More than anything, eighties music was heavily produced. Everyone knows the classic 80s sound: huge reverby snare drums, lots of delay on the vocals, electronic rhythms and synthesizers.
For the first time ever, musicians were regularly paying with a “click track”, or metronome. Because many 80s instruments were synced via MIDI, it was very important that the backing tracks (typically rhythm) were recorded in perfect tempo.
While this change improved music in some ways, others may argue that music lost it’s humanity because of this. Before the 80s, many bands recorded live together, or depended on the drummer to keep the tempo.
Music engineers and songwriters had more tools at their disposal than ever before. That’s why a lot of music sounds like people playing (“experimenting”) with toys. Especially compared to the music of today, much of the early digital technology was 8-bit and the tonal quality just wasn’t that great. But it was a lively time for experimentation.
However the results can get quite comical when 60s icons first tried their hand at synthesizer (Paul McCartney comes to mind). The cheese factor simply blasted through the ceiling on more than one occasion.
Share your love for 1980s Music: What Did People Listen To?
But the new technology wasn’t always cheesy. Analog synth sounds from the 1980s were really great and guitarists like The Edge (from U2, with a little help from producer Brian Eno) showed us all what could be done to a guitar with delay and reverb.
The music industry in the 1980s was driven mostly by the success of a wildly popular new music cable channel called MTV.
For the first time in history, image was just as important as the music. A good music video could instantly catapult a new act to stardom. Cyndi Lauper was almost an overnight sensation due to her quirky looks as much as her quirky tunes.
Some artists were huge for most of the decade. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Def Leppard to name a few. Cher made a comeback and Guns N’ Roses made a grand introduction.
The eighties also witnessed the infancy and eventual growth of hip hop. While not too many acts from the 80s stand up well against today’s artists, they laid the groundwork for what would later be achieved by thousands of modern hip hop artists in the future. Guys like Slick Rick, Eric B. and Rakim, Public Enemy, LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys were all making legendary music at the time.
[ Skip to Complete List of #1 songs from the 1980s ]
Popular Artists from the 1980s
Who were the most popular musical artists in the 1980s?
- Michael Jackson
- Blondie
- Billy Joel
- Hall & Oates
- Olivia Newton-John
- Survivor
- Journey
- Joan Jett
- Lionel Richie
- David Bowie
- Culture Club
- Duran Duran
- Cyndi Lauper
- Prince
- Madonna
- Foreigner
- REO Speedwagon
- Whitney Houston
- Janet Jackson
- Bon Jovi
- U2
- R.E.M.
- Billy Idol
- INXS
- Rick Astley
- Phil Collins
- George Michael
- Def Leppard
- Van Halen
- Poison
- Paula Abdul
- New Kids On The Block
- Fresh Prince & Jazzy Jeff
- Fine Young Cannibals
Music in 1987
Technological advancements in audio and video recordings, record-breaking pop acts and high profiles for heavy metal and new age music highlighted 1987. Business boomed as sales of CD players encouraged record companies to reissue old albums on CD.
Paul Simon and South African musicians played eight benefit concerts in 1987 to aid South African and American children.
Madonna also held an AIDS benefit concert on July 13.
In March, Janet Jackson’s album Control became the second album ever — after brother Michael Jackson’s Thriller — to produce five songs in the top five places on the chart of best-selling recordings.
Madonna’s “Open Your Heart” became her 10th straight top-five single, the longest series of top-five hits since The Beatles.
Michael Jackson’s album Bad debuted at number one. Jodi Watley, Smokey Robinson, LL Cool J and Freddie Jackson all experience great success in 1987.
Dance music grew musically and commercially. Among the most popular dance music artists were Kraftwerk, Mel & Kim, Company B and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. In February the Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill became the first rap album to top the pop albums charts.
New Age music, described at the time as “impressionistic music designed to help create relaxation and a meditative spirit,” rose sharply in popularity in 1987. VH-1 even adding a programming block of new age videos called “New Visions.”
Mainstream rock also flourished in 1987, particularly in the heavy metal style. Pop metalists Bon Jovi released Slippery When Wet, which topped the album charts for 7 weeks and the music video chart for 28. Bon Jovi helped pave the way for other top-10 metal acts like Poison, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Cinderella and Whitesnake.
Oldies were big money makers in 1987. Four album reissued by The Beatles soared to the top of the Billboard CD charts in March.
Randy Travis hit it big in 1987 and won almost every country music award available. Other popular country artists in 1987 include George Strait, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Reba McEntire, Dwight Yoakim and Hank Williams, Jr.
