The Best Pop Songs of the 80s

What are the best pop songs from the 1980s?

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Initially the term was an abbreviation of, and synonymous with, popular music, but evolved around the 1950s to describe a specific musical category. Pop songs are generally marked by a consistent and noticeable rhythmic element, a mainstream style and traditional structure. The most common variant is strophic in form and focuses on melodies, catchy hooks and the appeal of the verse-chorus-verse arrangement, with the chorus sharply contrasting the verse melodically, rhythmically and harmonically.

Some of the most common themes in pop music are romantic love and feelings. Pop music often uses the technique of taking themes from other records producing a satirical or self-referential mixture of past styles. It also employs techniques of sampling and sequencing to introduce individuality and creativity.

The mutual benefits the film and music industries could afford each other were evidenced in this decade by the songs from movie soundtracks that became chart-toppers: "Eye of the Tiger" from 1982's Rocky III, "Flashdance... What a Feeling" from Flashdance, "Footloose" and "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" from movies by the same names, "Into the Groove" from Desperately Seeking Susan, and "Say You, Say Me" from White Nights.

The rock genre delivered a good number of pop hits this decade, with bands otherwise protective of their roots delving briefly into commercialism. Such as "Centerfold," "Every Breath You Take," "Down under," "I Want to Know What Love Is," and "Sweet Child o' Mine."

Producers wishing to multiply their markets tried bringing two accomplished acts together, aggregating the fans of one to those of the other. The concept worked, and the following combinations became hits: "Endless Love," "Ebony and Ivory," "Say Say Say," and "On My Own."

Pop music came of age in this decade, crowning its own King and Queen ( Michael Jackson and Madonna ) of the popular music, rock artists that left behind them histories with other styles and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to, or began whole careers in, rock music. Primary examples are "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Like a Virgin," "Papa Don't Preach," "Bad," "Dirty Diana," and "Like a Prayer."

Located below you will find a list of some of the best pop songs of the 1980s. For your convenience, we have included links to the sheet music on Sheetmusicplus.com as well as the CD on Amazon.com whenever available. If you are looking to purchase the mp3 or would like to listen to a sample, then click on either the Amazon, Rhapsody, or iTunes links.

Rhapsody provides both music subscriptions as well as individual mp3s for sale in WMA format and iTunes only provides MPEG-4 audio files for sale. However, Amazon does offer mp3s that are compatible with both Windows Media Player and iTunes. For more information about where to purchase music online, we provide it on our Music Downloads page or our Music Subscriptions page.


These singles are considered among the best pop songs to hit the charts in the 1980s.

