Top 10 Hit Songs of 1982

In 1982 music really began to establish, forging both an image and a sound that always harbored more substance than anyone believed was there. Rock and pop styles flourished and intertwined to create an impressive display of originality that still resonates today.

1. "Don't You Want Me" is a song by the British synthpop group The Human League. The Human League hit the jackpot with this tune, a wonderfully woven tale of a dysfunctional, hard-knocks relationship featuring a classic interplay of male and female vocals to round out the narrative. The melody is intoxicating, the synth parts mesmerizing, and the singers impeccable in their presentation of what amounts to highly accessible lyrical material. Few singles as tight as this have ever been released.

2. "Eye in the Sky" is a 1982 album by The Alan Parsons Project. Songs on this album are in a number of different styles, from cool and funky to lyrical and heavily orchestrated. The fact that one has to dig through layers of production to experience the songwriting prowess is not necessarily all that surprising, given the perfectionist production and engineering past of the band's namesake. Still, what a joy it is to realize that the only thing that really matters is the quality of a song. In this case, high quality indeed.

3. "Heat of the Moment" is the first single released by progressive rock band Asia from their 1982 eponymous debut. Blending '70s progressive rock with hard rock guitar and innovative keyboards, this tune particularly ran a musical gamut that allowed it to claim a distinct place in pop music history. Though from the start critics labeled this union of disparate talents as a cynical, commercially minded enterprise, I always felt like this music was actually quite organic and genuine in forging its broad appeal.

4. "Mickey" is a 1982 hit U.S. pop song recorded by singer and choreographer Toni Basil. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as "Kitty". It has usually considered her as a one-hit wonder, being that the single is her only hit."Mickey" is one of the most famous cheerleading songs.

5. "Abracadabra" is a well recognized song recorded by the Steve Miller Band. Longtime classic rock icon and axe-man Steve Miller segued into the '80s with both style and substance with the release of this tune. Though it undoubtedly stands as his most singular and successful pure pop song, this hit single also daringly manages to work as space-age guitar rock just as well. Once again, what ultimately distinguishes this and any other classic pop song are melody and presentation, and "Abracadabra" features masterful strokes in both areas.

6. "I Ran (So Far Away)" is a song by English New Wave band A Flock of Seagulls. It was released on their debut album A Flock of Seagulls in 1982 and was its most successful single, reaching number 9 in the United States and number 1 in Australia. Many music fans have understandably been distracted by the shocking and famous haircuts of this band, but underneath that surface lies a classic pop song no matter what decade. The melodic verse is even better than the well-known chorus, and the guitar work of Paul Reynolds, I fear, will always remain criminally underrated. This band has always been unfairly classified as a one-hit wonder, but even if that label is valid, this is certainly one hit to be eternally proud of.

7. "Somebody's Baby" is a 1982 song written and performed by Jackson Browne. Not many artists can transcend era as smoothly as the versatile Browne, but this song manages to be an essential document of the '80s without sounding dated. Whatever that actually means. Though the tune rose to prominence partly because of its inclusion in the popular film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it's so memorable mainly because of its infectiously evocative take on the heady emotions of adolescence and first love. Or, maybe it's just a Phoebe Cates thing.

8. "I'm So Excited" is a song written and recorded by the Pointer Sisters. The song appeared originally on their 1982 album So Excited!. The song was also included in the movies 'National Lampoon's Vacation(1983), Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993), and The Nutty Professor.

9. "Up Where We Belong" is a song from the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman. Written by Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie, with lyrics by Will Jennings, it was performed by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. We all know that '80s music takes a lot of abuse as a showcase for fleeting music that emphasized style over substance, but it most certainly produced as many timeless melodies as any era before or since.

10. "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a ballad performed by the American rock group Chicago, written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster. The song, as well as the album on which it is featured, was a marked departure from Chicago's traditional soft rock, horns-driven sound, taking on a more polished and modern feel. In fact, there were no horns featured on the track, instead being traded for layered synthesizers and heavier distorted electric guitars in a more updated 1980's fashion. This was done to revitalize the band that was considered by some to be past its commercial prime at the time.

