(Finished February 11th, 2026) Part 12 of Rolling Stone’s 200 Best Songs of the 80s: Songs 41-31

Hello,

Rolling Stone has released another Top 200 Best 80s songs list. I’m going to post the songs from 200 to 1 and review each song. Is it worthy of it’s ranking, is it too high and is it too low. I’m not a big fan of Rolling Stone’s rankings as they include songs that I’ve never heard of or songs that were only popular to a very select group of people. My Top 200 80s songs would look completely different.

With MTV at its peak and radio stations playing multiple genres back in the day, if I hadn’t heard a song then it’s truly obscure-looking at The Minutemen. I will also post other 80s songs by the bands mentioned.

From one of the most iconic music festivals in the history of the world, Live Aid. 41) U2 “Bad (Live)” (From the CD “Wide Awake In America”):

This song is not even close to being in the same neighborhood as “Let’s Get It On”. 40) Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing”:

Clash songs that would have fit much better here include the great “Train In Vain”, “London Calling”, “This Is Radio Clash”, “Rock The Casbah”, “Should I Stay Or Go” and “Rudie Don’t Fail”. All of those songs are much better than this track.

39) The Clash “Spanish Bombs”:

Bonus songs, all are by The Clash:

“London Calling”:

“Rudie Can’t Fall”:

“This Is Radio Clash”:

“Rock The Casbah”:

“Should I Stay Or Should I Go”:

“Train In Vain (Stand By Me)”:

No doubt one of the great songs of the 1980s. 38) Rick James “Super Freak”:

37) Culture Club “Karma Chameleon”:

36) Neneh Cherry “Buffalo Stance”:

Bonus songs: Miss Cherry’s “So Here I Come”:

Neneh Cherry “Kisses On My Wind”:

35) David Bowie “Ashes To Ashes”:

“Let’s Dance”:

“Modern Love”:

“Blue Jean”:

“New York’s In Love”:

This is a good song, but in no way does it belong at #34 in the Top 200 Songs of the 80s. I don’t think it even belongs in the Top 2000 songs of the 80s. The fact that I had never heard this song before today shows how obscure it is.

Who? What? Why? 34) The Minuteman “This Ain’t No Picnic”: