Top Songs of 1980


Rank All Time Rank Artist Song Genres
1
15
Joy Division Love Will Tear Us Apart Post-Punk
2
66
Talking Heads Once in a Lifetime New Wave, Post-Punk
3
314
Motörhead Ace of Spades Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal
4
322
AC/DC Back in Black Hard Rock
5
346
David Bowie Ashes to Ashes Art Pop, New Wave
6
388
The Jam Going Underground Mod Revival, New Wave
7
492
The Jam That's Entertainment Mod Revival, New Wave
8
540
Bob Marley and The Wailers Redemption Song Roots Reggae, Singer/Songwriter
9
581
Bruce Springsteen The River Heartland Rock, Singer/Songwriter
10
635
AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long Hard Rock
11
776
Dead Kennedys Holiday in Cambodia Hardcore Punk
12
802
The Cure A Forest Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
13
824
Blondie Call Me Film Soundtrack, New Wave, Pop Rock
14
860
George Jones He Stopped Loving Her Today Nashville Sound
15
868
Joy Division Atmosphere Post-Punk
16
908
Devo Whip It New Wave, Synthpop
17
972
Kurtis Blow The Breaks Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
18
983
ABBA The Winner Takes It All Europop
19
1228
U2 I Will Follow Post-Punk
20
1256
Dexys Midnight Runners Geno Blue Eyed Soul, New Wave, Ska
21
1282
Queen Another One Bites the Dust Disco, Pop Rock
22
1404
Prince When You Were Mine Pop Rock
23
1570
Peter Gabriel Biko Art Rock
24
1581
Blondie Rapture Disco Rap, New Wave
25
1629
Funky Four Plus One That's the Joint Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
26
1667
Ultravox Vienna New Romantic, Synthpop
27
1668
Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers Art Rock, Pop Rock
28
1686
X Los Angeles Punk Rock
29
1761
AC/DC Hells Bells Hard Rock
30
1771
Martha and The Muffins Echo Beach New Wave
31
1779
John Lennon (Just Like) Starting Over Soft Rock
32
1789
The Beat Mirror in the Bathroom 2 Tone, New Wave
33
1820
Stevie Wonder Master Blaster (Jammin') Pop Reggae
34
1870
The Special A.K.A. Too Much Too Young 2 Tone
35
1893
The Fall Totally Wired Post-Punk
36
1946
The Clash The Magnificent Seven Dance-Punk, Disco Rap, Funk
37
1953
Diana Ross I'm Coming Out Disco
38
2164
Ozzy Osbourne Crazy Train Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
39
2167
Bruce Springsteen Hungry Heart Heartland Rock, Pop Rock
40
2171
The Teardrop Explodes Reward New Wave, Post-Punk
41
2297
Talking Heads Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) Funk Rock, New Wave, Post-Punk
42
2343
Split Enz I Got You New Wave, Pop Rock
43
2366
Rush The Spirit of Radio Progressive Rock
44
2421
Kool & The Gang Celebration Disco
45
2528
Visage Fade to Grey New Romantic, Synthpop
46
2666
The Jam Start! Mod Revival, New Wave
47
2807
Dire Straits Romeo and Juliet Pop Rock
48
2957
Diana Ross Upside Down Disco, Pop Soul
49
2991
Adam and The Ants Kings of the Wild Frontier New Wave, Post-Punk
50
3004
Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Urban Cowboy
51
3100
David Bowie Fashion Art Pop, New Wave
52
3137
Bob Marley and The Wailers Could You Be Loved Reggae
53
3141
A Certain Ratio Shack Up Dance-Punk
54
3174
Blondie The Tide Is High New Wave, Pop Reggae
55
3251
Stray Cats Runaway Boys Rockabilly
56
3257
Madness Baggy Trousers 2 Tone
57
3261
The Vapors Turning Japanese New Wave, Power Pop
58
3269
The Police Don't Stand So Close to Me New Wave, Pop Rock
59
3288
SOS Band Take Your Time (Do It Right) Boogie
60
3404
Judas Priest Breaking the Law Heavy Metal
61
3684
The Jim Carroll Band People Who Died Punk Rock
62
3774
Taxi Girl Cherchez le garçon French Pop, New Wave, Synthpop
63
3820
Joy Division Isolation New Wave, Post-Punk
64
3872
Trust Antisocial Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
65
3876
Dexys Midnight Runners There, There, My Dear Blue Eyed Soul, New Wave
66
3880
Japan Nightporter Art Pop
67
3945