#1 Songs (1980-1989)
Music in the 1980s had its great moments. It really did. But sometimes eighties music knew how to suck worse than any music has ever sucked in the history of sucking.
That’s probably because it was cheaper to record a single than ever before and there was more music being released than ever before, which inevitably leads to more garbage being released.
Also, when you consider the influx of new digital instruments and recording equipment, many artists were experimenting with sounds they had no experience using. Sometimes experiments are genius, sometimes they’re not.
All that aside, the talent still shone through the dozens of layers of digital reverb and delay. Big splashy snare drums. Poofy man-hair ballads. Drug use was rampant. It was a decade of decadence in every possible way.
Guns N’ Roses bailed everyone out at the very end, right before the ’90s kicked in and kicked all memory of the ’80s to the curb for about 8 years.
Check out the complete list below of every #1 song in the 1980s spanning from January 1980 to December 1989. Bet you can smell the hairspray and cheap tequila just reading the list.
#1 Songs in 1980
What were the most popular songs in 1980?
| Dec. 22, 1979 – Jan. 4 Janu. 5 – Jan. 18 Jan. 19 – Feb. 15 Feb. 16 – Feb. 22 Feb. 23 – Mar. 21 Mar. 22 – Apr. 18 Apr. 19 – May 30 May 31 – June 27 June 28 – July 18 July 19 – Aug. 1 Aug. 2 – Aug. 29 Aug. 30 – Sept. 5 Sept. 6 – Oct. 3 Octo. 4 – Oct. 24 Oct. 25 – Nov.14 Nov. 15 – Dec. 26 Dec. 27 – Jan. 30, 1981 | Escape (The Pina Colada Song) Please Don’t Go Rock With You Do That To Me One More Time Crazy Little Thing Called Love Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) Call Me Funkytown Coming Up (Live At Glasgow) It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me Magic Sailing Upside Down Another One Bites the Dust Woman in Love Lady (Just Like) Starting Over | Rupert Holmes KC and the Sunshine Band Michael Jackson Captain & Tennille Queen Pink Floyd Blondie Lipps Inc. Paul McCartney & Wings Billy Joel Olivia Newton-John Christopher Cross Diana Ross Queen Barbra Streisand Kenny Rogers John Lennon |
#1 Songs in 1981
What were the most popular songs in 1981?
| Dec. 27, 1980 – Jan. 30 Jan. 31 – Feb. 6 Feb. 7 – Feb. 20 Feb. 21 – Mar. 6 Mar. 7 – Mar. 20 Mar. 21 – Mar. 27 Mar. 28 – Apr. 10 Apr. 11 – May 1 May 2 – May 15 May 16 – July 17 July 18 – July 24 July 25 – July 31 Aug. 1 – Aug. 14 Augu. 15 – Oct. 16 Oct. 17 – Nov. 6 Nov. 7 – Nov. 20 Nov. 21 – Jan. 29, 1982 | (Just Like) Starting Over The Tide Is High Celebration 9 to 5 I Love A Rainy Night Keep On Loving You Rapture Kiss On My List Morning Train (Nine To Five) Bette Davis Eyes Medley The One That You Love Jessie’s Girl Endless Love Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) Private Eyes Physical | John Lennon Blondie Kool & The Gang Dolly Parton Eddie Rabbitt REO Speedwagon Blondie Hall & Oates Sheena Easton Kim Carnes Stars on 45 Air Supply Rick Springfield Diana Ross & Lionel Richie Christopher Cross Hall & Oates Olivia Newton-John |
#1 Songs in 1982
What were the most popular songs in 1982?
| Nov. 21, 1981 – Jan. 29 Jan. 30 – Feb. 5 Feb. 6 – Mar. 19 Mar. 20 – May 7 May 8 – May 14 May 15 – July 2 July 3 – July 23 July 24 – Sept. 3 Sept. 4 – Sept. 17 Sept. 18 – Oct. 1 Oct. 2 – Oct. 29 Oct. 30 – Nov. 5 Nov. 6 – Nov. 26 Nov. 27 – Dec. 10 Dec. 11- Dec. 17 Dec. 18 – Jan. 14, 1983 | Physical I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) Centerfold I Love Rock n’ Roll Chariots of Fire theme Ebony and Ivory Don’t You Want Me Eye of the Tiger Abracadabra Hard to Say I’m Sorry Jack & Diane Who Can It Be Now? Up Where We Belong Truly Mickey Maneater | Olivia Newton-John Daryl Hall & John Oates J. Geils Band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Vangelis Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder The Human League Survivor The Steve Miller Band Chicago John Mellencamp Men at Work Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes Lionel Richie Toni Basil Hall & Oates |
#1 Songs in 1983
What were the most popular songs in 1983?
