My Top 100 Songs of the 80s and More
You know how you are in your car or truck and a song comes on the radio, and you want to hear the end of it, even if you have reached your destination? Did you have a song you listened to on your way to school, and then it stayed with you the rest of the day? Do some of these songs still bring back instant memories? Well, I religiously followed Casey Kasem and American Top 40 back in the 1980s. In fact, I discovered that some Internet and other radio stations re-broadcast old episodes that Casey hosted from July 1970 until August 1988. They are a lot fun to listen to. I have decided to create my own list of the top 100 songs of the 1980s. It is kind of pop heavy, but hey, that is what we mainly had in Eastern Idaho!!! (I refused to do country, although that is what a lot of what my family listened to.) The only rule was that I could not use more than one song from an artist. Here it goes…..
#100 Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves — This upbeat tune has been featured in many commercials since its debut in 1985.
#99 Venus by Bananarama — This trio of ladies hit it big in 1986 with this fast-paced re-make of a song that has been performed by multiple artists.
#98 I Knew You Were Waiting by Aretha Franklin and George Michael — The “Queen of Soul” teamed up with George Michael for a memorable duet.
#97 Sweet Love by Anita Baker — This former secretary from Detroit came on the scene in the middle of the decade with this sweet soulful song.
#96 Never Gonna Let You Go by Sergio Mendes — Sergio is a Brazilian artist who creates songs, and then finds singers to perform them. I thought this was a great one.
#95 Radio Ga Ga by Queen — This futuristic-sounding song is an ode to the importance of radio, and how television was changing radio in the 1980s.
#94 Gloria by Laura Branigan — This monster hit tells the story of a woman wanting to have a man regardless of the consequences of moving too quick.
#93 Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House — This band from “Down Under” had some hits in the late 80s. This song also reminds me of the Stephen King movie “The Stand”.
#92 Our Lips are Sealed by the Go Go’s — The Go Go’s were the first all-girl band to have a #1 album “Beauty and the Beat”. This was a big hit from that album.
#91 When I Think of You by Janet Jackson — Michael’s little sister became nearly as popular as him with this song, which was her first #1.
#90 Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder — Some people call this song “sappy”, but I like its simple lyrics and its message that race shouldn’t make us who we are.
#89 Animal by Def Leppard — This group was one of the most popular during the late 80s “Hair Band” era. This was my favorite song of theirs.
#88 Need You Tonight by INXS — This Aussie band had several hits in the 80s, with this one being by far their biggest.
#87 Next Time I Fall by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant — The former lead singer of Chicago and a gospel music star teamed up for a great duet.
#86 Puttin’ On the Ritz by Taco — This was a very bizarre song with a 1920s twist. I listened to it over and over in 6th grade. Don’t ask me why.
#85 Love Me Tomorrow by Chicago – This band from the Windy City had a lot of great hits in the decade. This was my favorite.
#84 Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes – A monster hit from 1981. This raspy voiced singer spent nine weeks at #1.
#83 These Dreams by Heart — A great song from a band who can rock it hard, or play a ballad. I remember dancing to this song in junior high.
#82 You Should Be Mine by Jeffrey Osborne – This song is from my Freshman year of high school, my very favorite year of school. It’s a fun love song.
#81 Just Can’t Get Enough by Depeche Mode – An early hit from one of the bands of the second British invasion. A friend once told me that Depeche Mode means “Fast Fashion” in French.
#80 Straight From the Heart by Bryan Adams — This “Canuck” from the Great White North had some big hits south of the border. I think it is his best.
#79 Crying by Don McLean — This is a remake of the Roy Orbison classic. The lyrics are kind of sad, and you can tell the guy’s heart is broken. It is almost haunting to listen to.
#78 Arthur’s Theme by Christopher Cross – A fun movie song telling the story of rich boy Arthur, that also hints at how cool New York City is.
#77 Don't Disturb This Groove by The System — Just a really cool groove with a great 80s sound.
#76 Karma Chameleon by Culture Club — I always wondered what Boy George was singing about dreams that were “Red, Gold, and Green”.
#75 Eyes Without a Face by Bill Idol — This heavy rocker had one of his biggest hits in the summer of 1984 with this mellow song.
#74 You Should Hear How She Talks About You by Melissa Manchester – With its upbeat tempo, it sounds like something you would hear in an early 80s gym with headbands and leg warmers.
