The Top 5 Pop Songs of the 80s

A countdown of the top 5 pop songs of the 1980s, including hits by Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince.

Introduction

The 80s was a great decade for pop music. There were so many different styles and genres that emerged during this time and it produced some truly iconic songs.

In this article, we will be counting down the top 5 pop songs of the 80s. This is based on a combination of factors such as commercial success, critical acclaim, and cultural impact.

So without further ado, here are the top 5 pop songs of the 80s:

5. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
4. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!
3. “Like a Virgin” by Madonna
2. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
1. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson

“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson

Off of Thriller, “Billie Jean” was the second single and one of the most well-known songs from the album. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1983 and stayed there for seven weeks. The song talks about a girl who claims that Jackson is the father of her child, which he denies. Despite its dark subject matter, the song is catchy and features one of Jackson’s signature dance moves, The Moonwalk.

“Like a Virgin” by Madonna

“Like a Virgin” is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on October 31, 1984, by Sire Records as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and produced by Nile Rodgers; Steinberg said that its lyrical concept came from his personal experiences of romance. “Like a Virgin” was released as the first single from Like a Virgin on October 31, 1984. It received critical acclaim from music critics and was charted at number one on several worldwide music markets. The song also topped Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 chart in the United States for six weeks.

Madonna’s performance of “Like a Virgin” at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984 caused considerable controversy; she wore a white wedding dress and simulated masturbation with a crucifix. Several American talk shows including Dick Cavett and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson were censored when Madonna appeared as their respective guests to perform the song or promoting her film Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). The Vatican condemned “Like a Virgin” due to its sexual innuendos. Critics suggested that it marked an evolution in popular culture, inspiring young women to take control of their sexuality.

“When Doves Cry” by Prince

“When Doves Cry” is a song by American musician Prince, and was the lead single from his 1984 album Purple Rain. It was a worldwide hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and number two on the singles chart in the United Kingdom. The song was ranked at number 52 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The distinctive synth production with acoustic guitars combinesrevolutionary and cliche elements. Lyrically, it reflects on a relationship from Prince’s point of view after he had cut himself off emotionally from a former lover. The song is credited for giving birth to the Minneapolis sound. “When Doves Cry” was released as a single on May 16, 1984, five weeks before Purple Rain was released as an album.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” is a song by American singer Whitney Houston, released as the first single from her second studio album,Whitney. It was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam and produced by Narada Michael Walden. Originally, George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam wrote the song in the key of C Major but after Whitney Houston’s producers, Michael Masser and Jermaine Jackson, added drums and instruments, the song was transposed to E♭ Major.

The single became one of Houston’s signature songs and one of the biggest pop hits of 1987. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” received positive reviews from contemporary music critics who praised Houston’s vocal performance as well as the song’s production. The single won one Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards. The accompanying music video for “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” features Houston dancing with a group of people at a disco party. Unlike many of her previous videos that showed her dancing alone or with a group of backup dancers, this video features Houston dancing joyfully with other people at a party which reflects the happy-go-lucky nature of the song. The video has been ranked among the greatest 1980s fashion moments in music videos.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 80s were a great decade for pop music. There were so many memorable songs that it is hard to narrow it down to just five. However, these five songs are some of the most iconic and influential pop songs of the decade. They are still popular today and continue to be performed by artists all over the world.