Ranking of Popular Western Music Artists of the 1980s [2026]

Money For NothingDire Straits57rank/position

Dire Straits – Money For Nothing (Official Music Video)

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 MINOGUE58rank/position

I Should Be So Lucky (Extended Version)

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 Crüe59rank/position

Motley Crue – Girls, Girls, Girls [HD]

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!

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Let the Music PlayShannon60rank/position

Shannon – Let The Music Play (Official Music Video)

This is the debut track released in 1983 by Shannon from the United States, a song that shook 80s dance floors.

With its blasting synthesizers and powerful beat, it was so groundbreaking that it changed the course of music genres.

The electronic vibe known as the “Shannon sound” hasn’t faded one bit even today.

But in its lyrics, it actually tells a bittersweet story: “I want to give myself over to the music, but I can’t dance because the person I like is watching me…” That gap between the ultra-cool track and the shy feelings expressed over it is irresistible.

If you’ve ever felt your heart race on a crowded dance floor because you were aware of your crush’s gaze, you’ll definitely find yourself nodding along.

CenterfoldThe J. Geils Band61rank/position

J. Geils Band – Centrefold [HQ]

When leader J.

Geils formed the band in ’67, they were a blues-rock outfit, but after signing with EMI in the ’80s they changed their musical style, and this track, released in ’81, reached No.

1 in the U.S.

It was also a hit in Japan under the Japanese title “Ochita Tenshi” (Fallen Angel) and was used in commercials.

Start Me UpThe Rolling Stones62rank/position

The Rolling Stones – Start Me Up – Official Promo

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.

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And The Beat Goes OnThe Whispers63rank/position

The Whispers – “And The Beat Goes On” (Official Video)

The Whispers, who created a classic that has long been cherished as a defining soul-disco sound of the ’80s.

Hailing from California, their October 1979 release is a masterpiece that sets a positive, forward-looking message about a breakup—one of life’s turning points—to an upbeat groove.

Its effective use of synthesizers made it a pivotal track symbolizing the transition from disco to post-disco.

In 2002, it was featured on the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, winning over a new generation of listeners.

With rhythms and melodies that feel right at home on the dance floor, it’s the perfect song for anyone ready to move forward.

A gem of a disco tune, dedicated to those who, while carrying a hint of heartache, want to take a bold new step.