#73 It Takes Two by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock — I am not a rap or hip-hop guy at all, but I liked this song when it came out. I still like to hear it at sporting events.
#72 Just Once by James Ingram — This song was featured at the end of an atypical 80s teen movie–one without a happy ending. The main character has his heart broke at the very end.
#71 Breakout by Swing Out Sister — This British trio of two men and one women hit big with this song. It was their only hit here, but they are huge in Japan.
#70 Living Inside Myself by Gino Vannelli – This romantic song by a Canadian from Montreal is about missing a lost love.
#69 It’s a Mistake by Men at Work — This Australian band was one of the first groups I really liked, going back to when I was in 5th grade. This song is about a potential nuclear war.
#68 (Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon — I am not a huge fan of John Lennon, but no one deserves to have their life end like he did. This song hit #1 shortly after his murder.
#67 The Living Years by Mike and the Mechanics – Just a beautiful song about family relationships and how we should tell people how we really feel about things.
#66 I Feel For You by Chaka Khan — She hit it big in late ’84 with this song that was a huge hit on the Pop, Soul, and Dance charts.
#65 Rhythm of the Night by DeBarge — This is a happy, party song, with kind of a “Caribbean” sound to it.
#64 Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley — When this song first appeared on the radio, I thought it was by a black artist. He turned out to be a red-headed 22 year-old Brit.
#63 Lean on Me by Club Nouveau – When this remake of the 70s hit came out, I thought it was one of the coolest songs ever. I still like to hear it.
#62 Suddenly by Billy Ocean — Billy had some bigger hits than this in the mid-80s, but this romantic song is about a guy whose whole life changes for the better after meeting his love.
#61 Your Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues — I had no idea who this group was when this hit was big in the summer of ’86. It’s a great tune, and a pretty darn good music video.
#60 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! — Some people have called this the “ultimate pop song”. George Michael was inspired to write this by a note his music partner left for his parents.
#59 Don’t Stop Believing by Journey – Many fans consider this to be Journey’s “signature song”. It’s about young people who’ve made mistakes, but are working to climb back.
#58 Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler – This singer from Wales has one of the most unique voices I have ever heard. This powerful song was a monster hit in 1983.
#57 Come on Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners — VH1 named this song the ultimate one-hit wonder. It is the song that knocked “Billie Jean” out of #1.
#56 Uptown Girl by Billy Joel — Billy Joel had his model wife Christie Brinkley star in the video for this song. It has kind of a 60s sound to it, in honor of the music he had enjoyed as a teenager.
#55 Do You Believe in Love by Huey Lewis and the News — A great tune from a really good 80s band. One of the first tapes I owned was their album “Sports” that I got for the Christmas of ’84.
#54 Don’t You Want Me by The Human League — This was one of the mega hits from the second British music invasion that took place in the early 80s.
#53 Union of the Snake by Duran Duran – Duran Duran was one of the biggest acts to come out of the second British music invasion. This was the song that made me a fan of theirs.
#52 What’s Forever For by Michael Martin Murphy — This is kind of a country song that had pop success. I really like the lyrics. I think they kind of speak of a lot of modern relationships.
#51 Just You and I by Eddie Rabbit and Crystal Gayle — Both of these singers made their mark in the Country music genre. I think it is a great song to play at a wedding.
#50 I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner — This is the song that knocked “Like a Virgin” out of #1. I remember singing it on the bus in junior high while having a “freeze out” with the windows down.
#49 Can’t Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon — I would have to say this is a typical, powerful 80s love song. It never gets old.
#48 Funkytown by Lipps, Inc — This came out right as the 80’s were beginning. I was just starting to listen to music, and I liked the cool disco beat.
#47 Eye in the Sky by The Alan Parsons Project — I don’t know much about this band, but I just think this is a great song.
#46 The Tide is High by Blondie – Blondie kept going strong into the early 80s. This quirky-sounding song was one of their #1 hits.
#45 Anything For You by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine — This is a pretty song about breaking up, but still caring about the person even though they hurt you really bad.
#44 Mary’s Prayer by Danny Wilson — I don’t know much about this group, but I think this is an amazing song.
#43 You Can’t Hurry Love by Phil Collins — Phil Collins had some great songs in the 80s. I really liked this remake of the Supremes hit.
