Best singles of 1980 - Rate Your Music
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Top singles of 1980

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1 2 ... 26 Next
Updated: 7 May
Average Ratings Reviews
Talking Heads (トーキング・ヘッズ) - ヒート・ゴーズオン (ボーン・アンダー･パンチズ) (Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)) / シティーズ (Cities), Cover art
ヒート・ゴーズオン (ボーン・アンダー･パンチズ) (Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)) / シティーズ (Cities)
Talking Heads (トーキング・ヘッズ)
4.37 2k 1,609 9 9
1980 Single
New Wave Funk Rock Post-Punk
Afrobeat Dance-Punk Funk Mutant Disco Art Rock
abstract repetitive anxious tribal quirky cryptic political rhythmic
2k Ratings 9 Reviews 4.37 Average
Talking Heads - The Great Curve / Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Cover art
The Great Curve / Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Talking Heads
4.35 1k 1,443 4 4
1980 Single
New Wave Post-Punk
Afrobeat Funk Dance-Punk Mutant Disco Afro-Funk
tribal rhythmic energetic tropical abstract passionate playful polyphonic
1k Ratings 4 Reviews 4.35 Average
Joy Division - Atmosphere / She's Lost Control, Cover art
Atmosphere / She's Lost Control
Joy Division
4.33 3k 3,280 49 49
September 1980 Single
Post-Punk Coldwave
Gothic Rock Dream Pop
atmospheric melancholic ethereal introspective sad existential sombre alienation
3k Ratings 49 Reviews 4.33 Average
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart / These Days, Cover art
Love Will Tear Us Apart / These Days
Joy Division
4.30 5k 5,340 94 94
20 June 1980 Single
Post-Punk
Synthpop New Wave
melancholic depressive pessimistic sombre introspective cold atmospheric love
5k Ratings 94 Reviews 4.30 Average
The Cure - A Forest / Another Journey by Train, Cover art
A Forest / Another Journey by Train
The Cure
4.27 2k 1,781 24 24
8 April 1980 Single
Gothic Rock Post-Punk
Coldwave
forest mysterious dark atmospheric lonely cold nocturnal anxious
2k Ratings 24 Reviews 4.27 Average
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes / Move On, Cover art
Ashes to Ashes / Move On
David Bowie
4.27 2k 1,861 29 29
8 August 1980 Single
Art Pop New Wave
New Romantic Synthpop Neo-Psychedelia Synth Funk
drugs melancholic cryptic anxious futuristic quirky passionate introspective
2k Ratings 29 Reviews 4.27 Average
The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand by Me) / London Calling, Cover art
Train in Vain (Stand by Me) / London Calling
The Clash
4.23 2k 1,730 23 23
12 February 1980 Single
New Wave
Pop Rock Punk Rock Funk Rock Blue-Eyed Soul Disco
melodic bittersweet energetic breakup passionate rhythmic warm quirky
2k Ratings 23 Reviews 4.23 Average
Image blocked in settings
Holiday in Cambodia / Police Truck
Dead Kennedys
4.22 2k 1,830 24 24
May 1980 Single
Hardcore Punk
Surf Punk Post-Punk
satirical political energetic aggressive rebellious violence sarcastic angry
2k Ratings 24 Reviews 4.22 Average
Talking Heads - Crosseyed and Painless, Cover art
Crosseyed and Painless
Talking Heads
4.21 1k 1,100 3 3
September 1980 Single
New Wave Funk Rock Post-Punk
Funk Dance-Punk Mutant Disco Afro-Funk Neo-Psychedelia
polyphonic energetic abstract rhythmic anxious playful surreal manic
1k Ratings 3 Reviews 4.21 Average
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb / Hey You, Cover art
Comfortably Numb / Hey You
Pink Floyd
4.17 2k 1,894 28 28
23 June 1980 Single
Art Rock Progressive Rock
Symphonic Rock Soft Rock
existential melancholic drugs alienation lush psychedelic mellow sombre
2k Ratings 28 Reviews 4.17 Average
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Enola Gay / Annex, Cover art
Enola Gay / Annex
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
4.11 1k 1,191 18 18
26 September 1980 Single
Synthpop New Wave
Coldwave
war history political bittersweet anxious energetic melodic passionate
1k Ratings 18 Reviews 4.11 Average
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Rydeen / Cosmic Surfin', Cover art
Rydeen / Cosmic Surfin'
Yellow Magic Orchestra
4.09 470 470 2 2
