The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1981

This was the year that MTV began broadcasting, and the impact of music videos on the popularity of songs was immediate. Several of the songs on this list were propelled to the top of the charts by their accompanying videos. This was also the year that “Soft Rock” began to make a comeback, as several of these songs have a distinctly mellow tone.

1. “Bette Davis Eyes” – Kim Carnes
2. “Physical” – Olivia Newton-John
3. “Start Me Up” – Rolling Stones
4. “Waiting for a Girl Like You” – Foreigner
5. “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” – Hall & Oates
6. “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” – Christopher Cross
7. “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” – Police
8. “Harden My Heart” – Quarterflash
9. “The Diary of Anne Frank Part 2″ – Buckner & Garcia
10.” Jessie’s Girl” – Rick Springfield

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1982

The 1980s were a great decade for pop music, and 1982 was no exception. From classics like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” to new wave anthems like Blondie’s “Heart of Glass”, there was something for everyone on the radio in 1982. Here are the 10 best pop songs of that year, according to Billboard magazine:

1. “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson
2. “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
3. “Abracadabra” – The Steve Miller Band
4. “Don’t You Want Me” – The Human League
5. “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” – Chicago
6. “Hungry Like the Wolf” – Duran Duran
7. “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
8. “Maniac” – Michael Sembello
9. “Old Time Rock & Roll” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
10. “Tainted Love” – Soft Cell

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1983

1. “Every Breath You Take” – The Police
2. “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson
3. “Down Under” – Men at Work
4. “Beat It” – Michael Jackson
5. “Africa” – Toto
6. “Flashdance… What a Feeling” – Irene Cara
7. “Maniac” – Michael Sembello
8. “(Keep Feeling) Fascination” – The Human League
9. “Hungry Like the Wolf” – Duran Duran
10. “Come on Eileen” – Dexys Midnight Runners

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1984

1. “When Doves Cry” – Prince
2. “Footloose” – Kenny Loggins
3. “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” – Phil Collins
4. “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
5. “Up Where We Belong” – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
6. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
7. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
8. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” – Tina Turner
9. ” Say You, Say Me” – Lionel Richie
10. “Every Breath You Take” – The Police

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1985

1. Careless Whisper – George Michael
2. Like a Virgin – Madonna
3. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!
4. Out of Touch – Hall & Oates
5. I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner
6. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
7. Take on Me – a-ha
8. Every Breath You Take – The Police
9. Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) – Phil Collins
10. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go – Soft Cell

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1986

1. Regarding Steven – Madonna
2. Papa Don’t Preach – Madonna
3. True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
4. Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
5. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
6. La Isla Bonita – Madonna
7. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
8. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
9. Shed a Tear – Pat Benatar
10. I Wanna Be Sedated – Ramones

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1987

1. “Walk Like an Egyptian” – The Bangles
2. “Alone” – Heart
3. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
4. “La Isla Bonita” – Madonna
5. “Shakedown” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
6. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
7. “Hungry Heart” – Bruce Springsteen
8. “The Way It Is” – Bruce Hornsby & The Range
9. “Here I Go Again” – Whitesnake
10. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” – Crowded House

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1988

The top 10 pop songs of 1988, based on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 chart, were:

1. “Faith” – George Michael
2. “Hungry Eyes” – Eric Carmen
3. “Hold On to the Nights” – Richard Marx
4. “Sweet Child o’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
5. “Transformers: The Movie Theme” – Lion
6. “A Groovy Kind of Love” – Phil Collins
7. “Devil Inside” – INXS
8. “Need You Tonight” – INXS
9. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” – Poison
10. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1989

10. “Another Day in Paradise” – Phil Collins
9. “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
8. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
7. “Here I Go Again” – Whitesnake
6. “Every Breath You Take” – The Police
5. “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson
4. “Like a Prayer” – Madonna
3. “Look Away” – Chicago
2. “Straight Up” – Paula Abdul
1. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” – Billy Joel

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1990

1. “U Can’t Touch This” – MC Hammer
2. “Vogue” – Madonna
3. “Ice Ice Baby” – Vanilla Ice
4. “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” – C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
5. “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” – Bryan Adams
6. “Wind of Change” – Scorpions
7. “Tom’s Diner” – Suzanne Vega
8. “Black or White” – Michael Jackson
9. “Unbelievable” – EMF
10. “I Wanna Sex You Up” – Color Me Badd

The Top 10 Pop Songs of 1981