You can get the feel of a decade from the songs that played on the radio at the time. And, no songs were played more than the #1 hits. These songs were the background music to your life in the 80s – the music in the car on the way to school and sports practice, the music in the stores where you shopped, the music on the soundtracks of your favorite movies, and the music you danced alone to in your bedroom. By looking at the number one hits in consecutive order throughout the 80s, you get an immediate sense of how music and culture evolved over those 10 years. We link to music videos where they available. Enjoy!
Please note that the following charts represent the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
1980 . 1981 . 1982 . 1983 . 1984 . 1985 . 1986 . 1987 . 1988 . 1989
1980
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Escape (The Pina Colada Song) |
Rupert Holmes |
Dec 22, ’79 – Jan 4 |
| Please Don’t Go |
KC & the Sunshine Band |
Jan 5 – Jan 18 |
| Rock With You |
Michael Jackson |
Jan 19 – Feb 15 |
| Do That To Me One More Time |
Captain & Tennille |
Feb 16 – Feb 22 |
| Crazy Little Thing Called Love |
Queen |
Feb 23 – Mar 21 |
| Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) |
Pink Floyd |
Mar 22 – Apr 18 |
| Call Me |
Blondie |
Apr 19 – May 30 |
| Funkytown |
Lipps Inc. |
May 31 – Jun 27 |
| Coming Up (Live At Glasgow) |
Paul McCartney & Wings |
Jun 28 – Jul 18 |
| It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me |
Billy Joel |
Jul 19 – Aug 1 |
| Magic |
Olivia Newton-John |
Aug 2 – Aug 29 |
| Sailing |
Christopher Cross |
Aug 30 – Sept 5 |
| Upside Down |
Diana Ross |
Sept 6 – Oct 3 |
| Another One Bites the Dust |
Queen |
Oct 4 – Oct 24 |
| Woman in Love |
Barbra Streisand |
Oct 25 – Nov 14 |
| Lady |
Kenny Rogers |
Nov 15 – Dec 26 |
| (Just Like) Starting Over |
John Lennon |
Dec 27 – Jan 30, ’81 |
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1981
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| (Just Like) Starting Over |
John Lennon |
Dec 27, ’80 – Jan 30 |
| The Tide Is High |
Blondie |
Jan 31 – Feb 6 |
| Celebration |
Kool & The Gang |
Feb 7 – Feb 20 |
| 9 to 5 |
Dolly Parton |
Feb 21 – Mar 6 |
| I Love A Rainy Night |
Eddie Rabbit |
Mar 7 – Mar 20 |
| Keep On Loving You |
REO Speedwagon |
Mar 21 – Mar 27 |
| Rapture |
Blondie |
Mar 28 – Apr 10 |
| Kiss On My List |
Hall & Oates |
Apr 11 – May 1 |
| Morning Train (Nine To Five) |
Sheena Easton |
May 2 – May 15 |
| Bette Davis Eyes |
Kim Carnes |
May 16 – Jul 17 |
| Medley |
Stars on 45 |
Jul 18 – Jul 24 |
| The One That You Love |
Air Supply |
Jul 25 – Jul 31 |
| Jessie’s Girl |
Rick Springfield |
Aug 1 – Aug 14 |
| Endless Love |
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie |
Aug 15 – Oct 16 |
| Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) |
Christopher Cross |
Oct 17 – Nov 6 |
| Private Eyes |
Hall & Oates |
Nov 7 – Nov 20 |
| Physical |
Olivia Newton-John |
Nov 21 – Jan 29, ’82 |
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1982
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Physical |
Olivia Newton-John |
Nov 21, ’81 – Jan 29 |
