100 Best Rock Songs of the '80s

I have been an online writer for over five years. I am passionate about books, philosophy, music, and the music industry.

The ‘80s was a memorable decade in music. Rock music gained new momentum, spreading its roots globally. A number of bands from the late ‘70s made new pathways musically, pioneering new developments in sound. The hard rock and metal scene became prominent in the ‘80s, leading to a "whiplash" movement in bands emerging in rock subgenres. Glam metal, a heavy metal subgenre, reached dizzying heights. Fiery high-pitched vocals became the focal point of hair bands and glam metal bands during this decade of "lipstick and leather." Rock songs reached a wide audience. While mainstream rock bands did bag major record deals with recording companies, a number of indie rock bands also found cult followings.

A number of rock bands toured extensively in the ‘80s, performing at sold out venues. The AOR scene became magnanimous. Album-oriented rock, also referred to as arena rock and anthem rock, witnessed a rise in popularity with fans who were looking for softer, but more dramatic rock music. Rock songs became popular with youth around the globe. In the U.S., bands with a radio-friendly sound became exceptionally popular with audiences. Heavy metal continued its reign throughout the ‘80s, while soft rock and power ballads started gaining new ground. The strong emphasis on melodic elements, encompassed with anthem-like choruses, became the signature sound in rock ballads and power ballads of the decade. The soft rock feel (interspersed with hard hitting balladry) gave these rock love songs a unique identity.

Top 10 Best Rock Songs of the ‘80s

1. "Sweet Child O’ Mine" by Guns n’ Roses
2. "Back in Black" by AC/DC
3. "Livin’ on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi
4. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police
5. "With or Without You" by U2
6. "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
7. "Jump" by Van Halen
8. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard
9. "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest
10. "Is This Love" by Whitesnake

Best Rock Songs of the ‘80s #11-20

Best Rock Songs of the ‘80s #21-40

Rock Ballads and Music Promotion in the ‘80s

Acoustic intros in rock ballads and power ballads gave new meaning to song structure in the ‘80s. Rock ballads and power ballads became hugely popular with youth globally. A number of albums released by rock bands featured hard-hitting ballads that had chart-topping success. Music television channels, MTV in particular, helped a significant number of mainstream and non-mainstream bands gain momentum during the ‘80s. While it was not easy to promote music independently, a number of rock bands sold their music at gigs and concerts to make ends meet. Certain rock songs became huge underground hits before they ever received commercial acclaim from critics.

Best Rock Songs of the ‘80s #41-60

The Hard Rock Scene in the ‘80s

The hard rock scene, which was prevalent in the ‘70s, changed dramatically in the ‘80s. Guitar-driven hard rock that combined gut-wrenching riffs and blazing guitar solos became the quintessential rock sound of the decade. A number of shred guitar players became exceedingly popular for their guitar work. The '80s witnessed guitar players employing a wide-variety of guitar techniques. Different types of guitar tapping techniques became hugely popular on hard rock songs. This pushed popular music into new dimensions, submerged in deep ethereal soundscapes. Drum solos and extended guitar solos were a prominent feature during live performances of hard rock bands during this decade.

Best Rock Songs of the ‘80s #61-80

Emergence of Extreme Subgenres in the ‘80s

During this decade, a number of extreme subgenres emerged through the underground music scene. Speed metal and thrash metal bands came into prominence in the ‘80s, paving the way for today's extreme music subgenres. A number of present-day rock bands associated with extreme metal genres cite speed metal bands and thrash metal bands of this decade as their major influences. This decade is notable for pioneering rock acts that have influenced a new wave of rock and metal. While the decade is long gone, its music continues to mesmerize and influence people from all walks of life.

