Top 10 Most Awesome 80s Rock Anthems

These 80s anthems rock! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the 80s rock songs that make us raise our fists and yell! Our countdown of the greatest 80s rock anthems includes “Ace of Spades”, “Paradise City”, “Run to the Hills”, and more! What 1980s rock song pumps YOU up? Let us know in the comments!
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#80s
#Rock
#Anthems
#Music
#Songs
#Bands
#RockAndRoll
#Metal
#1980s

[@WatchMojo]

What 1980s rock song pumps YOU up? Let us know in the comments! For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZjFe6Jrm9p5g9E Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@marcusyates3044]

Where's "We Built This City" and "You Got the Touch"?

[@hollyking2580]

For me, Cum On Feel the Noize by Quiet Riot

[@blutomindpretzel1735]

Poison by Alice Cooper. I mean, come on. That riff is epic.

[@DavidDoom95]

Livin on a Prayer, Kickstart your Heart, Poison, Money for Nothing, Ace of Spades, You give Love a Bad name and Jump

[@michaelmonthey5974]

“I Love Rock N Roll”, “Hell Awaits”, “Raining Blood” and “Eye of the Tiger” get me pumped up a lot.

[@castleanthrax1833]

It's not metal, but I always got pumped to The Kids In America... and I'm not even American. I was just a very young teenager at the time. I guess it's kinda corny now... maybe?

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

Europe's "The Final Countdown" is a masterpiece of 80s rock! How can you not love the wicked guitar solo in that song?

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! For me, it's Bon Jovi all the way. "Slippery When Wet" (1986) and "New Jersey" (1988) are two of my all time favorite rock albums. John Bon Jovi rocks..!! YEAH..!! 🤣

[@WatchMojo]

Thanks for sharing!

[@nataliejones8308]

Im a huge Bon Jovi fan as well. God made me a fan of Bon Jovi when I was born. The first ever song I have heard is livin on a prayer and I love that song.

[@LixTheYT]

Agree

[@michaelmonthey5974]

There are A LOT more than just 10 80s rock anthems.

[@JCR6573]

That's probably why there are 15 on this list

[@ironlungs1970]

Top 10 duh

[@PerezAssassin]

They didn’t say they were just 10, these are the TOP 10

[@michaelmonthey5974]

@@JCR6573 There are plenty more than just the ones that were chosen for this list.

[@castleanthrax1833]

There always is... and there'll always be arguments about which ones make the list. They've made a list, so deal.

[@neil930]

80s best decade for metal and music in general.

[@castleanthrax1833]

Especially if you grew up in that time. I love most eras, but I think the 80s always takes me to a special place. ✌️

[@JamesDavy2009]

Especially in Australia where AC/DC (known locally as Acca Dacca) got its start. We also had Midnight Oil and some true greats from Noiseworks, John Farnham, INXS, Men At Work, Jimmy Barnes, Australian Crawl, Dragon, Icehouse, Pseudo Echo, Crowded House, 1927, Cold Chisel, Choirboys, The Black Sorrows, Mental As Anything, Hunters & Collectors, Rick Springfield and Daryl Braithwaite.

[@miztre83]

Did you see Jon Stevens play at the Cup? He's still got it. Had to explain to the youngins at work who he was lol

[@castleanthrax1833]

@@JamesDavy2009 The Flowers, not Icehouse.

[@harryboyes2812]

Seriously? How can you leave Def Leppard off this list? Lots of their songs from the 80s are anthems, like Animal, Photograph, and especially Hysteria. Now there's a great band. The best in fact.

[@DavidDoom95]

Pour some sugar on me

[@harryboyes2812]

@@DavidDoom95 With or without the gods of war? 😊

[@АлександрНевский-з8ф]

Да согласен.

[@stoots1000]

Huge Def Lep fan...seen them 11 times love since 1988... While not my favorite song of theirs, Pour Some Sugar should be on this

[@oldscoolgaming6700]

Rock n’ roll has the answer to everything. Doesn’t matter what you’re going through, you can find a rock n’ roll song to help out.

[@jazziered142]

I feel like Welcome to the Jungle is a better choice for Guns n' Roses.

[@patrix1959]

"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour. I know it was a "one hit wonder." It was so fresh and unexpected and still hits my ear with a bang everytime I hear it.

