Some of the greatest songs of all time were released in 1987, making it a watershed moment in music history – Top 100 songs of 1987. From pop to rock to R&B, the music of 1987 captured the sounds and moods of the moment. The songs represented the political and social mood of the day, with topics ranging from love and heartache to war and politics.
In this article, we’ve created a list of the top 100 songs from 1987. We carefully chose these songs based on their popularity, critical praise, and long-term impact on music. Whether you enjoy old rock, pop, or R&B, this compilation offers something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a nostalgic journey through the music that defined 1987.
1. I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME) by Whitney Houston
2. ALONE by Heart
3. NOTHING’S GONNA STOP US NOW by Starship
4. HERE I GO AGAIN by Whitesnake
5. SHAKEDOWN by Bob Seger
6. DON’T DREAM IT’S OVER by Crowded House
7. LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER by Bon Jovi
8. LA BAMBA by Los Lobos
9. ALWAYS by Atlantic Starr
10. C’EST LA VIE by Robbie Nevil
11. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by U2
12. LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE by Jody Watley
13. AT THIS MOMENT by Billy Vera and the Beaters
14. SHAKE YOU DOWN by Gregory Abbott
15. I WANT YOUR SEX by George Michael
16. HEAD TO TOE by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
17. I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR by U2
18. DIDN’T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL by Whitney Houston
19. ONLY IN MY DREAMS by Debbie Gibson
20. THE LADY IN RED by Chris de Burgh
21. OPEN YOUR HEART by Madonna
22. HEART AND SOUL by T’Pau
23. WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN by The Bangles
24. KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF by Georgia Satellites
25. LOST IN EMOTION by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
26. (I JUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS by Cutting Crew
27. LEAN ON ME by Club Nouveau
28. I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING (FOR ME) by Aretha Franklin and George Michael
29. JACOB’S LADDER by Huey Lewis and the News
30. YOU KEEP ME HANGIN’ ON by Kim Wilde
31. LAND OF CONFUSION by Genesis
32. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
33. CONTROL by Janet Jackson
34. I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW by Tiffany
35. I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU by Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett
36. U GOT THE LOOK by Prince
37. TOUCH ME (I WANT YOUR BODY) by Samantha Fox
38. MONY MONY by Billy Idol
39. WHO’S THAT GIRL by Madonna
40. NOTORIOUS by Duran Duran
41. I HEARD A RUMOUR by Bananarama
42. LITTLE LIES by Fleetwood Mac
43. CAUSING A COMMOTION by Madonna
44. IN TOO DEEP by Genesis
45. YOU GOT IT ALL by The Jets
46. SONGBIRD by Kenny G
47. LUKA by Suzanne Vega
48. DON’T MEAN NOTHING by Richard Marx
49. CARRIE by Europe
50. DON’T DISTURB THIS GROOVE by The System
51. WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME? by Chicago
52. SIGN O’ THE TIMES by Prince
53. LA ISLA BONITA by Madonna
54. COME GO WITH ME by Exposé
55. LET’S WAIT AWHILE by Janet Jackson
56. BAD by Michael Jackson
57. CHANGE OF HEART by Cyndi Lauper
58. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE by Bon Jovi
59. MANDOLIN RAIN by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
60. CAN’T WE TRY by Dan Hill featuring Vonda Shepard
61. SOMEDAY by Glass Tiger
62. EVERYBODY HAVE FUN TONIGHT by Wang Chung
63. WHEN SMOKEY SINGS by ABC
64. CASANOVA by LeVert
65. RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
66. LET ME BE THE ONE by Exposé
67. THE FINER THINGS by Steve Winwood
68. BREAKOUT by Swing Out Sister
69. ROCK STEADY by The Whispers
70. THE WAY IT IS by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
71. TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT by Genesis
72. BIG TIME by Peter Gabriel
73. DIAMONDS by Herb Alpert
74. POINT OF NO RETURN by Exposé
75. HEAT OF THE NIGHT by Bryan Adams
76. SOMETHING SO STRONG by Crowded House
77. IS THIS LOVE by Survivor
78. BIG LOVE by Fleetwood Mac
79. MIDNIGHT BLUE by Lou Gramm
80. JUST TO SEE HER by Smokey Robinson
81. NOTHING’S GONNA CHANGE MY LOVE FOR YOU by Glenn Medeiros
82. BRILLIANT DISGUISE by Bruce Springsteen
83. VICTORY by Kool & the Gang
84. RESPECT YOURSELF by Bruce Willis
85. DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY by Huey Lewis and the News
86. WHO WILL YOU RUN TO by Heart
87. CROSS MY BROKEN HEART by The Jets
88. RIGHT ON TRACK by Breakfast Club
89. BALLERINA GIRL by Lionel Richie
90. (I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
91. PAPER IN FIRE by John Cougar Mellencamp
92. STAND BY ME by Ben E. King
93. FUNKYTOWN by Pseudo Echo
94. (YOU GOTTA) FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT (TO PARTY!) by Beastie Boys
95. IT’S A SIN by Pet Shop Boys
96. MEET ME HALF WAY by Kenny Loggins
97. WAR by Bruce Springsteen
98. LET’S GO by Wang Chung
99. LOVE YOU DOWN by Ready for the World
100. WIPE OUT by Fat Boys & the Beach Boys
