# The best 5 pop songs since 1980. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524 "2005-02-17T13:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/1 "2005-02-17T13:35:38Z")
Are, in no particular order: **Girls Just Wanna Have Fun** by Cyndi Lauper **99 Red Balloons** (the german version) by Some German Lady **Too Sexy** by Right Said Fred **Hey Ya!** by Outkast **Beat It** by Michael Jackson. Whatchoo got? Try to stay in pure pop, no rock songs, jazz songs or straight-up hip hop. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/2 "2005-02-17T15:34:20Z")
**Walking in Memphis** by **Mark Cohn** **Sweet Dreams** by **Eurythmics** **Smells Like Teen Spirit** by **Nirvana** **Maryjane’s last Dance** by **Tom Petty** **Word Up** by **Cameo** ---
**Author:** ![li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/li_l_Dickie_Dirtz)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/3 "2005-02-17T15:53:08Z")
I don’t know about top five, but THE BEST pop song since 1980 is **The Mayor of Simpleton** by XTC, off their 1989 album, _Oranges & Lemons_. _(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding_ by Nick Lowe as performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions is also up there, but misses the cutoff date by a year or so. And by pop song you mean a song of roughly three minutes in length with a catchy hook and a definite, danceable beat, right, and not just some song that’s popular? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/4 "2005-02-17T16:03:37Z")
> [@li'l Dickie Dirtz](#): > > And by pop song you mean a song of roughly three minutes in length with a catchy hook and a definite, danceable beat, right, and not just some song that’s popular? Yeah, pretty much. I was trying to exclude something like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” but let’s not be too picky. It’s definitely straddling the pop/rock line. ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/5 "2005-02-17T16:09:15Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > **99 Red Balloons** (the german version) by Some German Lady That’ll be 99 Luftballoons by Nena, just so you know. And I’d certainly agree on that one, I love that song. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/6 "2005-02-17T16:46:51Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > Are, in no particular order: > > **Girls Just Wanna Have Fun** by Cyndi Lauper > > **99 Red Balloons** (the german version) by Some German Lady > > **Too Sexy** by Right Said Fred > > **Hey Ya!** by Outkast > > **Beat It** by Michael Jackson. > > Whatchoo got? Can’t really leave “Beat It” off of a post-1980 Top 5. Neither can you leave off Prince. Here’s my not-too-mulled-over list (no order): “Beat It” by Michael Jackson “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes “Drive” by the Cars Honorable mentions: “Down Under” by Men at Work “Obsession” by Animotion “Don’t You Want Me?” by the Human League “Crazy” by Seal “When Doves Cry” by Prince “One Headlight” by the Wallflowers “The Way” by Fastball “Whip It” by Devo ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/7 "2005-02-17T16:52:44Z")
**Tainted Love** by Soft Cell needs to be in there somewhere, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/8 "2005-02-17T16:54:05Z")
I would have gone with **Little Red Corvette** for a Prince song. As a matter of fact, hearing it in the car the other day got wondering what the best pop songs ever are. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/9 "2005-02-17T17:05:00Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > I would have gone with **Little Red Corvette** for a Prince song. > > As a matter of fact, hearing it in the car the other day got wondering what the best pop songs ever are. Yeah, Prince has a bunch that could be legitimately argued for top 5. Besides those we’ve named, you could go with “1999”, “Purple Rain”, “Sign of the Times”, “Kiss”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/10 "2005-02-17T18:07:53Z")
**Steppin’ Out** , by Joe Jackson **The Way It Is** , by Bruce Hornsby **Avalon** , by Roxy Music **Everybody Wants to Rule the World** , by Tears for Fears **Livin’ La Vida Loca** , by Ricky Martin (scorn all you want, but it is the perfect pop song and has to be mentioned) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/11 "2005-02-17T22:25:31Z")
Some very good suggestions here. If I could force myself to pick the 5 absolute best, some or all of my choices would be among those already named. However, also worth considering are… **Our House** by Madness **Take On Me** by a-ha **Come Dancing** by The Kinks **Walk Like an Egyptian** by The Bangles **New Song** by Howard Jones ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/12 "2005-02-17T22:40:44Z")
Off the top of my head, with an attempt to get some that haven’t already been mentioned: **Common People** by Pulp **Girlfriend** by Matthew Sweet **This Charming Man** by The Smiths **Take Me Out** by Franz Ferdinand **Blue Monday** by New Order **Blister in the Sun** by Violent Femmes I put six in case one gets disqualified for not being pop enough. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/13 "2005-02-17T22:41:16Z")
My early 80’s nominee would be Melt With You by Modern English. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/14 "2005-02-17T22:55:20Z")
My favorites: **There Is a Light That Never Goes Out** - The Smiths **Fake Plastic Trees** - Radiohead **A Question of Lust** - Depeche Mode **Fall On Me** - REM **True Faith** - New Order I’m also surprised that no one’s mentioned: **Forever Young** - Alphaville ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/15 "2005-02-17T23:27:21Z")
Not going to wrack my brain with trying to narrow it down to five, but I will mention the song I actually paid to get as a cell ringtone: **Men Without Hats** “Safety Dance” And as much as I have to say its pretty nearly my least favorite **Counting Crows** song, “Mr Jones” is a pretty perfect pop song. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/16 "2005-02-18T02:18:57Z")
**1999** , Prince. **Rock the Casbah** , The Clash. **Walking on Sunshine** , Katrina and the Waves. **Love Shack** , The B-52’s. **April Fool** , Rufus Wainwright. _And bubbling up this week to the Top Ten . . ._ **Sowing the Seeds of Love** , Tears for Fears. **Forever Man** , Eric Clapton. **Hole Hearted** , Extreme. **Smells Like Teen Spirit** , Nirvana. **Ray of Light** , Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/17 "2005-02-18T02:25:59Z")
Another five not mentioned: **Groove is in the Heart** Dee-Lite **Just Like Heaven** The Cure **Fake Plastic Trees** Radiohead **Milkshake** Kelis and, of course, how can we leave out: **Bizarre Love Triangle** New Order ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/18 "2005-02-18T02:27:12Z")
Oh, my Radiohead has already been mentioned. So let’s try, instead: [bGirls & Boys\*\* Blur ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/19 "2005-02-18T02:35:55Z")
I chose mine based on appealing melody w/memorable hook, expression of Universal Truths in lyrics, and mass appeal. Extra points for creating a cultural niche. **Don’t Tell Me** , Madonna **Come To My Window** , Melissa Etheridge **Shape Of My Heart** , Sting **Thriller** , Michael Jackson **Falling For The First Time** , Barenaked Ladies Honourable mentions: **Short Skirt, Long Jacket** , Cake **Free Fallin’** , Tom Petty **Sweet Dreams** , Eurythmics **Birmingham** , Amanda Marshall **Tainted Love** , Soft Cell ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524/20 "2005-02-18T03:15:46Z")
In my mind, the most perfect pop song of all-time is still “Enjoy the Silence” by **Depeche Mode**. Fantastic song. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-5-pop-songs-since-1980/290524.md?page=2)