Best Rock Songs of the ‘80s #81-100

Other Notable Rock Songs of the ‘80s

• "Forever Man"- Eric Clapton
• "Working for the Weekend"- Loverboy
• "Run to You"- Bryan Adams
• "No One Like You"- Scorpions
• "The Boys of Summer"- Don Henley
• "I Want to Make the World Turn Around"- Steve Miller Band
• "When Doves Cry"- Prince
• "Runaway"- Bon Jovi
• "When It’s Love"- Van Halen
• "Dancing With Myself"- Billy Idol
• "For Whom the Bells Toll"- Metallica
• "Shock the Monkey"- Peter Gabriel
• "Bad Medicine"- Bon Jovi
• "Hysteria"- Def Leppard
• "Pretending"- Eric Clapton
• "I Won’t Hold You Back"- Toto
• "Unskinny Bop"- Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"- Pat Benatar
• "I Wanna Rock"- Twisted Sister
• "Real Wild Child"- Iggy Pop
• "We Built This City"- Starship
• "Caught Up in You"- 38 Special
• "Alone"- Heart
• "Walk Like an Egyptian"- The Bangles
• "Total Eclipse of the Heart"- Bonnie Tyler
• "Carrie"- Europe
• "I Melt With You"- Modern English
• "When Love Comes to Town"- U2 and B.B King
• "Tom Sawyer"- Rush
• "Bark at the Moon"- Ozzy Osbourne
• "Love in an Elevator"- Aerosmith
• "Oh Sherrie"- Steve Perry
• "Drive"- The Cars
• "Owner of a Lonely Heart"- Yes
• "Sunday Bloody Sunday"- U2
• "Hold On"- Santana
• "Learning to Fly"- Pink Floyd
• "When the Children Cry"- White Lion
• "Hells Bells"- AC/DC
• "Devil Inside"- INXS
• "It’s in the Way That You Use It"- Eric Clapton
• "Twilight Zone"- Golden Earring
• "I’ll Be There for You"- Bon Jovi
• "Big Log"- Robert Plant
• "Who Wants to Live Forever"- Queen
• "Pictures of You"- The Cure
• "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"- Tears For Fears
• "Take My Breath Away"- Berlin
• "She Sells Sanctuary"- The Cult
• "Centerfold"- The J. Geils Band

• "Jessie’s Girl"- Rick Springfield
• "Hot for Teacher"- Van Halen
• "Addicted to Love"- Robert Palmer
• "King of Pain"- The Police
• "Fade to Black"- Metallica
• "Higher Love"- Steve Winwood
• "Uptown Girl"- Billy Joel
• "Waiting for a Girl Like You"- Foreigner
• "Open Arms"- Journey
• "Got My Mind Set on You"- George Harrison
• "Hurts So Good"- John Mellencamp
• "Say You Will"- Foreigner
• "Close My Eyes Forever"- Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne
• "Juke Box Hero"- Foreigner
• "Your Wildest Dreams"- The Moody Blues
• "Kyrie"- Mr. Mister
• "Teen Age Riot"- Sonic Youth
• "Sledgehammer"- Peter Gabriel
• "Mixed Emotions"- The Rolling Stones
• "Heaven"- Warrant
• "Sharp Dressed Man"- ZZ Top
• "The One I Love"- R.E.M.
• "Holding Out for a Hero"- Bonnie Tyler
• "I Want to Break Free"- Queen
• "Roll With It"- Steve Winwood
• "Mr Crowley"- Ozzy Osbourne
• "Fantasy"- Aldo Nova
• "The Spirit of Radio"- Rush
• "Midnight Blue"- Lou Gramm
• "Don’t Know What You Got (Till I’ts Gone)"- Cinderella
• "Heat of the Moment"- Asia
• "Waiting on a Friend"- Rolling Stones
• "Talk to Me"- Stevie Nicks
• "Stone Cold"- Rainbow
• "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free"- Sting
• "Patience"- Guns N’ Roses
• "Shake It Up"- The Cars
• "Panama"- Van Halen
• "No Way Out"- Jefferson Starship
• "Urgent"- Foreigner
• "No Reply at All"- Genesis
• "Danger Zone"- Kenny Loggins
• "Metal Health"- Quiet Riot
• "Touch of Grey"- Grateful Dead
• "She’s So Cold"- The Rolling Stones
• "Nothin’ But a Good Time"- Poison
• "Don’t Change"- INXS
• "Wanted Dead or Alive"- Bon Jovi
• "Cherry Pie"- Warrant
• "New World Man"- Rush

© 2019 Ansel Pereira

Comments

Tedd on May 21, 2020:

All the songs should of been on there I love every rock songs on that list

andy on April 13, 2020:

whats about Take me Home Tonight? :)

charles on January 30, 2020:

You must know nothing about 80s rock. Quiet Riot had maybe two of the top anthems during that span and they were not even on the list.

Christopher Nowak on November 15, 2019:

AFRICA, DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE? and Frozen Ghost's DREAM COME TRUE.?!