The 1980s Billboard Music Charts – Top Hits
The 1980s were one of the most exciting and influential decades in music history, and the Billboard Hot 100 was at the center of it all. From Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince to Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston and U2, the decade produced unforgettable songs that topped the charts and became part of the soundtrack of a generation. Synth-pop, new wave, hair metal, hip-hop, dance music and power ballads all found their place on Billboard, creating a remarkably diverse musical landscape. These are some of the biggest and most memorable Billboard hits of the 1980s, songs that continue to bring back memories of growing up in the ’80s.
Popular Music from the Year 1980
*1 CALL ME
Blondie (#1, April)
*2 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (Part 2)
Pink Floyd (#1, March)
*3 MAGIC
Olivia Newton-John (#1, Aug)
*4 ROCK WITH YOU
Michael Jackson (#1, Jan)
*5 DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME
The Captain and Tennille (#1, Feb)
*6 CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE
Queen (#1, Feb)
*7 COMING UP (Live At Glasgow)/
COMING UP
Paul McCartney and Wings (#1, June)
*8 FUNKYTOWN
Lipps Inc. (#1, May)
*9 IT'S STILL ROCK & ROLL TO ME
Billy Joel (#1, July)
10 THE ROSE
Bette Midler (#3, June)
*11 ESCAPE (The Pina Colada Song)
Rupert Holmes (#1, Dec 1979)
12 CARS
Gary Numan (#9, June)
13 CRUSIN'
Smokey Robinson (#4, Feb)
14 WORKING MY WAY BACK TOYOU/FORGIVE ME GIRL (Medley)
The Spinners (#2, March)
15 LOST IN LOVE
Air Supply (#3, May)
16 LITTLE JEANNIE
Elton John (#3, July)
17 RIDE LIKE THE WIND
Christopher Cross (#2, April)
*18 UPSIDE DOWN
Diana Ross (#1, Sept)
*19 PLEASE DON'T GO
K.C. and the Sunshine Band (#1, Jan)
*20 BABE
Styx (#1, Dec 1979)
Popular Music from the Year 1981
*1 BETTE DAVIS EYES
Kim Carnes (#1, May)
*2 ENDLESS LOVE
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (#1, Aug)
*3 LADY
Kenny Rogers (#1, Nov 1980)
*4 (Just Like) STARTING OVER
John Lennon (#1, Dec 1980)
*5 JESSIE'S GIRL
Rick Springfield (#1, Aug)
*6 CELEBRATION
Kool and the Gang (#1, Feb)
*7 KISS ON MY LIST
Daryl Hall and John Oates (#1, April)
*8 I LOVE A RAINY NIGHT
Eddie Rabbitt (#1, Feb)
*9 9 TO 5
Dolly Parton (#1, Feb)
*10 KEEP ON LOVING YOU
REO Speedwagon (#1, March)
11 THE THEME FORM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (Believe It Or Not)
Joey Scarbury (#2, Aug)
*12 MORNING TRAIN (Nine To Five)
Sheena Easton (#1, May)
13 BEING WITH YOU
Smokey Robinson (#2, May)
14 QUEEN OF HEARTS
Juice Newton (#2, Sept)
*15 RAPTURE
Blondie (#1, March)
16 A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (Just Like You Do)
Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio (#4, June)
*17 THE TIDE IS HIGH
Blondie (#1, Jan)
18 JUST THE TWO OF US
Grover Wasington Jr. (with Bill Withers) (#2, May)
19 SLOW HAND
The Pointer Sisters (#2, Aug)
20 I LOVE YOU
The Climax Blues Band (#12, June)
Popular Music from the Year 1982
*1 PHYSICAL
Olivia Newton-John (MCA) (#1, Nov 1981)
*2 EYE OF THE TIGER
Survivor (Scotti Brothers) (#1, July)
*3 I LOVE ROCK 'N' ROLL
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Boardwalk) (#1, March)
*4 EBONY AND IVORY
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder (Columbia) (#1, May)
*5 CENTERFOLD
The J. Geils Band (EMI-America) (#1, Feb)
*6 DON'T YOU WANT ME
The Human League (A&M/Virgin) (#1, July)
*7 JACK AND DIANE
John Cougar (Mellencamp) (Riva) (#1, Oct)
8 HURTS SO GOOD
John Cougar (Mellencamp) (Riva) (#2, Aug)