| Dec. 18, 1982 – Jan. 14 Jan. 15 – Feb. 11 Feb. 12 – Feb. 18 Feb. 19 – Mar. 4 Marc. 5 – Apr. 22 Apr. 23 – Apr. 29 Apr. 30 – May 20 May 21 – May 27 May 28 – July 8 July 9 – Sept. 2 Sept. 3 – Sept. 9 Sept. 10 – Sept. 23 Sept. 24 – Sept. 30 Oct. 1 – Oct. 28 Oct. 29 – Nov. 11 Nov. 12 – Dec. 9 Dec. 10 – Jan. 20, 1984 | Maneater Down Under Africa Baby, Come To Me Billie Jean Come On Eileen Beat It Let’s Dance Flashdance… What A Feeling Every Breath You Take Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Maniac Tell Her About It Total Eclipse of the Heart Islands In the Stream All Night Long (All Night) Say Say Say | Hall & Oates Men at Work Toto Patti Austin feat. James Ingram Michael Jackson Dexys Midnight Runners Michael Jackson David Bowie Irene Cara The Police Eurythmics Michael Sembello Billy Joel Bonnie Tyler Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton Lionel Richie Paul McCartney feat. Michael Jackson |
#1 Songs in 1984
What were the most popular songs in 1984?
| Dec. 10, 1983 – Jan. 20 Jan. 21 – Feb. 3 Feb. 4 – Feb. 24 Feb. 25 – Mar. 20 Mar. 31 – Apr. 20 April 21 – May 11 May 12 – May 25 May 26 – June 8 June 9 – June 22 June 23 – July 6 July 7 – Aug. 10 Aug. 11 – Aug. 31 Sept. 1 – Sept. 21 Sept. 22 – Sept. 28 Sept. 29 – Oct. 12 Oct. 13 – Nov. 2 Nov. 3 – Nove. 16 Nov. 17 – Dec. 7 Dec. 8 – Dec. 21 Dec. 22 – Feb. 1, 1985 | Say Say Say Owner of a Lonely Heart Karma Chameleon Jump Footloose Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) Hello Let’s Hear It For the Boy Time After Time The Reflex When Doves Cry Ghostbusters What’s Love Got to Do With It Missing You Let’s Go Crazy I Just Called To Say I Love You Caribbean Queen (No More Love On the Run) Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go Out of Touch Like a Virgin | Paul McCartney feat. Michael Jackson Yes Culture Club Van Halen Kenny Loggins Phil Collins Lionel Richie Deniece Williams Cyndi Lauper Duran Duran Prince Ray Parker, Jr. Tina Turner John Waite Prince & The Revolution Stevie Wonder Billy Ocean Wham! Hall & Oates Madonna |
#1 Songs in 1985
What were the most popular songs in 1985?
| Dec. 22, 1984 – Feb. 1 Feb. 2 – Feb. 15 Feb. 16 – Mar. 8 Mar. 9 – Mar. 29 Mar. 30 – Apr. 12 Apr. 13 – May 10 May 11 – May 17 May 18 – May 24 May 25 – June 7 June 8 – June 21 June 22 – July 5 July 6 – July 12 July 13 – July 26 July 27 – Aug. 2 Aug. 3 – Aug. 23 Aug. 24 – Sept. 6 Sept. 7 – Sept. 20 Sept. 21 – Oct. 11 Oct. 12 – Oct. 18 Oct. 19 – Oct. 25 Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 Nov. 2 – Nov. 8 Nov. 9 – Nov. 15 Nov. 16 – Nov. 29 Nov. 30 – Dec. 6 Dec. 7 – Dec. 20 Dec.21 – Jan. 17, 1986 | Like a Virgin I Want to Know What Love Is Careless Whisper Can’t Fight This Feeling One More Night We Are The World Crazy for You Don’t You (Forget About Me) Everything She Wants Everybody Wants To Rule The World Heaven Sussudio A View to a Kill Everytime You Go Away Shout The Power of Love St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) Money For Nothing Oh Sheila Take On Me Saving All My Love For You Part Time Lover Miami Vice Theme We Built This City Separate Lives Broken Wings Say You, Say Me | Madonna Foreigner Wham! feat. George Michael REO Speedwagon Phil Collins USA For Africa Madonna Simple Minds Wham! Tears For Fears Bryan Adams Phil Collins Duran Duran Paul Young Tears For Fears Huey Lewis & The News John Parr Dire Straits Ready For the World a-ha Whitney Houston Stevie Wonder Jan Hammer Starship Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin Mr. Mister Lionel Richie |
#1 Songs in 1986
What were the most popular songs in 1986?