| I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) |
Hall & Oates |
Jan 30 – Feb 5 |
| Centerfold |
J. Geils Band |
Feb 6 – Mar 19 |
| I Love Rock n’ Roll |
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts |
Mar 20 – May 7 |
| Chariots of Fire |
Vangelis |
May 8 – May 14 |
| Ebony and Ivory |
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder |
May 15 – Jul 2 |
| Don’t You Want Me |
The Human League |
Jul 3 – Jul 23 |
| Eye of the Tiger |
Survivor |
Jul 24 – Sept 3 |
| Abracadabra |
The Steve Miller Band |
Sept 4 – Sept 17 |
| Hard to Say I’m Sorry |
Chicago |
Sept 18 – Oct 1 |
| Jack & Diane |
John Mellencamp |
Oct 2 – Oct 29 |
| Who Can It Be Now? |
Men at Work |
Oct 30 – Nov 5 |
| Up Where We Belong |
Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes |
Nov 6 – Nov 26 |
| Truly |
Lionel Richie |
Nov 27 – Dec 10 |
| Mickey |
Toni Basil |
Dec 11- Dec 17 |
| Maneater |
Hall & Oates |
Dec 18 – Jan 14, ’83 |
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1983
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Maneater |
Hall & Oates |
Dec 18, ’82 – Jan 14 |
| Down Under |
Men at Work |
Jan 15 – Feb 11 |
| Africa |
Toto |
Feb 12 – Feb 18 |
| Baby, Come To Me |
Patti Austin featuring James Ingram |
Feb 19 – Mar 4 |
| Billie Jean |
Michael Jackson |
Mar 5 – Apr 22 |
| Come On Eileen |
Dexys Midnight Runners |
Apr 23 – Apr 29 |
| Beat It |
Michael Jackson |
Apr 30 – May 20 |
| Let’s Dance |
David Bowie |
May 21 – May 27 |
| Flashdance . . . What A Feeling |
Irene Cara |
May 28 – Jul 8 |
| Every Breath You Take |
The Police |
Jul 9 – Sept 2 |
| Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |
Eurythmics |
Sept 3 – Sept 9 |
| Maniac |
Michael Sembello |
Sept 10 – Sept 23 |
| Tell Her About It |
Billy Joel |
Sept 24 – Sept 30 |
| Total Eclipse of the Heart |
Bonnie Tyler |
Oct 1 – Oct 28 |
| Islands In the Stream |
Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton |
Oct 29 – Nov 11 |
| All Night Long (All Night) |
Lionel Richie |
Nov 12 – Dec 9 |
| Say Say Say |
Paul McCartney featuring Michael Jackson |
Dec 10 – Jan 20, ’84 |
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1984
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Say Say Say |
Paul McCartney featuring Michael Jackson |
Dec 10, ’83 – Jan 20 |
| Owner of a Lonely Heart |
Yes |
Jan 21 – Feb 3 |
| Karma Chameleon |
Culture Club |
Feb 4 – Feb 24 |
| Jump |
Van Halen |
Feb 25 – Mar 20 |
| Footloose |
Kenny Loggins |
Mar 31 – Apr 20 |
| Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) |
Phil Collins |
Apr 21 – May 11 |
| Hello |
Lionel Richie |
May 12 – May 25 |
| Let’s Hear It For the Boy |
Deniece Williams |
May 26 – Jun 8 |
| Time After Time |
Cyndi Lauper |
Jun 9 – Jun 22 |
| The Reflex |
Duran Duran |
Jun 23 – Jul 6 |
| When Doves Cry |
Prince |
Jul 7 – Aug 10 |
| Ghostbusters |
Ray Parker, Jr. |
Aug 11 – Aug 31 |
| What’s Love Got to Do With It |
Tina Turner |
Sept 1 – Sept 21 |
| Missing You |
John Waite |
Sept 22 – Sept 28 |
| Let’s Go Crazy |
Prince & The Revolution |
Sept 29 – Oct 12 |
| Just Called To Say I Love You |
Stevie Wonder |
Oct 13 – Nov 2 |
| Caribbean Queen (No More Love On the Run) |