21 June 1980 Single
Synthpop Electro-Disco
Chiptune Electro-Disco Space Disco Hi-NRG
energetic instrumental uplifting triumphant melodic epic rhythmic mechanical
470 Ratings 2 Reviews 4.09 Average
Talking Heads - Cities, Cover art
Cities
Talking Heads
4.08 708 708 3 3
June 1980 Single
New Wave Dance-Punk Post-Punk
Funk Rock Mutant Disco
energetic urban playful anxious quirky party rhythmic humorous
708 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.08 Average
Kate Bush - Army Dreamers / Delius (Song of Summer) / Passing Through Air, Cover art
Army Dreamers / Delius (Song of Summer) / Passing Through Air
Kate Bush
4.07 845 845 10 10
22 September 1980 Single
Art Pop Chamber Folk Baroque Pop
Baroque Pop Waltz Folk Pop
war death melancholic political soft melodic waltz funereal
845 Ratings 10 Reviews 4.07 Average
Motörhead - Ace of Spades / Dirty Love, Cover art
Ace of Spades / Dirty Love
Motörhead
4.04 1k 1,053 34 34
27 October 1980 Single
Heavy Metal Speed Metal Hard Rock
Punk Rock
aggressive energetic hedonistic heavy rebellious manic raw rhythmic
1k Ratings 34 Reviews 4.04 Average
Mission of Burma - Academy Fight Song / Max Ernst, Cover art
Academy Fight Song / Max Ernst
Mission of Burma
4.04 974 974 18 18
June 1980 Single
Post-Punk Jangle Pop
Punk Rock Alternative Rock
anxious energetic melodic rebellious cryptic bittersweet sarcastic passionate
974 Ratings 18 Reviews 4.04 Average
The Durutti Column - Sketch for Summer / Sketch for Winter, Cover art
Sketch for Summer / Sketch for Winter
The Durutti Column
4.06 368 368 1 1
July 1980 Single
Art Rock Post-Rock
Dream Pop Birdsong Ambient Post-Rock Post-Punk
instrumental atmospheric melodic melancholic romantic warm meditative mysterious
368 Ratings 1 Reviews 4.06 Average
Kate Bush - Babooshka / Ran Tan Waltz, Cover art
Babooshka / Ran Tan Waltz
Kate Bush
4.02 1k 1,179 6 6
23 June 1980 Single
Art Pop Piano Rock
Cabaret Progressive Pop Piano Rock Glam Rock
melodic quirky playful sentimental humorous sensual suspenseful passionate
1k Ratings 6 Reviews 4.02 Average
Prince - When You Were Mine / Gotta Broken Heart Again / Uptown, Cover art
When You Were Mine / Gotta Broken Heart Again / Uptown
Prince
4.06 296 296
1980 Single
Pop Rock
Synth Funk New Wave Minneapolis Sound
breakup melodic love
296 Ratings 4.06 Average
The Jam - Going Underground / The Dreams of Children, Cover art
Going Underground / The Dreams of Children
The Jam
4.01 876 876 18 18
14 March 1980 Single
Mod Revival New Wave Punk Rock
Power Pop Punk Rock
energetic political passionate melodic anthemic conscious alienation bittersweet
876 Ratings 18 Reviews 4.01 Average
山下達郎 [Tatsuro Yamashita] - Ride on Time / Rainy Walk, Cover art
Ride on Time / Rainy Walk
Tatsuro Yamashita 山下達郎
4.03 307 307 2 2
1 May 1980 Single
City Pop
Boogie Synth Funk
melodic uplifting energetic rhythmic summer warm love
307 Ratings 2 Reviews 4.03 Average
Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers / The Start / I Don't Remember, Cover art
Games Without Frontiers / The Start / I Don't Remember
Peter Gabriel
4.00 709 709 12 12
February 1980 Single
Art Rock
Post-Punk New Wave Art Pop Minimal Synth
war satirical rhythmic anxious futuristic cryptic quirky surreal
709 Ratings 12 Reviews 4.00 Average
Visage - Fade to Grey / The Steps, Cover art
Fade to Grey / The Steps
Visage
3.97 960 960 16 16
10 November 1980 Single
Synthpop New Romantic
Art Pop Coldwave
futuristic ethereal atmospheric sombre poetic melancholic cold mysterious
960 Ratings 16 Reviews 3.97 Average
Kate Bush - Breathing / The Empty Bullring, Cover art
Breathing / The Empty Bullring
Kate Bush
3.97 627 627 10 10
14 April 1980 Single
Art Pop Progressive Pop
Art Rock Piano Rock Progressive Rock
apocalyptic war dark epic melancholic anxious progressive sombre
627 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.97 Average
Talking Heads - I Zimbra / Paper, Cover art
I Zimbra / Paper
Talking Heads
3.98 663 663 2 2
February 1980 Single
New Wave Post-Punk
Afrobeat Funk Rock Mutant Disco
