House Music Soul Music Best Pop Songs of the 80s

The 80s were an interesting time in music, with the heyday of 70s rock, soul, and jazz giving way to heady new iterations and subgenres. Disco was on the way out, just it helped lead to house music, electronic, and hip-hop.

Tentpole genres like rock and pop produced a number of offshoots such as art-rock, mail service-punk, synth-pop, and more, while music from Africa boasted a wonderful blend of jazz ideas, local sounds, and funk rhythms. In Japan, city pop music was the influential style of the era, which has seen a resurgence in the 21st century. While this surely won't encompass every star, vocal, and anthem of the era, this listing will give diehard fans and curious newcomers a starting point for exploring the various iterations of popular music created in the 1980s.

Mind to our Best 80s Hits playlist hither.

Fine art Rock/Post-Punk

Music in the 80s was moving in a number of loosely divers directions, thanks to the emergence of subgenres like new moving ridge, punk, and the end of disco. The art stone and mail service-punk artists spun out of this confusion of styles, creating an expansive vocabulary built around propulsive drum grooves, arch, snotty lyrics, and a revolutionary interplay betwixt guitars and synths. Velvet Secret laid the groundwork in the 70s, and artists similar Talking Heads, Bauhaus, Roxy Music, and Talk Talk congenital a foundation still prevalent today. The Talking Heads were on the poppier end of the spectrum with songs like "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)," with David Byrne turning his gaze on American consumerism with sugary sweet choruses that would have even the staunchest capitalists singing along.

Bauhaus – Night Entries

Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon

Roxy Music – More than Than This

Kate Bush – Running Upward That Hill (A Bargain With God)

Japan – Ghosts

Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place (Naive Tune)

Suzanne Vega – Tom's Diner

Talk Talk – The Rainbow

Country Music

Townes Van Zandt. Guy Clark. Willie Nelson. Waylon Jennings. The 1970s in country music were all about the outlaws. These dudes made poetic tunes about cowboys and federales and bully railroad expansions. Information technology wasn't always the about commercially feasible music, but it did dictate the course of the genre. Just 10 years later on, stars such as Dolly Parton creeped the genre towards the mainstream, making country music a household genre across the country. It no longer mattered whether you were north or southward of the Mason/Dixon line; everyone knew "ix to five." Kenny Rogers' collaboration with Dolly, "Island in the Stream," blended popular choruses with the unmistakable twang of country music. Information technology foreshadowed where we are at present, with the genre mingling with stone, pop, and rap without a second thought. This trend in country music began in the 80s. While this was happening, though, at that place was also a different crop of tried-and-true country diehards, like Steve Earle and George Strait, who would go on to inspire today's alternative stars similar Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers.

The Highwaymen – Highwayman

The Judds – Grandad (Tell Me 'Tour the Good Old Days)

Anne Murray – Could I Take This Dance

Don Williams – I Believe In You

George Strait – Amarillo By Morning

Rosanne Cash – 7 Twelvemonth Ache

Steve Earle – Guitar Town

Tanya Tucker – Love Me Like You Used To

Reba McEntire – Whoever'due south in New England

Dolly Parton – nine to five

Kenny Rogers – Islands in the Stream

Electronic Music

By the 80s, electronic music was seen as less of a niche and more equally the future of music it has now go. Granted, a group like Kraftwerk were still treated as a scrap of a novelty during their early years, but that's to be expected when audiences associated vocoders with alien noises. They helped lay a foundation for the genre to be taken seriously, alongside luminaries similar Jungle Brothers and Laurie Anderson. While more mainstream electronic styles were condign popular, invigorating underground scenes were popping up, like Frankie Duke and Mr. Fingers shaping house music in Chicago. The 80s also symbolized the terminal gasps of disco, with artists like Grace Jones and her hit "Grace Pull Up to the Bumper," and Lipps Inc. spinning the genre into a new decade.

David Bowie – Let's Trip the light fantastic toe

New Order – Blue Monday

Grace Jones – Pull Up to the Bumper

Cybotron – Clear

Farley "Jackmaster" Funk and Jesse Saunders featuring Darryl Pandy – Honey Can't Plough Effectually

Frankie Knuckles feat. Jamie Principle – Your Beloved

Inner Metropolis – Good Life

Herbie Hancock – Rockit

Jungle Brothers – Girl I'll House You

Kraftwerk – Computer Dear

Manuel Göttsching – E2-E4

Mr. Fingers – Mystery of Dear

Phuture – Acid Tracks

Rhythim Is Rhythim – Strings of Life

Shannon – Allow The Music Play

Laurie Anderson – O Superman

Lipps Inc. – Funkytown

Hip-Hop / Electro

As electronic music was bubbles closer to the mainstream, the early days of hip-hop were incorporating the genre to bolster the backbeat of their hits. Hip-hop stars like Beastie Boys and Slick Rick were incorporating elements of rock and electro on songs like "Fight For Your Right" and "Children's Story," Salt-N-Pepa brought a propulsive, groovy feel to "Push It," introducing an border to the genre thanks to its electronic cowbell samples and heavy drums. Elsewhere in the 80s, music similar Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" blended electro and hip-hop in a revolutionary way, bringing the genre into the future thank you to his metallic-tinted vocals and futuristic POV.

