Top 1986 Songs

1986 started off with a bang, literally, when the Challenger exploded on its way out to space. There were tough times, but Americans put the pieces together with a little help from their musical and celebrity idols during Hands Across America, which featured everyone from Michael Jackson to 54 Elvis Presley impersonators to Chewbacca (along with seven million others), holding hands in a human chain across the United States. Americans were also joined together by their love for music, in a year where not only '80s hair metal ruled, but also the love for a good sweeping ballad. According to AOL Radio listeners, a song featured in a John Hughes' flick was their favorite in 1986. Check out that number one pick and the rest of the 10 Best 1986 Songs below.

'West End Girls'

Pet Shop Boys

With lyrics inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Waste Land,' the 1986 song was heavily influenced by hip-hop and was written in an attempt to "make a rap record in a British accent."

iTunes | Lyrics

'These Dreams'

Heart

Originally written for Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, 'These Dreams' was scooped by my recently signed Heart and became their first No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1986.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Take Me Home Tonight'

Eddie Money

This 1986 song features Ronnie Spector from The Ronnettes, who sings the chorus 'Be My Baby' after Money croons, "just like Ronnie said."

iTunes | Lyrics

'In Your Eyes'

Peter Gabriel

This song was used in the 1989 Cameron Crowe film, 'Say Anything,' during an iconic scene where John Cusack's character Lloyd Dobbler holds a boombox over his head, playing the song for his ex-girlfriend. This scene has become pop-culture cliché, used repeatedly as an example for true romance.

iTunes | Lyrics

'You Give Love a Bad Name'

Bon Jovi

Written by Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child, the song was originally written for the band Loverboy, but instead was released as the first single on Bon Jovi's 'Slippery When Wet,' resulting in their first number one hit.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Take My Breath Away'

Berlin

As the title track in the 1986 Tom Cruise flick, 'Top Gun,' this song won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Your Love'

The Outfield

'Your Love' has been covered by everyone from punk/ska band, Less Than Jake to hip-hop artist Eve.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Walk This Way'

Run-D.M.C.

Considered to be a game-changer in music, 'Walk This Way' is one of the songs that revolutionized the hybrid musical genre now called, "rap rock" -- combining hip-hop and rock.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Livin' on a Prayer'

Bon Jovi

One of their biggest hits, Bon Jovi has referred back to 'Livin' on a Prayer' in subsequent tracks including, '99 in the Shade', 'Fear', and 'It's My Life' -- which included the lyric, "for Tommy and Gina, who never backed down."

iTunes | Lyrics

'If You Leave'

Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark

The band known as OMD (for short) recorded 'If You Leave' for the soundtrack to John Hughes' flick, 'Pretty in Pink,' where it played during the film's final scene. It hit number four on the U.S. charts in 1986 but was practically ignored in the band's hometown of England, where it only reached No.48.

iTunes | Lyrics