The 100 Greatest Songs Of The 80s as chosen by YOU

Virgin Radio

3 Jan 2023, 11:29

We asked, and you delivered! Here are the 100 greatest songs of the 1980s. 

It was a decade that debuted numerous new genres, styles and instrumental techniques, so it’s no surprise we look back on the 80s with such affection. 

To celebrate the launch of Virgin Radio 80s Plus, Virgin Radio asked you to vote for the tracks that defined the decade, and after weeks of deliberating, we now have the list of the 100 top tracks that 80s lovers can’t live without. 

Here are Virgin Radio’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s - as chosen by YOU!

100) Heaven 17 - Temptation

99) Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now

98) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax

97) Eurythmics - There Must Be An Angel

96) George Michael - Careless Whisper

95) Soul II Soul - Back To Life

94) Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

93) Men At Work - Down Under

92) Duran Duran - Girls On Film

91) Starship - Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now

90) Wham! - Club Tropicana

89) Madonna - Into The Groove

88) Prince - Purple Rain

87) David Bowie - China Girl

86) The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored

85) The Jam - A Town Called Malice

84) Duran Duran - The Reflex

83) Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is

82) The Clash - Rock The Casbah

81) Bruce Springsteen - Born In The Usa

80) Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

79) Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure

78) Madness - House Of Fun

77) Adam And The Ants - Prince Charming

76) Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth

75) Michael Jackson - Thriller

74) Prince - 1999

73) Madonna - Like A Prayer

72) Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill

71) ABC - The Look Of Love

70) Kiss - Crazy, Crazy Nights

69) Tina Turner - What’s Love Got To Do With It

68) King - Love & Pride

67) John Parr - St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)

66) T'Pau - China In Your Hand

65) The Housemartins - Happy Hour

64) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love

63) Van Halen - Jump

62) Terence Trent D'arby - Sign Your Name

61) Queen - Another One Bites The Dust

60) The Specials - Ghost Town

59) Madonna - Papa Don’t Preach

58) Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal

57) New Order - Blue Monday

56) Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind

55) The Stone Roses - Fools Gold

54) Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

53) U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name

52) The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go

51) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes

50) Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

49) Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

48) Madness - Our House

47) Queen - Radio Ga Ga

46) Tears For Fears - Shout

45) INXS - Never Tear Us Apart

44) U2 - I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

43) Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart

42) The Police- Every Breath You Take

41) The La’s - There She Goes

40) Erasure - A Little Respect

39) Europe - The Final Countdown

38) The Bangles - Manic Monday

37) Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go

36) Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy

35) Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

34) Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

33) Bob Marley And The Wailers - Could You Be Loved

32) Madonna - Holiday

31) Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy

30) Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

29) The Proclaimers - I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)

28) Giorgio Moroder And Phil Oakey - Together In Electric Dreams

27) Madness - It Must Be Love

26) The Communards - Don’t Leave Me This Way

25) Spandau Ballet - True

24) Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

23) Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

22) U2 - With Or Without You

21) Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer

20) Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus

19) Madonna - Like A Virgin

18) Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

17) David Bowie - Let's Dance

16) Pet Shop Boys - It’s A Sin

15) The Human League - Don’t You Want Me

14) Toto - Africa

13) Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

12) Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls

11) Bryan Adams - Summer Of ‘69

10) The B-52's - Love Shack

9) Queen - I Want To Break Free

8) Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough

7) Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams

6) Soft Cell - Tainted Love

5) Spandau Ballet - Gold

4) Culture Club - Karma Chameleon

3) Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine

2) A-ha - Take On Me

1) Simple Minds - Don’t You Forget About Me

Did your favourite make the list?

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