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Against the Wind Heartland Rock, Pop Rock
68
3977
Ramones Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio Power Pop, Punk Rock
69
4036
The B-52's Private Idaho Dance-Punk, New Wave
70
4159
The Korgis Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime Ambient Pop, Synthpop
71
4173
Bad Brains Pay to Cum Hardcore Punk
72
4201
Dire Straits Tunnel of Love Pop Rock
73
4497
Orange Juice Blue Boy Indie Pop, Jangle Pop
74
4517
Diamond Head Am I Evil? NWOBHM
75
4540
Alain Bashung Vertige de l'amour Heartland Rock
76
4566
Young Marble Giants Final Day Indie Pop, Post-Punk
77
4596
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Enola Gay New Wave, Synthpop
78
4683
Spandau Ballet To Cut a Long Story Short New Romantic, Synthpop
79
4708
George Benson Give Me the Night Disco, Funk
80
4734
Steely Dan Hey Nineteen Yacht Rock
81
4741
The Undertones My Perfect Cousin New Wave, Pop Punk, Power Pop
82
4742
Iron Maiden Phantom of the Opera NWOBHM
83
4747
Pretenders Precious New Wave, Post-Punk, Punk Rock
84
4847
Mission of Burma Academy Fight Song Post-Punk
85
4900
John Lennon Watching the Wheels Pop Rock, Singer/Songwriter
86
4903
Orange Juice Falling and Laughing Indie Pop, Jangle Pop, Post-Punk
87
4935
Paul Simon Late in the Evening Film Soundtrack, Folk Pop, Pop Rock
88
5001
The Rolling Stones Emotional Rescue Funk Rock, Pop Rock
89
5019
Steve Winwood While You See a Chance Pop Rock, Singer/Songwriter
90
5046
Willie Nelson On the Road Again Country
91
5120
Tom Waits Jersey Girl Singer/Songwriter
92
5137
Elvis Costello and The Attractions I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down New Wave, Power Pop
93
5151
Bruce Springsteen Stolen Car Heartland Rock, Pop Rock, Singer/Songwriter
94
5166
Grover Washington Jr. feat. Bill Withers Just the Two of Us Smooth Jazz, Smooth Soul, Soul Jazz
95
5314
The Teardrop Explodes Treason (It's Just a Story) New Wave, Post-Punk
96
5358
Pretenders Talk of the Town New Wave, Pop Rock
97
5378
Adam and The Ants Antmusic New Wave
98
5387
Bow Wow Wow C·30 C·60 C·90 Go New Wave, Post-Punk
99
5412
Siouxsie and The Banshees Happy House Post-Punk
100
5423
Paul McCartney Coming Up Funk Rock, New Wave, Pop Rock
101
5462
REO Speedwagon Keep On Loving You AOR, Soft Rock
102
5479
XTC Generals and Majors New Wave, Pop Rock
103
5578
Kate Bush Breathing Art Pop, Progressive Pop
104
5608
Prince Dirty Mind Synth Funk
105
5675
Talking Heads Crosseyed and Painless Funk Rock, New Wave, Post-Punk
106
5694
Alain Bashung Gaby Oh! Gaby Chanson, French Pop, New Wave, Pop Rock
107
5758
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts Bad Reputation Punk Rock
108
5798
The Blues Brothers Everybody Needs Somebody To Love Film Soundtrack, Rhythm & Blues
109
5799
Daryl Hall & John Oates Kiss on My List Blue Eyed Soul, Yacht Rock
110
5800
Change The Glow of Love Boogie
111
5824
Bruce Springsteen Point Blank Heartland Rock
112
5875
Journey Any Way You Want It AOR
113
6034
Kate Bush Babooshka Art Pop
114
6070
Pete Townshend Let My Love Open the Door Pop Rock
115
6075
Kate Bush Army Dreamers Art Pop
116
6124
The Brothers Johnson Stomp Disco, Funk
117
6135
Jermaine Jackson Let's Get Serious Dance-Pop, Disco, Pop Soul
118
6191
Barbra Streisand Woman in Love Adult Contemporary
119
6256
The Clash Bankrobber Reggae
120
6309
Frankie Smith Double Dutch Bus Disco Rap
121
6396
Frank Sinatra (Theme from) New York, New York Traditional Pop, Vocal Jazz
122
6437
Pat Benatar Hit Me with Your Best Shot Pop Rock
123
6508
Tom Browne Funkin' For Jamaica Funk
124
6745
Randy Crawford One Day I'll Fly Away Adult Contemporary, Pop Soul, Smooth Soul
125
6769
Adam and The Ants Dog Eat Dog New Wave, Post-Punk
126
6802
Fehlfarben Paul ist tot Art Punk, Neue Deutsche Welle, Post-Punk
127
6853
Nacha Pop La Chica de ayer New Wave, Pop Rock