| Dec. 21, 1985 – Jan. 17 Jan. 18 – Feb. 14 Feb. 15 – Feb. 28 Mar. 1 – Mar. 14 Mar. 15 – Mar. 21 Mar. 22 – Mar. 28 Mar. 29 – Apr. 18 Apr. 19 – May 2 May 3 – May 9 May 10 – May 16 May 17 – June 6 June 7 – June 13 June 14 – July 4 July 5 – July 11 July 12 – July 18 July 19 – July 25 July 26 – Aug. 1 Aug. 2 – Aug. 15 Aug. 16 – Aug. 29 Aug. 30 – Sept. 5 Sept. 6 – Sept. 12 Sept. 13 – Sept. 19 Sept. 20 – Oct. 10 Oct. 11 – Oct. 24 Oct.25 – Nov. 7 Nov. 8 – Nov. 21 Nov. 22 – Nov. 28 Nov. 29 – Dec. 5 Dec. 6 – Dec.12 Dec. 13 – Dec. 19 Dec. 20 – Jan. 16, 1987 | Say You, Say Me That’s What Friends Are For How Will I Know Kyrie Sara These Dreams Rock Me Amadeus Kiss Addicted to Love West End Girls Greatest Love of All Live to Tell On My Own There’ll Be Sad Songs (to Make You Cry) Holding Back the Years Invisible Touch Sledgehammer Glory of Love Papa Don’t Preach Higher Love Venus Take My Breath Away Stuck with You When I Think of You True Colors Amanda Human You Give Love a Bad Name The Next Time I Fall The Way It Is Walk Like an Egyptian | Lionel Richie Dionne Warwick Whitney Houston Mr. Mister Starship Heart Falco Prince Robert Palmer Pet Shop Boys Whitney Houston Madonna Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald Billy Ocean Simply Red Genesis Peter Gabriel Peter Cetera Madonna Steve Winwood Bananarama Berlin Huey Lewis & the News Janet Jackson Cyndi Lauper Boston Human League Bon Jovi Peter Cetera feat. Amy Grant Bruce Hornsby & the Range The Bangles |
#1 Songs in 1987
What were the most popular songs in 1987?
| Dec. 20, 1986 – Jan. 16 Jan. 17 – Jan. 23 Jan. 24 – Feb. 6 Feb. 7 – Feb. 13 Feb. 14 – Mar. 13 Mar. 14 – Mar. 11 Mar. 21 – Apr. 3 Apr. 4 – Apr. 17 Apr. 18 – May 1 May 2 – May 15 May 16 – June 5 June 6 – June 12 June 13 – June 19 June 20 – June 6 June 27 – July 10 July 11 – July 31 Aug. 1 – Aug. 7 Aug. 8 – Aug. 21 Aug. 22 – Aug. 28 Augu. 29 – Sept. 18 Sept. 19 – Sept. 25 Septe. 26 – Oct. 9 Oct. 10 – Oct. 16 Oct. 17 – Oct. 23 Oct. 24 – Nov. 6 Nov. 7 – Nov. 20 Nov. 21 – Nov. 27 Nov. 28 – Dec. 4 Dec. 5 – Dec. 11 Dec. 12 – Jan. 8, 1988 | Walk Like an Egyptian Shake You Down At this Moment Open Your Heart Livin’ On a Prayer Jacob’s Ladder Lean On Me Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (I Just) Died In Your Arms With Or Without You You Keep Me Hangin’ On Always Head to Toe I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) Alone Shakedown I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For Who’s That Girl La Bamba I Just Can’t Stop Loving You Didn’t We Almost Have It All Here I Go Again Lost In Emotion Bad I Think We’re Alone Now Mony Mony “Live” (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life Heaven Is a Place On Earth Faith | The Bangles Gregory Abbott Billy Vera and The Beaters Madonna Bon Jovi Huey Lewis & the News Club Nouveau Starship Aretha Franklin & George Michael Cutting Crew U2 Kim Wilde Atlantic Starr Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Whitney Houston Heart Bob Seger U2 Madonna Los Lobos Michael Jackson Whitney Houston Whitesnake Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Michael Jackson Tiffany Billy Idol Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes Belinda Carlisle George Michael |
#1 Songs in 1988
What were the most popular songs in 1988?
