Best songs of the decade: Ten 1980s No. 1 singles that spent the most weeks on Billboard Hot 100

As a child of the ’80s, I can honestly say that the music from this era was nothing short of iconic. Two songs stand out as the ultimate party anthems of the decade – “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen and the tie for first place with “Baby, Come to Me” by Patti Austin and “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield.

The Billboard Hot 100, first introduced in 1958 with Ricky Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool” as its inaugural No. 1 hit, is a renowned ranking of popular singles in the U.S. This chart determines success within the music industry by evaluating songs based on their physical and digital sales, streaming activity, and radio airplay. Every week, people eagerly wait to find out who will claim the top spot.

Over time, many songs have reached significant heights on the charts, with some even setting records. For instance, The Beatles hold the record for having the most number-one hits at 20. Moreover, “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X remained in the top position for an astounding 19 weeks, making it the longest single to maintain that spot.

As a gamer, I’ve compiled a list of the ’80s Pop/Rock hits that reigned supreme on the charts for the longest periods! These tunes might have only ruled the airwaves for a week or two, but they managed to stay in the game and dominate the charts for the most weeks during the entire decade.

10. “Don’t You Want Me” – The Human League

In 1981, the popular synth-pop band from Britain, The Human League, put out their biggest hit single. This song was “Don’t You Want Me,” which was part of their third album titled Dare. The tune ruled the charts in both the US and UK for three consecutive weeks, spending a total of 28 weeks on them. Often referred to as an ’80s classic, this song played a significant role during the second British musical invasion of the US.

9. “Chariots Of Fire” – Vangelis

In the sports drama movie “Chariots of Fire,” directed by Hugh Hudson, the iconic instrumental theme was composed and performed by Vangelis, a renowned Greek musician and composer. Known as “Titles” on the film’s soundtrack, this song is featured in the opening scene and is now commonly referred to as “Chariots of Fire.” The single spent 28 weeks on the charts, reaching No. 1 position after week 22, making it the only Greek artist’s song to ever top the US music charts.

8. “Keep On Loving You” – REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon’s hit ballad ‘Keep On Loving You,’ penned by lead singer Kevin Cronin, is a classic love song. This track became the band’s first to enter the top 50 on Billboard and eventually reached No. 1 in March 1981, staying on the chart for 30 weeks. On MTV’s premiere day, August 1, 1981, ‘Keep On Loving You’ was one of the most played videos. The record label initially didn’t think the song was suitable as a single, but the band successfully convinced them to release it. It’s fortunate they did because it became a soft rock anthem.

7. “I Love A Rainy Night” – Eddie Rabbit

The song “I Love A Rainy Night,” which was Eddie Rabbitt’s second single from his Horizon album released in 1980, became a massive hit. It topped the Hot Country Singles, Adult Contemporary Singles, and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song stayed at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for two weeks and was listed for a total of 29 weeks. This tune surpassed Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” to take the No. 1 spot, marking an unprecedented moment in chart history where two consecutive country songs held the top position on the Hot 100.

6. “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler

Since its debut in 1982, “Wind Beneath My Wings” has been recorded multiple times, but it’s Bette Midler’s rendition from the movie “Beaches” that received the most praise. This version was a hit on the Hot 100 chart for 29 weeks, reaching number one for one week in 1989. Bette Midler’s interpretation won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards in February 1990. Interestingly, according to a 2002 poll in the UK, this song is the most frequently played at British funerals.

5. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler

Bonnie Tyler’s most successful song is ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart.’ This hit single was included in her fifth studio album titled ‘Faster than the Speed of Light,’ which reached number one in both the UK and US charts. The track was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Throughout her career, Tyler has collaborated on this song with various artists, such as Peter Brocklehurst, BabyPink Star, Only Men Aloud!, a British punk-electric group, a classic dance version with Alex Christensen and the Berlin Orchestra, and more.

4. “Upside Down” – Diana Ross

The timeless hit “Upside Down” by Diana Ross, from her studio album Diana, was masterfully crafted by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic. This iconic song dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and remained on the chart for a total of 29 weeks. “Upside Down” held the top spot on various charts, including Billboard’s Disco and Soul charts, as well as singles charts in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland. Notably, this was Ross’ highest-charting solo single since her 1971 release “I’m Still Waiting,” which later got surpassed by her duet with Lionel Richie titled “Endless Love,” that reigned for nine consecutive weeks at No. 1.

3. “Celebration” – Kool and the Gang

The hit single “Celebration” was showcased on Kool and the Gang’s album Celebrate! , which was their twelfth studio release. This track, debuted in 1980, is the only one by the band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016. The song stayed on the charts for an impressive 30 weeks and also made it onto Billboard’s R&B chart. Often played at weddings and parties, Record World described it in 1980 as “A catchy party tune with cool chorus chants & a groovy bass.

The tune from the Disney animated film “Wreck-it Ralph” is frequently played at sports events, and it actually served as the theme song for the 1982 World Series champions, the St. Louis Cardinals.

2. Another Ones Bites the Dust – Queen

1981 marked the release of “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen, a hit single penned by their bassist John Deacon. Deacon drew inspiration from the disco band Chic’s song “Good Times.” This tune topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks and was the second and last US number-one single for Queen. The song lingered on the Hot 100 for an impressive 31 weeks, outlasting any other song from 1980. It received an American Music Award for Favorite Rock Single and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Over time, this tune has been featured in numerous productions such as TV shows, movies, and various multimedia platforms. It’s also a common choice for playing during sports events.

The No. 1 song from the 1980s – its a tie!

In the 1980s, two songs shared the top spot, each spending an equal amount of time at number one on the Billboard Pop/Rock charts for the greatest duration.

1. “Baby, Come to Me” – Patti Austin with James Ingram

Originally released in 1982 but only reaching the top charts in 1983, “Baby, Come To Me” was a heartfelt love ballad from Patti Austin’s album Every Home Should Have One. Initially, it peaked at No. 73 on the charts, however, its fortunes changed when the soap opera General Hospital started heavily using it as the theme for the character Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary). Following a re-release, the song soared to the No. 1 spot and held that position for two weeks. In total, “Baby, Come To Me” spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and even topped the Adult Contemporary chart as well.

1. “Jessie’s Girl” -Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield, an actor-turned-musician from Australia and America, is well-loved for his character as Noah Drake in the TV series General Hospital (1981–83, 2005–08, 2012). He reprised this role in 2012 to commemorate the show’s 50th anniversary and has since continued his acting career. In 1981, Springfield launched his fifth studio album titled Working Class Dog, which included his only number one hit song, “Jessie’s Girl.” This track didn’t quickly reach the top of the charts; instead, it took 19 weeks to do so and stayed there for two weeks. Over its run, “Jessie’s Girl” stayed on the chart for a total of 32 weeks, making it the longest-lasting song from the 1980s.

2024-09-11 17:01