[@VJAllison1974]

I think you'd better do a part 2... You forgot "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "I Love Rock N Roll" by Joan Jett, and a lot more...

[@dragonfan2815]

What a near surprise to see Lion in the honourable mentions!🤘😁🤘

[@grayshigami6797]

Many songs were left out Don't Stop Believin - Journey Jump - Van Halen Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

[@robertobuatti7226]

80's hard rock / heavy metal Ruled and it still Rules, epic riffs, catchy melodies and big anthemic memorable tunes. ❤️🤘🎸

[@CashelOConnolly]

I think bands of the 70’s like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple would disagree with you!

[@robertobuatti7226]

@@CashelOConnolly The 80's did everything better, musically there is no comparison to the grandness of the 80's.

[@sav.c.1836]

0:22 Gotta love Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood. 🤟🏿🤟🏿🔥🔥🔥

[@stawkacorp]

"Run to the Hills" was one of two songs that started my love for Iron Maiden! Very deserved second place :D

[@missydehart6920]

As a Gen X’er, this is my kind of list 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@Ryan01224]

Moment of silence for the bands that should have been here like savatage, queensryche, anthrax, Van Halen, dio, Judas priest

[@ThePopCultureCabinet1740]

I surprised and glad Lion gets a mention, they’re an important piece in 80’s Metal and Transformers history

[@jazziered142]

Number one is a great choice, I concur.

[@johnellharris1366]

Man the 80’s was crazy excellent eye of the tiger,jump from Van Halen all those head banging songs makes the blood pump.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

I want to see a video for the Top 20 Metallica Songs.

[@tattales9262]

My man!!

[@yakshakingu]

Finally!!! A list regarding rock that ended as it should. Bravo!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MegaCunnie]

It should be a top 100 tbh.

[@johnosbourn4312]

One of my go to 80's metal tunes is Savatage's Morphine Child.

[@thekidtrey1949]

Honestly could’ve gone multiple GnR songs 😂 welcome to the jungle, Mr brownstone, paradise city, sweet child o mine could all go on this list

[@jlyvren89]

Plenty of songs to pump you up, like "Holy Diver" & "Rainbow in the Dark" by DIO... 🤘😝🤘

[@thewyattmeister59]

Ronnie James Dio is a rock god who’ll forever be missed 🤘🤘

[@longlivedio3498]

best singer to ever live

[@huntermyers3551]

Well for your information I say all of the 1980s rock songs pump me up

[@M_D93]

I always thought You Shook Me All Night Long was the closest thing AC/DC had to a ballad

[@jessicadiazpr]

Poison's Nothing But a Good Time, Cinderella's Shake Me or Gypsy Road, Metallica's Wherever I May Roam. ❤❤❤

[@rmannayr2129]

ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

Cool list and tunes 🎶 😊

[@theclansman6663]

Surprised that "Tom Sawyer" by Rush didn´t even made it to honorable mentions.

[@timerdudestephens1]

80s rock anthem are amazing to listen that entertain us

[@jackiegillies4165]

The whole first Motley album was awesome! Same with GnR!

[@TCPolecat]

Wait... where's the quintessential one, THE Metal Anthem of the 80s: "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Quiet Riot? Seriously, you don't get more iconic than that?!

[@bobcload8943]

Twisted Sister

[@musicsavedme]

How could they pick just 10??? The 80's was defined by epic rock anthems.

[@castleanthrax1833]

Time limitations. Statistics show that many people won't watch longer videos.

[@LNSmithee]

😒 This list was already suspect IMHO with “You Shook Me” getting the nod over “Hell’s Bells” and “Paradise City” over “Welcome To The Jungle,” but the last second suggestion of Robert Tepper’s blink-and-you-missed-it hit “There’s No Easy Way Out” (13:39) as belonging in this video establishes it: Whoever put this list together must have consulted SparkNotes 🙄

[@castleanthrax1833]

It's a personal opinion.

[@raccoonchops]

I was born in 2002, but my dad was obsessed with AC/DC and loved blasting 80's hits out the car window dropping me off at school, so growing up I learned how to make cassette Mixtapes and CD Mixtapes, because that's what my dad always had. If I were to pull out a box of those that I made you would find a lot of Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Anthrax, Guns n' Roses, Metallica, etc... I was born in the wrong era for good music, I can't get down with the new crap like I can with a good 80's thrash metal / hard rock anthem. No matter how long I listen to the classics, I never grow bored of it, and I can always find something I haven't listened to that I vibe with.

