Top 1982 Songs

Ask anyone who was there, and they'll tell you 1982 was a crazy year. The Lebanon War, America's first lethal injection, even a short-lived recession -- some even consider 1982 the official year disco finally died, ushering in music that helped define the next generation of American music. Here are the Top 1982 Songs (as rated by AOL Radio listeners) covering a vast range of music genres including power jams, new wave, and even hip-hop.

'Eye of the Tiger'

Survivor

The album version of the classic power jam omit the sound of tigers growling, as heard in 'Rocky III.'

iTunes | Lyrics

'1999'

Prince

After performing the song on New Year's Eve 1999, Prince vowed to never again play the song, but broke his word eight years later.

iTunes | Lyrics

'I Love Rock N' Roll'

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

Jett's second recording of the 1982 song was the version that became a hit; the first recording with two members of the Sex Pistols was never released.

iTunes | Lyrics

'I Ran'

A Flock of Seagulls

Keyboardist and lead singer Mike Score claims to resent the song, but continues to play it live because it's so beloved by fans.

iTunes | Lyrics

'I Melt With You'

Modern English

The single gained popularity after being in the '80s film 'Valley Girl,' starring Nicholas Cage. In 1990, the band re-recorded the hit for their album 'Pillow Lips.'

iTunes | Lyrics

'Rock the Casbah'

The Clash

The lyrics borrow from Arabic, Jewish, Urdu, and North African terminology.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Open Arms'

Journey

None other than Britney Spears included this 1982 tune on her '...Baby One More Time Tour' in 1999.

iTunes | Lyrics

'The Message'

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

This familiar-sounding 1982 song -- with a slower beat than most rap songs -- was covered by Puff Daddy on his single, 'Can't Nobody Hold Me Down' from the 1997 album 'No Way Out.'

iTunes | Lyrics

'Hungry Like the Wolf'

Duran Duran

The 1982 song was not initially successful in the U.S., but after the music video -- shot in the jungles of Sri Lanka -- was frequently played on MTV, it hit No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. The following year, the video won the first Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Planet Rock'

Afrika Bambaata & the Soulsonic Force

This 1982 single (capped at 7:31 minutes) was a minor hit in the U.S., but it revolutionized hip-hop, fusing synthesizers and keyboards with rap and influencing later electro-hits (although not rap) Cybotron's 'Clear' and Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit.' The song was also included in their 1986 album 'Planet Rock: The Album,' as shown here.

iTunes | Lyrics

What Songs Moved You In 1982?

Be sure to tell us what your favorite songs from the year 1982 are in the comments section below. Also be sure to check out our list of the Top 1981 Songs and Top 1983 Songs.

Listen to Awesome 80's Radio

Filed under: Best Songs, Top 10 Lists

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. What a load of crap!! in 1982 I was 21 years old and was hitting all the dance clubs from Perth to Rio to Boston and I don't remember neither #3 top or #1 on your list....

Posted at 10:30AM on Feb 13th 2010 by Prowler606

2. great music

Posted at 10:15PM on Feb 18th 2010 by Linda

3. I think they are confusing (C)rap with real music. I never heard of #1 or 3 either.

Posted at 12:04PM on Jun 18th 2010 by eyeball2002308

4. I don't remember them either, maybe it's demographics. I remember these tho..."Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club

Posted at 5:09PM on Jun 28th 2010 by Frances Bleuet

5. As a 34 yr vetran of guitar, & 25 yr instructor #3 or #1 are definetley NOT music. That is the biggest pile of trash anyone has ever tried to shove down my throat. Rap n music in the same sentence is ignorant when talking about music. Yngwie Malmsteen could rap in a month if he choose to do so. ANYONE of the "rappers" will NEVER i mean NEVER play guitar like him, they have a lifetime to do it. Wont happen. Same thing with Joe Satriani they'll never play it. Music what a crock. We cow tow to black people for everything they do, including rap or hip hop trash. What a joke. All because they dont want to take time to do something credible or worth while, PLAY A INSTRUMENT!!!!!

Posted at 2:56PM on Aug 22nd 2010 by Donny

6. I don't know why The Message or Planet Rock would the #3 and #1 songs respectively. Especially Planet Rock. It was a coll track, but when I think of a song from '82 that would be #1, my pick would definitely be either Rosanna or Africa, both by Toto. One of the best American bands from the 80s, no question.

Posted at 4:29AM on Mar 4th 2011 by A.J.

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Off-topic, promotional or otherwise inappropriate comments will be removed.

Top 1982 Songs

What Songs Moved You In 1982?

Follow Us