Top 10 Songs of the 80's
In the 80's, hundreds upon thousands of songs were released, but only a select few
actually hit the mainstream and graced the Pop charts. How was this list developed?
By using the US Pop Charts, I selected a chart-topping song for each year. Given a
grading system based on position and longevity, three points for each week the song
was number one, two points were given per week the album stayed in the number one
position and one point was given per week the album stayed in the pop charts.
1) Every Breath You Take by The Police
When the Police released their 1983 album, Synchronicity, they achieved commercial
success. Their single, Every Breath You Take would spend eight weeks at number one
in the Pop charts and their album would spend over 50 weeks in the charts.
2) Faith by George Michael
When George released his album Faith in 1987, no one expected the bubblegum pop star
to have such a mature album. His song "Faith," spent four weeks in the number one chart
position and along with other hits "Father Figure" and "I Want Your Sex" helped his
album stay in the charts for 69 weeks.
3) Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston
Whitney's first, self-titled album took a while before it grace the top of the pop charts,
"The Greatest Love of All" along with "How Will I Know" and "Saving All my Love" helped
keep the album in the charts for 78 weeks. "The Greatest Love of All" spent three weeks
at number one.
4) My Prerogative by Bobby Brown
Released in 1989, Bobby Brown's song came off his release Don't Be Cruel. Helping to introduce
a new form of music called New Jack Swing, Bobby's song "My Prerogative" helped his album stay
on the charts for 69 weeks.
5) With or Without You by U2
When U2 released their album, The Joshua Tree, and it would become one of the most important
albums of their career and also for Alternative music of the 80's. Their song, With or Without
You spent three weeks at number one, and helped to keep their album on the charts
for 58 weeks.
6) What's Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner
When 45-year old Tina released her album Private Dancer, no one expected it to be quite
the comeback that it was. It would prove to be her highwater water for the veteran singer.
"What's Love Got To Do With It" was number one for three weeks, and while her album never hit the
top charts, it remained in the charts for 71 weeks.
7) Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
Would anyone ever expected the art-rock, progressive band Pink Floyd to dominate the
Pop charts? Not likely, but they did just that with "Another Brick In The Wall" a single
off their concept album The Wall. It spent 4 weeks in the pop charts, helping the album
remain for 35 weeks on the album charts.
8) Like A Virgin by Madonna
Madonna's song "Like A Virgin" spent six weeks at number one, propelling her album of the
same name to stay in the charts for 52 weeks.
9) Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
Kim Carnes, whose distinctive raspy vocals made her a unique pop star spent nine weeks at number
one with her song immortalizing Bette Davis. Due to the strength of this song, her album stayed
in the charts for 23 weeks in 1981.
10) Ebony & Ivory by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
Featured on Paul McCartney's album, Tug of War, "Ebony & Ivory was a simplistic ballad dished out
with Stevie Wonder at his side. It spent three weeks at number one and helped the album stay in the
charts for 18 weeks.
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