Best 1980s Rock Songs

The best rock songs of the 1980s (80s), ranked — each one links to the album it came from, on vinyl, CD or Amazon Music.

All song lists Rock albums Best Rock albums of the 1980s Rock of the 1960s Rock of the 1970s All 1980s songs

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1

AC

Back in Black

AC/DC · from Back in Black (1980)

A monstrous riff and a roar.

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2

QU

Another One Bites the Dust

Queen · from The Game (1980)

A funk-driven, bass-led smash.

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3

PO

Every Breath You Take

The Police · from Synchronicity (1983)

A sleek, faintly sinister mega-hit.

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4

TH

Burning Down the House

Talking Heads · from Speaking in Tongues (1983)

Parliament's funk filtered through Eno's ambience.

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5

ZT

Sharp Dressed Man

ZZ Top · from Eliminator (1983)

Boogie riffs meet 80s synths.

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6

BS

Born in the USA

Bruce Springsteen · from Born in the U.S.A. (1984)

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

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7

U2

Pride (In the Name of Love)

U2 · from The Unforgettable Fire (1984)

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

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8

VH

Jump

Van Halen · from 1984 (1984)

A synth hook and a sky-high chorus.

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9

BS

Dancing in the Dark

Bruce Springsteen · from Born in the U.S.A. (1984)

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

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10

DS

Money for Nothing

Dire Straits · from Brothers in Arms (1985)

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

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11

U2

With or Without You

U2 · from The Joshua Tree (1987)

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

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12

GN

Sweet Child o' Mine

Guns N' Roses · from Appetite for Destruction (1987)

A tender riff turned anthem.

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Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.