[@nataliejones8308]

Im 4 years younger than you and I couldn’t agree more. I was born in the wrong generation because this generation sucks (with TikTok, you name it) and because of the good music as well.

[@cheewinilife2631]

Finally Scorpions 😊❤

[@Moparguy99-d8z]

Bang your head by quiet riot is one of my favorites and there are so many more that are not on this list 😫

[@jasonbean2764]

The honorable mention set are the only ones I like.

[@emmahartvig9966]

Even if it’s an honorable mention at least Dokken is on a list for once. They’re so underrated

[@CptnWolfe]

They mentioned Dokken in the "Top 10 Hard Rock and Heavy Metal instrumentals", and I think "Top 20 hardest songs to play on guitar" as well

[@--Canon--]

Panama? Van Halen?......Hello?....

[@jessicadiazpr]

Another great songs are Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" and "Still of the Night"

[@christophermerlot3366]

You seriously did this without 'You Got Another Thing Coming' by Judas Priest? Or 'Tom Sawyer' by Rush?

[@Kylor80sMetalFan]

Back when music was real! 🤘😎🎸🤘

[@jaredquinney204]

What a bunch of legendary songs

[@weldonwichman2621]

No love for "Turn Up The Radio" by Autograph??

[@Leviathan_1.0]

This should have been top 20, even that it wouldn't have been enough lol

[@ThomasVSGyldborg]

I wonder why Def Leppards "Pour Some Sugar On Me" is not included in this list.

[@archphaeton2632]

Ace of Spades should have been top tbh. Outside USA it's hella more iconic than most of the others.

[@paulbyrne7617]

As somone who grew up in the 80's, it was the best decade for music, and has been beaten since. 80's rock and metal was and is still the best

[@gogonog]

ac/dc should have been for those about to rock !

[@castleanthrax1833]

​@@p-__Close your mouth and stop farting.

[@bobcload8943]

I figured You’ve Got Another Thing Coming by Judas Priest would make the list. Honestly, there are so many choices.

[@castleanthrax1833]

They could've made a top 300 and still left some great songs off the list. ✌️

[@NaLu_85]

Way to much greatness compared to the "crappy" music of this generation (my opinion)

[@jimschleich8753]

Take your meds and be nice to the nurse grandpa.

[@NaLu_85]

@@jimschleich8753 I'd rather listen to Metal Health by Quiet Riot than any of the new "popular" songs like "W.A.P"

[@castleanthrax1833]

Too*

[@jimschleich8753]

@@NaLu_85 agreed. I was just giving you the business based on the phrasing of your comment.

[@metalabsynth]

I Wanna Rock??? This list isn't what it should be...

[@BearInterrupted]

Listens to Zero the Hero ... wow exact same riff, exact same riff just sped up haha

[@Nothingness00000-o]

Crazy Train is good because the usual doomfully thoughtful Ozzy, was positively thoughtful, if not as 'deep', as the darker stuff, still a positive message for humanity is a good thing. Plus, man, what a riff!🤘❤. As for Run to the Hills, WatchMojo, it would be best to research into the meaning behind some songs, as Iron Maidens Run to the Hills is about Europeans coming to your shores, from the perspective of YOUR OWN NATIVE AMERICANS! Seen through the lens of some metal music band a few hundred years later. This song has meaning, sorry/not sorry.

[@flashback6964]

Solid on the call out to Lion for the Transformers Movie theme song... my 10 yo self agrees ❤

[@OutOfAmmoOutOfTime]

Ahhhh. I was going to sat Stargazer by Rainbow….but that was late 70s…..ah well…..

[@IndlalifaSkosana]

White wedding by Billy Idol and Cult of personality by Living Colour What did i miss??

[@williamtheodorekoch633]

Judas Priest- Screaming For Vengeance , Got a Another Thing Coming , Freewheel Burning ANTHRAX- Among The Living & Madhouse. OVERKILL- Wrecking Crew & Hello Fron The Gutter. WASP - all WASP , Last Command , Inside The Electric Circus , The Headless Children.

[@ND-OPS]

90s rock anthem please!

