Top 10 Best Singers of the 1980s
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. Chithra has always been amazing since she started singing in the late 1980s. She always has been and always will be.
Incredible range and emotion-filled highs and lows. Amazing!
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more He had the best-selling album not just of the '80s but of all time. He created the most groundbreaking music video of all time, Thriller, and the most groundbreaking dance move called the moonwalk, which looks like he is walking backward.
Who can forget his amazing songs like Billie Jean, Beat It, Bad, Man in the Mirror, Dirty Diana, and Smooth Criminal? Michael was a phenomenal singer, dancer, songwriter, and entertainer. He had it all.
He was also the greatest humanitarian. He gave away all his money from his BAD tour to charity. He is the most generous celebrity the world has seen, as well as the most humble, thoughtful, and kind. Michael Jackson was too good for this world.
People were so jealous of his success and talents that they slandered and ruined his reputation, saying he molested children when Michael Jackson would never do such a thing. He loved children. Years later, those children admitted they lied because their parents wanted money.
The media also slandered him, saying he bleached his skin when he had a skin disease, vitiligo, that destroys pigmentation in the skin. Michael Jackson was a proud Black man who spoke out against discrimination in the music industry.
No matter what the media said, we fans always knew the real Michael and still love him, even though he is gone from this world. Goodbye, Michael. We love you. You will always be the King of Pop and in our hearts forever.
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 - 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave... read more Although he was more '70s, Freddie is still a legend! He was the Elvis of the '70s and was so talented. Sadly, he died before I was born, and I didn't get to live in his generation.
Michael Jackson was great, but this list is about "singers," and in singing, Freddie Mercury was much, much better than Michael Jackson. Sure, Michael was a good entertainer, a great dancer, an innovator, and a good singer, but if we just see "singing skills," Freddie wins that competition.
Dude, he was so good. People nowadays don't appreciate music that was actually good. He was kinda more '70s but still good. So sad that he died.
Paul Bruce Dickinson, known professionally as Bruce Dickinson, (born 7 August 1958) is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.Outside his career in music, Dickinson has pursued a number... read moreGreat power, control, and conviction in Tony Hadley's voice. In the 1980s, he was hot: tall, handsome, with amazing vocal talent.
At the moment, Tony is 14th. In reality, others may have been commercially better, but not vocally.
I think he is one of the best. His voice still sounds natural, powerful, and confident.
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice.
Tomás Enrique "Tom" Araya Díaz is a Chilean American musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. You may not think he has a good singing voice, but his way of rap-yelling influenced the whole death metal genre and is still unique to this day.
Good to see Dave Gahan on the list. Depeche Mode is often overlooked on "Best of" lists, but they have made an enormous contribution to electronic music, and Gahan has a distinctive voice.
Omg, this guy in concert was something to see. He loves making music, and he is a gift to the world!
His charismatic performance and deep baritone push him over the top.
Steven Patrick Morrissey, known as Morrissey, was born on May 22, 1959. He is an English singer, songwriter, and author. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of The Smiths, an indie rock band that was active from 1982 to 1987... read more Beautiful voice and lyrical genius. Everyone in the world should be like Morrissey.
The Newcomers
Miki Matsubara (November 28, 1959 - October 7, 2004) was a Japanese singer, lyricist, and composer from Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan. She is best known for her 1979 hit song Mayonaka no Door ~ Stay With Me, which gained renewed popularity in recent years thanks to social media platforms like TikTok.
Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture... read more
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston is one of pop music's best-selling music artists of all-time, with an estimated 170–200... read more Greatest singer of all time. Most iconic head voice, most iconic vibrato, and purest tone of any singer to ever pick up a microphone. Oozing stage presence, she was truly an icon. There isn't one female pop singer who doesn't cite Whitney as one of, if not their biggest, influences.
I love her so much. She was the greatest!