| Dec. 12, 1987 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 – Jan. 15 Jan. 16 – Jan. 22 Janu. 23 – Jan. 29 Jan. 30 – Feb. 5 Feb. 6 – Feb. 19 Feb. 20 – Feb. 26 Feb. 27 – Mar. 11 Mar. 12 – Mar. 20 Mar. 26 – Apr. 8 Apr. 9 – Apr. 22 Apr. 23 – May 6 May 7 – May 13 May 14 – May 27 May 28 – July 17 June 18 – July 24 June 25 – July 1 July 2 – July 8 July 9 – July 22 July 23 – July 29 July 30 – Aug. 26 Aug. 27 – Sept. 9 Sept. 10 – Sept. 23 Sept. 24 – Oct. 7 Oct. 8 – Oct. 14 Oct. 15 – Oct. 21 Oct. 22 – Nov. 4 Nov. 5 – Nov. 11 Nov. 12 – Nov. 18 Nov. 19 – Dec. 2 Dec. 3 – Dec. 9 Dec. 10 – Dec. 23 Dec. 24 – Jan. 13, 1989 | Faith So Emotional Got My Mind Set on You The Way You Make Me Feel Need You Tonight Could’ve Been Seasons Change Father Figure Never Gonna Give You Up Man In The Mirror Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car Where Do Broken Hearts Go Wishing Well Anything For You One More Try Together Forever Foolish Beat Dirty Diana The Flame Hold On to The Nights Roll With It Monkey Sweet Child O’ Mine Don’t Worry Be Happy Love Bites Red Red Wine Groovy Kind Of Love Kokomo Wild, Wild West Bad Medicine Baby, I Love Your Way Look Away Every Rose Has Its Thorn | George Michael Whitney Houston George Harrison Michael Jackson INXS Tiffany Exposé George Michael Rick Astley Michael Jackson Billy Ocean Whitney Houston Terence Trent D’Arby Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine George Michael Rick Astley Debbie Gibson Michael Jackson Cheap Trick Richard Marx Steve Winwood George Michael Guns N’ Roses Bobby McFerrin Def Leppard UB40 Phil Collins The Beach Boys The Escape Club Bon Jovi Will To Power Chicago Poison |
#1 Songs in 1989
What were the most popular songs in 1989?
| Dec. 24, 1988 – Jan. 13 Jan. 14 – Jan. 20 Jan. 21 – Feb. 3 Feb. 4 – Feb. 10 Feb. 11 – Mar. 3 Mar. 4 – Mar. 24 Mar. 25 – Mar. 3 Apr. 1 – Apr. 7 Apr. 8 – Apr. 14 Apr. 15 – Apr. 21 Apr. 22 – May 12 May 13 – May 19 May 20 – June 2 June 3 – June 9 June 10 – June 16 June 17- June 23 June 24 – June 30 July 1 – July 7 July 8 – July 14 July 15 – July 21 July 22 – Aug. 4 Aug. 5 – Aug. 11 Aug. 12 – Sept. 1 Sept. 2 – Sept. 8 Sept. 9 – Sept. 15 Sept. 16 – Sept. 22 Sept. 23 – Oct. 6 Oct. 7 – Nov. 3 Nov. 4 – Nov. 10 Nov. 11 – Nov. 24 Nov. 25 – Dec. 9 Dec. 9 – Dec. 22 Dec. 23 – Jan. 13, 1990 | Every Rose Has Its Thorn My Prerogative Two Hearts When I’m With You Straight Up Lost In Your Eyes The Living Years Eternal Flame The Look She Drives Me Crazy Like a Prayer I’ll Be There for You Forever Your Girl Rock On Wind Beneath My Wings I’ll Be Loving You (Forever) Satisfied Baby Don’t Forget My Number Good Thing If You Don’t Know Me By Now Toy Soldiers Batdance Right Here Waiting Cold Hearted Hangin’ Tough Don’t Wanna Lose You Girl I’m Gonna Miss You Miss You Much Listen to Your Heart When I See You Smile Blame It On the Rain We Didn’t Start The Fire Another Day In Paradise | Poison Bobby Brown Phil Collins Sheriff Paula Abdul Debbie Gibson Mike & The Mechanics The Bangles Roxette Fine Young Cannibals Madonna Bon Jovi Paula Abdul Michael Damian Bette Midler New Kids On The Block Richard Marx Milli Vanilli Fine Young Cannibals Simply Red Martika Prince Richard Marx Paula Abdul New Kids On The Block Gloria Estefan Milli Vanilli Janet Jackson Roxette Bad English Milli Vanilli Billy Joel Phil Collins |
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