Afrika Bambaataa – Planet Stone

Large Daddy Kane – Ain't No Half-Steppin'

Boogie Down Productions – The Bridge Is Over

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – Parents Simply Don't Understand

EPMD – You lot Gots to Chill

Ice-T – 6 'Northward the Mornin

MC Lyte – Newspaper Thin

Newcleus – Jam on It

NWA – F— Tha Police

Queen Latifah – Ladies First

Roxanne Shante – Roxanne's Revenge

Run-DMC – Walk This Way

Slick Rick – Children's Story

Ultramagnetic MCs – Ego Trippin

Beastie Boys – Fight For Your Right

Eric B. & Rakim – Paid in Full

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious V – The Message

Kurtis Blow – The Breaks

LL Absurd J – Mama Said Knock Y'all Out

Public Enemy – Don't Believe the Hype

Salt-N-Pepa – Push button It

Jazz

Jazz was in a confusing identify past the time 1980 hit. The genre was far enough from its elevation in the mid to belatedly 60s to repeat that era, and the 70s were a foreign time; Miles Davis was moving away from direct-ahead jazz towards psychedelic stone and experimental funk, John Coltrane had passed away 15 years earlier, and Mingus departed the year before the new decade. Merely out of the rubble emerged a move towards fusion, free jazz, and a radical new definition of what jazz could be. Miles Davis was turning silky lounge music into the hippest genre in the world, while John Zorn was moving jazz's NYC tradition to the sizzling west desert with Spillane. Luminaries from the 60s and 70s like Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor were still making jazz, but by the 1980s, they began using an entirely new vocabulary.

Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition – Ahmad The Terrible

George Benson – Give Me The Dark

Cecil Taylor – Olim

John Zorn – Spillane

Stanley Jordan – The Lady In My Life

Abdullah Ibrahim – Mandela

Pat Metheny – Goin' Around

Wynton Marsalis – Black Codes

Joe Henderson – Dejection for Liebestraum

Miles Davis – Tutu

Michael Brecker – Nothing Personal

Betty Carter – Look What I Got

Ornette Coleman and Prime Time – 3 Wishes

World Saxophone Quartet – Revue

David Murray Octet – The Fast Life

John Carter – Evening Prayer

Metal/Hard Rock

Metallic acts from the 70s like Black Sabbath and Van Halen inspired a new moving ridge of artists in the genre, groups that would follow a few different paths. There was the hard rock emergence of bands like Ac/DC and Bon Jovi, who became superstars in New Jersey and around the world with singles like "Livin on a Prayer." Ozzy Osbourne departed from Black Sabbath to establish his solo career, dropping an absolute hard rock anthem with "Crazy Train." On the other end of the spectrum, metallic acts of the 70s inspired the hair metallic and glam metal genre, with Def Leppard inspiring a generation of dudes with long hair thanks to songs like "Pour Some Sugar On Me." Poison blended power ballads with arena-ready instrumentation on "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," while Megadeth and Metallica turned straight-ahead metal into ane of the most popular music genres of the 80s.

AC/DC – Dorsum in Black

Bon Jovi – Livin on a Prayer

Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me

Guns N' Roses – Sweet Child O' Mine

Slayer – Angel of Decease

Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Railroad train

Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane

Twister Sister – Nosotros're Not Gonna Take It

Metallica – One

Queensyche – I Don't Believe In Love

Blitz – Tom Sawyer

Poisonous substance – Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Megadeth – Peace Sells

Van Halen – Spring

Music from (and inspired by) Jamaica

By the fourth dimension the 80s hit, reggae music was an international sensation cheers to Bob Marley and other acts from Jamaica. Tons of music from the region got wider looks, as did subgenres within that realm, like dub and rocksteady. Marley's "Redemption Song" was one of the biggest hits in any genre, period, and an act like Junior Reid began to observe an accepting audience with his hit "One Blood." Across the earth, acts were getting inspired by the cool, laid dorsum vibes of reggae music, and artists such as Bobby McFerrin and his hitting "Don't Worry Exist Happy" and UB40 began blending pop and reggae into something inviting yet distinctly new.

