Greatest Song of the 80s
Power ballads, power dressing, big hair, the death of punk and the birth of new musical movements like electro, shock pop and the New Romantics – the 80s might have been the decade taste forgot, but it provided some of the most memorable moments in music history!
Live Aid rocked the world, while the likes of Boy George and Madonna shocked the world. The 80s inspired a generation to express themselves through music, fashion and a change the world attitude – and its influence can still be seen and heard today.
So many songs from the 80s resonate with audiences old enough to remember, and young enough not to have even been born.
But what is the Greatest Song of the 80s? Listeners of Absolute 80s and viewers of MTV, Viva and Vh1 put them to the vote - and here's the results!
- Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
- Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
- Inxs - Need You Tonight
- A-Ha - Take On Me
- Michael Jackson - Thriller
- Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
- Ultravox - Vienna
- Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer
- Adam And The Ants - Prince Charming
- Madonna - Like A Virgin
- Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
- Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
- Madonna - Into The Groove
- The Smiths - This Charming Man
- Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
- Human League - Don't You Want Me Baby
- Duran Duran - Rio
- U2 - With Or Without You
- Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
- New Order - Blue Monday
- Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough
- Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
- Michael Jackson - Beat It
- The Jam - Town Called Malice
- Bruce Springsteen - Born In The Usa
- Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
- Nena - 99 Red Balloons
- Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
- Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
- Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
- Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
- The Specials - Ghost Town
- Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
- Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
- Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
- U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name
- Visage - Fade To Grey
- Abc - The Look Of Love
- Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams
- Elton John - I'm Still Standing
- Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer
- Queen - I Want To Break Free
- Bananarama - Robert De Niro's Waiting
- George Michael - Careless Whisper
- Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky
- Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
- The Police - Every Breath You Take
- David Bowie - Let's Dance
- Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure
- Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good
- Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
- Spandau Ballet - Gold
- Madonna - Holiday
- Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
- Queen - Radio Ga Ga
- Prince & The Revolution - Kiss
- Spandau Ballet - True
- Blondie - Atomic
- Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
- Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
- Duran Duran - Girls On Film
- Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
- U2 - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
- Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
- Wham! - Club Tropicana
- Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
- Europe - The Final Countdown
- The Clash - Rock The Casbah
- Heaven 17 - Temptation
- The Cars - Drive
- The Waterboys - The Whole Of The Moon
- Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
- Whitesnake - Here I Go Again '87
- Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
- Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
- Huey Lewis & The News - Power Of Love
- The Cure - The Love Cats
- The Stranglers - Golden Brown
- Madonna - Material Girl
- Tears For Fears - Shout
- Erasure - A Little Respect
- Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
- Prince & The Revolution - When Doves Cry
- Beastie Boys - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right
- Billy Joel - Uptown Girl
- Berlin - Take My Breath Away
- Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield
- Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al
- Billy Idol - White Wedding
- Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
- George Michael - Faith
- Kenny Loggins - Footloose
- Mr. Mister - Broken Wings
- Peter Cetera - Glory Of Love
- T'pau - China In Your Hand
- Boy Meets Girl - Waiting For A Star To Fall
- Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
- Level 42 - Lessons In Love
- Madness - House Of Fun
- Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
- Philip Bailey; Phil Collins - Easy Lover
- Bryan Adams - Run To You
- Katrina And The Waves - Walking On Sunshine
- Simply Red - Holding Back The Years
- Bangles - Eternal Flame
- Tina Turner - The Best
- Kim Wilde - Kids In America
- Cameo - Word Up
- Salt-N-Pepa - Push It
- Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You
- Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love
- Jennifer Warnes; Bill Medley - The Time Of My Life
- Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
- Lionel Richie - Hello
- Bobby Mcferrin - Don't Worry Be Happy
- Irene Cara - Flashdance... What A Feeling
- Kylie Minogue; Jason Donovan - Especially For You
- Soul Ii Soul - Back To Life
- Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time
- Diana Ross - Chain Reaction
- Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World
- Steve Winwood - Valerie
- Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
- Bros - When Will I Be Famous
- Sade - Smooth Operator