  1. "Against All Odds" performed by Phil Collins
     Find it on:  Phil Collins - Phil Collins: Hits - Against All Odds   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  2. "Bad" performed by Michael Jackson
     Find it on:  Michael Jackson - Essential Michael Jackson - Bad   Amazon CD   Amazon MP3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  3. "Beat It" performed by Michael Jackson
     Find it on:  Michael Jackson - Thriller - Beat It   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  4. "Billie Jean" performed by Michael Jackson
     Find it on:  Michael Jackson - Thriller - Billie Jean   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  5. "Borderline" performed by Madonna
     Find it on:  Madonna - Madonna - Borderline   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  6. "Call Me" performed by Blondie
     Find it on:  Blondie - Greatest Hits - Call Me   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  7. "Candle in the Wind" performed by Elton John
     Find it on:  Elton John - Elton John: The Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - Candle in the Wind   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  8. "Can't We Try" performed by Dan Hill
     Find it on:  Amazon CD   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  9. "Centerfold" performed by J. Geils Band
     Find it on:  The J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame - Centerfold   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  10. "Circle in the Sand" performed by Belinda Carlisle
     Find it on:  Belinda Carlisle - Belinda Carlisle: Her Greatest Hits - Circle In the Sand   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  11. "Come On Eileen" performed by Dexy's Midnight Runners
     Find it on:  Dexy's Midnight Runners & Kevin Rowland - I Want My 80's Box! (Box Set) - Come On Eileen   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  12. "Dirty Diana" performed by Michael Jackson
     Find it on:  Michael Jackson - Essential Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana   Amazon CD   Amazon MP3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  13. "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" performed by Culture Club
     Find it on:  Boy George And Culture Club - At Worst... The Best of Boy George and Culture Club - Do You Really Want to Hurt Me   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  14. "Dress You Up" performed by Madonna
     Find it on:  Madonna - Like a Virgin - Dress You Up   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  15. "Down Under" performed by Men at Work
     Find it on:  Men at Work - The Best of Men at Work: Contraband - Down Under   Amazon CD   Amazon MP3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  16. "Eat It" performed by Weird Al Yankovic
     Find it on:  "Weird Al" Yankovic & Mike Kieffer - "Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits - Eat It   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  17. "Ebony and Ivory" performed by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
     Find it on:  Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - All the Best - Ebony and Ivory   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  18. "Endless Summer Nights" performed by Richard Marx
     Find it on:  Richard Marx - Richard Marx: Greatest Hits - Endless Summer Nights   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  19. "Eternal Flame" performed by The Bangles
     Find it on:  The Bangles - The Essential Bangles - Eternal Flame   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  20. "Even The Nights Are Better" performed by Air Supply
     Find it on:  Air Supply - Ultimate Air Supply - Even the Nights Are Better   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  21. "Every Breath You Take" performed by the Police
     Find it on:  The Police - The Very Best of Sting & The Police - Every Breath You Take   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  22. "Faith" performed by George Michael
     Find it on:  George Michael - Ladies & Gentlemen - The Best of George Michael - Faith   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  23. "Flashdance... What A Feeling" performed by Irene Cara
     Find it on:  Irene Cara - Music Inspired By Dancing With the Stars - Flashdance?What a Feeling   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  24. "Footloose" performed by Kenny Loggins
     Find it on:  Kenny Loggins - Footloose (15th Anniversary Collectors' Edition) - Footloose   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody
  25. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" performed by Cyndi Lauper
     Find it on:  Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual (Remastered) - Girls Just Want to Have Fun   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  26. "Gloria" performed by Laura Branigan
     Find it on:  Laura Branigan - Branigan - Gloria   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  27. "Hard Habit to Break" performed by Chicago
     Find it on:  Chicago - Chicago 17 - Hard Habit to Break   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  28. "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" performed by Chicago
     Find it on:  Chicago - The Very Best of Chicago - Only the Beginning - Hard to Say I'm Sorry / Get Away   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  29. "Hazy Shade of Winter" performed by The Bangles
     Find it on:  The Bangles - Bangles: Greatest Hits - Hazy Shade of Winter   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  30. "Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)" performed by Air Supply
     Find it on:  Air Supply - The Definitive Collection - Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was over You)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  31. "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" performed by Michael Bolton
     Find it on:  Michael Bolton - Greatest Hits 1985-1995 - How Am I Supposed to Live Without You   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  32. "I Found Someone" performed by Cher
     Find it on:  Cher - Cher - I Found Someone   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  33. "I Made It Through the Rain" performed by Barry Manilow
     Find it on:  Barry Manilow - Ultimate Manilow - I Made It Through the Rain   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  34. "I'll Be Over You" performed by Toto
     Find it on:  Toto - The Essential Toto - I'll Be Over You   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  35. "I'm Still Standing" performed by Elton John
     Find it on:  Elton John - Elton John: The Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - I'm Still Standing   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  36. "Into the Groove" performed by Madonna
     Find it on:  Madonna - The Immaculate Collection - Into the Groove   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  37. "It Might Be You" performed by Stephen Bishop
     Find it on:  Stephen Bishop - More Themes & Tunes from Movies & Television - It Might Be You (From "Tootsie")   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  38. "I've Had the Time of My Life" performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
     Find it on:  Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - Dirty Dancing (Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) - (I've Had) The Time of My Life   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  39. "Karma Chameleon" performed by Culture Club
     Find it on:  Boy George And Culture Club - At Worst... The Best of Boy George and Culture Club - Karma Chameleon   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  40. "Kokomo" performed by Beach Boys