Bob Marley and the Wailers – Redemption Song

Admiral Bailey – Punanny

Barrington Levy – Hither I Come

Black Uhuru – Sinsemilla

Jean Adebambo – Paradise

Junior Reid – One Blood

Musical Youth – Pass the Dutchie

Sister Nancy – Bam Bam

Tenor Saw – Ring the Warning

UB40 – Ruddy Red Wine

Wayne Smith – Nether Me Sleng Teng

Raft – Yaka Danse

Wayne Smith – Under Mi Sleng Teng

UB40 – Red Crimson Wine

Bobby McFerrin – Don't Worry Exist Happy

The English language Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom

Gregory Isaacs – Dark Nurse

Music from Africa

The 80s saw a diversity of music from Africa finding a wide audience effectually the world. Folk music from Ali Farka Toure brought Malian folk music to the mainstream, and Male monarch Sunny Ade was a pioneer of Nigerian juju music, which blended funk, African highlife, and pop into a miraculously fun enterprise. Perchance virtually famously, though, was a revolutionary activist and afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, who helped inspire a generation of musicians. His expansive, orchestral compositions composite big band jazz with Nigerian funk music and traditional African melodies.

Ali Farka Toure – Timbarma

Toumani Diabate – Jarabi

Orchestra Baobab – Utrus Horas

Youssou N'Dour – The King of beasts

Mory Kante – Yeke Yeke

King Sunny Ade – Ja Funmi

Thomas Mapfumo – Ndazwa Ngoma Kurira

Fela Kuti – Bury for Head of State

Music from Nippon

Japanese music in the 80s revolved around iconic stylists similar Ryuichi Sakamoto, who helped lead the music in his country both as a solo creative person and with Yellowish Magic Orchestra. The metropolis popular genre was also monumentally important within the country, and has seen a resurgence effectually the globe thank you to key reissues by American record labels. At the center of the motion were pop icons like Mariya Takeuchi and Akina Nakamori.

Tatsuro Yamashita – Ride On Time

Akina Nakamori – Want

Joe Hisaishi – The Path of the Wind

Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Beloved

Ryuichi Sakamato – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Kimi ni munekyun (Uwaiki na vacances)

The Timers – Theme From The Timers

SHOW-YA – Genkai Lovers

Anzenchitai – Wine Cherry-red No Kokoro

Hideaki Tokunaga – Rainy Blue

BOØWY – MARIONETTE

Akira Terao – Ruby No Yubiwa

New Wave

In the family tree of rock music in the 80s, New Wave fabricated a massive touch on aslope mail-punk, art rock, and the beginning of indie rock. New Wave blended the aggression of postal service-punk with pop melodies, and was massively influential in the New York City underground, somewhen inspiring bands like The Strokes and Interpol. The B-52'southward were a leader of the industry cheers to hits like "Love Shack," while Blondie brought charisma and sass in spades with tracks such as "Telephone call Me."

Psychedelic Furs – Dear My Fashion

The Cure – Just Similar Sky

Falco – Rock Me Amadeus

Heaven 17 – Temptation

Katrina & The Waves – Dancing on Sunshine

Kim Wilde – Kids in America

Nik Kershaw – I Won't Let The Lord's day Get Down On Me

Simple Minds – Don't You (Forget Near Me)

Spandau Ballet – True

The Boomtown Rats – I Don't Like Mondays

The Style Quango – Walls Come Tumbling Down!

Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes

B-52's – Beloved Shack

Blondie – Phone call Me

ABC – All Of My Middle

Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen

Pop

Even equally the 80s saw exciting music subgenres beyond rock, electronica, and hip-hop, mainstream pop dominated the charts thank you to a variety of power players. At the center of this universe, of course, was Michael Jackson cheers to hits like "Billie Jean" and "Thriller." Madonna rocked the world with "Like a Prayer" from the album of the same proper noun. In the pop-rock earth, Rick Springfield created an all-time hitting with "Jessie's Girl," and Dexys Midnight Runners utilized one of the about infectious string lines of all-time to propel their global smash "Come On Eileen." Tommy Tutone turned a simple phone number into one of the virtually repeatable choruses ever with "867-5309/Jenny," and Steve Winwood had people across the country begging for "Higher Beloved."