[@thekidtrey1949]

You missed the mark with master of puppets, watch mojo. Sure I’m happy with it at 1 but you missed the best part of the song. The beat switch and breakdown leading into the iconic James Hetfield riff and solo. So melodic and gorgeous. Then how it picks up and leads into Kirks crazy solo.

[@MaximilianKeller-ob1lc]

Skid Row and Iron Maiden are my favorite

[@phlegethon666]

I said master of puppets as soon as I started watching as a laugh I swear to god, WTAF 🤣😂🤣

[@cliffcorson4000]

The first time I heard "Ace of Base" was this video

[@FlashoftheBlades]

How “I Wanna Be Somebody” by W.A.S.P didn’t even get an honorable mention is a total travesty. We need a Part 2!

[@carmensandiego3691]

When I was 13 my friends and I would draw the sneaker with the flames and write youth gone wild on our arms with permanent marker

[@z-trainthedragon4725]

Ozzy Osbourne Crazy Train probably the greatest of all time, yes even Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Motorhead, AC/DC, Guns n Rose, and more of my favorites

[@johnpodger8507]

We're Not Gonna Take It didn't make this list? What a shame.

[@Landminegoes]

Thank Thor you didn't let young deuces voice this list

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

He's a great narrator. It took me a few of his voiceovers to warm up to his style, but his intros always put a smile on my face.

[@Landminegoes]

@@Jeremiah_Rivers76 I can't stand his voice. It sounds lite someone is rubbing sandpaper in my ears.

[@evanmoorhead114]

Shocked that; Paradise City was chosen over Welcome to the Jungle Dr. Feelgood was chosen over Kickstart my heart Shook me all night long was chosen over Back in Black.

[@konraddygudaj257]

🤘🥁🎸

[@jbucktheman]

Why isn’t Def Leppard anywhere on this list?

[@andrewpappas9311]

I’m genuinely surprised I Love Rock & Roll, Eye of the Tiger or even Beat It didn’t make it

[@alexandrenikolov6227]

"Breaking The Law" - enough said ...

[@DavidDoom95]

Could you do Top 10 2000s Rock Anthems?

[@MegaBadseed]

Living on a Prayer and Rocket

[@cristianodorsi2288]

"My nasty reputation takes me everywhere..." (Youth Gone Wild)

[@michaelmonthey5974]

I disagree with anyone who says “Crazy Train” isn’t Ozzy’s best song. It is!

[@fuelledbylattes]

I have a particular love for Poison, and Hell Is Living Without You, but DAMN, Crazy Train is so good.

[@bobb6313]

I’d go with Mr Crowley.

[@stoots1000]

He has many better songs

[@Hayley.a]

Randy makes it so good!!

[@dwainsimmons3447]

The touch

[@rjc7289]

"We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister should've made this list.

[@joshuabrooks4907]

Kiss' "Heaven's on fire" should be on this list.

[@Maxgomez3]

The Wraith 😢

[@jimschleich8753]

A great missed opportunity for a killer Rick Roll!! "And at number one..........[Rick Astley sings] 'Never gonna GIVE YOU UP........'"

[@mccuish]

This needed to be a top 20 since you're missing too many songs

[@tiyotiyo8510]

Skid row👍👍👍

[@martinbaker1609]

I was surprised that Balls to the Wall by Accept wasn't on the list.

[@kkplayrush]

Would probably swap out Megadeth and add Judas Priest You got another thing comin'

[@MindTravelsChannel]

Tom Sawyer?

[@medmac2112]

Or The Spirit of Radio!

[@billcurtis1157]

So you can cover the 90's and 2000's also 2010's in other videos.

[@dw89music73]

Surprised that "Livin' On A Prayer" isn't on this list.

[@jenniferthompson3340]

Bon Scoott, lead singer of Slaughter

[@jorgeadairramos7469]

Hello good afternoon

[@WatchMojo]

Good night

[@TheMsfriedman]

Where in the hell are the Beastie Boys Fight For Your Right? That the most 80s anthem ever!!!

[@antoniobotello4996]

Bad reputation, We're not going to take it and come on feel the noise also where the great ones 😊

[@Tomkrup97]

No "Pour some sugar on me"? OK...

[@travsam]

And where is Bon Jovi? Bruce Springsteen? At least Living on a Prayer and Born in the USA? Should be here. This list does not rock enough!!