*9 ABRACADABRA
The Steve Miller Band (Capitol) (#1, Sept)
*10 HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY
Chicago (Full Moon) (#1, Sept)
11. TAINTED LOVE/
WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO
Soft Cell (Sire) (#8, July)
*12 CHARIOTS OF FIRE - TITLES
Vangelis (Polydor) (#1, May)
13 HARDEN MY HEART
Quarterflash (Geffen) (#3, Feb)
14 ROSANNA
Toto (Columbia) (#2, July)
*15 I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (No Can Do)
Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) (#1, Jan)
16 867-5309/JENNY
Tommy Tutone (Columbia) (#4, May)
17 KEY LARGO
Bertie Higgins (Kat Family) (#8, April)
18 YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU
Melissa Manchester (Arista) (#5, Sept)
19 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU
Foreigner (Atlantic) (#2, Nov 1981)
20 DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS
Rick Springfield (RCA) (#2, May)
Popular Music from the Year 1983
*1 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
The Police (A&M) (#1, July)
*2 BILLIE JEAN
Michael Jackson (Epic) (#1, March)
*3 FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING
Irene Cara (Casablanca) (#1, May)
*4 DOWN UNDER
Men At Work (Columbia) (#1, Jan)
*5 BEAT IT
Michael Jackson (Epic) (#1, April)
*6 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
Bonnie Tyler (Colimbia) (#1, Oct)
*7 MANEATER
Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) (#1, Dec 1982)
*8 BABY COME TO ME
Patti Austin and James Ingram (Qwest) (#1, Feb)
*9 MANIAC
Michael Sembello (Casablanca) (#1, Sept)
*10 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This)
The Eurythmics (RCA) (#1, Sept)
11 DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME
Culture Club (Virgin) (#2, March)
12 YOU AND I
Eddie Rabbitt with Crystal Gayle (Elektra) (#7, Feb)
*13 COME ON EILEEN
Dexy's Midnight Runner's (Mercury) (#1, April)
14 SHAME ON THE MOON
Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol) (#2, Feb)
15 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY
Donna Summer (Mercury) (#3, Aug)
16 NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO
Sergio Mendes (A&M) (#4, July)
17 HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
Duran Duran (Capitol) (#3, March)
*18 LET'S DANCE
David Bowie (EMI-America) (#1, May)
19 TWILIGHT ZONE
Golden Earring (21 Records) (#10, March)
20 I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON
Frida (Atlantic) (#13, March)
Popular Music from the Year 1984
*1 WHEN DOVES CRY
Prince and the Revolution (Warner Brothers) (#1, July)
*2 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
Tina Turner (Capitol) (#1, Sept)
*3 SAY, SAY, SAY
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (#1, Dec 1983)
*4 FOOTLOOSE
Kenny Loggins (Columbia) (#1, March)
*5 AGAINST ALL ODDS (Take a Look at Me Now)
Phil Collins (Atlantic) (#1, April)
*6 JUMP
Van Halen (Warner Brothers) (#1, Feb)
*7 HELLO
Lionel Richie (#1, May)
*8 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART
Yes (Atco) (#1, Jan)
*9 GHOSTBUSTERS
Ray Parker Jr. (Arista) (#1, Aug)
*10 KARMA CHAMELEON
Culture Club (Virgin) (#1, Feb)
*11 MISSING YOU
John Waite (EMI-America) (#1, Sept)
*12 ALL NIGHT LONG (All Night)
Lionel Richie (Motown) (#1, Nov 1983)
*13 LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY
Denise Williams (Columbia) (#1, May)
14 DANCING IN THE DARK
Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) (#2, June)
15 GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
Cyndi Lauper (Portrait) (#2, March)
*16 THE REFLEX
