10 Biggest Rock Songs From Every Year Of The 1980s
These songs made the biggest impact on rock culture in the 1980s.
The 1980s was a great time for pretty much everyone, with the exception of the ozone layer. With the sheer volume of hairspray that was discharged into the atmosphere, it's remarkable there's any of it left.
In particular, the '80s was a good time for music lovers, especially those who love rock. From the rise of hair metal to the birth of thrash, to the early days of indie towards the decade's end, the genre was having a great time, with many songs leaving a huge impact on culture as a whole.
Following the trends of rock music in the '80s is an interesting way of tracking the general music habits of the time. And here, this list will be talking about the most rock impactful song of each year of the decade, starting in 1980 and ending in 1989.
Biggest does not mean best. This is not a list about objective quality, but rather one based on sales figures, chart performances, and anything else that might have made it a big deal at the time. So, get ready to relive a pivotal time in the history of one of music's great sub-sections.
10. 1980: Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2 - Pink Floyd
The first year of the new decade saw plenty of huge albums from the likes of AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, and Queen, but it was actually a song from the previous year that made the biggest impact.
In 1979, Pink Floyd released The Wall, widely regarded as one of their best albums and one of the biggest rock records of all time. Even if you think Floyd are just for stuffy old men, you will have definitely seen this album’s iconic cover, or at least heard of its sort-of-title track.
Another Brick in the Wall is split into three parts on the album, but the section everybody knows is Part 2. That’s the “We don’t need no education” bit, in case you weren’t aware.
This anthemic rallying cry against authority proved so popular, it actually ended 1980 as one of, if not the biggest song of the entire year. It was number one all across the world, including on both sides of the Atlantic, and sold over four million units in total.
Also, it’s absolutely iconic, which has to count for something.