#42 Red Red Wine by UB40 — Just a mellow song, with a reggae beat that you find yourself singing along with. The band took their name from a government unemployment form.
#41 Private Eyes by Hall and Oates — This duo produced a lot of great hits in the 80s. This is one of their best.
#40 Through the Years by Kenny Rogers — This country star had some big Pop hit success in the early 80s. This song is about looking back and reflecting on the times with your true love.
#39 Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes — This is just an overall great track. The video was a little spooky with the character getting grabbed by “secret agents”.
#38 Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears — The first big hit for this group out of England. It brings back good memories of the summer of ’85.
#37 Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston — A beautiful song from a tremendously talented woman. This was Whitney before Bobby Brown and crack cocaine.
#36 She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals — How could you not like this group’s name? Plus, let’s face it-women drive us crazy in MANY ways. (But it’s kind of, sort of good we have them around.)
#35 Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder — Some kind of bizarre lyrics, but a funny song nevertheless. I think the guy really has some relationship issues.
#34 Tarzan Boy by Baltimora — This is kind of a goofy song, but our kids love it when we put it on, and they can dance to it.
#33 Major Tom by Peter Schilling — This song is AMAZING. It is the haunting story of an astronaut who gets lost in space forever.
#32 What’s Love Got to Do With It by Tina Turner — Although the lyrics are somewhat sad, this lady can flat out sing, and the beat is great.
#31 Wild World by Maxi Priest — A fun tune with kind of a reggae beat. I like it much better than the Cat Stevens version.
#30 Always on My Mind by The Pet Shop Boys — Who would have thought that a remake of a Willie Nelson song could sound so good? A great dance classic.
#29 Let’s Dance by David Bowie — The legendary British star roared to #1 with this catchy tune. However, people in the music video think the red dancing shoes are cursed.
#28 Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant — In the summer of ’83, this Caribbean artist spent five weeks at #2, blocked by the monster smash “Every Breath You Take”.
#27 Our House by Madness — A one-hit-wonder from the second British music invasion. A funny song to sing along with, and it reminds me of my wife and kids.
#26 Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul — Remember Paula before she hung out with Simon Cowell? She had some little kids dress up like the ladies in the “Addicted to Love” video for this video.
#25 It’s Raining Again by Supertramp — This is a great song to sing to while you are in the car on the Interstate. I like the kids singing at the end.
#24 The Flame by Cheap Trick — A great, solid rock song. I had never heard of Cheap Trick until the summer of ’88, but I became an instant fan of this song once I heard it.
#23 Tender Love by Force MD’s — I only took limited piano lessons (in college), and wish I could play songs like this. This is an awesome love song.
#22 Magic by Olivia Newton-John — This English/Australian/American lady was a major star in the 70s and early 80s.
#21 Young Turks by Rod Stewart — One of the best “story” songs of the 80s. “Billy” and “Patty” in the song are like some friends I lost in an accident, and it makes me think of them.
#20 Brand New Lover by Dead or Alive — Okay, so the lead singer for Dead or Alive is one of the scariest people to walk the earth. I can deal with that. This is a great dance song.
#19 Eternal Flame by The Bangles — This is my all-time favorite girl group. Sadly, they broke up just after this song hit #1.
#18 I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues by Elton John – This song is about missing someone that you really love, and thinking about them constantly.
#17 Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen — I don’t like his politics but this is a great song. I hate it when my wife asks “Do you have a hungry heart?” Sometimes I say “Yes”, just to tick her off.
#16 Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order — I am a huge fan of good 80s dance music. I think that this is one of the best tracks of the decade.
#15 Every Breath You Take by The Police — This song is unbelievable, and never gets old. The whole stalking, obsessive thing is a little over the top, but wow, the entire song is so hypnotic.
#14 Jump by Van Halen — Who could not get pumped up by this song? As a former junior high drummer, I like to pretend to play the drums whenever I hear this song.
#13 When Doves Cry by Prince — This was the biggest hit of 1984, one of greatest years of the 80s. I watched the Super Bowl halftime show a few years ago just to watch Prince perform this.
#12 The Promise by When in Rome — This is one of those songs that just sounds like a high school prom song. I like the lyrics, the beat, and the video.
#11 It Might Be You by Stephen Bishop — The love theme from “Tootsie”. We used it on our wedding video. I even had a recording of me dedicating it to Julie on the radio, but she recorded over it. We moved on.