     Find it on:  The Beach Boys - Sounds of Summer - The Very Best of the Beach Boys - Kokomo   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Sheetmusicplus
  41. "Life In A Northern Town" performed by The Dream Academy
     Find it on:  The Dream Academy - The Dream Academy - Life In a Northern Town   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody
  42. "Like a Prayer" performed by Madonna
     Find it on:  Madonna - Like a Prayer - Like a Prayer   Amazon CD   Amazon MP3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  43. "Like A Virgin" performed by Madonna
     Find it on:  Madonna - The Immaculate Collection - Like a Virgin   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  44. "Maneater" performed by Hall & Oates
     Find it on:  Daryl Hall & John Oates - The Very Best of Daryl Hall and John Oates - Maneater   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  45. "Mickey" performed by Toni Basil
     Find it on:  Toni Basil - The Best of Toni Basil - Mickey and Other Love Songs - Mickey   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody
  46. "Never Gonna Let You Go" performed by Sergio Mendes
     Find it on:  Sergio Mendes - Pure 80's Love - The #1 Hits - Never Gonna Let You Go   Amazon CD   Sheetmusicplus
  47. "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" performed by Glenn Medeiros
     Find it on:  Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  48. "On My Own" performed by Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
     Find it on:  Michael McDonald & Patty Labelle - Patti LaBelle: Greatest Hits - On My Own   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  49. "One Good Woman" performed by Peter Cetera
     Find it on:  Peter Cetera - One More Story - One Good Woman   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  50. "Only in my Dreams" performed by Debbie Gibson
     Find it on:  Debbie Gibson - Greatest Hits - Only In My Dreams   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  51. "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)" performed by Enya
     Find it on:  Enya - Paint the Sky with Stars - The Best of Enya - Orinoco Flow   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Sheetmusicplus
  52. "Our Lips are Sealed" performed by The Go-Go's
     Find it on:  The Go-Go's - Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's - Our Lips Are Sealed   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  53. "Papa Don't Preach" performed by
     Find it on:  Madonna - The Immaculate Collection - Papa Don't Preach   Amazon CD   Amazon MP3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  54. "Physical" performed by Olivia Newton-John
     Find it on:  Olivia Newton-John - Physical - Physical   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  55. "Pride (In the Name Of Love)" performed by U2
     Find it on:  U2 - The Unforgettable Fire - Pride (In the Name of Love)   Amazon CD   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  56. "Rock Me Amadeus" performed by Falco
     Find it on:  Falco - Falco 3 - Rock Me Amadeus (Ihn Liebten Alle Frauen...)   Amazon CD   Rhapsody
  57. "Say Say Say" performed by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
     Find it on:  Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson - Pipes of Peace - Say Say Say   Amazon CD   Amazon MP3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  58. "Say You, Say Me" performed by Lionel Richie
     Find it on:  Lionel Richie - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Lionel Richie - Say You, Say Me   Amazon CD   Amazon MP3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  59. "Separate Lives" performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
     Find it on:  Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin - Phil Collins: Hits - Separate Lives   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  60. "She's Got a Way" performed by Billy Joel
     Find it on:  Billy Joel - Songs In the Attic - She's Got a Way   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  61. "She's Like The Wind" performed by Patrick Swayze
     Find it on:  Patrick Swayze featuring Wendy Fraser - Dirty Dancing (Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) - She's Like the Wind   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Sheetmusicplus
  62. "Should've Known Better" performed by Richard Marx
     Find it on:  Richard Marx - Richard Marx: Greatest Hits - Should've Known Better   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  63. "Time After Time" performed by Cyndi Lauper
     Find it on:  Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual - Time After Time   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  64. "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" performed by Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
     Find it on:  Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias - Half Nelson - To All the Girls I've Loved Before (With Julio Iglesias)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  65. "Too Shy" performed by Kajagoogoo
     Find it on:  Kajagoogoo and Limahl - Kajagoogoo and Limahl: Too Shy - The Singles and More - Too Shy   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  66. "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" performed by Bonnie Tyler
     Find it on:  Bonnie Tyler - Mullets Rock! Too! : Mullets In Love - Total Eclipse of the Heart   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  67. "Up Where We Belong" performed by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
     Find it on:  Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes - Greatest Love Songs - Up Where We Belong   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  68. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" performed by Wham!
     Find it on:  Wham! - Make It Big - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  69. "Walk Like An Egyptian" performed by the Bangles
     Find it on:  The Bangles - Bangles: Greatest Hits - Walk Like an Egyptian   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  70. "What I Like About You" performed by Romantics
     Find it on:  The Romantics - Radio Hits of the '80s - What I Like About You   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  71. "When I'm With You" performed by Sheriff
     Find it on:  Simple Plan - No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls - When I'm With You   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Sheetmusicplus
  72. "When The Night Comes" performed by Joe Cocker
     Find it on:  Joe Cocker - The Best of Joe Cocker - When the Night Comes   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  73. "Whip It" performed by Devo
     Find it on:  Devo - Freedom of Choice - Whip It   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  74. "With Or Without You" performed by U2
     Find it on:  U2 - U218 Singles (Deluxe Version) - With or Without You   Amazon CD   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  75. "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" performed by New Kids On The Block
     Find it on:  New Kids on the Block - Hangin' Tough - You've Got It (The Right Stuff)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
  76. "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" performed by Dead or Alive
     Find it on:  Dead or Alive - Rip It Up - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)   Amazon CD   Amazon mp3s   Rhapsody


The Best Songs Music Line

Find some of the best songs of the 1980s by selecting one of the links below:



Click on any of the links below to find the:



The Best Songs