Billy Ocean |
Nov 3 – Nov 16 |
| Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go |
Wham! |
Nov 17 – Dec 7 |
| Out of Touch |
Hall & Oates |
Dec 8 – Dec 21 |
| Like a Virgin |
Madonna |
Dec 22 – Feb 1, ’85 |
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1985
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Like a Virgin |
Madonna |
Dec 22, ’84 – Feb 1 |
| I Want to Know What Love Is |
Foreigner |
Feb 2 – Feb 15 |
| Careless Whisper |
Wham! |
Feb 16 – Mar 8 |
| Can’t Fight This Feeling |
REO Speedwagon |
Mar 9 – Mar 29 |
| One More Night |
Phil Collins |
Mar 30 – Apr 12 |
| We Are The World |
USA For Africa |
Apr 13 – May 10 |
| Crazy for You |
Madonna |
May 11 – May 17 |
| Don’t You (Forget About Me) |
Simple Minds |
May 18 – May 24 |
| Everything She Wants |
Wham! |
May 25 – Jun 7 |
| Everybody Wants To Rule The World |
Tears For Fears |
Jun 8 – Jun 21 |
| Heaven |
Bryan Adams |
Jun 22 – Jul 5 |
| Sussudio |
Phil Collins |
Jul 6 – Jul 12 |
| A View to a Kill |
Duran Duran |
Jul 13 – Jul 26 |
| Everytime You Go Away |
Paul Young |
Jul 27 – Aug 2 |
| Shout |
Tears For Fears |
Aug 3 – Aug 23 |
| The Power of Love |
Huey Lewis & The News |
Aug 24 – Sept 6 |
| St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) |
John Parr |
Sept 7 – Sept 20 |
| Money For Nothing |
Dire Straits |
Sept 21 – Oct 11 |
| Oh Sheila |
Ready For the World |
Oct 12 – Oct 18 |
| Take On Me |
a-ha |
Oct 19 – Oct 25 |
| Saving All My Love For You |
Whitney Houston |
Oct 26 – Nov 1 |
| Part Time Lover |
Stevie Wonder |
Nov 2 – Nov 8 |
| Miami Vice Theme |
Jan Hammer |
Nov 9 – Nov 15 |
| We Built This City |
Starship |
Nov 16 – Nov 29 |
| Separate Lives |
Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin |
Nov 30 – Dec 6 |
| Broken Wings |
Mr. Mister |
Dec 7 – Dec 20 |
| Say You, Say Me |
Lionel Richie |
Dec 21 – Jan 17, ’86 |
Back to Top
1986
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Say You, Say Me |
Lionel Richie |
Dec 21, ’85 – Jan 17 |
| That’s What Friends Are For |
Dionne Warwick featuring Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder |
Jan 18 – Feb 14 |
| How Will I Know |
Whitney Houston |
Feb 15 – Feb 28 |
| Kyrie |
Mr. Mister |
Mar 1 – Mar 14 |
| Sara |
Starship |
Mar 15 – Mar 21 |
| These Dreams |
Heart |
Mar 22 – Mar 28 |
| Rock Me Amadeus |
Falco |
Mar 29 – Apr 18 |
| Kiss |
Prince |
Apr 19 – May 2 |
| Addicted to Love |
Robert Palmer |
May 3 – May 9 |
| West End Girls |
Pet Shop Boys |
May 10 – May 16 |
| Greatest Love of All |
Whitney Houston |
May 17 – Jun 6 |
| Live to Tell |
Madonna |
Jun 7 – Jun 13 |
| On My Own |
Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald |
Jun 14 – Jul 4 |
| There’ll Be Sad Songs (to Make You Cry) |
Billy Ocean |
Jul 5 – Jul 11 |
| Holding Back the Years |
Simply Red |
Jul 12 – Jul 18 |
| Invisible Touch |
Genesis |
Jul 19 – Jul 25 |
| Sledgehammer |
Peter Gabriel |
Jul 26 – Aug 1 |
| Glory of Love |
Peter Cetera |
Aug 2 – Aug 15 |
| Papa Don’t Preach |
Madonna |
Aug 16 – Aug 29 |
| Higher Love |
Steve Winwood |
Aug 30 – Sept 5 |
| Venus |
Bananarama |
Sept 6 – Sept 12 |
| Take My Breath Away |
Berlin |
Sept 13 – Sept 19 |
