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The top 100 artists of the 80s, champions of a vibrant decade, revolutionized the music scene with their groundbreaking sounds. Crafted from chart achievements, video rotations, radio popularity, and cultural impacts, this list offers a nostalgic journey through an era rich with innovation and style.
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- Queen. 12,331 votes. Undoubtedly, Queen ruled the world of rock music throughout the '80s with their captivating stage performances and larger-than-life anthems.
- AC/DC. 7,957 votes. AC/DC's explosive fusion of blues-inspired rock and high-voltage energy catapulted them to international stardom in the '80s, firmly establishing their place as one of the era's most influential bands.
- Journey. 7,631 votes. Solidifying their status as titans of arena rock, Journey captivated audiences throughout the '80s with soaring vocals and anthemic melodies that resonated with fans from all walks of life.
- Van Halen. 7,369 votes. Van Halen burst onto the music scene in the '80s with their innovative blend of hard rock and exceptional musicianship, accompanied by an unrivaled stage presence.
- Michael Jackson. 12,040 votes. Earning the title "King of Pop," this groundbreaking artist revolutionized music with his innovative dance moves, iconic fashion, and unforgettable music videos.
- Queen. 8,097 votes. This British rock band's unique fusion of opera, hard rock, and glam made them one of the most innovative and influential groups during this era.
- Whitney Houston. 7,777 votes. With her incredible vocal range and powerful stage presence, this legendary singer set a new standard for pop divas everywhere.
- Prince. 8,436 votes. A truly unique talent in both his musicianship and visual style, this enigmatic artist defied genre boundaries by blending funk, rock, R&B, and pop into a sound that was unmistakably his own.
- Whitney Houston
- Bruce Springsteen
- Stevie Wonder
- Phil Collins
- Lionel Richie
- Michael Jackson
- Billy Joel
- Madonna
- Prince
- Cyndi Lauper
Sumptuous power ballad “The Greatest Love Of All” was arguably Whitney Houston’s signature hit, but during the 80s, this artist had 12 US smash hits and no less than seven topped the US Billboardcharts.
One of the biggest 80s rock artists, Bruce Springsteen’s landmark Born In The USA album yielded seven US hits. The album also stuck at No. 2 behind Prince’s monolithic Purple Rain on the Billboard200 for a whopping 18 weeks.
Not as seismic as he was in the 60s and 70s, you say? Maybe, but the hits kept on coming. Steviehad 19 80s pop songs that became hits. “Ebony And Ivory” and “I Just Called To Say I Love You” remain global standards.
Whether with Genesis or solo, Phil Collins was is a quintessential 80s artist. Seemingly omnipresent in the charts, the singles from his No Jacket Requiredalbum alone spent over a year lodged in the Top 40.
Lionel Richiewasn’t just a pop star in the 80s. He had five US No 1 hits, plus credits such as penning Kenny Rogers’ 1980 smash “Lady” and co-writing “We Are The World” for Michael Jackson.
Just for the estimated 65 million-selling, multiple Grammy Award-winning Thrilleralone, Michael Jackson deserves to be near the top of any list of this sort. One of the biggest 80s pop artists… or any decade for that matter.
Billy Joel’s in here on consistency alone. He racked up a massive 22 US hits in the 80s and the likes of “Uptown Girl” and “It’s Still Rock’n’Roll To Me” are still radio staples worldwide.
Virtually synonymous with the 80s, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” topped the Billboardsingles chart for 6 weeks in 1984 and she was unstoppable after that with songs like “Like a Prayer” and “Papa Don’t Preach.” The most successful female pop star of the decade bar none.
Truly a colossus during the 80s, Prince spent more weeks on North America’s BillboardHot 100 than any other artist of the era – 378 in all. The key songs? “Purple Rain,” “Kiss,” “Raspberry Beret,” and “Sign O’ The Times” barely scratch the surface of Prince’s titanic 1980s.
Owner of one of the most iconic music videos of the decade, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” which played incessantly on MTV, Cyndi Lauper was omnipresent in the 1980s.
- Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. He is regarded as one of the most influential music artists of all time.
- Madonna. Madonna Louise Ciccone, known as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is often referred to as the “Queen of Pop”. She is known for her reinvention, versatility, and discussion of sexual and social politics through her music.
- The Police. The Police were a British rock band, formed in London in 1977. For most of their time, the group was made up of Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland.
- Duran Duran. Duran Duran is an English band formed in Birmingham in 1978. At its creation, the group was made up of Stephen Duffy, Nick Rhodes, and John Taylor, and drummer Roger Taylor was added the following year.
Dec 19, 2023 · 1. Madonna - Into The Groove (Official Video) Arguably the most influential singer and fashion model of the 80s, Madonna prompted fans to don blue eyeshadow and wear black plastic pants. She was unstoppable as a girl power figure in the 80s, at a time when girls needed a counterculture role model.
Jan 17, 2022 · By John Earls | January 17, 2022. It’s the ultimate face-off as we count down our favourite 80s pop artists…. I t is, of course, the impossible task: distil music’s most creative and varied decade down to a mere 40 artists. The Classic Pop team has only just finished wiping the blood away caused by the fights creating such a list entails ...
