10 Best-Selling Singles of the 80s: The Ultimate British Chart Countdown
- Robbie - ChattingTracks
- Jul 19
- 18 min read
Note that the 80s produced some of the best-selling singles ever. This was the decade when charity singles soared, synth-pop dominated, and million-copy sales became a reality.
The 80s created some of the most enduring hits in British chart history. Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' topped the UK charts and became the decade's best-selling single. This masterpiece stands as the second biggest-selling single in UK history with over 3.83 million copies sold. The single achieved an incredible feat by selling over a million copies in its first week.
The UK music scene's biggest hits showed remarkable success. Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Relax' reached second place with 2.08 million copies, and Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' moved 1.92 million units. Stevie Wonder's 'I Just Called To Say I Love You' secured third position with UK sales of 1.88 million. Jennifer Rush made history with 'The Power of Love' and became the UK's first female artist to achieve a million-selling single.
The 80s' best-selling songs created more than commercial success - they defined an era. Culture Club's 'Karma Chameleon' dominated the UK charts for three consecutive weeks. New Order's 'Blue Monday' achieved legendary status despite never reaching number one.
This top 100 songs countdown from the UK's 80s will showcase the chart-toppers that defined a generation. Ready for some serious nostalgia? Let's take a closer look!
"At the time, it didn't seem a very big deal. I think most people that turned up that day were really surprised when they saw all the cameras and everything – I was." — George Michael, Singer-songwriter, member of Wham! and solo artist, one of the best-selling British musicians of the 1980s
The most remarkable phenomenon in 1980s music sits at the top of any legitimate singles chart. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure created what became more than just one of the best selling singles of the 80s. They established a cultural milestone that changed how we approach charity fundraising forever.
Song background
Bob Geldof watched a BBC News report by Michael Buerk about the devastating Ethiopian famine. The Boomtown Rats frontman felt he had to do something. Traditional fundraising didn't seem enough, so he reached out to Ultravox's Midge Ure with a bold idea to create a charity supergroup. Together they wrote "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for famine relief.
SARM Studios in Notting Hill became the gathering place for an extraordinary group of British and Irish musical stars on November 25, 1984. The entire recording took just 24 hours and brought together music giants like Bono, George Michael, Sting, Boy George, Phil Collins, members of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Bananarama. Many artists got just days' notice yet showed up without hesitation, making this session truly special.
Chart performance of Do They Know It's Christmas?
The single's success exceeded everyone's expectations. Released on December 3, 1984, it shot to UK number one and stayed there for five straight weeks, becoming that year's Christmas number one. The song broke records by selling a million copies in its first week. This made it the fastest-selling UK single in history at that time—a record that stood until Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997".
UK sales went past three million copies by the end of 1984. The song ended up selling 3.8 million copies in the UK, making it the second best-selling single in British chart history. The song topped charts in 13 other countries. American airplay was limited, yet it reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 while outselling the official number one by four to one.
Cultural impact of Do They Know It's Christmas?
This charity single changed everything. It raised £8 million for Ethiopian famine relief in just twelve months—far beyond what Geldof imagined. The song also sparked many other charity singles, especially USA for Africa's "We Are the World".
The song showed how entertainment could help humanitarian causes, which led to Live Aid in 1985 and later, Comic Relief. All the same, critics pointed out problems with how the song portrayed Africa, saying it painted an oversimplified picture of a continent always in crisis.
Legacy of Do They Know It's Christmas?
Forty years after its original release, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" remains powerful. Artists have recorded it three more times: in 1989, 2004, and 2014, each version tackling different crises. The Band Aid Charitable Trust has now raised over £150 million for various African causes.
The original version returns to the charts every Christmas, still generating money for charity. A new "Ultimate Mix" came out in 2024 for the 40th anniversary, combining vocals from the 1984, 2004, and 2014 versions. People still debate its message, but nobody can deny its charitable effect. As Geldof said, "this little pop song has kept hundreds of thousands if not millions of people alive".
The second entry on our countdown showcases what might be the most controversial chart success in British music history. Frankie Goes to Hollywood's debut single "Relax" didn't just sell records—it sparked moral panic, stood up to censorship, and changed the landscape of mainstream radio forever.
Song background
Holly Johnson wrote "Relax" during a brisk walk along the central reservation of Princes Avenue in Toxteth in winter 1982. His vision blended punk and disco into something fresh and edgy during politically charged times.
