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Decade countdown · WFPK · March 2026

WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '80s

The countdown of the '80s (March 2026) from WFPK in Louisville, KY ranks 498 songs, with “Eat It” by Weird Al Yankovic at number one. The list features 283 different artists; Prince has the most entries with eleven songs. Counted down over the first week of March 2026, from 500 to 1. The page does not say how the songs were ranked. Positions 103 and 104 are missing from the station's list (it goes from 105 to 102). Capitalization standardized where the source used lower case. Obvious artist typos fixed: Camper Von Beethoven -> Camper Van Beethoven; LL Cool -> LL Cool J; Pixes -> Pixies; Stevie Ray Vaughn -> Stevie Ray Vaughan. Artist credits normalized to the site's format (e.g. "X (ft. Y)" written "X feat. Y").

498songs
500countdown size
WFPKstation
Louisville, KYmarket
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# Song ListsBest
500 Eat It Weird Al Yankovic 1 #500
499 Lean on Me Club Nouveau 1 #499
498 Forever Your Girl Paula Abdul 1 #498
497 I Feel For You Chaka Khan 4 #189
496 La Bamba Los Lobos 9 #26
495 Raiders of the Lost Ark (Theme) John Williams 1 #495
494 Radio Ga Ga Queen 21 #193
493 Physical Olivia Newton John 1 #493
492 Queen of Hearts Juice Newton 1 #492
491 Miss You Much Janet Jackson 1 #491
490 If You Don't Know Me By Now Simply Red 2 #490
489 Hangin' Tough New Kids on the Block 1 #489
488 Sister Christian Night Ranger 58 #21
487 Every Rose Has Its Thorn Poison 65 #44
486 Lullaby The Cure 37 #3
485 Chariots of Fire Vangelis 1 #485
484 The Promise When in Rome 24 #11
483 Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Clash 163 #8
482 Don't Get Me Wrong The Pretenders 26 #8
481 Small Town John Mellencamp 62 #12
480 Rockit Herbie Hancock 3 #480
479 I Wonder if I Take You Home Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam 1 #479
478 Steppin' Out Joe Jackson 32 #66
477 Bad Reputation Joan Jett 46 #21
476 Smooth Criminal Michael Jackson 3 #476
475 I Just Called to Say I Love You Stevie Wonder 1 #475
474 That's All Genesis 53 #78
473 So Emotional Whitney Houston 1 #473
472 Memphis in the Meantime John Hiatt 7 #109
471 Thing Called Love Bonnie Raitt 6 #437
470 Dear God XTC 92 #1
469 Sara Starship 1 #469
468 Right Here Waiting Richard Marx 1 #468
467 The Message Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five 16 #3
466 Desire U2 96 #2
465 Sussudio Phil Collins 3 #27
464 Against the Wind Bob Seger 73 #9
463 Back on the Chain The Pretenders 2 #418
462 Upside Down Diana Ross 1 #462
461 Don't Worry Be Happy Bobby McFerrin 3 #35
460 Major Tom (Coming Home) Peter Schilling 38 #8
459 Lost in Your Eyes Debbie Gibson 1 #459
458 Walk of Life Dire Straits 52 #71
457 Night Shift The Commodores 1 #457
456 Gardening At Night R.E.M. 16 #456
455 Love My Way The Psychedelic Furs 64 #10
454 A Girl Like You The Smithereens 51 #30
453 (Just Like) Starting Over John Lennon 15 #57
452 Ebony and Ivory Paul McCartney 1 #452
451 Master of Puppets Metallica 81 #1
450 Mad World Tears for Fears 38 #5
449 About A Girl Nirvana 75 #7
448 St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) John Parr 1 #448