Duran Duran (Capitol) (#1, June)
*17 TIME AFTER TIME
Cyndi Lauper (Portrait) (#1, June)
18 JUMP (For My Love)
The Pointer Sisters (Planet) (#3, July)
19 TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP
The Romantics (Nemporer) (#3, Jan)
20 SELF CONTROL
Laura Branigan (Atlantic) (#4, June)
Popular Music from the Year 1985
*1 CARELESS WHISPER
Wham! Featuring George Michael (Columbia) (#1, Feb)
*2 LIKE A VIRGIN
Madonna (Sire) (#1, Dec 1984)
*3 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO
Wham! (Columbia) (#1, Nov 1984)
*4 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
Foreigner (Atlantic) (#1, Feb)
5 I FEEL FOR YOU
Chaka Khan (Warner Brothers) (#3, Nov 1984)
*6 OUT OF TOUCH
Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) (#1, Dec 1984)
*7 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD
Tears For Fears (Mercury) (#1, June)
*8 MONEY FOR NOTHING
Dire Straits (Warner Brothers) (#1, Sept)
*9 CRAZY FOR YOU
Madonna (Sire) (#1, May)
*10 TAKE ON ME
A-Ha (Warner Brothers) (#1, Oct)
*11 EVERYTIME YOU GO AWAY
Paul Young (Columbia) (#1, July)
12 EASY LOVER
Philip Bailey with Phil Collins (Columbia) (#2, Feb)
*13 CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING
REO Speedwagon (Epic) (#1, March)
*14 WE BUILT THIS CITY
Starship (Grunt) (#1, Nov)
*15 THE POWER OF LOVE
Huey Lewis and the News (Chysalis) (#1, Aug)
*16 DON'T YOU (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds (A&M) (#1, May)
17 CHERISH
Kool and the Gang (De-Lite) (#2, Sept)
*18 ST. ELMO'S FIRE (Man In Motion)
John Parr (Atlantic) (#1, Sept)
19 THE HEAT IS ON
Glenn Frey (MCA) (#2, March)
*20 WE ARE THE WORLD
USA For Africa (Columbia) (#1, April)
Popular Music from the Year 1986
*1 THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
Dionne and Friends (Arista) (#1, Jan)
*2 SAY YOU, SAY ME
Lionel Richie (Motown) (#1, Dec 1985)
3 I MISS YOU
Klymaxx (Constellation) (#5, Dec 1985)
*4 ON MY OWN
Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald (MCA) (#1, June)
*5 BROKEN WINGS
Mr. Mister (MCA) (#1, Dec 1985)
*6 HOW WILL I KNOW
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, Feb)
7 PARTY ALL THE TIME
Eddie Murphy (Columbia) (#2, Dec 1985)
8 BURNING HEART
Survivor (Scotti Brothers) (#2, Feb)
*9 KYRIE
Mr. Mister (MCA) (#1, March)
*10 ADDICTED TO LOVE
Robert Palmer (Island) (#1, May)
*11 GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, May)
12 SECRET LOVERS
Atlantic Starr (A&M) (#3, March)
13 FRIENDS AND LOVERS
Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson (USA Carrere) (#2, Sept)
*14 GLORY OF LOVE
Peter Cetera (Warner Brothers) (#1, Aug)
*15 WEST END GIRLS
The Pet Shop Boys (EMI-America) (#1, May)
*16 THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS (To Make You Cry)
Billy Ocean (Jive) (#1, July)
17 ALIVE AND KICKING
Simple Minds (Virgin) (#3, Dec 1985)
18 NEVER
Heart (Capitol) (#4, Dec 1985)
*19 KISS
Prince and the Revolution (Paisley Park) (#1, April)
*20 HIGHER LOVE
Steve Winwood (Island) (#1, Aug)
Popular Music from the Year 1987
*1 WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
The Bangles (Columbia) (#1, Dec 1986)
*2 ALONE
Heart (Capitol) (#1, July)
*3 SHAKE YOU DOWN
Gregory Abbott (Columbia) (#1, Jan)
*4 I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, June)
*5 NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW
Starship (Grunt) (#1, April)
6 C'EST LA VIE
Robbie Nevil (EMI-Manhattan) (#2, Jan)
*7 HERE I GO AGAIN
Whitesnake (Geffen) (#1, Oct)
*8 THE WAY IT IS
Bruce Hornsby and the Range (RCA) (#1, Dec 1986)