rhythmic tribal cryptic mysterious abstract energetic playful manic
663 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.98 Average
Blondie - Atomic / Die Young Stay Pretty, Cover art
Atomic / Die Young Stay Pretty
Blondie
3.96 947 947 24 24
23 February 1980 Single
New Wave
Disco Surf Rock
rhythmic futuristic energetic passionate romantic party apocalyptic sexual
947 Ratings 24 Reviews 3.96 Average
The Clash - Clampdown / The Guns of Brixton, Cover art
Clampdown / The Guns of Brixton
The Clash
3.95 833 833 13 13
1980 Single
Punk Rock New Wave
Reggae Reggae Rock Mod Revival
energetic political rebellious protest anthemic history rhythmic melodic
833 Ratings 13 Reviews 3.95 Average
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Could You Be Loved / One Drop, Cover art
Could You Be Loved / One Drop
The Wailers
3.94 584 584 3 3
May 1980 Single
Reggae
Pop Reggae Disco
soothing uplifting love conscious warm summer anthemic
584 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.94 Average
Bob Marley and The Wailers - Redemption Song, Cover art
Redemption Song
The Wailers
3.93 581 581 4 4
October 1980 Single
Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk Roots Reggae
Contemporary Folk Roots Reggae
conscious protest bittersweet warm acoustic longing philosophical rebellious
581 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.93 Average
The Dicks - The Dicks Hate the Police / Lifetime Problems / All Night Fever, Cover art
The Dicks Hate the Police / Lifetime Problems / All Night Fever
The Dicks
3.93 1k 1,074 13 13
1980 Single
Hardcore Punk Punk Rock
Punk Blues Garage Punk
political violence angry raw protest lo-fi rebellious energetic
1k Ratings 13 Reviews 3.93 Average
Dead Kennedys - Kill the Poor / In-Sight, Cover art
Kill the Poor / In-Sight
Dead Kennedys
3.92 726 726 5 5
October 1980 Single
Hardcore Punk Punk Rock
Surf Punk
satirical political violence energetic rebellious sarcastic humorous manic
726 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.92 Average
Siouxsie and The Banshees - Israel / Red Over White, Cover art
Israel / Red Over White
Siouxsie and The Banshees
3.93 533 533 5 5
28 November 1980 Single
Post-Punk
Gothic Rock Neo-Psychedelia
dark mysterious nocturnal suspenseful sombre psychedelic tribal atmospheric
533 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.93 Average
The dB's - Black and White / Soul Kiss, Cover art
Black and White / Soul Kiss
The dB's
3.93 307 307 3 3
24 January 1980 Single
Power Pop Jangle Pop
New Wave Post-Punk Indie Pop
energetic melodic breakup bittersweet passionate
307 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.93 Average
Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated / The Return of Jackie and Judy, Cover art
I Wanna Be Sedated / The Return of Jackie and Judy
Ramones
3.91 672 672 8 8
August 1980 Single
Punk Rock
Power Pop
drugs anthemic playful energetic melodic raw rhythmic rebellious
672 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.91 Average
Bauhaus - Dark Entries / Untitled, Cover art
Dark Entries / Untitled
Bauhaus
3.90 714 714 8 8
16 January 1980 Single
Deathrock Gothic Rock Post-Punk
dark energetic anxious manic noisy sexual cold raw
714 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.90 Average
Killing Joke - Requiem / Change, Cover art
Requiem / Change
Killing Joke
3.90 451 451 5 5
September 1980 Single
Post-Punk
Industrial Rock Synth Punk
mechanical energetic anthemic rhythmic dark urban apocalyptic cold
451 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.90 Average
Siouxsie and The Banshees - Christine / Eve White Eve Black, Cover art
Christine / Eve White Eve Black
Siouxsie and The Banshees
3.90 472 472 8 8
30 May 1980 Single
Post-Punk
Gothic Rock
dark lonely sombre mysterious melodic anxious nocturnal passionate
472 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.90 Average
The B-52's - Private Idaho / Party Out of Bounds, Cover art
Private Idaho / Party Out of Bounds
The B-52's
3.90 465 465 4 4