447 The Look Roxette 1 #447
446 Talking About A Revolution Tracy Chapman 26 #54
445 We Built This City Starship 1 #445
444 My Adidas Run DMC 3 #154
443 Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder 3 #442
442 If I Could Turn Back Time Cher 2 #442
441 Tom Sawyer Rush 113 #2
440 How Soon is Now? The Smiths 106 #1
439 Girl You Know It's True Milli Vanilli 1 #439
438 The Waiting Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 82 #14
437 Gloria Laura Branigan 1 #437
436 Fade to Black Metallica 50 #14
435 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) Phil Collins 2 #435
434 You Shook Me AC/DC 4 #68
433 Stuck with You Huey Lewis and the News 1 #433
432 A Little Respect Erasure 50 #4
431 Copperhead Road Steve Earle 19 #125
430 I'll Be Loving You (Forever) New Kids on the Block 1 #430
429 Saved By Zero The Fixx 11 #44
428 Private Dancer Tina Turner 1 #428
427 Wind Beneath My Wings Bette Midler 1 #427
426 It Takes Two Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock 6 #123
425 Bad Case of Loving You Robert Palmer 31 #116
424 Left of the Dial The Replacements 32 #33
423 Rock Me Amadeus Falco 11 #12
422 Have A Little Faith In Me John Hiatt 28 #40
421 Abracadabra Steve Miller Band 32 #219
420 Teenage Riot Sonic Youth 32 #19
419 Whisper to a Scream Icicle Works 18 #59
418 Mandinka Sinéad O'Connor 56 #5
417 Tom's Diner Suzanne Vega 22 #24
416 Let's Groove Earth, Wind & Fire 3 #118
415 Footloose Kenny Loggins 3 #16
414 Everyday Is Like Sunday Morrissey 56 #5
413 Heaven is a Place on Earth Belinda Carlisle 2 #413
412 Atlantic City Bruce Springsteen 25 #21
411 I Wanna Destroy You The Soft Boys 2 #411
410 Wicked Game Chris Isaak 57 #7
409 You Might Think The Cars 51 #68
408 Finest Worksong R.E.M. 25 #67
407 I Just Can't Stop Loving You Michael Jackson 1 #407
406 Rock This Town The Stray Cats 40 #6
405 Corona The Minutemen 3 #405
404 Let's Hear It for the Boy Deniece Williams 1 #404
403 Just Like Honey The Jesus and Mary Chain 30 #2
402 Modern Love David Bowie 84 #12
401 Ain't Nobody Rüfüs Du Sol 1 #401
400 Mother Danzig 29 #62
399 Shakedown Bob Seger 2 #399
398 Roll With It Steve Winwood 7 #321
397 Panama Van Halen 104 #1
396 Ace of Spades Motorhead 52 #3
395 Put a Little Love in Your Heart Annie Lennox 1 #395
394 Here Comes Your Man The Pixies 68 #2
393 I Want to Know What Love Is Foreigner 19 #34
392 The Way You Make Me Feel Michael Jackson 2 #392
391 Alex Chilton The Replacements 58 #8
390 Endless Love Diana Ross and Lionel Richie 1 #390
389 Bastards of Young The Replacements 31 #86
388 (I've Had) The Time of My Life Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes 1 #388
387 Shake It Up The Cars 45 #19
386 Express Yourself NWA 3 #385
385 Love Song The Cure 80 #1
384 Hungry Heart Bruce Springsteen 42 #68
383 She Sells Sanctuary The Cult 83 #4
382 Just A Friend Biz Markie 4 #241
381 It's My Life Talk Talk 61 #18
380 How Will I Know Whitney Houston 1 #380
379 Crazy Little Thing Called Love Queen 72 #73
378 Say You, Say Me Lionel Richie 1 #378
377 Word Up Cameo 3 #377
376 Luka Suzanne Vega 31 #10
375 Pour Some Sugar On Me Def Leppard 98 #5
374 Got My Mind Set On You George Harrison 19 #25
373 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now Starship 1 #373