| Stuck with You |
Huey Lewis & the News |
Sept 20 – Oct 10 |
| When I Think of You |
Janet Jackson |
Oct 11 – Oct 24 |
| True Colors |
Cyndi Lauper |
Oct 25 – Nov 7 |
| Amanda |
Boston |
Nov 8 – Nov 21 |
| Human |
Human League |
Nov 22 – Nov 28 |
| You Give Love a Bad Name |
Bon Jovi |
Nov 29 – Dec 5 |
| The Next Time I Fall |
Peter Cetera featuring Amy Grant |
Dec 6 – Dec 12 |
| The Way It Is |
Bruce Hornsby & the Range |
Dec 13 – Dec 19 |
| Walk Like an Egyptian |
The Bangles |
Dec 20 – Jan 16, ’87 |
Back to Top
1987
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Walk Like an Egyptian |
The Bangles |
Dec 20, ’86 – Jan 16 |
| Shake You Down |
Gregory Abbott |
Jan 17 – Jan 23 |
| At this Moment |
Billy Vera and The Beaters |
Jan 24 – Feb 6 |
| Open Your Heart |
Madonna |
Feb 7 – Feb 13 |
| Livin’ On a Prayer |
Bon Jovi |
Feb 14 – Mar 13 |
| Jacob’s Ladder |
Huey Lewis & the News |
Mar 14 – Mar 11 |
| Lean On Me |
Club Nouveau |
Mar 21 – Apr 3 |
| Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now |
Starship |
Apr 4 – Apr 17 |
| I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) |
Aretha Franklin & George Michael |
Apr 18 – May 1 |
| (I Just) Died In Your Arms |
Cutting Crew |
May 2 – May 15 |
| With Or Without You |
U2 |
May 16 – Jun 5 |
| You Keep Me Hangin’ On |
Kim Wilde |
Jun 6 – Jun 12 |
| Always |
Atlantic Starr |
Jun 13 – Jun 19 |
| Head to Toe |
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam |
Jun 20 – Jun 6 |
| I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) |
Whitney Houston |
Jun 27 – Jul 10 |
| Alone |
Heart |
Jul 11 – Jul 31 |
| Shakedown |
Bob Seger |
Aug 1 – Aug 7 |
| I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For |
U2 |
Aug 8 – Aug 21 |
| Who’s That Girl |
Madonna |
Aug 22 – Aug 28 |
| La Bamba |
Los Lobos |
Aug 29 – Sept 18 |
| I Just Can’t Stop Loving You |
Michael Jackson |
Sept 19 – Sept 25 |
| Didn’t We Almost Have It All |
Whitney Houston |
Sept 26 – Oct 9 |
| Here I Go Again |
Whitesnake |
Oct 10 – Oct16 |
| Lost In Emotion |
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam |
Oct 17 – Oct 23 |
| Bad |
Michael Jackson |
Oct 24 – Nov 6 |
| I Think We’re Alone Now |
Tiffany |
Nov 7 – Nov 20 |
| Mony Mony “Live” |
Billy Idol |
Nov21 – Nov 27 |
| (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life |
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes |
Nov 28 – Dec 4 |
| Heaven Is a Place On Earth |
Belinda Carlisle |
Dec 5 – Dec 11 |
| Faith |
George Michael |
Dec 12 – Jan 8, ’88 |
Back to Top
1988
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Faith |
George Michael |
Dec 12, ’89 – Jan 8 |
| So Emotional |
Whitney Houston |
Jan 9 – Jan 15 |
| Got My Mind Set on You |
George Harrison |
Jan 16 – Jan 22 |
| The Way You Make Me Feel |
Michael Jackson |
Jan 23 – Jan 29 |
| Need You Tonight |
INXS |
Jan 30 – Feb 5 |
| Could’ve Been |
Tiffany |
Feb 6 – Feb19 |
| Seasons Change |
Exposé |
Feb 20 – Feb 26 |
| Father Figure |
George Michael |
Feb 27 – Mar 11 |
| Never Gonna Give You Up |
Rick Astley |
Mar 12 – Mar 20 |
| Man In The Mirror |
Michael Jackson |
Mar 26 – Apr 8 |
| Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car |