#10 Billie Jean by Michael Jackson — Admit it. After seeing Michael Jackson do the Moonwalk on television, you tried to do it on the playground, or in front of your mirror. This song is truly amazing.
#9 Always Something There to Remind Me by Naked Eyes — If you are in a grouchy mood, I guarantee, that there will be a 98.64% chance you will be happier after you listen to this tune.
#8 What a Feeling by Irene Cara — One of the best soundtrack songs of the 80s. Is it just me, or did the 80s have incredibly awesome movie songs?
#7 Something About You by Level 42 — A great hit from the mid 80s when nearly all music was awesome! The video has a psycho clown in it, so that might disturb some of you.
#6 Drive by The Cars — An amazingly cool song, their biggest hit ever. Here is a piece of trivia for you. Ric Ocasek, the lead singer didn’t sing it. Benjamin Orr the bassist did.
#5 Take on Me by a-ha — I liked this song the first time I heard it, and it is my all-time favorite music video. It has to be the one of, if not the best, one-hit wonders of all-time.
#4 True by Spandau Ballet — I think it is one of the classiest sounding songs of the entire decade. It was also the song playing at the school dance scene on “Sixteen Candles”.
#3 Hold Me Now by The Thompson Twins — Probably one of the ultimate break up, but then get back together songs. Our oldest son was singing this song when he was three. (No, we hadn’t broken up!)
#2 Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper — I NEVER get tired of hearing this song. It is beautifully written and performed, and Cyndi cries as the train leaves in the video. It is an all-time classic.
#1 Borderline by Madonna — From the moment I heard “Borderline” in the Spring of ’84, she became my first “music crush”. (Now, I just wish she wore more clothes.) I like nearly all of her 80s songs, and this was the first of her record-setting 38 Top 10 Singles. It is about being madly in love, but the person you are in love with is driving you crazy.
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My Top 50 Songs of the 90s
For me, the 90s just don’t compare to the 80s. It’s not even close. What with the country music explosion in the early to mid part of the decade, to the introduction of the “Seattle Grunge” sound, to the rise of rap and hip-hop, in my humble opinion, music took a big drop in quality. In spite of this, there were some pretty decent songs. I was really into the dance music of the decade, partly because of my dislike of the other sounds that were coming out. I also liked some of the pop music that was produced, and there were some pretty good love songs. That’s what you will mainly see on this list. So without further ado, here are My Top 50 Songs of the 90s…
#50 Strike It Up by Black Box — This is one of those songs that you hear a lot at basketball games to get the crowd pumped up. It has a great beat.
#49 Gonna Make You Sweat by C & C Music Factory — My first year of college was when I was first exposed to MTV. This video was on CONSTANTLY. It still is fun to listen to now and then.
#48 Your Woman by White Town — This song is really kind of bizarre with some strange lyrics, but I still kind of like it.
#47 I’ll Be There by Escape Club — This song was definitely different from their 80s hit “Wild Wild West”. It’s got a good steady beat with nice lyrics.
#46 I Swear by All-4-One — This song reminds me of when I first moved to Pocatello to work and go to school. I didn’t have TV for awhile, and this song was always on the radio.
#45 Believe by Cher — I’ve never really liked Cher, (except for “I Got You Babe” ), but this song was pretty good with the electric sound of her voice.
#44 Back For Good by Take That — This was a good song from the mid 90s when the airwaves were dominated by music I didn’t like. I liked the lyrics and the melody.
#43 Do Anything by Natural Selection — I liked how this song had the guy singing, while it sounded like a girl was talking to him on the phone. It was quirky.
#42 Oh What a Night! by Four Seasons — This song was originally released in the 70s, but was updated with a “90s beat”. It was pretty cool.
#41 Steal My Sunshine by LEN — This brother and sister act from Toronto had a hit with this song that is kind of catchy.
#40 Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden — This Australian duo had some hits in the late 90s, but this was their biggest one.
#39 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love by Jane Child — This was one interesting Canuck. She had spiky hair with long braids, and a chain that went from her nose to her ear. Her one-hit wonder was good.
#38 Fly by Sugar Ray — I liked this group in the late 90s. The lead singer Mark McGrath has a cool voice. This song is always fun to listen to.