372 Love Removal Machine The Cult 50 #13
371 Blister in the Sun Violent Femmes 102 #1
370 Whip It Devo 78 #1
369 Never Let Me Down Again Depeche Mode 58 #7
368 Flashdance...What a Feelin' Irene Cara 2 #343
367 Dance Hall Days Wang Chung 14 #85
366 Through the Fire Chaka Khan 2 #366
365 Higher Love Steve Winwood 16 #32
364 Land of Confusion Genesis 32 #48
363 Jessie's Girl Rick Springfield 6 #49
362 Seasons Change Exposé 1 #362
361 Magic Olivia Newton John 1 #361
360 Always Something There To Remind Me Naked Eyes 29 #70
359 Bust A Move Young MC 6 #81
358 My Prerogative Bobby Brown 1 #358
357 Always Atlantic Starr 1 #357
356 There is a Light That Never Goes Out The Smiths 90 #1
355 Beautiful Boy John Lennon 2 #289
354 Kokomo The Beach Boys 1 #354
353 When I See You Smile Bad English 1 #353
352 Love Is A Battlefield Pat Benatar 47 #23
351 Wanted Dead or Alive Bon Jovi 95 #5
350 Hurts So Good John Mellencamp 47 #68
349 Maneater Daryl Hall & John Oates 1 #349
348 Pride and Joy Stevie Ray Vaughan 78 #24
347 Pearly Dewdrop Drops Cocteau Twins 2 #2
346 A View to a Kill Duran Duran 9 #38
345 Monkey Gone To Heaven The Pixies 67 #5
344 Always on My Mind Willie Nelson 8 #241
343 Refugee Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 102 #3
342 Owner of a Lonely Heart Yes 92 #7
341 Big Time Peter Gabriel 39 #16
340 Hold On to the Nights Richard Marx 1 #340
339 Lips Like Sugar Echo and the Bunnymen 69 #2
338 The Living Years Mike + The Mechanics 3 #338
337 Start Me Up The Rolling Stones 108 #7
336 She Drives Me Crazy Fine Young Cannibals 46 #4
335 Sailing Christopher Cross 2 #335
334 Hold Me Now Thompson Twins 31 #10
333 Crazy For You Madonna 2 #272
332 Sign O The Times Prince 34 #8
331 Another Day in Paradise Phil Collins 1 #331
330 Fascinated Company B 1 #330
329 American Music The Blasters 4 #45
328 In Between Days The Cure 81 #3
327 Heaven Bryan Adams 8 #43
326 Overkill Men At Work 7 #326
325 Generals and Majors XTC 28 #62
324 I Knew You Were Waiting For Me Aretha Franklin & George Michael 2 #30
323 Borderline Madonna 2 #323
322 Amanda Boston 16 #115
321 Ana Ng They Might Be Giants 39 #53
320 In a Big Country Big Country 77 #3
319 Things Can Only Get Better Howard Jones 22 #42
318 Driver 8 R.E.M. 51 #46
317 You Got It (The Right Stuff) New Kids on the Block 1 #317
316 Cuts Like A Knife Bryan Adams 37 #195
315 Gypsy Fleetwood Mac 34 #136
314 The Road to Nowhere Talking Heads 1 #314
313 Back 2 Life Soul II Soul 1 #313
312 Xanadu Olivia Newton John 2 #312
311 Mirror in the Bathroom The English Beat 64 #38
310 Radio LL Cool J 1 #310
309 I Want to Break Free Queen 7 #211
308 Roll Me Away Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band 22 #5
307 Greatest Love of All Whitney Houston 1 #307
306 Another One Bites the Dust Queen 92 #3
305 Your Love The Outfield 46 #68
304 Morning Train (Nine to Five) Sheena Easton 1 #304
303 We Are the World USA for Africa 1 #303
302 Celebration Kool & The Gang 2 #9
301 Ashes to Ashes David Bowie 49 #23
300 Strut Sheena Easton 1 #300
299 The One That You Love Air Supply 1 #299
298 Everything She Wants Wham! 1 #298
297 Beat It Michael Jackson 10 #61
296 Oh Sheila Ready for the World 1 #296
295 Spellbound Siouxsie and the Banshees 10 #71
