Best songs of the decade: Ten 1980s No. 1 singles that spent the most weeks on Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100 is the United States' popular singles ranking first used in 1958, with Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" as the chart's first No. 1 hit. This chart is the measure of success within the music industry, ranking songs based on physical and digital sales as well as streaming and radio airplay. Each week, the chart is watched to see who will come out on top.

Throughout the years, songs have achieved impressive milestones on the chart, including the Beatles, who hold the title for most No. 1 songs with 20. "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X held the No. 1 spot for 19 weeks, making it the longest-running number-one single.

Below is a list of the 1980s Pop/Rock No. 1 singles that remained on the chart for the most weeks. These songs may have only held the top spot for a week or two, but they remained in the rankings for the most weeks of the decade.

10. "Don't You Want Me" - The Human League

The British synth-pop group The Human League released what would become the band's most successful song in 1981. Featured on their third album, Dare, "Don't You Want Me" would top the charts in the US and UK. The single remained at the top spot for three weeks and on the chart for a total of 28 weeks. The song is considered an 80s anthem and an essential entry during the second British Invasion of the US.

9. "Chariots Of Fire" - Vangelis

The instrumental theme from Hugh Hudson's award-winning, same-titled sports drama, "Chariots Of Fire," was written and recorded by Vangelis, who was a Greek musician and composer. Called "Titles" on the movie's soundtrack, the song is used in the opening sequence of the film and has since been dubbed "Chariots Of Fire." The single, which charted for 28 weeks, would climb to No. 1 after 22 and remains the only Greek artist song to top the US charts.

8. "Keep On Loving You" - REO Speedwagon

"Keep On Loving You" is a ballad by REO Speedwagon that was written by lead singer Kevin Cronin as a traditional love song. The song was the band's first to break into the top 50 on Billboard that would reach No. 1 in March 1981 and it remained on the chart for 30 weeks. "Keep On Loving You" was a soft rock hit whose music video was the 17th played during the premiere day of MTV on August 1, 1981. The record label didn't believe the song was worthy of a single release but the band talked them into it, and it's a good thing they did.

7. "I Love A Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbit

"I Love A Rainy Night" is the second single from Eddie Rabbitt's Horizon album released in 1980. The song reached number one on the Hot Country Singles, Adult Contemporary Singles, and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The single remained at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for 2 weeks and was featured for 29 weeks overall. "I Love A Rainy Night" overtook Dolly Parton's theme song "9 to 5" for the No. 1 spot and was the first time in the history of the Hot 100 that back-to-back "country" songs held the top position.

6. "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Bette Midler

The song "Wind Beneath My Wings" was been recorded several times since 1982 but the most highly acclaimed version was featured in the movie Beaches, in which the singles performer Bette Midler starred. The song was featured on the Hot 100 for 29 weeks, topping the chart for one week in 1989. Midler's version won Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year in February 1990. The song, according to a 2002 UK poll, is the most played at British Funerals.

5. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - Bonnie Tyler

"Total Eclipse Of The Heart" is Bonnie Tyler's career-topping hit. The single, featured on her fifth studio album Faster than the Speed of Light, topped the charts in the UK and the US. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Over the years, Tyler has recorded the single with other performers, including Peter Brocklehurst on his For You album, with the British punk-electric group BabyPink Star, the Welsh choral group Only Men Aloud!, and a classic dance version with German producer Alex Christensen and the Berlin Orchestra.

4. "Upside Down" - Diana Ross

Diana Ross' "Upside Down" was produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic and featured on Ross' eleventh studio album Diana. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100, remaining there for two weeks, and spent a total of 29 weeks on the chart. "Upside Down" also topped Billboard's Disco and Soul charts and reached No. 1 on the single's charts in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland. The single was Ross' best performing as a solo artist since her 1971 "I'm Still Waiting," and was surpassed by her duet with Lionel Richie, "Endless Love," which spent nine weeks in the No. 1 spot.

3. "Celebration" - Kool and the Gang

"Celebration" was featured on R&B, funk, and soul band Kool and the Gang's twelfth album Celebrate! The single, released in 1980, is the band's only No. 1 single on Billboard Hot 100 that was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016. The song remained on the charts for 30 weeks and was also featured on Billboard's R&B chart. The song is frequently used for weddings and parties, and in 1980, Record World called it "One big party hook with cool chorus chants & a boss bass."

It is included in the Disney Pictures animated movie Wreck-it Ralph and often featured at sporting events. In 1982, the song was used as the theme for the World Series-winning St. Louis Cardinals.

2. Another Ones Bites the Dust - Queen

In 1981, Queen released "Another One Bites The Dust," a song written by bassist John Deacon, who was said to be inspired by "Good Times," a song by the disco band Chic. The song held the No. 1 spot on Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and would be the band's second and final number-one single in the US. "Another One Bites The Dust" remained on the Hot 100 for 31 weeks, more than any other song from 1980. It won an American Music Award for Favorite Rock Single and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Throughout the years, the song has been used in many shows, films, and other media and is also a favorite at sporting events.

The No. 1 song from the 1980s - its a tie!

The 1980s featured two songs tied for first place as the longest total number of weeks on the Billboard Pop/Rock charts.

1. "Baby, Come to Me" - Patti Austin with James Ingram

"Baby, Come To Me" was a love ballad featured on Patti's Austin's Every Home Should Have One, which was released in 1982 but wouldn't top the charts until 1983. When first released, "Baby, Come To Me" peaked at No. 73, but months later, the soap opera General Hospital gave the song new life when it was heavily featured as the love song for the character Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary). After a re-released, the song propelled into the No. 1 spot where it remained for two weeks. The song spent a total of 32 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and also hit No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

1. "Jessie's Girl" -Rick Springfield

Australian-American actor turned musician Rick Springfield is fondly remembered for his role as Noah Drake in the Soap Opera General Hospital (1981–83, 2005–08, 2012). He returned to the show in 2012 to celebrate its 50th anniversary and has continued to act throughout his career. In 1981, Springfield released his fifth studio album, Working Class Dog, which featured his only No. 1 hit song, "Jessie's Girl." The single took its time topping the charts — 19 weeks — and remained in the top spot for two weeks. Overall, "Jessie's Girl" remained on the chart for 32 weeks, the longest of any song released in the 1980s.