The Liverpool quintet signed with producer Trevor Horn's ZTT Records in 1983, but faced an unexpected hurdle. Horn wasn't happy with their playing skills. "Trevor didn't like the band's standard of playing as he couldn't sync it to his machinery". He brought in session musicians and innovative technology, including the Fairlight sampler, to create the final version.
The band claimed "Relax" was about "motivation" during its release. Bassist Mark O'Toole later came clean—the song "really was about shagging". The lyrics "when you want to come" made it clear—this was "a guide to delaying ejaculation".
Cultural impact of Relax
"Relax" emerged during a conservative wave in British society. Margaret Thatcher had just won the 1983 election promoting "Victorian values." The song's bold sexuality challenged these establishment norms head-on.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood broke new ground with their openness about sexuality. Both frontman Holly Johnson and backing vocalist Paul Rutherford were openly gay—something rare in 1980s pop. Their fetish wear performances and provocative marketing pushed mainstream boundaries even further.
MTV and the BBC banned the original music video for its "simulated sodomy" and fetish scenes. The ban only made people more curious. Aberdeen's One Up record store reported: "Banning the record seems to have created an air of mystery about it. We have had people coming in asking to hear the record to find out what all the fuss is about".
Legacy of Relax
"Relax" stands tall as a defining 1980s anthem forty years later. The Guardian captured its significance: "at a pivotal, deeply conservative time in Britain's history, their crowning glory was what they brought out of the shadows and thrust into the light".
The song's influence reached beyond music. "Frankie Say RELAX" T-shirts became a cultural phenomenon. Trevor Horn's production techniques, especially his Fairlight sampler use, transformed music production. Gary Numan said the song "plunged me into a pit of despair... the production was so good, the sounds so classy that it seemed to move the entire recording business up a gear".
"Relax" lives on in films, TV shows, and radio playlists. Rolling Stone ranked it the 123rd greatest dance song ever in 2022. Billboard placed it as the 35th-greatest "LGBTQ+
Our third entry stands as one of the most resilient songs in British chart history. Wham!'s "Last Christmas" tells a remarkable story of patience that paid off - a holiday classic took almost 40 years to reach its rightful place at the top of the Christmas charts.
Song background
The creation of "Last Christmas" happened on a regular Sunday afternoon in February 1984. George Michael sat watching football at his parents' house when inspiration hit the 21-year-old songwriter. Andrew Ridgeley remembers how Michael rushed upstairs to his old bedroom and came back with the basic structure of what would become a Christmas classic. The song was recorded at London's Advision Studios that August. Michael played every single instrument himself, from the LinnDrum machine to the sleigh bells. The track came out on December 3, 1984, as a double A-side with "Everything She Wants". This release reflected Michael's artistic freedom after breaking free from a limiting record contract earlier that year.
Chart performance of Last Christmas
The song's first release saw it stuck at number two for five straight weeks in the UK singles chart. Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (which also featured Michael) kept it from the top spot. The song became known as the UK's highest-selling single that never reached number one. The track made its way into the UK Top 40 fifteen times and reached the Top 10 six times. The breakthrough finally came on New Year's Day 2021 - more than 36 years after its release - when "Last Christmas" hit number one. December 2023 brought its biggest triumph as it secured the Christmas number one spot, completing the longest journey ever to Christmas number one (39 years). The song made history again in 2024 by becoming the first track to achieve back-to-back Christmas number ones.
Cultural impact of Last Christmas
Wham! followed Michael's Band Aid contribution by donating all "Last Christmas" royalties to Ethiopian famine relief. The song has become part of Christmas tradition, as essential as mince pies and turkey during the holiday season. Its popularity crosses generations. Until 2011, it held the title of most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK, before "Fairytale of New York" took over. Artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Whigfield, Crazy Frog, and Billie Piper have created their own versions of this classic.
Legacy of Last Christmas
The song's 40th anniversary in 2024 brought special limited-edition releases on CD and various 12" vinyl pressings. Its success keeps growing - four billion audio streams, one billion video views, and six-times Platinum status in both UK and USA. Sales figures from December 2023 show 1.93 million physical copies and downloads sold, making it the UK's eighth best-selling single ever. BBC documented this amazing success story in "WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped," showing how George Michael and Andrew
Stevie Wonder broke new ground as the first American artist to appear in our top 80s UK countdown. His ballad grabbed the fourth spot and became his biggest commercial hit, though it sparked mixed reactions from critics and fans.