294 Blue Monday New Order 96 #1
293 Never Tear Us Apart INXS 48 #1
292 Once in a Lifetime Talking Heads 125 #4
291 Buffalo Stance Neneh Cherry 7 #36
290 Just Can't Get Enough Depeche Mode 67 #2
289 I Keep Forgettin' Michael McDonald 2 #289
288 No One Is To Blame Howard Jones 3 #179
287 Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 91 #8
286 America Prince 2 #91
285 Crosseyed And Painless Talking Heads 36 #37
284 Voices Carry Til Tuesday 36 #28
283 Look Away Chicago 1 #283
282 Father Figure George Michael 1 #282
281 I Love a Rainy Night Eddie Rabbitt 1 #281
280 Me, Myself And I De La Soul 8 #131
279 Our Lips Are Sealed The Go-Go's 33 #32
278 Venus Bananarama 7 #45
277 When I Think of You Janet Jackson 1 #277
276 Little Red Corvette Prince 21 #12
275 Head Like a Hole Nine Inch Nails 89 #1
274 Running Down a Dream Tom Petty 108 #8
273 Miami Vice Theme Jan Hammer 1 #273
272 Shock the Monkey Peter Gabriel 61 #21
271 Avalon Roxy Music 52 #33
270 Nasty Janet Jackson 3 #270
269 Tainted Love Soft Cell 76 #1
268 Ghost Town The Specials 34 #21
267 Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves Eurythmics 1 #267
266 Only You Yaz 20 #24
265 We Didn't Start The Fire Billy Joel 17 #12
264 No Sleep Til Brooklyn Beastie Boys 55 #6
263 Escapade Janet Jackson 1 #263
262 Cities in Dust Siouxsie and the Banshees 60 #2
261 Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car Billy Ocean 1 #261
260 Love Bites Def Leppard 70 #39
259 Stand R.E.M. 65 #4
258 This Is The Day The The 44 #45
257 Holding Back The Years Simply Red 5 #26
256 Allentown Billy Joel 10 #74
255 Veronica Elvis Costello 37 #10
254 I'm Coming Out Diana Ross 3 #245
253 Can't Fight This Feeling REO Speedwagon 6 #214
252 Don't Want to Know if You Are Lonely Husker Du 4 #252
251 Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) Cinderella 11 #146
250 New Attitude Patti Labelle 1 #250
249 We Don't Need Another Hero Tina Turner 1 #249
248 Blame It on the Rain Milli Vanilli 1 #248
247 In the Air Tonight Phil Collins 99 #8
246 Is It a Crime Sade 1 #246
245 Lay Your Hands on Me Thompson Twins 11 #22
244 Edge of Seventeen Stevie Nicks 75 #13
243 If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free Sting 9 #20
242 I Must Not think Bad Thoughts X 2 #242
241 Human The Human League 4 #118
240 Here I Go Again Whitesnake 92 #2
239 Paradise City Guns N Roses 112 #2
238 It's Tricky Run DMC 7 #216
237 Girls on Film Duran Duran 51 #18
236 Kiss Prince 28 #34
235 I Think We're Alone Now Tiffany 2 #235
234 People Who Died Jim Carroll Band 43 #17
233 Centerfold J. Geils Band 82 #5
232 Lady Kenny Rogers 1 #232
231 Shake Your Rump Beastie Boys 6 #92
230 Bizarre Love Triangle New Order 92 #1
229 Orinoco Flow Enya 19 #48
228 Relax Frankie Goes to Hollywood 59 #1
227 The End of the Innocence Don Henley 20 #204
226 One More Night Phil Collins 1 #226
225 Bad Medicine Bon Jovi 52 #49
224 Graceland Paul Simon 25 #10
223 Up Where We Belong Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes 1 #223
222 Batdance Prince 4 #6
221 I Wanna Be Adored The Stone Roses 53 #10
220 Live To Tell Madonna 2 #30
219 Our House Madness 66 #15
218 Red Red Wine UB40 49 #1
217 White Lines Grandmaster Flash 6 #80
