Best dance-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 dance-pop albums of the 1980s, ordered by their own ratings rather than the record's.
- 2
Human Nature (album version)Michael Jackson · Thriller4.44.6 avg · 12 ratings
- 3
Billie JeanMichael Jackson · Thriller4.44.4 avg · 870 ratings
- 4
Act of ContritionMadonna · Like a Prayer4.44.8 avg · 3 ratings
- 5
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)Whitney Houston · Whitney4.44.5 avg · 7 ratings
- 6
Where Do Broken Hearts GoWhitney Houston · Whitney4.44.7 avg · 3 ratings
- 7
Smooth CriminalMichael Jackson · Bad4.34.3 avg · 30 ratings
- 8
Didn't We Almost Have It AllWhitney Houston · Whitney4.34.3 avg · 3 ratings
- 9
So EmotionalWhitney Houston · Whitney4.34.3 avg · 34 ratings
- 10
You Give Good LoveWhitney Houston · Whitney Houston4.24.1 avg · 13 ratings
- 11
Greatest Love of AllWhitney Houston · Whitney Houston4.24.1 avg · 39 ratings
- 12
Saving All My Love for YouWhitney Houston · Whitney Houston4.14.1 avg · 41 ratings
- 13
ThrillerMichael Jackson · Thriller4.14.1 avg · 636 ratings
- 14
Into the GrooveMadonna · You Can Dance4.03.4 avg · 4 ratings
- 15
Just the Lonely Talking AgainWhitney Houston · Whitney4.03.7 avg · 8 ratings
- 16
I Know Him So WellWhitney Houston · Whitney3.93.4 avg · 7 ratings
- 17
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'Michael Jackson · Thriller3.93.8 avg · 32 ratings
- 18
The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson · Thriller3.93.2 avg · 6 ratings
- 19
The Lady in My LifeMichael Jackson · Thriller2 ratings
- 20
Dirty DianaMichael Jackson · Bad2 ratings
- 21
UptownPrince · Dirty Mind2 ratings
- 22
StayMadonna · Like a Virgin2 ratings
- 23
Like a PrayerMadonna · Like a Prayer2 ratings
- 24
Baby Be MineMichael Jackson · Thriller1 rating
- 25
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)Michael Jackson · Thriller1 rating
- 26
CherishMadonna · Like a Prayer1 rating
- 27
Flashdance... What a Feeling (radio edit)Irene Cara · What a Feelin'1 rating
- 28
Speed DemonMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 29
Express YourselfMadonna · Like a Prayer1 rating
- 30
Forever YoungLaura Branigan · Hold Me1 rating
- 31
Leave Me AloneMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 32
I Just Can't Stop Loving YouMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 33
Man in the MirrorMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 34
Another Part of MeMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 35
Just Good FriendsMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 36
Liberian GirlMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 37
The Way You Make Me FeelMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 38
BadMichael Jackson · Bad1 rating
- 39
PartyupPrince · Dirty Mind1 rating
- 40
SisterPrince · Dirty Mind1 rating
- 41
HeadPrince · Dirty Mind1 rating
- 42
Gotta Broken Heart AgainPrince · Dirty Mind1 rating
- 43
Do It All NightPrince · Dirty Mind1 rating
- 44
When You Were MinePrince · Dirty Mind1 rating
- 45
Dirty MindPrince · Dirty Mind1 rating
- 46
(They Long to Be) Close to YouGwen Guthrie · Good to Go Lover1 rating
- 47
RoniBobby Brown · Don't Be Cruel1 rating
- 48
Soul InsideSoft Cell · This Last Night in Sodom1 rating
- 49
Meet Murder My AngelSoft Cell · This Last Night in Sodom1 rating
- 50
Mr. Self DestructSoft Cell · This Last Night in Sodom1 rating
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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