Search results
- Billie Jean. 168 votes. More Billie Jean. #65 of 76 on Cover Songs That Are Better Than The Originals. #23 of 86 on Music Fans Rerank Rolling Stone's Greatest Songs Of All Time.
- Rock With You. 116 votes. More Rock With You. #8 of 88 on The Best Michael Jackson Songs of All Time. #85 of 168 on The Best '80s Pop Songs, Ranked. #29 of 49 on The Best Songs with Rock in the Title.
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 139 votes.
- When Doves Cry. 195 votes.
- “When Doves Cry” – Prince & The Revolution. Released in 1984 as the lead single from the album “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry” by Prince & The Revolution is undoubtedly one of the greatest 80s R&B songs that continues to captivate listeners with its unique blend of funk, rock, and electronic elements.
- How Will I Know – Whitney Houston. “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston is undoubtedly one of the greatest 80s R&B songs ever. The lyrics tell a story about someone trying to determine if their love interest feels the same way, which many can relate to.
- Give Me the Night – George Benson. “Give Me the Night” by George Benson is an iconic 80s R&B song that has stood the test of time. Released in 1980, it became a hit and remains a beloved classic.
- “(Sexual) Healing” – Marvin Gaye. “(Sexual) Healing” by Marvin Gaye is an iconic song that defined the era of 80s R&B. Released in 1982, this upbeat and sensual track was a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart and becoming one of Gaye’s most successful singles.
- “When Doves Cry” – Prince. Wholesome and pure on the surface, with a dirty underside, “When Doves Cry” gets number one on our list for its unforgettable opening guitar solo, iconic music video, and lyrics that still resonate today.
- “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson never shied away from tackling personal issues in his music, and “Billie Jean” is perhaps his most famous example.
- “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” – Whitney Houston. An unapologetic ode to the joys of Dancefloor romance, Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is the perfect pick-me-up song.
- “Straight Up” – Paula Abdul. This song is proof that Paula Abdul was much more than just a pretty face. “Straight Up” is a timeless pop classic with a memorable melody and catchy hook.
Erotic City / I Feel for You (1984) [Single] A duet with Sheila E. that was banned from radio play due to the use of vulgar language. A duet with Sheila E. that was banned from radio play due to the use of vulgar language. The 1980s were an eclectic decade for R&B. It set the groundwork for the dominance of hip hop to come; introduced New Jack ...
People also ask
What were the most popular R&B Songs of the '80s?
What are some good R&B Songs from the 1990s?
What does 80s R&B sound like?
Is smooth operator a classic 80s R&B song?
- “P.Y.T.
- “When Doves Cry” – Prince & The Revolution
- “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson
- “Candy Girl” – New Edition
- “Smooth Operator” – Sade
- “Let’s Groove” – Earth, Wind & Fire
- “Sweet Love” – Anita Baker
- “Kiss” – Prince & The Revolution
- “Let It Whip” – Dazz Band
Let’s start off with an absolute banger – “Pretty Young Thing” from the Thriller album by Michael Jackson. This track was released in 1982, charted at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 list, and reached number 11 in the UK charts. It was written by Quincy Jones and James Ingram, and Jones is said to have come up with the name after his wife bought...
This song is instantly recognizable – from the distinctive drumbeat to Prince’s quirky vocals at the very beginning. Released in 1984, “When Doves Cry” by Prince & The Revolution is undeniably one of the best 80s R&B songs released. This iconic track was released on the Purple Rain album and was Prince’s first No 1 single. It was number 1 for 5 wee...
As Michael Jackson really was the King of 80s R&B songs, I couldn’t not include another Jackson hit for you. “Billie Jean” from the Thriller album really is R&B encapsulated, with that funky baseline and goosebump-driving drumbeat. It’s one of the bestselling songs ever, with over 14 million copies sold worldwide. The song is reportedly based on gr...
If you don’t remember the classic “Candy Girl” video by New Edition, where have you been?! It’s said that the budget for the video was so small that the band actually wore their school uniforms to perform – but it didn’t seem to stop them from having a great time. This track has real Jackson 5 vibes, with lead singer Ralph Tresvant having similar v...
Just when we thought 80s R&B songs couldn’t get any better, Sade exploded onto the scene with their debut album Diamond Lifeand on it the iconic “Smooth Operator”. It’s Sade’s highest-ranking single in the UK and arguably their most memorable song. Who can forget that superb sax solo after the second chorus? It’s such an indulgent track, and whenev...
It’s almost verging on disco, but we couldn’t not include Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove” from their 1981 album Raise!. A timeless tune that is still played in R&B clubs today, Earth Wind & Fire waited until their 11th studio album before treating us to this absolute gem of a song. Many believe this song is what made the word ‘groovy’ popular a...
Anita Baker really brought magic to the 80s R&B era, and we just had to include her stunning “Sweet Love” from the album Rapturewhen compiling this list of 80s classic R&B songs. It won a Grammy Award in 1987 for Best R&B Song and is a firm favorite among 1980s music enthusiasts. Anita’s powerful voice is truly mesmerizing – smooth yet oh-so powerf...
Prince & The Revolution are too big a part of the 1980s to only be included once. “Kiss” from their Parade album is probably Prince’s most memorable song – okay, perhaps after “Purple Rain”. The song was Number 1 worldwide when it was released and rose to chart success when Prince passed away in 2016. This is probably my favorite Prince song – that...
And last but by no means least, we have the incredible “Let It Whip” by Dazz Band, from their 1982 album Keep It Live. Considering it placed Number 1 in the R&B Charts for five weeks, I just had to include it in my top 80s R&B songs. The choreography and ‘funk’ in this song are truly unparalleled – a banger at the time and it’s still giving me goos...
100 more great 80s R&B Songs. A list by ason_jones [List650387] | +30. my first list has a shitload of hits so i'm making another one
Feb 26, 2023 · So sit back, relax, and let’s take a trip down memory lane, exploring the very best that R&B had to offer in the 1980s. 1. Sign “O” the Times- Prince. 2. Never Too Much- Luther Vandross. 3 ...