216 Destination Unknown Missing Persons 16 #40
215 Woman In Chains Tears for Fears 18 #53
214 Hip To Be Square Huey Lewis and the News 1 #214
213 You Can Call Me Al Paul Simon 21 #9
212 Fascination The Human League 1 #212
211 Dancing on the Ceiling Lionel Richie 1 #211
210 Dirty Laundry Don Henley 61 #85
209 One More Try George Michael 1 #209
208 That's When I Reach For My Revolver Mission of Burma 10 #55
207 What is Love Howard Jones 17 #10
206 Never Gonna Give You Up Rick Astley 3 #15
205 Pride (In the Name of Love) U2 168 #1
204 Bette Davis Eyes Kim Carnes 2 #204
203 Drink Before The War Sinéad O'Connor 1 #203
202 Don't Stand So Close to Me The Police 104 #7
201 Goodbye Horses Q Lazzarus 2 #201
200 Gigantic The Pixies 37 #7
199 Take My Breath Away Berlin 2 #19
198 Everybody Knows Leonard Cohen 14 #107
197 Under the Milky Way The Church 85 #3
196 Out Of Step Minor Threat 1 #196
195 Who Can It Be Now? Men At Work 23 #36
194 Little Lies Fleetwood Mac 7 #105
193 Mony Mony Billy Idol 46 #13
192 Summer of '69 Bryan Adams 93 #3
191 Seven Spanish Angels Ray Charles and Willie Nelson 1 #191
190 Touch of Grey The Grateful Dead 85 #43
189 Somebody's Baby Jackson Browne 6 #189
188 Addicted to Love Robert Palmer 44 #50
187 Wishing Well Terence Trent D'Arby 6 #187
186 Jeopardy Greg Kihn Band 5 #18
185 You Give Love a Bad Name Bon Jovi 81 #16
184 Brass in Pocket The Pretenders 102 #30
183 Cold Hearted Paula Abdul 1 #183
182 Missing You John Waite 3 #182
181 The Whole of the Moon The Waterboys 51 #14
180 Raspberry Beret Prince 15 #48
179 The Flame Cheap Trick 5 #96
178 Funky Cold Medina Tone Loc 2 #178
177 Saving All My Love for You Whitney Houston 1 #177
176 One Metallica 107 #2
175 I Would Die 4 U Prince 20 #63
174 Turning Japanese The Vapors 52 #14
173 (I Just) Died In Your Arms Cutting Crew 4 #173
172 Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) Christopher Cross 1 #172
171 Hold Me Fleetwood Mac 1 #171
170 Atomic Dog George Clinton 6 #57
169 Listen to Your Heart Roxette 1 #169
168 Invisible Touch Genesis 19 #71
167 Uptown Girl Billy Joel 3 #99
166 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now The Smiths 11 #24
165 Toy Soldiers Martika 1 #165
164 Roam The B-52's 45 #18
163 All Night Long (All Night) Lionel Richie 1 #163
162 Bad Michael Jackson 3 #93
161 Hungry Like the Wolf Duran Duran 58 #22
160 New Year's Day U2 182 #4
159 This Woman's Work Kate Bush 10 #159
158 Take The Skinheads Bowling Camper Van Beethoven 45 #21
157 What's Love Got To Do With It Tina Turner 7 #68
156 The Power of Love Huey Lewis and the News 4 #18
155 Hello Lionel Richie 1 #155
154 Hard to Say I'm Sorry Chicago 1 #154
153 Suddenly Last Summer The Motels 3 #153
152 Rhythm Nation Janet Jackson 6 #121
151 Guitars, Cadillacs & Hillbilly Music Dwight Yoakam 1 #151
150 The Heart of Rock and Roll Huey Lewis and the News 5 #33
149 The Look of Love ABC 25 #56
148 Kyrie Mr. Mister 1 #148
147 If You Were Here Thompson Twins 6 #58
146 Man In The Mirror Michael Jackson 8 #146
145 Glory of Love Peter Cetera 1 #145
144 Don't Stop Believing Journey 116 #1
143 Paid In Full Eric B & Rakim 5 #27
142 Everytime You Go Away Paul Young 2 #142
141 Come On Eileen Dexy's Midnight Runners 64 #5