#37 I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys — I wasn’t a big fan of the boy bands that emerged when Pop music made a comeback, but I will admit this is a good song.
#36 Killing Me Softly by Fugees — Again, I am not a big fan of hip-hop music, but there was something about this song that I liked.
#35 I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred — This is totally a dorky song, but it is funny, and so is the video.
#34 Kiss Me by Six Pence None the Richer — A great mellow song to sing along with, plus I like the name of the band.
#33 Rush Rush by Paula Abdul — Paula Abdul continued strong with her second album. This song spent 5 weeks at #1, the longest since “Like a Virgin” in 1985.
#32 Downtown Train by Rod Stewart — Rod Stewart’s raspy voice is sometimes cool to listen to. He kicked off the decade with this hit.
#31 Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough by Don Henley & Patty Smyth — I haven’t cared much for Don Henley’s solo work, but this duet with Patty Smyth was awesome.
#30 Unbelievable by EMF — This was an interesting song from the summer of ’91. It is often heard at sporting events.
#29 Tubthumping by Chumbawamba — This band is made up of avowed anarchists who actually encouraged people to steal their record from stores.
#28 Baby I Love Your Way by Big Mountain — This remake was featured in one of my favorite 90s movies “Reality Bites” with Winona Ryder. Oh yeah!!!
#27 All Star by Smash Mouth — This is a fun song to sing along with in the car. It was part of the Pop resurgence of the late 90s.
#26 Macarena by Los Del Rios — You could not escape this song in 1996. Right after we were married, Julie and I learned the “Macarena” at a church party.
#25 Cradle of Love by Billy Idol — This was another song constantly on MTV my first year of college. It is one of THE BEST music videos ever.
#24 As I Lay Me Down by Sophie B. Hawkins — This song was really popular at the time Julie and I got engaged. You know, when you still like each other before marriage. J/K
#23 Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice — A monster hit for its time. In college, we tried to dance like they do on the video, but we weren’t quite as good.
#22 Baby Baby by Amy Grant — I’m not into her Gospel singing, but when she branched out with this song, I really liked it.
#21 My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion — This was a pretty powerful song. Remember the first time you saw “Titanic” in the theater, and lots of people were crying?
#20 Groove Is In the Heart by Deee Lite — This is one of the funkiest hits of the decade. The woman in the video definitely had a retro style.
#19 Can’t Help Falling In Love by UB40 — I like several of this group’s songs. This remake of the Elvis Presley hit is always great to listen to.
#18 I Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis — This was a monster hit that was always on the radio in 1997. She has kind of a unique voice.
#17 Praying For Time by George Michael — George Michael sure has had an interesting career. This song came out when he refused to appear in anymore of his videos.
#16 The Sign by Ace of Base — In 1994, this song was on MTV about every 15 minutes. Some people called this group the 90s version of ABBA.
#15 Save the Best For Last by Vanessa Williams –Vanessa Williams, a truly beautiful woman, completed her comeback from the Miss America scandal with this big hit.
#14 Love, Me by Collin Raye — One of the few Country music songs I actually like. The lyrics to this song are really awesome.
#13 I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston — This is one of the biggest songs ever, spending 14 weeks at #1. The original Dolly Parton version is pretty good too.
#12 Hold On by Wilson Phillips — This song was the first hit for this trio of women whose parents were big stars. The message of the song is positive and powerful.
#11 Dreamlover by Mariah Carey — I liked Mariah Carey when she first came out. Then, she decided to go the “naughty girl” route, and I think the quality of her songs dropped.
#10 Torn by Natalie Imbruglia — This song was a huge hit in the spring of 1998, an especially tough time for me, right before we had Drew. She disappeared after this song.
#9 Another Night by Real McCoy — This was one of the best dance songs of the decade. Their album had some other great dance songs as well.
#8 Head Over Feet by Alanis Morissette — “Ironic” was a great song, but this one by Alanis was even better. Whatever happened to her?
#7 Again by Janet Jackson — What a great song about loving someone, getting hurt by them, then working things out.
#6 Friday I’m In Love by The Cure — The Cure often had darker songs, but this one was a little brighter. It’s a song that you find yourself singing as the weekend gets closer.
#5 The Dance by Garth Brooks — I’m not a fan of Garth Brooks at all, but this song is truly beautiful. The lyrics are almost haunting.
