Best 1980s Rock Songs

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   Back in Black

   AC/DC · from Back in Black (1980) · Album scores 90/99

   A monstrous riff and a roar.

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   Brass in Pocket

   Pretenders · from Pretenders (1980) · Album scores 88/99

   Chrissie Hynde's swagger and the most assured debut single in punk-adjacent rock.

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   Another One Bites the Dust

   Queen · from The Game (1980) · Album scores 84/99

   A funk-driven, bass-led smash.

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   Every Breath You Take

   The Police · from Synchronicity (1983) · Album scores 86/99

   A sleek, faintly sinister mega-hit.

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   Burning Down the House

   Talking Heads · from Speaking in Tongues (1983) · Album scores 84/99

   Parliament's funk filtered through Eno's ambience.

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   Sharp Dressed Man

   ZZ Top · from Eliminator (1983) · Album scores 80/99

   Boogie riffs meet 80s synths.

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   Born in the USA

   Bruce Springsteen · from Born in the U.S.A. (1984) · Album scores 83/99

   The anti-war lyric disguised as a stadium anthem — still being misread.

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   U2
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   Pride (In the Name of Love)

   U2 · from The Unforgettable Fire (1984) · Album scores 89/99

   The Edge's delay-drenched guitar and the MLK tribute that launched arena U2.

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   VH
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   Jump

   Van Halen · from 1984 (1984) · Album scores 80/99

   A synth hook and a sky-high chorus.

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    Dancing in the Dark

    Bruce Springsteen · from Born in the U.S.A. (1984) · Album scores 83/99

    The hit that made him unavoidable — more wistful than it seems.

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    Money for Nothing

    Dire Straits · from Brothers in Arms (1985) · Album scores 88/99

    A riff, a sneer and an MTV-era satire.

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    U2
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    With or Without You

    U2 · from The Joshua Tree (1987) · Album scores 95/99

    Patience and longing distilled to one bass note and Bono's falsetto.

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