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Best art pop songs of the 1980s

Cheap drum machines and the first affordable samplers changed who was allowed to make a record. Hip-hop moved from a party you had to be at to a 12-inch you could buy, and MTV made how a song looked part of the argument.

Songs from the art pop albums of the 1980s, ordered by their own ratings rather than the record's.

Hounds of Love cover№ 1Hounds of LoveKate Bush · Hounds of Love4.5Weighted score5.0 avg · 4 ratings
  1. 2Hounds of Love coverHello EarthKate Bush · Hounds of Love2 ratings
  2. 3Hounds of Love coverThe Big Sky (single mix)Kate Bush · Hounds of Love2 ratings
  3. 4Hounds of Love coverAnd Dream of SheepKate Bush · Hounds of Love1 rating
  4. 5Hounds of Love coverUnder IceKate Bush · Hounds of Love1 rating
  5. 6Double Fantasy cover(Just Like) Starting OverJohn Lennon · Double Fantasy
  6. 7Never for Ever coverArmy DreamersKate Bush · Never for Ever
  7. 8Never for Ever coverBabooshkaKate Bush · Never for Ever
  8. 9Double Fantasy coverBeautiful Boy (Darling Boy)John Lennon · Double Fantasy
  9. 10Never for Ever coverBreathingKate Bush · Never for Ever
  10. 11Big Science coverBig Science 2Laurie Anderson · Big Science
  11. 12Big Science coverWalk the DogLaurie Anderson · Big Science
  12. 13Big Science coverIt TangoLaurie Anderson · Big Science
  13. 14Big Science coverLet X=XLaurie Anderson · Big Science
  14. 15Big Science coverO SupermanLaurie Anderson · Big Science
  15. 16Mummer coverDesert IslandXTC · Mummer
  16. 17Mummer coverProcession Towards Learning LandXTC · Mummer
  17. 18Mummer coverGoldXTC · Mummer
  18. 19Mummer coverToysXTC · Mummer
  19. 20Mummer coverJumpXTC · Mummer
  20. 21Mummer coverFrost CircusXTC · Mummer
  21. 22English Settlement coverDown In the CockpitXTC · English Settlement
  22. 23English Settlement coverKnuckle DownXTC · English Settlement
  23. 24English Settlement coverIt's Nearly AfricaXTC · English Settlement
  24. 25English Settlement coverLeisureXTC · English Settlement
  25. 26Season of Glass coverDogtown (alternate version)Yoko Ono · Season of Glass
  26. 27Season of Glass coverI Don’t Know Why (demo)Yoko Ono · Season of Glass
  27. 28Season of Glass coverMother of the UniverseYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  28. 29Season of Glass coverNo, No, NoYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  29. 30Season of Glass coverExtension 33Yoko Ono · Season of Glass
  30. 31Season of Glass coverI Don't Know WhyYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  31. 32Season of Glass coverSilver HorseYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  32. 33Season of Glass coverTurn of the WheelYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  33. 34Season of Glass coverEven When You're Far AwayYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  34. 35Season of Glass coverMindweaverYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  35. 36Season of Glass coverGoodbye SadnessYoko Ono · Season of Glass
  36. 37It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverDream Love (Live in Budapest)Yoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  37. 38It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverI See RainbowsYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  38. 39It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverDream LoveYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  39. 40It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverLet the Tears DryYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  40. 41It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverWake UpYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  41. 42It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverIt's AlrightYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  42. 43It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverTomorrow May Never ComeYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  43. 44It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverLonelinessYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  44. 45It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverSpec of DustYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  45. 46It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverNever Say GoodbyeYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  46. 47It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) coverMy ManYoko Ono · It’s Alright (I See Rainbows)
  47. 48Vienna coverAll Stood Still (Soundcheck, the Lyceum 17 / 8 / 80)Ultravox · Vienna
  48. 49Vienna coverSleepwalk (Soundcheck, the Lyceum 17 / 8 / 80)Ultravox · Vienna
  49. 50Vienna coverKeep Talking (Cassette Recording During Rehearsals)Ultravox · Vienna

One great song, one bad album

Tracks carry their own ratings here, so a record you would never play front to back can still have a song worth defending.

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