The 100 Best Workout Songs from the '80s

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Today, I am happy to deliver the mother of all '80s music lists: 100 awesome '80s hits that are perfect for exercising.

There's a lot of variety here, from dance and pop hits to a little rap and rock. These are truly the best '80s workout songs of all time.

After I created this top 100 list, I asked members of SparkPeople.com, America's #1 weight loss and fitness website, to vote on their favorites, too. Find out which song took the top spot and whether your favorites made the list, and how you can download a brand new 60-minute cardio workout mix of the top 15 songs (as voted on by exercisers like you)!

Go ahead and make a new mixtape--er, I mean update your iPod or mp3 player--with a blast from the past using these "made in the '80s" tunes next time you exercise.

No. 1 Workout Song from the '80s:

Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1983)

No. 2: Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot (1980)
No. 3:  Survivor – Eye of the Tiger (1982)
No. 4: The B-52's – Love Shack (1989)
No. 5: Michael Jackson – Beat It (1982)
No. 6: Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer (1986)
No. 7: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock N' Roll (1982)
No. 8: Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)
No. 9: Van Halen – Jump (1984)
No. 10: Journey – Don't Stop Believin' (1982)
No. 11: Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine (1983)
No. 12: Prince – Kiss (1986)
No. 13: Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal (1987)
No. 14: Kool and the Gang – Celebration (1980)
No. 15: Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (1983)



Download SparkPeople's 132-BPM 60-minute continuous cardio remix of the 15 most popular 1980s workout songs on iTunes for $9.99, or at amazon.com for just $8.99!

Here's the rest of the list (in alphabetic order). Click on each link to listen to a preview (or purchase the mp3) at amazon.com.

A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran (So Far Away) (1982)
a-ha – Take On Me (1985)
The Bangles – Manic Monday (1986)
Billy Idol – Mony Mony (1981)
Billy Idol – White Wedding (1981) (1982)
Blondie – The Tide is High (1980)
Bobby Brown – My Prerogative (1988)
The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star (1981)
Cameo – Word Up! (1986)
The Cars – Shake It Up (1981)
Culture Club – I'll Tumble 4 Ya (1982)
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon (1983)
The Cure – Just Like Heaven (1987)
David Bowie – Let's Dance (1983)
David Bowie – Modern Love (1983)
Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (1985)
Depeche Mode – Just Can't Get Enough (1981)
Depeche Mode – People Are People (1987)
Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy (1984)
Duran Duran – Girls on Film (1981)
Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf (1982)
Duran Duran – Rio (1982)
Eddie Money – Take Me Home Tonight (1986)
Eddy Grant – Electric Avenue (1983)
Erasure – A Little Respect (1988)
Falco – Rock Me Amadeus (1986)
Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Relax (1983)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Two Tribes (1984)
The Gap Band – You Dropped a Bomb on Me (1982)
George Michael – Faith (1987)
The Go-Go's – Our Lips Are Sealed (1981)
The Go-Go's – Vacation (1982)
The Go-Go's – We Got The Beat (1981)
Grandmaster Flash – The Message (1982
Guns N' Roses – Paradise City (1987)
Guns N' Roses – Sweet Child O' Mine (1987)
Guns N' Roses – Welcome to the Jungle (1987)
Janet Jackson – Control (1986)
Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation
Kenny Loggins – Footloose (1984)
Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen (1982)
Madness – Our House (1982)
Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride (1983)
Madonna – Borderline (1983)
Madonna – Holiday (1983)
Madonna – Into the Groove (1985)
Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989)
Madonna – Lucky Star (1983)
Madonna – Material Girl (1984)
Madonna – Papa Don't Preach (1986)
Men At Work – Down Under (1981)
Michael Jackson – Bad (1987)
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (1982)
Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (1982)
Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (1982)
Motley Crue – Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
Naked Eyes – Always Something There to Remind Me (1983)
New Kids on the Block – Hangin' Tough (1988)
New Kids on the Block – You Got It (The Right Stuff) (1988)
New Order – Blue Monday (1982)
Pat Benatar – Love is a Battlefield (1983)
Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl (1988)
Paula Abdul – Opposites Attract (1988)
Philipp Bailey ft. Phil Collins – Easy Lover (1985)
Prince – 1999 (1982)
R.E.M. – It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) (1987)
R.E.M. – Orange Crush (1988)
R.E.M. – Stand (1988)
Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up (1987)
Rob Base – It Takes Two (1988)
Sammy Hagar – I Can't Drive 55 (1985)
Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane (1984)
Shannon – Let the Music Play (1983)
Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life (1984)
Soft Cell – Tainted Love (1981)
Talking Heads – Burning Down the House (1984)
Technotronic – Pump Up the Jam (1989)
Tone-Loc – Wild Thing (1989)
Toni Basil – Mickey (1982)
U2 – New Year's Day (1983)
U2 – Pride (In the Name of Love) (1988)
U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983)
Van Halen – Hot for Teacher (1984)
Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun (1983)
Wham – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (1984)
Yaz – Situation (1983)

You might also like our 100 most motivating songs of all-time.

Are any of your '80s favorites missing from this list? Share them below!