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath... read more
Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, known professionally as George Michael, was an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist who rose to fame as a member of the music duo Wham!. His voice is second to none. Freddie Mercury had an amazing, powerful voice, but it didn't have the purity of George Michael's. Plus, can you see anyone else being able to pull off Somebody to Love at Freddie's tribute concert and not sound awful in comparison to the original artist?
There were so many great singers in the '80s, but George Michael is probably the most underappreciated.
Incredible range and emotion-filled highs and lows. Amazing!
Brian Johnson is an English singer and songwriter. Since 1980, he is the lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC, with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. As of April 2016, Johnson is not participating in the remainder of the Rock or Bust World Tour due to hearing... read more
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known as the lead singer of the rock band Journey during their most commercially successful periods from 1977 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 1998. This man has a voice like no other. Everything I have ever heard him sing, and I own all of Journey's albums as well as Perry's Street Talk, has been amazing. One of the best things I can imagine happening is for him to rejoin Journey. To attend one of their concerts would be a dream come true, and I would very much like to hear a new album... or two... or ten. He was a very important factor in turning Journey into something special. Journey with Steve Perry is a combination that is perfect in every way.
My opinion on this will never, ever change. Steve Perry is the best singer I have ever heard. He is capable of so much emotion, and you can hear the passion he has in every note. He is amazingly talented and has an incredible range.
Listening to certain songs, like the earlier ones from Infinity and Evolution, often leaves me breathless. He never ceases to amaze me, even when I have heard all of his songs several dozen times.
William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as 'Axl Rose', is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He Is the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock. Axl Rose is the best, of course! His unique voice cannot be accurately imitated by anyone. He can really move and does the snake dance and other dances so smoothly.
I'm not even a true fan of Guns N' Roses, but his unique sound and style deserve attention.
Mariya Takeuchi (竹内まりや) (born March 20, 1955) is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. She is best known internationally for her 1984 city pop hit "Plastic Love," which saw a resurgence in popularity in the 2010s due to internet sharing and YouTube algorithms... read more
Madonna Louise Ciccone, known professionally as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She influenced a lot of singers such as: Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears. She is known as Queen of Pop and at modern pop culture specifically... read more She had such a beautiful voice, and all her songs have meaning behind them. My favorite songs are La Isla Bonita and Like a Prayer. They both have very good background stories which fit the music perfectly.
When you look at her then and look at her now, she has changed quite a lot.
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley (Born February 6, 1966 in Newton-le-Willows, U.K.) is a British singer/songwriter, also known for "Rickrolling" . However before that he started in a church choir and a couple of local bands, before attaining success as a popular singer in the late 80s and early 90s, known... read more
Morten Harket is a Norwegian musician, best known as the lead singer of the synthpop/rock band A-ha, which released ten studio albums and topped the charts internationally after their breakthrough hit "Take on Me" in 1985. Try and sing Take On Me. Ever wondered why one of the most popular songs of all time is not a karaoke classic? Because it's impossible to sing well unless your name is Morten Harket. Oh yes, then try and sing Summer Moved On and hold that note. Bloody impossible.
He also holds (or did at one time) the record for the longest held recorded note sung in a song. His range and performance skills are excellent. He's still making great music in and out of A-ha.
Singer from the Norwegian band A-ha, the voice behind "Take On Me." He has a beautiful, soothing voice and a very expansive vocal range. It's hard not to love it.
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Unique and genuine performer with a real heart given to her audience.
Go to one of her shows and then explain why she's not number one.
In my opinion, she should be higher on the list.
John Francis Bongiovi, Jr., better known by his stage name Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor, best known as the founder and frontman of the hair band Bon Jovi from, which was founded by Jon and his pianist, David Bryan, in 1983. He is famous for... read more Honestly, I can see why some artists are ahead of Jon. Others, not so much. I guess I can't complain that he's #25, but still, I think he could probably reach #20.
Bryan Guy Adams is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, photographer, philanthropist and activist.