Top 500 Songs from the 1980s: Volume 5

When you think of the 80s, you might think of Michael Jackson's original transformation. You might think of the woman who couldn't find the beef. You might think of the Reagan administration. But, I'm here to share with you some of the great music from that retro decade you might not know or remember.

Music videos first became popular in the 1980s, ushering in a new era in experiencing this music. When you compile a list of the 500 greatest songs of the 1980s, of course you have to include Madonna's best, Michael Jackson's own "Beat It", and many songs by such great artists as Joe Cocker or Steve Perry. These were the songs that defined the era.

I remember staying up late and seeing an info-mercial selling a collection of the 100 best songs of the '70s. It was disappointing. They weren't offering every song by every great artist of that era. So, I set off on a quest to build my own collections of the songs I remembered hearing on the radio. Many were songs from the '70s, and many were songs from the '80s. I decided to split the two, and I started finding some great music I had only heard samples of that I desperately wanted.

Here is the fifth and final sample of a wide-spread collection of songs from an era that changed the sound of rock n' roll. It was also an era that brought about the creation of pop and hip-hop songs. Included in this collection is the fun dance music of Erasure, the great rock sounds of Journey, and the soothing sounds of Sting & The Police. They may not be the throbbing sounds of Busta Rhymes or the heavy self-deprecating sounds of Nirvana, but these songs are a must-have if you have any desire to live or relive the 1980s.

401) Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon

Check out Reo Speedwagon is a Great Band by AC Source, todd parks

402) Take Me Home by Phil Collins

Check out Pop Music Icon: Phil Collins and His Hits by AC Source, Liz Richardson

403) Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money

Check out A Conversation with Eddie Money by AC Source, Carol Anne Carroll

404) Take My Breath Away by Berlin

Check out Top 10 Romantic Songs from the 1980's by AC Source, Roy Barnes

405) Take On Me by a-ha

Check out Ridiculous Music Videos from the '80s by AC Source, C. Marie Larsen

406) Talking In Your Sleep by The Romantics

Check out Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the 80s by AC Source, Rose Oscura

407) Tell Her About It by Billy Joel

Check out Top Ten Songs by Billy Joel by AC Source, Stephen Sullivan

408) Tell It To My Heart by Taylor Dayne

Check out Songs to Learn and Sing: Good 80s Music by AC Source, Vesta Brigit

409) Tenderness by General Public

Check out Music Soundtrack Gifts for People Stuck in the 80s by AC Source, Pam Gaulin

410) That's All by Genesis

Check out Top 10 Songs by Genesis by AC Source, Jo Brielyn

411) That's All or Just A Shame by Genesis

Check out Top 10 Songs by Genesis by AC Source, Jo Brielyn

412) The Best Of Times by Styx

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

413) The Finest by the SOS Band

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

414) The Flame by Cheap Trick

Check out Songs to Learn and Sing: Good 80s Music by AC Source, Vesta Brigit

415) The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson with Paul McCartney

Check out Thriller by Michael Jackson by AC Source, Josh Neimand

416) The Heart of Rock & Roll by Huey Lewis & The News

Check out Top Ten Songs by Huey Lewis and the News by AC Source, Jack Oceano

417) The Heat Is On by Glenn Frey

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

418) The Longest Time by Billy Joel

Check out Top Ten Songs by Billy Joel by AC Source, Stephen Sullivan

419) The Power Of Love by Huey Lewis & The News

Check out Top Ten Songs by Huey Lewis and the News by AC Source, Jack Oceano

420) The Reflex by Duran Duran

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

421) The Rose by Bette Midler

Check out Little Known Facts About Singer/Actress Bette Midler by AC Source, Kassidy Emmerson

422) The Search Is Over by Survivor

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

423) The Stroke by Billy Squier

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

424) The Waiting by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Check out Top 10 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Songs by AC Source, Shane Dayton

425) The Warrior by Scandal Featuring Patty Smyth

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

426) The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson

Check out Michael Jackson: A Biography by AC Source, Kay Kay

427) There'll Be Sad Songs by Billy Ocean

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

428) These Dreams by Heart

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

429) Think I'm In Love by Eddie Money

Check out A Conversation with Eddie Money by AC Source, Carol Anne Carroll

430) Think of Laura by Christopher Cross

Check out Favorite Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Janet Hunt

431) This Could Be The Night by Loverboy

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

432) This Old Heart Of Mine by Rod Stewart

Check out Rod Stewart Still Rocks After All These Years by AC Source, M.S. Medina

433) Thriller by Michael Jackson

Check out Thriller by Michael Jackson by AC Source, Josh Neimand

434) Throwing It All Away by Genesis

Check out Top 10 Songs by Genesis by AC Source, Jo Brielyn

435) Time (Clock Of The Heart) by Culture Club

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

436) Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

Check out Top Ten Songs by Cyndi Lauper by AC Source, Kerschie Byerly

437) Time And Tide by Basia

Check out Favorite Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Janet Hunt

438) Tonight She Comes by The Cars

Check out Recovering the Music from the 80's by AC Source, Jawna Hoffman

439) Tonight, Tonight, Tonight by Genesis

Check out Top 10 Songs by Genesis by AC Source, Jo Brielyn

440) Too Much Time On My Hands by Styx

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

441) Too Shy by Kajagoogoo

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

442) Total Eclispe Of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler

Check out Top 15 Shout Aloud Songs by AC Source, Porteno

443) True by Spandau Ballet

Check out I Know This Much is True (Thanks Spandau Ballet) by AC Source, Rheba Estante

444) True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

Check out Top Ten Songs by Cyndi Lauper by AC Source, Kerschie Byerly

445) True Faith by The New Order

Check out New Order Album Review: Power, Corruption and Lies by AC Source, Timothy Sexton