Cyndi Lauper – Girls Only Want To Have Fun

Belinda Carlisle – Sky Is A Place on Globe

Bow Wow Wow – I Want Candy

Madonna – Like a Prayer

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

Olivia Newton-John – Physical

Rick Springfield – Jessie'southward Daughter

Steve Winwood – College Love

Swing Out Sister – Breakout

Tommy Tutone – 867-5309/Jenny

Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Nighttime)

Jennifer Warnes & Beak Medley – (I've Had) The Time of My Life

Bonnie Tyler – Full Eclipse of the Heart

Civilisation Club – Karma Chameleon

Huey Lewis & The News – The Power of Love

The Bangles – Eternal Flame

The Become-Gos – Nosotros Got The Trounce

Paul Simon – You lot Can Call Me Al

Punk/Hardcore

Aside from New Wave and post-punk, punk helped spawn hardcore music in the 80s, a faster, harder, and more than aggressive spin-off of the genre. Expressionless Kennedys and Small-scale Threat helped bring the D.C. hardcore scene to the national spotlight, a scene that notwithstanding inspires offshoots to this day. In the heavier rock arena, bands like Husker Du composite an indie rock mentality with hard rock drums and infectious choruses. Social Baloney helped represent punk on the West Coast, bringing melodic ideas and fast, ambitious songs to the table.

The Cramps – Goo Goo Muck

Bad Brains – Pay to Cum

Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia

Minor Threat – Minor Threat

Social Distortion – Mommy'due south Little Monster

Misfits – Last Caress

Circumvolve Jerks – Wild in the Streets

The Ruts – Babylon's Burning

T.Southward.O.L. – Code Blueish

Fear – Let's Have a War

Dag Nasty – Circles

Operation Ivy – Audio System

Husker Du – Don't Want To Know If You lot Were Solitary

R&B/Funk

R&B and funk music worked together in the 80s, with stars like Prince bringing both signature styles together into an unforgettable affiliation, especially on a striking similar "Doves Don't Cry." This blend was exhilarant, but some artists preferred to stick to one genre over the other. George Clinton, the legendary frontman of Parliament, turned in 1 of the all-time funk jams with "Atomic Dog," which incorporated elements of New Jack Swing and electro to requite the song its iconic feel. On the R&B side, Whitney Houston blended the concluding remnants of disco with pop music to create "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," a song that will however become any party started. Funk found a partner in criminal offense with pop, using the repetition of dance music and infectious melodies to create a hybrid version of the genre. Artists such as Kool and the Gang and Rick James helped pioneer this method, with songs like "Become Down On It" and "Super Freak," respectively.

New Edition – Can Y'all Stand the Pelting

Earth, Wind, & Fire – After the Dearest Has Gone

Guy – Groove Me

Johnny Kemp – Just Got Paid

Keith Sweat – I Want Her

Sade – Smoothen Operator

Alexander O'Neal – Criticize

Diana Ross – Endless Love

Janet Jackson – Nasty

Luther Vandross – Never Likewise Much

Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing

Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)

Hall & Oates – I Tin't Go For That (No Can Practise)

Was (Not Was) – Walk The Dinosaur

George Clinton – Diminutive Dog

Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It

Prince – When Doves Cry

Rick James – Super Freak

Maze – Joy and Pain

Bobby Dark-brown – Don't Exist Cruel

Stone

Despite the plethora of music subgenres of the 80s, rock was still the dominant modus operandi of the mainstream. For all of the art rock, post-punk, and synth pop that was kickoff to make waves, rock however dominated the charts and the public imagination. U2 continued their wildly successful streak with "With Or Without Yous" from the iconic Joshua Tree, and Queen continued their domination with "Crazy Fiddling Thing Chosen Love." The Pixies were forebears of indie rock with Doolittle and "Where Is My Mind?" and The Law blended reggae, pop, and prog rock into a tightly woven genre all to themselves. The Disharmonism retained a punk edge with tunes such every bit "Rock The Casbah," and in other areas, R.Due east.K. helped conductor in grunge and alternative stone with Michael Stipe'due south iconic voice and the group'due south sturdy songwriting.

The Smiths – At that place Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Queen – Crazy Little Thing Chosen Love

T'Pau – China In Your Paw

The Replacements – Swingin Party

Bryan Adams – Summertime of '69

U2 – With Or Without You lot

John Cougar – Jack & Diane

Pixies – Where Is My Mind?

Police – Every Jiff You Take

R.E.M. – The I I Love

Robert Palmer – Addicted To Love

Survivor – Eye of the Tiger

The Clash – Rock the Casbah

Synth Pop

Somewhere between mainstream rock and popular emerged synth pop, a genre that institute artists embracing the electronic music of the early on 80s and applying it to traditional popular and rock structures. Phil Collins used atmospheric synths and the concept of the ballad to turn in a archetype song with "In the Air Tonight." The Eurythmics utilized dance structures and business firm music to create the basis of "Sweet Dreams," and Soft Cell embraced reggae-inspired pop music to create their seminal "Tainted Love," a song that eventually gained the Rihanna stamp of approval.