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 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.
Best 80's song by far

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.
One of the BEST 80's song that's still a hit to this day!
Iconic music video

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

It was either this or "How Will I Know". Both are 80s pop fun.

Dire Straits are an iconic 80s band, this was an iconic 80s music video, and that riff? Damn.

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.
Great song, superb vocals, good synthesizer notes, and amazing music video all at once.
The sounds of 80s

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.

I hear the drums echoing tonight. Wow the magic of David Paich and Jeffery Porcaro!
Because I like the beat and rhythm.
It's really good

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

I'm not a Prince fan, but he's iconically 80s and this is his best song by far.
Prince combined rock, r&b, funk, punk into one song, "When Doves Cry."

I prefer Welcome to the Jungle but I think Sweet Child O'Mine was more popular and hence, more iconic
Everyone knows the riff.

Michael Jackson's first moon walk was legendary, remembered & one of the BEST dance moves ever!

This needs to be higher

I also like the music video as well as the song!
I personally like this more than Billie Jean.



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.
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 love this song it's the best song I have ever listened to! I always send it to all of my friends it's so good! This is the 80s song that I've listened to the most!
(not necessarily by choice)

Can't stand it, but there's no doubting it deserves a mention.




Bon Jovi weren't just "Livin' on a Prayer".
Another iconic song from one of the most iconic albums of the 80s