446) Truly by Lionel Richie

Check out Lionel Richie Just Go Early Album Review by AC Source, The Reviewer

447) Tube Snake Boogie by ZZ Top

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

448) Turn The Radio Up by Eric Carmen

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

449) Turn Up The Radio by Autograph

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

450) Turning Japanese by The Vapors

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

451) Two Hearts by Phil Collins

Check out Pop Music Icon: Phil Collins and His Hits by AC Source, Liz Richardson

452) Unchained by Van Halen

Check out Van Halen Reunite: The Band that Rocks by AC Source, Jeremy McCurley

453) Under Pressure by David Bowie with Queen

Check out The Top Ten Queen Songs that Not Everyone Has Heard Of by AC Source, Miranda Reece

454) Union Of The Snake by Duran Duran

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

455) Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes

Check out Top 10 Romantic Songs from the 1980's by AC Source, Roy Barnes

456) Uptown Girl by Billy Joel

Check out Top Ten Songs by Billy Joel by AC Source, Stephen Sullivan

457) Urgent by Foreigner

Check out Top Ten Songs by Foreigner by AC Source, Terry Edwards

458) Venus by Bananarama

Check out Summer Tunes from the 1980s-1990s by AC Source, Therese Mancevski

459) Vogue by Madonna

Check out Top 10 Madonna Songs by AC Source, Tracy Heck

460) Voices Carry by 'Til Tuesday

Check out Favorite Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Janet Hunt

461) Waiting For a Girl Like You by Foreigner

Check out Top Ten Songs by Foreigner by AC Source, Terry Edwards

462) Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

463) Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

464) Walk Of Life by Dire Straits

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

465) Walk On Water by Eddie Money

Check out A Conversation with Eddie Money by AC Source, Carol Anne Carroll

466) Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' by Michael Jackson

Check out Michael Jackson: A Biography by AC Source, Kay Kay

467) Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi

Check out Top Ten Songs by Bon Jovi by AC Source, Patti Ann Stafford

468) We Belong by Pat Benatar

Check out The Biography of Pat Benatar by AC Source, Kassidy Emmerson

469) We Built This City by Starship

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

470) We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

471) We Don't Need Another Hero by Tina Turner

Check out Tina Turner (Simply the Best) by AC Source, Zenovia B.

472) Welcome To The Jungle by Guns 'N' Roses

Check out The Tentative Return of Guns 'n' Roses by AC Source, Seth Mullins

473) We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister

Check out Top 15 Shout Aloud Songs by AC Source, Porteno

474) What About Love by Heart

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

475) What I Like About You by The Romantics

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

476) What It Takes by Aerosmith

Check out Aerosmith Top Ten Best Songs of All Time by AC Source, Linda StCyr

477) What You Need by INXS

Check out Favorite Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Janet Hunt

478) What's Love Got to Do With It by Tina Turner

Check out Tina Turner (Simply the Best) by AC Source, Zenovia B.

479) What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy) - Information Society

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

480) When I See You Smile by Bad English

Check out Top 10 Romantic Songs from the 1980's by AC Source, Roy Barnes

481) When I Think Of You by Janet Jackson

Check out Great '80s Music by AC Source, Steve Graham

482) When I'm With You by Sheriff

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

483) When It's Love by Van Halen

Check out Van Halen Reunite: The Band that Rocks by AC Source, Jeremy McCurley

484) When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

485) Where Do Broken Hearts Go by Whitney Houston

Check out My Top 10 Favorite Songs by Whitney Houston by AC Source, LaShanta Holloway

486) Whip It by Devo

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

487) White Horse by Laid Back

Check out Favorite Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Janet Hunt

488) White Wedding by Billy Idol

Check out Top 15 Shout Aloud Songs by AC Source, Porteno

489) Who Can It be Now? by Men At Work

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

490) Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen

Check out The Top Ten Queen Songs that Not Everyone Has Heard Of by AC Source, Miranda Reece

491) Who Will You Run To by Heart

Check out Music of the 80's: Iconic by AC Source, PenGlide

492) Who's Crying Now by Journey

Check out Top Ten Songs by Journey by AC Source, Ryan Scott

493) Why Can't This Be Love by Van Halen

Check out Van Halen Reunite: The Band that Rocks by AC Source, Jeremy McCurley

494) Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

Check out Top 10 Romantic Songs from the 1980's by AC Source, Roy Barnes

495) Wild, Wild, West by The Escape Club

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

496) Will You Still Love Me? by Chicago

Check out Top Ten Songs by Chicago by AC Source, Simran

497) Word Up by Cameo

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

498) Workin' For A Livin' by Huey Lewis & The News

Check out Top Ten Songs by Huey Lewis and the News by AC Source, Jack Oceano

499) Working For The Weekend by Loverboy

Check out Top 15 Shout Aloud Songs by AC Source, Porteno

500) Would I Lie to You? by The Eurythmics

Check out Top Ten Dance Songs of the 80s by AC Source, Melody Jones

In addition to the last 500 songs, here's more to add to your collection. I thought it would only be fair after running short on my 1970s list.

You Belong To The City by Glenn Frey

You Dropped A Bomb On Me by The Gap Band

You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi

You Got It All by the Jets

You Got It by Roy Orbison

You Got Lucky by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

You Make My Dreams by Daryl Hall and John Oates

You Might Think by The Cars

You Shook Me All Night Long by AC-DC

You Spin Me (Like A Record) by Dead Or Alive

Young Turks by Rod Stewart

Your Love by The Outfield

Your Wildest Dreams by The Moody Blues

You're A Friend Of Mine by Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne

You're the Inspiration by Chicago