Song background
"I Just Called to Say I Love You" came from the soundtrack of the 1984 comedy film "The Woman in Red," with Gene Wilder and Kelly LeBrock. Wonder took complete control of the song - writing, producing, and playing every instrument on the recording. The track showed a softer, more commercial side of Wonder's talent that was different from his funk-driven classics of the 1970s. The song's creation seemed straightforward until songwriters Lloyd Chiate and Lee Garrett claimed Wonder had stolen their idea. Wonder ended up winning the legal battle.
Chart performance of I Just Called to Say I Love You
The single's success was nothing short of phenomenal. The song climbed to number one in the UK on 8th September 1984 and stayed there for six straight weeks. This became Wonder's only solo UK chart-topper. Its popularity spread across the globe, reaching the top spot in 19 countries. The American charts saw the song dominate three different categories at once—the Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and R&B charts—for three weeks. The track became Motown Records' highest-selling single in UK history, with sales reaching about 1.88 million copies.
Cultural impact of I Just Called to Say I Love You
The song's achievements went beyond chart success. Wonder received both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. His Oscar acceptance speech struck a powerful chord when he dedicated the award to Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned in South Africa at the time. The South African government reacted by banning all Wonder's music from radio airplay. This pushed him to speak out more against apartheid.
Legacy of I Just Called to Say I Love You
The song remains Wonder's top-selling single worldwide after four decades, though opinions about its artistic value still divide people. Critics and some fans call it too sentimental and commercial. Jack Black's character in "High Fidelity" dismissed it as "sentimental, tacky crap". In spite of that, Wonder has stood by the song throughout his career and performs it regularly in concert. The song continues to strike a chord with listeners as a pure expression of love, showing how a simple message can leave a lasting mark.
Our countdown of best selling singles of the 80s reaches its midpoint with a true underdog story. Chicago rock band Survivor struggled with two unsuccessful albums and nearly lost their record deal before "Eye of the Tiger" launched them to global fame.
Song background
An unexpected Hollywood connection sparked the creation of "Eye of the Tiger." Sylvester Stallone reached out to Survivor in 1982 after Queen denied permission to use "Another One Bites the Dust" in Rocky III. He wanted "something with a pulse" that matched the boxing scenes and sent the band a rough cut of the film's first three minutes. The song took roughly two weeks for guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik to write. They drew inspiration straight from the movie's dialogue, with the title coming from Apollo Creed's line to Rocky: "you had that eye of the tiger, man".
Chart performance of Eye of the Tiger
"Eye of the Tiger" dominated charts worldwide after its release. The song claimed the UK's number one spot on September 4th, 1982, and stayed there for four straight weeks. It spent 15 remarkable weeks on the UK chart between July and November 1982. The song's popularity proved lasting as it kept returning to the charts through the decades, with comebacks in 1983, 1984, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013.
Cultural impact of Eye of the Tiger
The song revolutionised how music featured in sports. Peterik reflected: "It's crept into the motivational aspect of every sport... I never would have predicted it". Sullivan explained the song's message that struck a chord with people: "getting your ass out of bed... saying: 'I'm not going to try to go to the gym Monday – I am going to go to the gym Monday'".
Legacy of Eye of the Tiger
"Eye of the Tiger" remains a cultural staple forty years after its release. The song earned a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal and received nominations for both Song of the Year Grammy and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song has grown beyond its Rocky III roots to become a cultural icon, featuring in countless films, commercials, and sporting events. Few songs from that era match its lasting influence as a motivational anthem.
A strange twist of music history turned The Human League's "weakest track" into one of the best selling singles of the 80s. "Don't You Want Me" changed everything for this struggling experimental electronic band and made them international pop stars. Their lead singer strongly objected to its release.
Song background
"Don't You Want Me" had humble beginnings. Lead vocalist Philip Oakey found inspiration in a photo-story from a teen-girl's magazine. The song started as a male solo track until Oakey watched A Star Is Born. This prompted him to make it a duet with Susan Ann Sulley, one of the band's teenage female vocalists who sang backup before. Jo Callis and Philip Adrian Wright created the song's original synthesiser score, which sounded much harsher than the final version. Producer Martin Rushent remixed the track to give it a "poppy" sound. This led to one of his famous arguments with Oakey. Oakey disliked the new version so much that he called it the "poor quality filler track" on their album Dare.
Chart performance of Don't You Want Me
Virgin Records wanted to release "Don't You Want Me" as the fourth single from Dare. Oakey disagreed because he thought people were "sick of hearing" the band. The song surprised everyone by entering the UK singles chart at number nine and climbing to number one the next week. It stayed at the top for five weeks during Christmas 1981 and became that year's biggest-selling single. The success continued when it topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks six months later. Combined sales and streams made it the 43rd most successful single in UK chart history as of 2017.