#4 Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor — This song, originally written by Prince, was a worldwide hit. It is hauntingly beautiful, even though O’Connor is pretty strange.
#3 Vogue by Madonna — This song hit #1 right as I graduated high school. In my opinion, it was Madonna’s last really great song for years. She declined in the 90s as she got freaky.
#2 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss by P.M. Dawn — When I first heard this song, I liked the sampling of “True” that you can hear on the record. That was one of my favorite 80s tunes. This song is awesome.
#1 One by U2 — I only like a few songs from U2, and I feel that this is their best song. The lyrics are incredible as they talk about relationships with other people.
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My Top 30 of the 70s
#30 Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp
#29 Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks
#28 I Love the Nightlife by Alicia Bridges
#27 Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett
#26 Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles
#25 Piano Man by Billy Joel
#24 Can’t Get Enough of Your Love by Barry White
#23 Pop Music by M
#22 Oh, What a Night by the Four Seasons
#21 With a Little Luck by Paul McCartney and Wings
#20 Escape by Rupert Holmes
#19 Sister Golden Hair by America
#18 My Sharona by the Knack
#17 Just When I Needed You Most by Randy Vanwarmer
#16 Imagine by John Lennon
#15 Best of My Love by the Emotions
#14 September by Earth, Wind, and Fire
#13 Here You Come Again by Dolly Parton
#12 Heart of Glass by Blondie
#11 Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Tony Orlando and Dawn
#10 We are Family by Sister Sledge
#9 Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson
#8 I’m Not in Love by 10cc
#7 I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song by Jim Croce
#6 Nobody Does it Better by Carly Simon
#5 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
#4 Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale
#3 What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers
#2 Good Times by Chic
#1 How Deep is Your Love by the Bee Gees
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My Top 30 of the 60s
#30 James Bond Theme by John Barry
#29 Dominique by the Singing Nun
#28 The Twist by Chubby Checker
#27 Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf
#26 Leader of the Pack by the Shangri-Las
#25 Be My Baby by the Ronettes
#24 Happy Together by the Turtles
#23 Wild Thing by the Troggs
#22 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by the Shirelles
#21 You Really Got Me by the Kinks
#20 My Girl by the Temptations
#19 Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
#18 My Boyfriend’s Back by the Angels
#17 Big Bad John by Jimmy Dean
#16 Respect by Aretha Franklin
#15 Stand By Me by Ben E. King
#14 What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
#13 These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ by Nancy Sinatra
#12 Crazy by Patsy Cline
#11 Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers
#10 I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher
#9 God Only Knows by the Beach Boys
#8 Build Me Up Buttercup by the Foundations
#7 Big Girls Don’t Cry by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
#6 Downtown by Petula Clark
#5 Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
#4 Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
#3 Baby Love by the Supremes
#2 Daydream Believer by the Monkees
#1 Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles
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My Top 20 of the 2000s
#20 A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
#19 When It’s Over by Sugar Ray
#18 Don’t Stop the Music by Rihanna
#17 Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon
#16 It’s My Life by No Doubt
#15 You and Me by Lifehouse
#14 Where is the Love by Black Eyed Peas
#13 No One by Alicia Keys
#12 Apologize by Timbaland
#11 A Moment Like This by Kelly Clarkson
#10 Say It Right by Nelly Furtado
#9 Never Let You Go by Third Eye Blind
#8 Just Dance by Lady Gaga
#7 Viva La Vida by Coldplay
#6 Beautiful by Christina Aguilera
#5 Hung Up by Madonna
#4 So What by Pink
#3 Angel by Shaggy
#2 Only Time by Enya
#1 Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
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My Top 20 of the 2010s
#20 Stronger by Kelly Clarkson
#19 Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People
#18 Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
#17 Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson
#16 Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
#15 Wide Awake by Katy Perry
#14 Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
#13 Rolling in the Deep by Adele
#12 Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye
#11 Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
#10 Shut Up and Dance With Me by Walk the Moon
#9 Work From Home by Fifth Harmony
#8 We Are Young by Fun
#7 Girls Chase Boys by Ingrid Michaelson
#6 Blow Me One Last Kiss by Pink
#5 Wake Me Up by Avicii
#4 Hey, Soul Sister by Train
#3 Cheap Thrills by Sia
#2 Brave by Sara Bareilles
#1 Safe and Sound by Capital Cities