128
6899
Killing Joke Requiem Post-Punk
129
6906
The Psychedelic Furs Sister Europe Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Punk
130
7016
Joy Division Heart and Soul Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
131
7057
Zapp More Bounce to the Ounce Synth Funk
132
7118
Rough Trade Highschool Confidential New Wave
133
7279
The Gap Band Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) Synth Funk
134
7312
Teddy Pendergrass Love T.K.O. Philly Soul, Smooth Soul
135
7314
Madness Embarrassment New Wave, Pop
136
7322
Robert Palmer Johnny and Mary New Wave, Synthpop
137
7337
Treacherous Three The Body Rock East Coast Hip Hop
138
7581
Devo Girl U Want New Wave
139
7676
The dB's Black and White Jangle Pop, Power Pop
140
7792
Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell Heavy Metal
141
7805
Irene Cara Fame Dance-Pop, Disco, Film Soundtrack
142
7841
38 Special Hold On Loosely Southern Rock
143
7903
X Johnny Hit and Run Paulene Punk Rock
144
7950
Barbra Streisand with Barry Gibb Guilty Adult Contemporary, Blue Eyed Soul
145
7976
The Police Voices Inside My Head Pop Reggae
146
8059
The Soft Boys Queen of Eyes Jangle Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Punk
147
8081
David Bowie Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) Art Rock, New Wave, Pop Rock
148
8099
James Brown Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses) Disco, Funk
149
8130
The Police De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da New Wave, Pop Rock
150
8133
Siouxsie and The Banshees Christine Post-Punk
151
8140
Loose Joints Is It All Over My Face Disco
152
8154
The J. Geils Band Love Stinks Pop Rock
153
8185
Van Halen Everybody Wants Some!! Hard Rock
154
8264
Grace Jones Private Life Art Pop, Dub, New Wave
155
8278
Coati Mundi Me No Pop I Latin Disco
156
8279
Elvis Costello and The Attractions New Amsterdam New Wave, Power Pop, Singer/Songwriter
157
8280
Killing Joke Wardance Post-Punk
158
8448
The Jacksons Heartbreak Hotel Disco
159
8503
Franco Battiato Prospettiva Nevski Canzone d'autore, New Wave, Pop Rock
160
8535
Tom Waits Ruby's Arms Singer/Songwriter
161
8576
Joy Division Dead Souls Post-Punk
162
8586
Jimmy Spicer Adventures of Super Rhyme (Rap) Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
163
8630
Josef K It's Kinda Funny Post-Punk
164
8632
Change A Lover's Holiday Disco
165
8796
Bush Tetras Too Many Creeps Dance-Punk, No Wave
166
8806
AC/DC Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution Hard Rock
167
8856
The Cramps TV Set Garage Punk, Psychobilly
168
8868
Roxy Music Oh Yeah New Wave, Pop Rock, Sophisti-Pop
169
9034
Genesis Turn It On Again Pop Rock, Progressive Pop
170
9057
Japan Gentlemen Take Polaroids Art Pop, New Wave
171
9070
Daryl Hall & John Oates You Make My Dreams Blue Eyed Soul, Pop Rock
172
9200
Loleatta Holloway Love Sensation Disco, Soul
173
9353
The Beat Stand Down Margaret 2 Tone, Pop Reggae
174
9392
Neil Diamond America Film Soundtrack, Pop Rock
175
9399
Squeeze Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) New Wave, Power Pop
176
9407
The Specials Stereotype 2 Tone
177
9420
John Lennon Woman Pop Rock, Singer/Songwriter
178
9467
Lakeside Fantastic Voyage Boogie, Synth Funk
179
9567
Eddy Mitchell Couleur menthe à l'eau Chanson
180
9678
The Jacksons Can You Feel It Disco
181
9717
The Specials Do Nothing 2 Tone
182
9719
Alan Vega Jukebox Babe Rockabilly
183
9865
Ozzy Osbourne Mr. Crowley Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
184
9866
Paraíso Para ti Jangle Pop, New Wave
185
9893
The Sugarhill Gang 8th Wonder Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
186
9924
Bauhaus Dark Entries Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
187
9967
Elli & Jacno Main dans la main French Pop, Synthpop

Songs "bubbling under" the all-time top 10,000:
