The best 5 pop songs since 1980.

Almost. That was 1979.

Absolutely phenomenal song, no doubt, but “pop”? It wasn’t released as a single, and never charted (unlike “Only Shallow,” which did hit the Modern Rock tracks.) Seems to be disqualified on grounds of not being pop.

The song was December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) (1976), by The Four Seasons.

Under Pressure, Bowie and Mercury
Come on Eileen, Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Losing My Religion, REM
With or Without You, U2
Smells like Teen Spirit, Nirvana