Top 10 Hit Songs of 1981

In the year ending with 0 or the year ending in 1. We won't get into that too much here, other than to say that by the time 1981 rolled around, the new musical decade was well into motion. As disco faded, musicians found new applications for keyboards and guitar, launching new wave as a brand new style. And pop music would never be the same when upstart cable channel MTV began its dominion.

1. "Kiss on My List" is a 1981 song recorded by Daryl Hall and John Oates. It was the third single from their album Voices. It's difficult, in fact, to suss out the best Hall & Oates song from even this year much less their entire career, but for my money "Kiss On My List" is a sterling selection. One of the duo's best distillations of its many influences, this tune sparkles and succeeds wildly with a clever and unique lyrical conceit.

2. "Jessie's Girl" is a Grammy Award-winning rock song written and performed by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released on the album Working Class Dog. The song is about unrequited love, and centers around a young man in love with his best friend's girlfriend. It is also equally effective as both a rock and pop song (pay attention to the guitar), which is a rare feat indeed.

3. "Keep On Loving You" is a power ballad written by American musician Kevin Cronin and performed by his band, REO Speedwagon. Beyond that, the song stands as a realization of a band's potential that had formerly labored within the shadows of arena rock success. REO's hit album Hi Infidelity became a huge smash this year, helped by similar pop gems.

4. "Don't Stop Believing" is a song by the American rock band Journey. The song debuted on their 1981 album Escape. Today, it is considered the band's signature song. Its combination power ballad/rocker/contemplative examination of lost souls clinging to hope simply has it all. Boasting one of Steve Perry's best, most world-weary lyrics not having to do directly with a relationship, the song features several sublime components, including a great, foundational guitar and bass riff, an unforgettable sing-along chorus, and the introduction of a new phrase in "streetlight people."

5. "Our Lips Are Sealed" is a song written by Go-Go's guitarist Jane Wiedlin and Specials and Fun Boy Three singer Terry Hall. In fact, most pop artists have never been able to reach this level, either, and that's really saying something. The song's brilliant groove and inescapable melody should have announced with authority from the start that this all-female band was unique in the annals of rock music, but unfortunately, only lately have the Go-Go's begun to receive proper respect.

6. "Tempted" was the second single released from Squeeze's fourth album.While this song is far from the quintessential offering from this great British band, it is undoubtedly a near-perfect pop confection that excels in several compelling ways. The song's organ and piano lines buoy the song through its loping progression from chorus to verse to bridge.

7. "Talk To Ya Later" is a song written by The Tubes. In a decade full of happy marriages between guitar and keyboards, this underrated classic takes that combination to the promised land.

8. "I Love a Rainy Night" is a country song by Eddie Rabbitt. In this song that managed the highly impressive feat of hitting No. 1 on the pop, country and adult contemporary charts, Rabbitt proved that his talents were not restricted by being labeled as a country artist. This tune was justifiably everywhere in 1981, and it still works today as a basic rock song that succeeds because it so completely embraces more traditional rock and roll influences that always combined country, R&B and rock styles.

9. "Tainted Love" is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of The Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones. It attained worldwide fame after being covered by Soft Cell in 1981, and has since been covered by numerous other groups and artists.

10. "In the Air Tonight" is a song by Phil Collins which first appeared on his 1981 album, Face Value. It was the first single of Collins' solo career, and remains one of his best known hits. Musically the song consists of a series of ominous chords played over a simple drum machine.

Top 10 Hit Songs of 1980

1980 was a dynamic and intriguing year for pop music. Accordingly, the best tunes from this year tended to contain elements of the decade just passed even as they forged new paths, such as the blending of disco beats with heavy use of synthesizer, an instrument that would play a huge role in the '80s.

1. "Call Me" is a song by American New Wave band Blondie. Even so, this tune ultimately stands out because it so deftly blends prevailing styles like disco, punk and pop into a punchy, nearly perfect two-minute single. "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture" were likewise huge hits in 1980, but each suffers from a stylistic imbalance not found here.