Was (Not Was) Wheel Me Out Dance-Punk, Electro-Disco
Spoonie Gee & Treacherous Three The New Rap Language Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
Black Sabbath Neon Knights Heavy Metal
Robert Palmer Looking for Clues New Wave, Pop Rock
Francis Cabrel L'encre de tes yeux Chanson, Folk Rock
Bruce Springsteen The Ties That Bind Heartland Rock, Singer/Songwriter
AC/DC Shoot to Thrill Hard Rock
David Bowie Teenage Wildlife Art Rock
The Cramps Drug Train Psychobilly
UB40 Food for Thought Dub, Pop Reggae
Bruce Springsteen Independence Day Heartland Rock, Singer/Songwriter
The Kings Switchin' to Glide Power Pop
Joy Division Decades Coldwave, Gothic Rock
The Beat Twist and Crawl 2 Tone, New Wave
Franco Battiato Up patriots to arms Canzone d'autore, New Wave, Pop Rock
Queen Flash Art Rock, Film Soundtrack, Pop Rock
Queen Save Me Glam Rock
Paul McCartney Temporary Secretary Minimal Synth, Synthpop, Zolo
The Cure Play for Today Post-Punk
Elvis Costello and The Attractions Riot Act New Wave, Pop Rock
U2 11 O'Clock Tick Tock Post-Punk
Killing Joke The Wait Post-Punk
Téléphone Argent trop cher Punk Rock
Joaquín Sabina Calle melancolía Singer/Songwriter
The Feelies Loveless Love Post-Punk
The Ruts West One (Shine on Me) Punk Rock
Van Halen And the Cradle Will Rock Hard Rock
The Fall English Scheme Post-Punk
The Pointer Sisters He's So Shy Pop Soul, Yacht Rock
Yello Bostich Electro-Disco, Synthpop
Giorgio Gaber Io se fossi Dio Singer/Songwriter
A Certain Ratio Flight Dance-Punk
Olivia Newton-John Magic Film Soundtrack, Pop Rock
Tequila Dime que me quieres New Wave
Stephanie Mills Never Knew Love Like This Before Disco, Soul
Elvis Costello High Fidelity New Wave, Pop Rock
Ultravox All Stood Still New Romantic, Synthpop
XTC Towers of London New Wave
Judas Priest Living After Midnight Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Bruce Springsteen Drive All Night Roots Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Tom Waits Heartattack and Vine Blues Rock
Michel Berger Quelques mots d'amour Chanson, French Pop
Donna Summer The Wanderer Pop Rock, Pop Soul
Roxy Music Over You Pop Rock, Sophisti-Pop
The Cramps Garbageman Garage Punk, Psychobilly
Joy Division Atrocity Exhibition Post-Punk
Lio Amoureux solitaires French Pop, Synthpop
Wah! Heat Better Scream Post-Punk
Grace Jones Warm Leatherette Art Pop, Dub, Sophisti-Pop
UB40 King Dub, Pop Reggae
Magazine A Song from Under the Floorboards Post-Punk
Kano I'm Ready Italo-Disco
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden NWOBHM
The Dicks The Dicks Hate the Police Hardcore Punk
Orange Juice Simply Thrilled Honey Indie Pop, Jangle Pop
Diane Tell Si J'étais un homme Chanson
Johnny Lee Lookin' for Love Film Soundtrack, Urban Cowboy
Echo and the Bunnymen Rescue Post-Punk
The Manhattans Shining Star Pop Soul, Smooth Soul
Glenn Branca Lesson No. 1 for Electric Guitar No Wave, Totalism
Sparks When I'm with You Electro-Disco, Synthpop
Echo and the Bunnymen Villiers Terrace Post-Punk
Iron Maiden Running Free NWOBHM
Whitesnake Fool for Your Loving AOR, Blues Rock, Hard Rock
Killing Joke Change Post-Punk
The B-52's Give Me Back My Man New Wave, Post-Punk
Michel Berger La groupie du pianiste Chanson, French Pop
George Jones If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will) Country
The Kings This Beat Goes On Power Pop
Siouxsie and The Banshees Israel Post-Punk
Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu Disco, Film Soundtrack, Pop
Jona Lewie Stop the Cavalry Christmas Music, Synthpop
The Beat Hands Off...She's Mine 2 Tone
Robert Wyatt At Last I Am Free Art Pop, Art Rock
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five Freedom Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
Afrika Bambaataa & The Cosmic Force Zulu Nation Throwdown Volume 1 Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
