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The Best British '80s Songs

Updated March 6, 2021 3.6k votes 302 voters 22.7k views39 items

What are the best songs to come from the British Isles during the '80s? Let's not forget, some of the greatest bands of all time originated in Great Britain, and while the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, U2, and many more began long before the 1980s, that doesn't mean the decade doesn't have a lot of hits. Let's rank the best '80s songs from British artists that truly defined the decade not just in the UK, but around the world.

The 1980s was a great decade for British songs, which becomes all the more clear if you've ever heard a little tune called "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. In fact, just about every major hit from Queen was released during the 1980s, but that was hardly the only band to kick out killer tracks in the '80s. George Michael released a few amazing tracks including "Faith" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" while Culture Club dropped "Karma Chameleon," which is probably running through your head right now after simply reading the title. Other amazing hits to come from the decade include "Shout" by Tears for Fears, "Leave In Silence" by Depeche Mode, and The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" among many obvious others from artists like Billy Idol and Phil Collins.

Vote up your favorite British '80s songs, and add as many to the list as you like!

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1
80
44
Let's Dance
David Bowie
2
90
55
Sweet Dreams
Eurythmics
Albums: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Composer: Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart
Producer: David A. Stewart
Length (seconds): 3:32
More Sweet Dreams
#63 of 122 Cover Songs That Are Better Than The Originals#9 of 36 The Best & Most Memorable Songs From Scary Movies
3
91
56
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Joy Division
4
53
21
Hungry Like the Wolf
Duran Duran
Albums: Rio
Composer: Duran Duran
Length (seconds): 5:10
More Hungry Like the Wolf
#13 of 22 These Pop Songs Describe The Plots Of Your Favorite Horror Movies#13 of 73 The Best Rock Music Videos
5
80
49
Careless Whisper
George Michael, WHAM!
Albums: Make It Big
Composer: George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley
Producer: George Michael
Length (seconds): 4:49
More Careless Whisper
#10 of 50 The Best Blue-Eyed Soul Songs#29 of 100 The Best R&B Songs Of The '80s, Ranked
6
91
60
Under Pressure
David Bowie, Queen
Albums: Hot Space, Let's Dance
Composer: David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, Roger Taylor
Producer: David Bowie, Queen
Length (seconds): 3:50
7
83
54
The Reflex
Duran Duran
Albums: Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Composer: Duran Duran, Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor, Nigel John Taylor, Nick Rhodes
Length (seconds): 5:29
8
78
50
Shout
Tears for Fears
9
78
52
Another One Bites The Dust
Queen
Albums: The Game
Composer: John Deacon
Producer: Queen, Reinhold Mack
Length (seconds): 3:35
More Another One Bites The Dust
#3 of 77 The Best Pop Songs About Death#11 of 20 The Best Bouquet Toss Songs
10
87
63
Mad World
Tears for Fears
Date Recorded: 1982
Albums: The Hurting
Composer: Roland Orzabal
Producer: Chris Hughes, Ross Cullum
Length (seconds): 3:31
More Mad World
#9 of 113 The Best Alternative Songs Of The '80s, Ranked#2 of 162 The Best Songs with World in the Title
11
79
55
Don't You Want Me
The Human League
12
77
52
Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush
Albums: Hounds of Love
Composer: Kate Bush
Producer: Kate Bush
Length (seconds): 5:3
More Running Up That Hill
#2 of 100 The Best Songs with Hill in the Title#5 of 79 The Best Songs About Running
13
75
53
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Queen
Albums: The Game
Composer: Freddie Mercury, Queen
Producer: Queen, Reinhold Mack
Length (seconds): 2:41
More Crazy Little Thing Called Love
#8 of 256 The Best Songs with Love in the Title#11 of 174 The Best Songs About Being Crazy

14
61
39
Lovecats
The Cure
15
52
38
Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
Pink Floyd
Albums: The Wall
Composer: Roger Waters
Producer: Roger Waters, Bob Ezrin, James Guthrie, David Gilmour
Length (seconds): 4:0
More Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
#5 of 138 The Best Pink Floyd Songs#8 of 61 The Best Rebel Songs
16
57
45
Money For Nothing (Full Length Version)
Dire Straits
Albums: Brothers in Arms
Composer: Sting, Mark Knopfler
Producer: Mark Knopfler, Neil Dorfsman
Length (seconds): 8:25
More Money For Nothing (Full Length Version)
#30 of 89 The Best Ever Grammy Winning Records#9 of 16 16 Songs That Don't Mean What You Think They Do
17
62
54
I Want to Break Free
Queen
Albums: The Works
Composer: John Deacon
Length (seconds): 3:18
More I Want to Break Free
#3108 of 3,867 The Best Songs Of All Time, Ranked#78 of 284 The Best Rock Songs Of The '80s, Ranked
18
58
49
In the Air Tonight
Phil Collins
Albums: Face Value
Composer: Phil Collins
Producer: Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Length (seconds): 4:0
More In the Air Tonight
#12 of 84 The Best Songs About Betrayal#1 of 102 The Best Songs with Tonight in the Title
19
1
0
Rebel Yell
Billy Idol
Albums: Rebel Yell
Composer: William Michael Albert Broad, Steve Stevens
Length (seconds): 4:46
More Rebel Yell
#8 of 133 The Best Workout Songs#45 of 182 The Best '80s New Wave Songs
20
55
49
Karma Chameleon
Culture Club
Albums: Colour by Numbers
Composer: Boy George, Culture Club, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, Jon Moss
Producer: Steve Levine
Length (seconds): 3:52
More Karma Chameleon
#179 of 193 The Worst Freakin' Songs of the '80s, Ranked#27 of 52 The Best 1980s Music Videos
21
54
48
Cars
Gary Numan
Albums: The Pleasure Principle, The Pleasure Principle / Warriors
Composer: Gary Numan
Producer: Gary Numan
Length (seconds): 3:37
More Cars
#128 of 161 The Best Songs to Sing at Karaoke#1 of 105 The Best Songs with Car in the Title
22
56
51
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
George Michael, WHAM!
Albums: Make It Big
Composer: George Michael
Producer: George Michael
Length (seconds): 3:49
More Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
#11 of 20 The Best Happy Songs of All Time#41 of 114 The Best Party Songs Of The '80s, Ranked
23
1
0
You Spin Me 'Round (Like a Record)
Dead or Alive
Albums: Youthquake
Composer: Pete Burns, Dead or Alive, Wayne Hussey, Steve Coy, Mike Percy
Producer: Pete Waterman
Length (seconds): 3:14
More You Spin Me 'Round (Like a Record)
#183 of 246 The Greatest Pop Songs by One-Hit Wonders#2 of 45 The Greatest Dance Songs by One-Hit Wonders

24
1
0
Dancing With Myself
Generation X
Albums: Kiss Me Deadly
Composer: William Michael Albert Broad, Tony James
Length (seconds): 3:47
More Dancing With Myself
#80 of 115 The Best '80s Dance Songs#52 of 98 The Best Songs About Dancing
25
1
1
I Melt With You
Modern English
Albums: After the Snow, Pillow Lips
Composer: Modern English
Length (seconds): 3:49
More I Melt With You
#11 of 107 The Greatest Songs by '80s One-Hit Wonders#10 of 142 The Greatest Songs by One-Hit Wonders

Let's Dance

Love Will Tear Us Apart

Shout

Don't You Want Me

Lovecats