Most Iconic 80s Songs

I tried not to just include songs I personally like, and I could've included a lot more, so feel free to add. But these are the 10 songs I most commonly associate with the 80s.

The Top Ten

1 Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi

The first song I thought of, even if I prefer "You Give Love a Bad Name". It's 80s arena rock. It's big hair. It's impossible to sing properly at karaoke. - truckturner

2 Thriller - Michael Jackson Thriller - Michael Jackson Cover Art

Thriller, Bad, Billie Jean, Beat it, Smooth Criminal, Man in the Mirror, The way you make me feel are my favourite Michael Jackson's songs. I like his other songs too.

I could've gone with "Billie Jean", but this was a gigantic hit song, clip, and album. - truckturner

3 Master of Puppets - Metallica

Not my favourite Metallica song, but a favourite of many and probably their most iconic 80s song. - truckturner

4 Take On Me - a-ha Take On Me - a-ha Cover Art

The lyrics sound a bit backwards (Talking away? Take on Me? ), but this song and clip are definitely very 80s. Good luck hitting those high notes. - truckturner

Great song, superb vocals, good synthesizer notes, and amazing music video all at once.

5 Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

6 Like a Prayer - Madonna Like a Prayer - Madonna Cover Art

I'm not a Madonna fan, but I respect her durability and capacity for changing her image up. Probably my favourite song of hers and definitely one of her biggest 80s hits - truckturner

7 Sweet Child O'Mine - Guns N' Roses

Sweet Child O'Mine - Guns N' Roses Cover Art

I prefer Welcome to the Jungle but I think Sweet Child O'Mine was more popular and hence, more iconic - Metal_Treasure

8 Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper Cover Art

Honestly I think this could easily be in the top 5 in terms of songs everyone associates with the 1980s. Certainly it should be ahead of a song like Master of Puppets that is really only well known by Metallica fans (no offense to them though).

I'd say Master of Puppets is well known by ANY fan of metal and hard rock, not just Metallica fans. However, Cyndi Lauper is certainly more iconically 80s than Metallica (and I say that as a fan of the latter, not the former). - truckturner

This song has meant more to this culture more than Pat Benatar's "Love Is A Battlefield," Madonna's "Like A Virgin" or Tine Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It," because it's and anthem for an movement in women we still feel it's strength in society today. - RalphMorodor

9 Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard

Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard Cover Art

One of my favourite bands, my favourite album, and one of the more iconic songs off that album. Def Lepp were a staple of MTV with their music videos and arena rock songs in the 80s. - truckturner

10 Don't Stop Believin' - Journey