Rush Freewill Progressive Rock
Renaud Marche à l'ombre Chanson
Tanya Winley Vicious Rap Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
Yarbrough & Peoples Don't Stop the Music Boogie, Synth Funk
Grace Jones Love Is the Drug Art Pop, Dance-Pop
Elvis Costello and The Attractions Clubland New Wave, Pop Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Ted Nugent Wango Tango Hard Rock
Young Marble Giants Searching for Mr. Right Post-Punk
Willie Nelson Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground Country
David Bowie Up the Hill Backwards Art Rock, New Wave
Scorpions The Zoo Hard Rock
Angel Witch Angel Witch NWOBHM
REO Speedwagon Take It On the Run AOR
Ultravox Sleepwalk New Romantic, Synthpop
The Comsat Angels Independence Day Post-Punk
Michigan & Smiley Diseases Dancehall, Deejay
Saxon 747 (Strangers in the Night) Hard Rock, NWOBHM
Billy Joel It's Still Rock and Roll to Me Pop Rock, Rockabilly
Jimmy Ruffin Hold On to My Love Disco, Pop Soul
Orchestra Baobab Mouhamadou Bamba Wolof Music
John Lee Hooker This Is Hip Electric Blues
Sugar Minott Good Thing Going Lovers Rock
The Fall How I Wrote 'Elastic Man' Post-Punk
Liliput Split Post-Punk
Jean Guidoni Je marche dans les villes Cabaret, Chanson
Stevie Wonder Happy Birthday Disco, Pop Soul, Synth Funk
Talking Heads Houses in Motion Funk Rock, New Wave, Post-Punk
AC/DC Have a Drink on Me Hard Rock
Aswad Warrior Charge Dub
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft Tanz mit Mir Minimal Synth, Neue Deutsche Welle
The Clash Police on My Back Punk Rock
Prince Uptown Pop Rock, Synth Funk
Benny Mardones Into the Night Soft Rock
Motörhead (We Are) The Road Crew Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Brother "D" with Collective Effort How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise? Conscious Hip Hop, Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop, Political Hip Hop
John Cooper Clarke Beasley Street New Wave
U2 Out of Control Post-Punk
Spoonie Gee & The Treacherous Three Love Rap Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
Spoonie Gee Meets The Sequence Monster Jam Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
John Williams / The London Symphony Orchestra The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) Cinematic Classical, Classical March, Film Score
The Police Canary in a Coalmine New Wave, Pop Rock
The Soft Boys I Wanna Destroy You Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Punk, Power Pop
Francis Cabrel La Dame de Haute Savoie Chanson, Folk Rock
Bernard Lavilliers Stand the Ghetto Chanson, Reggae
France Gall Il jouait du piano debout French Pop
Ozzy Osbourne Suicide Solution Heavy Metal
The Psychedelic Furs India Post-Punk
The Specials Rat Race 2 Tone
Dire Straits Skateaway Heartland Rock
Cristina Is That All There Is? Art Pop, New Wave
Eagles Seven Bridges Road Country Rock
Roky Erickson & The Aliens Don't Shake Me Lucifer Hard Rock, Rock & Roll, Roots Rock
Roxy Music Same Old Scene Dance-Pop, New Romantic, Sophisti-Pop, Synthpop
Stacy Lattisaw Jump to the Beat Disco, Pop Soul
The Undertones Wednesday Week Pop Punk, Power Pop
X Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not Post-Punk, Punk Rock
The Teardrop Explodes When I Dream Neo-Psychedelia, New Wave, Post-Punk
ABBA Super Trouper Europop
Au Pairs It's Obvious Post-Punk
Black Uhuru Stalk of Sinsemilla / Sinsemilla Dub, Roots Reggae
The Ruts Staring at the Rude Boys Punk Rock
Genesis Misunderstanding Pop Rock
The Alan Parsons Project The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part One) Art Rock, Progressive Rock, Soft Rock
The Blues Brothers feat. Ray Charles Shake a Tail Feather Film Soundtrack, Rhythm & Blues
Squeeze Another Nail in My Heart New Wave, Power Pop
Wah! Heat Seven Minutes to Midnight Post-Punk