2. "Magic" is a hit 1980 song performed by Olivia Newton-John, from the soundtrack to the film Xanadu. In terms of pure loveliness, few melodies in the '80s could match this chart-topping offering from one of pop's finest, most enduring female pop singers. Another entry from a film soundtrack, this tune again blends disco rhythms with primo keyboard work, to excellent effect. Meanwhile, on full display are Newton-John's impressive vocal chops, which never sounded quite so transcendent as they do here. Before she got memorably "Physical" a year later, Newton-John was unforgettably ethereal.

3. "All Out Of Love" is a pop–ballad by Air Supply, released in 1980. It reached number 2 in the US and number 11 in the UK. The song is considered to be one of the Greatest Love songs, placing 82nd in VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Love Songs. Though much-maligned in the quarter-century since their peak era, this Australian duo crafted some rather inescapable melodies. This tune, perhaps more than any other, takes the art of the sappy love ballad to some kind of heretofore undiscovered stratosphere. The vocals of Graham Russell during the verses gently and liltingly imbue the song with emotion, while Russell Hitchcock's somewhat cloying presentation of the chorus gives new meaning to the term "over the top." Still, a great love song.

4. "Another One Bites the Dust" is a 1980 funk-rock song from the English rock band Queen known pretty much as a hard rock band before, for the boldness of this unabashedly disco tune. Containing one of the most memorable bass lines in rock history, the song was utterly omnipresent in 1980, and somehow it still stands up after all these years as a startling blend of Freddie Mercury's trademark showmanship and Brian May's constantly inventive guitar work. Perhaps never has guitar been so important in a dance-pop tune.

5. "Celebration" is a song released in 1980 by Kool & the Gang from their album Celebrate! Though it's not necessarily a positive critical endorsement of a song when it becomes standard fare at sporting events, such a phenomenon certainly cements a piece of music as a permanent part of the zeitgeist. Such is the case also with this tune, a party song that doesn't mess around with subtlety or complexity. Maybe it was also the last hurrah for this former funk band, before the group resorted to somewhat lamer pop stylings for its chart survival.

6. "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" is a song written by Eddie Schwartz and recorded by Pat Benatar in 1979, that became a hit in 1980. Sporting one of the all-time great rock guitar riffs (no, I'm not kidding), this song orchestrates a brilliant maximization of both Benatar's sex appeal and her ability to strike a relatively believable feminist pose. The combination is irresistible, and although the tune merely scraped the bottom level of the Top 10, it remains a significant document of its time as well as a timeless rock song. It does what great rock and roll should: combine sexuality with bold theatricality.

7. "Ride Like the Wind" was a hit single by Christopher Cross in 1980, appearing on his Grammy-winning self-titled debut album. Owner of one of 1980's biggest albums, Cross made an evocative sort of melodic soft rock that could have resided within any number of decades. With a singer-songwriter sensibility that simply isn't capable of rocking too hard, Cross ensured himself of chart success with high, soaring vocals and memorable melodies. This tune also features a galloping rhythm, precise instrumentation and a well-placed Michael McDonald on backing vocals.

8. "Shining Star" is a song written by The Manhatttans. Boasting a significant amount of rather soulless dance pop as the '80s did, it was rather refreshing when old-school soul found its way onto the charts. This song is a gem on many levels, obviously in its clear, soaring vocals and indelible melody but also in surprising ways. In fact, one of the most elemental pieces of the song's fabric is the gentle acoustic guitar flourish that repeats itself through the verses and chorus. As lovely today as when first released.

9. "Fame" is a pop song written by Michael Gore (music) and Dean Pitchford (lyrics) that was released in 1980 and achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame movie and TV series. A great karaoke selection for the ages, Cara's first major foray into soundtrack music simply works from start to finish. It's a great melody well executed, and any year in any decade could use a few more of those.

10. "(Just Like) Starting Over" is a song written and performed by John Lennon for his Double Fantasy album. The B-side was Yoko Ono's "Kiss Kiss Kiss". It was released as a single on October 9, 1980, Lennon's 40th birthday. It is simply one of the most touching and beautiful love songs of all time, and it's matched with characteristically innovative songwriting from one of the greatest craftsmen of all time.