18 October 1980 Single
New Wave Dance-Punk
Surf Rock Post-Punk
playful energetic sarcastic repetitive rhythmic quirky
465 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.90 Average
Martha and The Muffins - Echo Beach / Teddy the Dink, Cover art
Echo Beach / Teddy the Dink
Martha and The Muffins
3.90 530 530 13 13
January 1980 Single
New Wave
Post-Punk Power Pop
longing bittersweet summer energetic melodic playful alienation
530 Ratings 13 Reviews 3.90 Average
ABBA - The Winner Takes It All / Elaine, Cover art
The Winner Takes It All / Elaine
ABBA
3.88 947 947 16 16
21 July 1980 Single
Europop
Disco
breakup melancholic passionate melodic bittersweet lush ballad sentimental
947 Ratings 16 Reviews 3.88 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Blondie / Giorgio Moroder - Call Me, Cover art
    Call Me
    1980 Single
    1k Ratings 16 Reviews 3.89 Average
    3.89 1k 1,379 16 16
  • The London Symphony Orchestra - The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) / The Battle in the Snow, Cover art
    The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) / The Battle in the Snow
    1980 Single
    173 Ratings 3.89 Average
    3.89 173 173
  • Hazel O'Connor - Will You? / Big Brother, Cover art
    Will You? / Big Brother
    1980 Single
    72 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.48 Average
    3.48 72 72 1 1
  • Neil Diamond - Love on the Rocks / Acapulco, Cover art
    Love on the Rocks / Acapulco
    1980 Single
    101 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.03 Average
    3.03 101 101 3 3
  • The Blues Brothers - Gimme Some Lovin' / She Caught the Katy, Cover art
    Gimme Some Lovin' / She Caught the Katy
    1980 Single
    72 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.30 Average
    3.30 72 72 4 4
    • See all 26 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Blizzard of Ozz - Mr Crowley / You Said It All, Cover art
    Mr Crowley / You Said It All
    1980 Single
    185 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.73 Average
    3.73 185 185 3 3
  • The Specials - Too Much Too Young / Guns of Navarone, Cover art
    Too Much Too Young / Guns of Navarone
    1980 Single
    219 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.61 Average
    3.61 219 219 3 3
  • The Fuckin' Flyin' A-Heads - Swiss Cheese Back / Watching T.V., Cover art
    Swiss Cheese Back / Watching T.V.
    1980 Single
    125 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.44 Average
    3.44 125 125 4 4
  • Supertramp - Dreamer / You Started Laughing (When I Held You in My Arms), Cover art
    Dreamer / You Started Laughing (When I Held You in My Arms)
    1980 Single
    53 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.61 Average
    3.61 53 53 4 4
  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Peter Gunn / Knife Edge, Cover art
    Peter Gunn / Knife Edge
    1980 Single
    51 Ratings 3.56 Average
    3.56 51 51
    • See all 18 Include in main chart

    Archival

  • The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin / Go Now, Cover art
    Nights in White Satin / Go Now
    1980 Single
    69 Ratings 4.05 Average
    4.05 69 69
  • The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil / Gimme Shelter, Cover art
    Sympathy for the Devil / Gimme Shelter
    1980 Single
    43 Ratings 4.52 Average
    4.52 43 43
  • The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women / Ruby Tuesday, Cover art
    Honky Tonk Women / Ruby Tuesday
    1980 Single
    10 Ratings 4.30 Average
    4.30 10 10
  • The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash / As Tears Go By, Cover art
    Jumpin' Jack Flash / As Tears Go By
    1980 Single
    9 Ratings 3.87 Average
    3.87 9 9
  • The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man / Out of Time, Cover art
    Street Fighting Man / Out of Time
    1980 Single
    8 Ratings 4.20 Average
    4.20 8 8
    • See all 7 Include in main chart
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