*9 SHAKEDOWN
Bob Segar (MCA) (#1, Aug)
*10 LIVIN' ON A PRAYER
Bon Jovi (Mercury) (#1, Feb)
*11 LA BAMBA
Los Lobos (Slash) (#1, Aug)
12 EVERYBODY HAVE FUN TONIGHT
Wang Chung (Geffen) (#2, Dec 1986)
13 DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER
Crowded House (Capitol) (#2, April)
*14 ALWAYS
Atlantic Starr (Warner Brothers) (#1, June)
*15 WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
U2 (Island) (#1, May)
16 LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE
Jody Wately (MCA) (#2, May)
*17 HEAD TO TOE
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam (Columbia) (#1, June)
*18 I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW
Tiffany (MCA) (#1, Nov)
*19 MONY MONY "LIVE"
Billy Idol (Chrysalis) (#1, Nov)
*20 AT THIS MOMENT
Billy Vera and the Beatlers (Rhino) (#1, Jan)
Popular Music from the Year 1988
*1 FAITH
George Michael (Columbia) (#1, Dec 1987)
*2 NEED YOU TONIGHT
INXS (Atlantic) (#1, Jan)
*3 GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU
George Harrison (Dark Horse) (#1, Jan)
*4 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
Rick Astley (RCA) (#1, March)
*5 SWEET CHILD O' MINE
Guns N' Roses (Geffen) (#1, Sept)
*6 SO EMOTIONAL
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, Jan)
*7 HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH
Belinda Carlisle (MCA) (#1, Dec 1987)
*8 COULD'VE BEEN
Tiffany (MCA) (#1, Feb)
9 HANDS TO HEAVEN
Breathe (A&M) (#2, Aug)
*10 ROLL WITH IT
Steve Winwood (Virgin) (#1, July)
*11 ONE MORE TRY
George Michael (Columbia) (#1, May)
*12 WISHING WELL
Terence Trent D'Arby (Columbia) (#1, May)
*13 ANYTHING FOR YOU
Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine (Epic) (#1, May)
*14 THE FLAME
Cheap Trick (Epic) (#1, July)
*15 GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR
Billy Ocean (Jive) (#1, April)
*16 SEASONS CHANGE
Expose (Arista) (#1, Feb)
17 IS THIS LOVE
Whitesnake (Geffen) (#2, Dec 1987)
*18 WILD, WILD WEST
The Escape Club (Atlantic) (#1, Nov)
19 POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME
Def Leppard (Mercury) (#2, July)
20 I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
Taylor Dayne (Arista) (#3, Sept)
Popular Music from the Year 1989
*1 LOOK AWAY
Chicago (Reprise) (#1, Dec 1988)
*2 MY PEROGATIVE
Bobby Brown (MCA) (#1, Jan)
*3 EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN
Poison (Enigma) (#1, Dec 1988)
*4 STRAIGHT UP
Paula Abdul (Virgin) (#1, Feb)
*5 MISS YOU MUCH
Janet Jackson (A&M) (#1, Oct)
*6 COLD HEARTED
Paula Abdul (Virgin) (#1, Sept)
*7 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS
Bette Midler (Atlantic) (#1, June)
8 GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE
Milli Vanelli (Arista) (#2, April)
*9 BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY/FREEBIRD MEDLEY (Free Baby)
Will To Power (Epic) (#1, Dec 1988)
10 GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT
Anita Baker (Elektra) (#3, Dec 1988)
*11 RIGHT HERE WAITING
Richard Marx (EMI) (#1, Aug)
12 WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL
Boy Meets Girl (RCA) (#5, Dec 1988)
*13 LOST IN YOUR EYES
Debbie Gibson (Atlantic) (#1, March)
*14 DON'T WANNA LOSE YOU
Gloria Estefan (Epic) (#1, Sept)
15 HEAVEN
Warrant (Columbia) (#2, Sept)
*16 GIRL I'M GONNA MISS YOU
Milli Vanelli (Arista) (#1, Sept)
*17 THE LOOK
Roxette (EMI) (#1, April)
*18 SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY
Fine Young Cannibals (I.R.S.) (#1, April)
19 ON OUR OWN
Bobby Brown (MCA) (#2, Aug)
*20 TWO HEARTS
Phil Collins (Atlantic) (#1, Jan)