Top 100 Songs of 1981

Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1981. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.

Top 100 Songs of 1981

1

Lady – Kenny Rogers

2

Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

3

(Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon

4

Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes

5

Endless Love – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

6

Celebration – Kool and The Gang

7

Kiss On My List – Daryl Hall and John Oates

8

9 To 5 – Dolly Parton

9

I Love a Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt

10

Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon

11

Theme from “Greatest American Hero” (Believe It or Not) – Joey Scarbury

12

Morning Train (Nine to Five) – Sheena Easton

13

Being With You – Smokey Robinson

14

Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton

15

Rapture – Blondie

16

A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) – Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio

17

The Tide Is High – Blondie

18

Slow Hand – Pointer Sisters

19

Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr.

20

I Love You – The Climax Blues Band

21

Sukiyaki – A Taste Of Honey

22

Woman – John Lennon

23

The Winner Takes It All – Abba

24

More Stars – Stars On 45

25

Angel of the Morning – Juice Newton

26

Every Woman In the World – Air Supply

27

The One That You Love – Air Supply

28

Guilty – Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb

29

Elvira – Oak Ridge Boys

30

Take It On the Run – REO Speedwagon

31

(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me – Ronnie Milsap

32

Woman In Love – Barbra Streisand

33

Boy from New York City – Manhattan Transfer

34

Urgent – Foreigner

35

Passion – Rod Stewart

36

Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores

37

Crying – Don Mclean

38

It’s My Turn – Diana Ross

39

You Make My Dreams – Daryl Hall and John Oates

40

I Don’t Need You – Kenny Rogers

41

How ‘Bout Us – Champaign

42

The Break Up Song – The Greg Kihn Band

43

Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar

44

Time – Alan Parsons Project

45

Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen

46

Sweetheart – Franke and The Knockouts

More 54 Top Songs of 1981

47. 47. Love On the Rocks – Neil Diamond
    48. The Best of Times – Styx
    49. Living Inside Myself – Gino Vannelli
    50. Hearts – Marty Balin
    51.  Somebody’s Knockin’ – Terri Gibbs
    52.  More Than I Can Say – Leo Sayer
    53.  Together – Tierra
    54.  Too Much Time On My Hands – Styx
    55.  What Are We Doin’ In Love – Dottie West
    56.  Who’s Crying Now – Journey
    57.  De Do Do Do, de Da Da Da – The Police
    58.  This Little Girl – Gary “U.S.” Bonds
    59.  Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
    60.  Giving It Up for Your Love – Delbert McClinton
    61.  A Little in Love – Cliff Richard
    62.  America – Neil Diamond
    63.  Ain’t Even Done With the Night – John Cougar
    64.  Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross
    65.  Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
    66.  Games People Play – Alan Parsons Project
    67.  I Can’t Stand It – Eric Clapton
    68.  While You See a Chance – Steve Winwood
    69.  Master Blaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder
    70.  Hello Again – Neil Diamond
    71.  Don’t Stand So Close to Me – The Police
    72.  Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan
    73.  I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It – Stevie Wonder
    74.  All Those Years Ago – George Harrison
    75.  Step By Step – Eddie Rabbitt
    76.  The Stroke – Billy Squier
    77.  Feels So Right – Alabama
    78.  Sweet Baby – Stanley Clarke and George Duke
    79.  Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg
    80.  Cool Love – Pablo Cruise
    81.  Hold On Tight – ELO
    82. It’s Now Or Never – John Schneider
    83.  Treat Me Right – Pat Benatar
    84.  Winning – Santana
    85.  What Kind of Fool – Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
    86.  Watching the Wheels – John Lennon
    87.  Tell It Like It Is – Heart
    88.  Smoky Mountain Rain – Ronnie Milsap
    89.  I Made It Through the Rain – Barry Manilow
    90.  You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – Daryl Hall and John Oates
    91.  Suddenly – Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard
    92.  For Your Eyes Only – Sheena Easton
    93. Beach Boys Medley – The Beach Boys
    94.  Whip It – Devo
    95.  Modern Girl – Sheena Easton
    96.  Really Want To Know You – Gary Wright
    97.  Seven Year Ache – Rosanne Cash
    98.  I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
    99.  Miss Sun – Boz Scaggs
    100.  Time Is Time – Andy Gibb

Need more great song suggestions for your Playlists?

No problem at all; check out the Best Songs About Clouds, the Best Songs about Friday, the Best Songs About Friendship, the Best Songs About Change, the Best Songs About Heroes, as well as the Best Songs About Magic for more quality song selections.

Top 100 Songs of 1981 – Final Thoughts

The year 1981 brought us some of the biggest hits of the 80s, with a diverse range of genres represented in the top 100 songs. Pop and rock dominated the charts, with songs like “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes, “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield, and “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones. Meanwhile, disco continued to hold on with hits like “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang and “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John.

The emergence of new wave music was also apparent with songs like “Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League and “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell. Overall, 1981 was a year of musical diversity and produced some of the most memorable hits of the decade.