Ranking of Popular Western Music Artists of the 1980s [2026]
You can still catch glimpses of the achievements of popular Western music artists from the 1980s, who left behind many great songs, in many places today.
They are still loved by many fans today, but aren’t you curious how they would rank by modern standards? We’ve compiled a ranking of popular Western music artists from the ’80s, so let us introduce it to you.
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Top Western Music Artists of the 1980s Ranking [2026] (51–60)
Walk Like an EgyptianThe Bangles51rank/position
The Bangles are a female band that produced numerous hit songs in the 1980s.
They specialized in alternative rock and pop rock.
These genres are seldom used as dance music nowadays, but back then, rock was also popular as dance music.
Among their songs, “Walk Like an Egyptian” was especially popular.
If you’re looking for danceable rock music, be sure to check it out.
Rock the CasbahThe Clash52rank/position
Many references to Western music in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure include punk bands, and a representative example is the Stand name “Clash” used by Squalo in Part 5, Golden Wind.
It’s said to be based on The Clash, one of the defining British punk bands of the 1970s, known for their aggressive performances, their genre-blending music that incorporated reggae and dub, and their socially conscious stance.
As mentioned, not only their early punkish sound but also their later albums, which show musical evolution, are all compelling—so I recommend giving them a listen, even if you’re not a dedicated punk fan.
You Spin Me RoundDead Or Alive53rank/position
Dead or Alive, the British band often cited as pioneers of Eurobeat and Hi-NRG.
Released as a single in 1984, this track became their first global hit.
The lyrics, likening an intense possessiveness toward a love-at-first-sight crush to a record spinning at high speed, are particularly striking.
Pete Burns’s powerful vocals fused with synths carrying a rock-like aggressiveness make for a sensational sound.
Also featured on the classic album Youthquake, the song reached No.
9 on the UK Albums Chart.
If you love dance numbers that set the floor on fire, this is an unmissable track.
Add it to your party playlist and you’re guaranteed to get everyone dancing.
Still Loving YouScorpions54rank/position
A masterful power ballad whose poignant yet powerful melody resonates deep in the heart.
The earnest feelings of a man trying to win back a lost love are conveyed through Klaus Meine’s distinctive vocals.
Included on the 1984 album “Love at First Sting,” the song became a worldwide hit.
In France it even turned into a social phenomenon, with anecdotes claiming it contributed to the 1985 baby boom.
The guitar’s delicate tone and the gradually swelling sound gently embrace those troubled by love.
It’s a track you’ll want to play on nights when you look back on memories with someone special—truly a classic ’80s ballad.
Mr. RobotoStyx55rank/position
A band representing American progressive hard rock that has been active since the 1970s.
In the 1980s, this song—part of the rock opera “Kilroy Was Here” and featuring Japanese lyrics—quietly drew attention in Japan, where it was treated somewhat like a novelty.
You Might ThinkThe Cars56rank/position
Speaking of the ’80s, it was the heyday of MTV, but the landmark song that beat out Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” to win the very first MTV Video Music Awards’ “Video of the Year” was “You Might Think”! The video, which made extensive use of what was then rare computer graphics, was groundbreaking, and it’s a visual work packed with the band’s innovation alongside an ultra-pop, catchy track.
“You Might Think” is one of the signature hits released in 1984 by The Cars, a leading new wave band active from the late ’70s to the mid-’80s.
With live performances on par with their studio recordings, the outstanding songwriting talent of Ric Ocasek—who would later shine as a producer for bands like Weezer—and a lineup of distinctive members, they not only wrote great songs but also had a strong commitment to visuals and artwork, making them a wonderful band that balanced artistry with commercial success.
Be sure to check out the MVs for their other songs too!
Start Me UpThe Rolling Stones57rank/position
The Rolling Stones are a band that has never disbanded and has continued to be active on the front lines from the 1960s to the present.
Over their long career, they have taken on a variety of styles, spanning a wide range that includes classic rock, hard rock, psychedelia, and blues rock.
Their hit song “Start Me Up,” released in 1981, is crafted as an exhilarating piece of dance music.
Money For NothingDire Straits58rank/position
It topped the U.S.
charts in 1985.
It was the very first song aired when MTV Europe launched in 1987.
When the music video’s computer graphics appeared, many music fans were astonished.
The song is also known for having Sting as a co-writer; he was reportedly invited to join the recording while he happened to be vacationing on the island of Montserrat.
I Should Be So LuckyKYLIE MINOGUE59rank/position
This is the debut single by Kylie Minogue, who burst onto the ’80s disco scene like a comet.
With its catchy melody and upbeat rhythm, it’s a track that lifts your spirits just by listening.
The lyrics, singing of hope and optimism in finding love, highlight Minogue’s youthful, innocent charm.
Released in the UK in December 1987 and in Australia the following year, it topped charts in many countries and catapulted Minogue to stardom.
This song remains a shining example of ’80s pop that hasn’t lost its luster.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to have a blast on the dance floor.
Girls, Girls, GirlsMötley Crüe60rank/position
The emergence of bands called LA metal or hair metal—embodying the look of a quintessential bad boy, outrageous behavior, and the dangerous, wicked aura of rock—is an indispensable topic in the rock scene of the 1980s.
Mötley Crüe, who achieved massive worldwide hits while dealing with countless problems and troubles, yet continue to perform intermittently even into the 2020s, are truly the very definition of that culture.
Their 1987 release, the album Girls, Girls, Girls, whose title track reached No.
2 on the U.S.
charts, is the perfect killer tune to get a quick sense of what Mötley Crüe is all about.
That wicked, glamorous, exhilarating hard rock driven by a tightly wound, quintessentially ’80s 8-beat explodes with so much energy that there’s no room for dull criticism to creep in.
Empty your head and enjoy it at maximum volume!