Billy Ocean |
Apr 9 – Apr 22 |
| Where Do Broken Hearts Go |
Whitney Houston |
Apr 23 – May 6 |
| Wishing Well |
Terence Trent D’Arby |
May 7 – May 13 |
| Anything For You |
Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine |
May 14 – May 27 |
| One More Try |
George Michael |
May 28 – Jul 17 |
| Together Forever |
Rick Astley |
Jun 18 – Jul 24 |
| Foolish Beat |
Debbie Gibson |
Jun 25 – Jul 1 |
| Dirty Diana |
Michael Jackson |
Jul 2 – Jul 8 |
| The Flame |
Cheap Trick |
Jul 9 – Jul 22 |
| Hold On to The Nights |
Richard Marx |
Jul 23 – Jul 29 |
| Roll With It |
Steve Winwood |
Jul 30 – Aug 26 |
| Monkey |
George Michael |
Aug 27 – Sept 9 |
| Sweet Child O’ Mine |
Guns N’ Roses |
Sept 10 – Sept 23 |
| Don’t Worry Be Happy |
Bobby McFerrin |
Sept 24 – Oct 7 |
| Love Bites |
Def Leppard |
Oct 8 – Oct 14 |
| Red Red Wine |
UB40 |
Oct 15 – Oct 21 |
| Groovy Kind Of Love |
Phil Collins |
Oct 22 – Nov 4 |
| Kokomo |
The Beach Boys |
Nov 5 – Nov 11 |
| Wild, Wild West |
The Escape Club |
Nov 12 – Nov 18 |
| Bad Medicine |
Bon Jovi |
Nov 19 – Dec 2 |
| Baby, I Love Your Way |
Will To Power |
Dec 3 – Dec 9 |
| Look Away |
Chicago |
Dec 10 – Dec 23 |
| Every Rose Has Its Thorn |
Poison |
Dec 24 – Jan 13, ’89 |
Back to Top
1989
| Song |
Artist |
Date |
| Every Rose Has Its Thorn |
Poison |
Dec 24, ’88 – Jan 13 |
| My Prerogative |
Bobby Brown |
Jan 14 – Jan 20 |
| Two Hearts |
Phil Collins |
Jan 21 – Feb 3 |
| When I’m With You |
Sheriff |
Feb 4 – Feb 10 |
| Straight Up |
Paula Abdul |
Feb 11 – Mar 3 |
| Lost In Your Eyes |
Debbie Gibson |
Mar 4 – Mar 24 |
| The Living Years |
Mike & The Mechanics |
Mar 25 – Mar 31 |
| Eternal Flame |
The Bangles |
Apr 1 – Apr 7 |
| The Look |
Roxette |
Apr 8 – Apr 14 |
| She Drives Me Crazy |
Fine Young Cannibals |
Apr 15 – Apr 21 |
| Like a Prayer |
Madonna |
Apr 22 – May 12 |
| I’ll Be There for You |
Bon Jovi |
May 13 – May 19 |
| Forever Your Girl |
Paula Abdul |
May 20 – Jun 2 |
| Rock On |
Michael Damian |
Jun 3 – Jun 9 |
| Wind Beneath My Wings |
Bette Midler |
Jun 10 – Jun 16 |
| I’ll Be Loving You (Forever) |
New Kids On The Block |
Jun 17 – Jun 23 |
| Satisfied |
Richard Marx |
Jun 24 – Jun 30 |
| Baby Don’t Forget My Number |
Milli Vanilli |
Jul 1 – Jul 7 |
| Good Thing |
Fine Young Cannibals |
Jul 8 – Jul 14 |
| If You Don’t Know Me By Now |
Simply Red |
Jul 15 – Jul 21 |
| Toy Soldiers |
Martika |
Jul 22 – Aug 4 |
| Batdance |
Prince |
Aug 5 – Aug 11 |
| Right Here Waiting |
Richard Marx |
Aug 12 – Sept 1 |
| Cold Hearted |
Paula Abdul |
Sept 2 – Sept 8 |
| Hangin’ Tough |
New Kids On The Block |
Sept 9 – Sept 15 |
| Don’t Wanna Lose You |
Gloria Estefan |
Sept 16 – Sept 22 |
| Girl I’m Gonna Miss You |
Milli Vanilli |
Sept 23 – Oct 6 |
| Miss You Much |
Janet Jackson |
Oct 7 – Nov 3 |
| Listen to Your Heart |
Roxette |
Nov 4 – Nov 10 |
| When I See You Smile |
Bad English |
Nov 11 – Nov 24 |
| Blame It On the Rain |
Milli Vanilli |
Nov 25 – Dec 9 |
| We Didn’t Start The Fire |
Billy Joel |
Dec 9 – Dec 22 |
| Another Day In Paradise |
Phil Collins |
Dec 23 – Jan 13, ’90 |
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