyd    1987
128	1999 – Prince   1982
127	Love is Like a Rock – Donnie Iris   1981
126	Girls on Film – Duran Duran 1981
125	Kiss This Thing Goodbye – Del Amitri   1989
124	Whip It – Devo  1980
123	Tempted – Squeeze   1981
122	Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears 1985
121	She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby  1982
120	I Know What Boys Like – The Waitresses  1980
119	One Thing Leads to Another – The Fixx   1983
118	Heat of the Moment – Asia   1982
117	Working for the Weekend – Loverboy  1981
116	Radio Free Europe – R.E.M.  1981
115	Rock You Like a Hurricane – Scorpions   1984
114	Stop Draggin' My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks    1981
113	Message of Love – The Pretenders    1981
112	Don't You Want Me – The Human League    1981
111	Emotional Rescue – The Rolling Stones   1980
110	Rock the Casbah – The Clash 1982
109	Honeysuckle Blue – Drivin N Cryin   1989
108	You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC 1980
107	Purple Rain – Prince    1984
106	Love Stinks – The J. Geils Band 1980
105	I Got You – Split Enz   1980
104	White Wedding - Pt. 1 – Billy Idol  1982
103	Fight for Your Right – Beastie Boys 1986
102	You Got Lucky – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers   1982
101	Waiting on a Friend – The Rolling Stones    1981

Vintage 80's (51 - 100)

100	Stray Cat Strut – Stray Cats    1981
99	Limelight – Rush    1981
98	In the Mood – Robert Plant  1983
97	Rapture – Blondie   1981 A song and band way ahead of their time
96	Let it Go – Def Leppard 1981 Might be the best track on what could be the band's best album
95	I Ran (So Far Away) – Flock of Seagulls 1982 MTV classic
94	Do You Believe in Love – Huey Lewis & The News  1982
93	Misled – Kool & the Gang    1984 Extremely underrated song from a middling album, but Kool & the Gang is one of my all-time faves
92	Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen  1980 Always wondered how a 50's song got on my brand new The Game album when I listened to it as a kid
91	Allied Forces – Triumph 1981 Vastly underrated album, and the title track slays
90	Exhuming McCarthy – R.E.M.  1987 This is a personal favorite from the stellar late 80's Document album
89	Cuts Like A Knife – Bryan Adams 1983
88	Knockin' at Your Back Door – Deep Purple    1984 We got two great tracks from an underrated Perfect Strangers album
87	Feel it Again – Honeymoon Suite 1986 Felt like this band would be a one album wonder. Nope, followed it up with an equally good second
86	Closer to Fine – Indigo Girls   1989 Atlanta legends. Their best song
85	Thriller – Michael Jackson  1982 Great video, but the song is great, too
84	I'm Gonna Follow You – Pat Benatar  1981 Always one of my faves. One of the first MTV videos as well
83	Your Love is Driving Me Crazy – Sammy Hagar 1982
82	Blackout – Scorpions    1982 Amazing album, amazing title track
81	Since You're Gone – The Cars    1981 Love the guitar and bass work on this one. Understated, but brilliant, song
80	Give the People What They Want – The Kinks  1981 Title track from one of my fave albums of the 80's, and otherwise not much of a Kinks fan, so that is saying something
79	Tweeter And The Monkey Man – The Traveling Wilburys 1988 Dylan at his best
78	Listen Like Thieves – INXS  1985
77	Rainbow in the Dark – Dio   1983 Legendary voice
76	Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) – Elton John  1982 Song always gets me
75	White Lies – Jason & the Scorchers  1985 One of the great bands to come out of Nashville in the 80's. They probably have a half dozen in my top 440, but only this one makes this list
74	West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys  1984
73	Freewill – Rush 1980
72	Bullet the Blue Sky – U2    1987
71	Freeze-Frame – The J. Geils Band    1981
70	Voices Carry – Til Tuesday  1985 Haunting voice
69	The Untouchable One – Tom Cochrane  1987 Two great tracks on this album from Mr. Life Is A Highway
68	Here Comes Your Man – Pixies    1989
67	Rebel Yell – Billy Idol 1983
66	She's Tight – Cheap Trick   1982 Went to see Cheap Trick last year and they didn't even play this song. WTF!
65	Industrial Disease – Dire Straits   1982 All-time fave Dire Straits song, and that's saying something with Brothers in Arms comp
64	No Myth – Michael Penn  1989 Loved this song the first time I heard it
63	Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne    1983
62	Lunatic Fringe – Red Rider  1981 Tom Cochrane shows up again
61	Walk This Way – Run DMC 1986 Brilliant decision to cover this song
60	Copperhead Road – Steve Earle   1988 One of the great 80's-90's voices
59	Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads  1980
58	Radioactive – The Firm  1985 Jimmy and Paul project, had to be at least good, and this song was way better than good
57	Angel of Harlem – U2    1988 Great album, great song
56	Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes 1983 Best song from an album full of great ones
55	The Spirit Of Radio – Rush  1980
54	Home Sweet Home – Motley Crue   1985
53	Juke Box Hero – Foreigner   1981 My kid's favorite 80's song from all my playlists. Who can argue with that?
52	Hot for Teacher – Van Halen 1984 Great video overshadows a great song a bit
51	Spirits in the Material World – The Police  1981