140 I Ran (So Far Away) A Flock of Seagulls 49 #2
139 Welcome to the Jungle Guns N Roses 106 #1
138 Orange Crush R.E.M. 76 #1
137 Mercy Street Peter Gabriel 7 #137
136 Papa Don't Preach Madonna 3 #1
135 People Are Strange Echo and the Bunnymen 37 #20
134 Man On The Corner Genesis 20 #123
133 Alone Heart 15 #133
132 Glory Days Bruce Springsteen 65 #51
131 Head Over Heels Tears for Fears 42 #16
130 All I Want Is You U2 46 #6
129 Broken Wings Mr. Mister 4 #22
128 Holiday Madonna 4 #128
127 This Charming Man The Smiths 52 #2
126 Together Forever Rick Astley 1 #126
125 Into The Groove Madonna 5 #80
124 Maniac Michael Sembello 1 #124
123 Here Comes The Rain Again Eurythmics 38 #82
122 Let My Love Open The Door Pete Townshend 58 #12
121 Shake You Down Gregory Abbott 1 #121
120 Money for Nothing Dire Straits 116 #7
119 Islands in the Stream Kenny Rogers 3 #119
118 Smooth Operator Sade 10 #67
117 867-5309/Jenny Tommy Tutone 27 #54
116 Call Me Blondie 71 #6
115 Burning Down the House Talking Heads 154 #8
114 If You Leave Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark 1 #114
113 Punk Rock Girl Dead Milkmen 43 #19
112 Weird Science Oingo Boingo 32 #34
111 Jack and Diane John Mellencamp 77 #7
110 True Spandau Ballet 14 #32
109 Straight Up Paula Abdul 1 #109
108 Cruel Summer Bananarama 14 #81
107 Pretty In Pink The Psychedelic Furs 70 #9
106 These Dreams Heart 15 #106
105 Shout Tears for Fears 70 #5
102 Nick of Time Bonnie Raitt 6 #102
101 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) Daryl Hall & John Oates 2 #101
100 Bring The Noise Public Enemy 8 #62
99 The Way It Is Bruce Hornsby and the Range 18 #7
98 Kids In America Kim Wilde 20 #98
97 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Eurythmics 72 #4
96 True Colors Cyndi Lauper 7 #11
95 The One I Love R.E.M. 150 #5
94 Faith George Michael 9 #90
93 Eternal Flame The Bangles 3 #7
92 Where the Streets Have No Name U2 151 #3
91 Out of Touch Daryl Hall & John Oates 1 #91
90 Careless Whisper Wham! 4 #90
89 Danger Zone Kenny Loggins 3 #3
88 Rapture Blondie 54 #31
87 Fall On Me R.E.M. 60 #26
86 Jump Van Halen 102 #3
85 White Wedding Billy Idol 152 #7
84 Didn't We Almost Have It All Whitney Houston 1 #84
83 Closer To Fine The Indigo Girls 43 #1
82 Hallelujah Leonard Cohen 23 #2
81 Genius of Love Tom Tom Club 40 #81
80 Where Is My Mind? The Pixies 83 #5
79 Karma Chameleon Culture Club 13 #11
78 Sledgehammer Peter Gabriel 95 #2
77 Billie Jean Michael Jackson 17 #6
76 Seven Year Ache Rosanne Cash 3 #76
75 Hazy Shade of Winter The Bangles 20 #12
74 Pink Houses John Mellencamp 72 #11
73 I Won't Back Down Tom Petty 98 #10
72 When Doves Cry Prince 30 #12
71 Redemption Song Bob Marley 33 #15
70 Invisible Sun The Police 24 #70
69 Mr. Telephone Man New Edition 1 #69
68 Don't Come Round Here No More Tom Petty 32 #44
67 Like a Virgin Madonna 4 #41
66 Kiss on My List Daryl Hall & John Oates 1 #66
65 Rio Duran Duran 44 #18
64 Keep On Loving You REO Speedwagon 31 #19
63 Fight The Power Public Enemy 17 #8
62 Livin' on a Prayer Bon Jovi 97 #5
61 More Than This Roxy Music 48 #12
60 Dancing in the Dark Bruce Springsteen 74 #48
59 The Killing Moon Echo and the Bunnymen 65 #9
58 Walk This Way Run DMC 15 #9
57 It's Still Rock n' Roll to Me Billy Joel 28 #53
