The Ultimate 1980s Bracket
Sixteen of the biggest songs of the 1980s go head to head. Pick a winner in every match, crown your champion, then submit to see how everyone else voted.
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How the seeds were chosen
The year-end No. 1s of the 1980s are the top seeds, in order of year, followed by each year's No. 2, then No. 3, until there are sixteen different songs. Seed 1 plays seed 16, seed 8 plays seed 9, and so on, as in a sports tournament. ▶ plays a 30-second preview, so you can settle a tough match by ear.
| Seed | Song | Artist | Year-end finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call Me | Blondie | No. 1 of 1980 |
| 2 | Bette Davis Eyes | Kim Carnes | No. 1 of 1981 |
| 3 | Physical | Olivia Newton-John | No. 1 of 1982 |
| 4 | Every Breath You Take | The Police | No. 1 of 1983 |
| 5 | When Doves Cry | Prince | No. 1 of 1984 |
| 6 | Careless Whisper | Wham! | No. 1 of 1985 |
| 7 | That's What Friends Are For | Dionne and Friends | No. 1 of 1986 |
| 8 | Walk Like An Egyptian | The Bangles | No. 1 of 1987 |
| 9 | Faith | George Michael | No. 1 of 1988 |
| 10 | Look Away | Chicago | No. 1 of 1989 |
| 11 | Another Brick In The Wall | Pink Floyd | No. 2 of 1980 |
| 12 | Endless Love | Diana Ross and Lionel Richie | No. 2 of 1981 |
| 13 | Eye Of The Tiger | Survivor | No. 2 of 1982 |
| 14 | Billie Jean | Michael Jackson | No. 2 of 1983 |
| 15 | What's Love Got To Do With It | Tina Turner | No. 2 of 1984 |
| 16 | Like A Virgin | Madonna | No. 2 of 1985 |