Special Tracks (26-50)

50	Fall on Me – R.E.M. 1986 One of their top 5 songs ever, from what arguably could be their best album
49	Little Red Corvette – Prince    1983 Played at every frat party I ever attended
48	I Love Rock 'N Roll – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts   1981 Raise your hand if you love Joan Jett. Her breakthrough song that was played so much you'd think we'd hate it by now. Nope.
47	Welcome to the Jungle – Guns 'N Roses   1987 Powerhouse album, one of the best first albums of all-time, and this song is just as powerful today as it was then
46	Another One Bites the Dust – Queen  1980 Another great bass part here from one of the best bands of the 70's & 80's
45	Tom Sawyer – Rush   1981 Intro track from one of the top rock albums of the 80's. Side one was perfect, side two, not far behind.
44	We Got the Beat – Go Go's   1980 Yes, they had the beat. Up tempo fun
43	Foolin' – Def Leppard   1983 Smokin'
42	Caught Up In You – 38 Special   1982 Another great song from one of the south's best rock bands
41	Back in Black – AC/DC   1980 Title track from perhaps the best hard rock album of all time. What a comeback after Bon's tragic passing.
40	Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones    1981 Best track from a surprisingly deep Tattoo You album
39	Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns 'N Roses 1987 I still remember the first time I heard this song. Wow!
38	Jump – Van Halen    1984 Eddie plays keyboards? We like
37	Beat It – Michael Jackson   1982 Eddie made this song go
36	Don't Stop Believin' – Journey  1981 The Soprano's brought this classic rocker back into the mainstream and we are all the better for it
35	Smokin' In The Boys Room – Motley Crue  1985 Doesn't get any more Motley Crue than this great track
34	Infatuation – Rod Stewart   1984 Vintage Rod track that doesn't get the love it deserves
33	New World Man – Rush    1982 How do you follow up one of the greatest rock albums of all time? Release an album with songs like this on it
32	Boy Inside the Man – Tom Cochrane   1986 No idea why most don't know this song
31	Trip Through Your Wires – U2    1987 Personal indulgence here. Might be the 6th best song on a great album if you listen to rock critics, but it just always made me happy. Good enough for me
30	Run to the Hills – Iron Maiden  1982 Great song, cool video
29	I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow  1982 MTV song for sure, and I'm not saying that video didn't sway me, but the song still holds up so well after 40+ years
28	Unchained – Van Halen   1981 Raw energy from a broody and underrated album
27	Rock of Ages – Def Leppard  1983 Admit it. You still say Gunter Glieben Glauchen Globen in the correct voice whenever this song comes on the radio, right?
26	Cool the Engines – Boston   1986 My favorite Boston song ever, and yes, it's even better than the songs on their more popular first two albums