56 Ghostbusters Ray Parker Jr. 1 #56
55 Love Shack The B-52's 79 #1
54 Mickey Toni Basil 8 #15
53 Could You Be Loved Bob Marley 39 #53
52 Under Pressure Queen 130 #2
51 Eye Of The Tiger Survivor 25 #2
50 Ford Econoline Nanci Griffith 1 #50
49 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For U2 140 #9
48 I Love Rock-N-Roll Joan Jett 115 #2
47 Back in Black AC/DC 133 #1
46 I Melt With You Modern English 96 #2
45 Walk Like an Egyptian The Bangles 23 #6
44 Running Up That Hill Kate Bush 83 #2
43 The Boys of Summer Don Henley 97 #7
42 Don't You Want Me The Human League 41 #5
41 Time After Time Cyndi Lauper 11 #9
40 Love Will Tear Us Apart Joy Division 138 #1
39 Every Breath You Take The Police 124 #3
38 Fast Car Tracy Chapman 60 #1
37 Total Eclipse of the Heart Bonnie Tyler 5 #37
36 Down Under Men At Work 36 #2
35 You Gotta Fight For Your Right (To Party) Beastie Boys 86 #1
34 Tempted Squeeze 89 #21
33 Drive The Cars 33 #33
32 In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel 123 #2
31 The Tide Is High Blondie 20 #31
30 Don't Change INXS 58 #28
29 Romeo and Juliet Dire Straits 48 #29
28 Radio Free Europe R.E.M. 77 #1
27 Let's Dance David Bowie 98 #6
26 It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) R.E.M. 138 #2
25 Walking On Sunshine Katrina and the Waves 20 #1
24 Free Fallin' Tom Petty 116 #10
23 Like a Prayer Madonna 15 #23
22 West End Girls Pet Shop Boys 52 #11
21 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) Whitney Houston 8 #11
20 Rock the Casbah The Clash 164 #1
19 1999 Prince 37 #1
18 Don't Dream It's Over Crowded House 61 #5
17 Africa Toto 26 #15
16 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go Wham! 4 #7
15 Let's Go Crazy Prince 27 #3
14 Thriller Michael Jackson 17 #14
13 We Got the Beat The Go-Go's 38 #3
12 9 To 5 Dolly Parton 6 #12
11 Waiting Room Fugazi 29 #11
10 Need You Tonight INXS 87 #5
9 Don't You (Forget About Me) Simple Minds 125 #1
8 Sweet Child o' Mine Guns N Roses 136 #1
7 Purple Rain Prince 71 #1
6 Material Girl Madonna 3 #6
5 With or Without You U2 213 #3
4 Girls Just Want To Have Fun Cyndi Lauper 13 #4
3 Just Like Heaven The Cure 104 #1
2 Take On Me a-ha 46 #2
1 Everybody Wants to Rule the World Tears for Fears 90 #1

Counted down over the first week of March 2026, from 500 to 1. The page does not say how the songs were ranked. Positions 103 and 104 are missing from the station's list (it goes from 105 to 102). Capitalization standardized where the source used lower case. Obvious artist typos fixed: Camper Von Beethoven -> Camper Van Beethoven; LL Cool -> LL Cool J; Pixes -> Pixies; Stevie Ray Vaughn -> Stevie Ray Vaughan. Artist credits normalized to the site's format (e.g. "X (ft. Y)" written "X feat. Y").

About this countdown

WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '80s was broadcast by WFPK (Louisville, KY) in March 2026. Positions are shown exactly as the station ranked them; artist and song names have been standardized so that every entry links to that song’s complete chart history across all stations. It counts toward the Indie & Adult Alternative rankings.

Source: WFPK / Louisville Public Media, "WFPK's Top 500 Songs of the 80s".

Spot an error? Suggest a correction.