25	New Girl Now – Honeymoon Suite  1984 This Canadian band didn't have a ton of longevity, but what they did do was produce two stellar rock albums in the early/mid 80's, and the first one generated this catchy track
24	Round and Round – Ratt  1984 Brilliant move to put Uncle Milty in this video, but the song didn't need it. This track made metal more accessible to the mainstream
23	Shake it Up – The Cars  1981 Not their greatest album, but it generated two of their best tracks of the decade
22	Crimson and Clover – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts    1982 Joan liked her covers and here's another one. Let's not forget the Blackhearts were the real deal and it certainly shows here
21	Don't Tell Me You Love Me – Night Ranger    1982 If you haven't pieced it together yet, I lean towards guitar-led artists, and the guitar intro and overall work here is peak 80's
20	(Oh) Pretty Woman – Van Halen   1982 Another cover that just works
19	Stone Cold – Rainbow    1982 Joe Lynn Turner is a sneaky all-timer rock voice, and it shows on this one. Easily my favorite Rainbow track of all time
18	You've Got Another Thing Coming – Judas Priest  1982 I wanna bounce up and down every time I hear this song. Legendary metal track
17	Stone in Love – Journey 1981 It's the guitar, guitar, guitar for me on this one. Amazing song from the great Escape album that generated so many good tunes
16	Lonely is the Night – Billy Squier  1981 I'm on the record as saying side one of Billy's "Don't Say No" album is just about as good as it got in the 80's. And this is the first track of side two! That's how deep that album is, but this is definitely my favorite track from that work
15	Panama – Van Halen  1984 VH w/ DLR went out with a bang in '84. What a colossal album that generated iconic tracks all over the place. It's hard to really say one is better than the other, but choices had to be made and this one gets the nod as the best track on that stupendous album
14	Centerfold – The J. Geils Band  1981 This band had it all, from lead singer, to lead guitar, the supporting cast and live performances. And this video is so iconic. Probably represents the 80's as well as any song could
13	Jack & Diane – John Mellencamp  1982 Another iconic video and song from the fantastic American Fool album. Everyone wanted to be Johnny Cougar back then, sorry I meant Mellencamp
12	Burnin' for You – Blue Oyster Cult  1981 This is another video that got extended play on MTV in the early days. The video was nothing special. The song, however, was extraordinary, which is why we watched it over and over
11	Subdivisions – Rush 1982 The best song on the great Signals album. The theme of this song really resonated at the time, and still does
10	Burning Down the House – Talking Heads  1983 My first ever rock concert was the Talking Heads. It was on this tour, and this song really grabbed me and hasn't let go to this day
9	No One Like You – Scorpions 1982 Okay, so this was the theme song for my senior prom, but that's not the reason it made it this high on the list. It's another song that helped bridge metal to a larger audience. And it's just a great track in every respect
8	The Killing Moon – Echo & the Bunnymen  1984 Okay, we've all used the word haunting as it relates to certain tracks, but I think this is the poster child for that. There's just something about how the piano and guitars all come together to deliver this amazing song. It helped open my eyes to a broader set of musical artists, so for that I am appreciative. But mostly I just love the song
7	Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne 1980 I still remember when someone dropped Blizzard of Oz into the 8-track player as we rolled down the road back in high school. My life changed forever. And this song especially got me. And crazily, I think the song is as popular now as it was then. I think that says as much about it as anything. RIP to Oz and Randy
6	Get It On (Bang a Gong) – The Power Station 1985 Wow! What a powerful song. Tony Thompson's drumming and Robert Palmer's vocals are utilized to their max potential. Sadly, other than one other track, this one album did not live up to expectations. But, dang, if they didn't nail this one
5	Every Little Thing She Does is Magic – The Police   1981 Okay, I am not a Synchronicity guy. Fine album. Just didn't love it. But I loved every single album of theirs leading up to that. And while Ghost in the Machine may not have been their best album, it produced my favorite song. And I really enjoyed the video
4	Our Lips Are Sealed – Go Go's   1981 I was an unapologetic Go Go's fan back in the day. And while there's probably a dozen or more songs of theirs that I loved, it's gotta be this one. Just so fun. Could listen to it on a loop and would be fine
3	Hold on Loosely – 38 Special    1981 I'm sure this is higher on this list than others would place it. Tough. This is a great southern anthem song that sounds as crisp and perfect today as it did back then. It's one of those tracks that when it comes on, I drop what I'm doing if even for an instant to acknowledge the greatness I'm hearing
2	Photograph – Def Leppard    1983 Pyromania is one of those albums where I used to change what my favorite track was from the album all the time. I mean, it's practically a greatest hits collection. But I have to come back to the song that started it all, and it's this one. And while Hysteria is probably their most loaded album, this might be their best track from their best album. High 'N Dry might have something to say about that. But, no matter your opinion, you can't deny the iconic nature of this song
1	When Doves Cry – Prince 1984 I truthfully had no idea what song would land at the top of this list. But as I kept narrowing things down and eventually started comparing songs against each other, there was no stopping this Prince classic. The mixture of Prince's vocals and the outstanding guitar work exhibited here make it catnip for my ears. All hail When Doves Cry, the best track of the 80's!

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