Cultural impact of Don't You Want Me
"Don't You Want Me" helped electronic pop music break into mainstream success. Rolling Stone labelled it the "breakthrough song" of the Second British Invasion of the US in 1983. The band's striking image and this song shaped the synth-pop genre. The song meant more than its catchy tune suggested. Oakey described it as "a nasty song about sexual power politics" rather than a simple love story.
Legacy of Don't You Want Me
"Don't You Want Me" still resonates today, forty years after its release. British people voted it their seventh-favourite 1980s number one in 2015. Rolling Stone added it to their "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time" list in 2022. The song sold over 1.55 million copies in the UK by 2012 and ranks as the 23rd best-selling single in UK singles chart history. People play it at weddings and in TV ads. Even those who don't know The Human League recognise this iconic track instantly.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood's second single "Two Tribes" rode the wave of global nuclear anxieties during peak Cold War tensions. The song became another chart phenomenon and secured the Liverpool band's position among the best selling singles of the 80s through its apocalyptic vision and market dominance.
Song background
ZTT Records released "Two Tribes" on June 4th, 1984. The song featured nihilistic, gleeful lyrics that celebrated nuclear war. Trevor Horn's lavish production compared American funk and R&B pop's relentless pounding bassline with Russian classical music influences. Actor Patrick Allen's ominous voice added a unique element to the track. He recreated his narration from British Protect and Survive public information films about nuclear war survival. The title "Two Tribes" could represent any warring parties. The lyrics "On the air America/I modelled shirts by Van Heusen" clearly pointed to then-US President Ronald Reagan.
Chart performance of Two Tribes
The single's success in the UK was remarkable. It entered at number one on June 10th, 1984, and stayed there for nine straight weeks—making it the decade's longest-running number-one single. The band's previous hit "Relax" climbed back to number two during this period. This feat made them the third act after The Beatles and John Lennon to hold the top two chart positions simultaneously. By November 2012, "Two Tribes" had sold 1.58 million copies in the UK, ranking among the country's Top 30 best-selling singles ever.
Cultural impact of Two Tribes
Cold War tensions and nuclear warfare fears reached their peak as "Two Tribes" hit the airwaves. ZTT's aggressive marketing strategy highlighted the song's political message. The band appeared in promotional materials wearing American military gear and Soviet-style army uniforms. Godley & Creme's provocative music video showed Ronald Reagan and USSR president Konstantin Chernenko's lookalikes in a bare-knuckle arena fight. The song's popularity reflected how deeply Cold War anxieties had seeped into popular culture.
Legacy of Two Tribes
Johnson, Gill and O'Toole's songwriting earned them the 1984 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. British voters placed "Two Tribes" as their 14th-favourite 1980s number one in 2015. The song came in six different mixes with apocalyptic titles like "Annihilation" and "Carnage." These versions opened with air-raid sirens and included instructions about handling deceased family members in fallout shelters. "Two Tribes" stands unmatched in capturing the paranoia and futility of the Cold War's final chapter.
One of the best selling singles of the 80s started as a song that its creator would later brush off. George Michael's "Careless Whisper" sold millions worldwide but remained something he felt disappointed about throughout his career.
Song background
George Michael wrote "Careless Whisper" at just 17 years old. He created it with his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley. The song's famous saxophone melody came to him during a simple bus trip to his DJ job. The sort of thing I love is how he worked on it just in his head over three months. His teenage experiences with two girls named Jane and Helen inspired the lyrics. He felt guilty about seeing them both. "The whole idea of 'Careless Whisper' was the first girl finding out about the second—which she never did". The original recording with producer Jerry Wexler at Muscle Shoals didn't work out, so Michael ended up re-recording and producing the song himself.
Chart performance of Careless Whisper
The song shot to number one in the UK within two weeks of its July 1984 release. It knocked Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes" off its nine-week run. Michael managed to keep the top spot for three weeks and the song became Britain's fifth best-selling single of 1984. The song topped charts in all but one of 25 countries. Americans knew it as "Wham! featuring George Michael," and it ruled their charts for three weeks. Billboard named it their number-one song of 1985. Sales reached about 6 million copies worldwide with 2 million in the US, and now exceed 11 million copies globally.
Cultural impact of Careless Whisper
The song marked Michael's first solo release while still in Wham! and turned him "overnight from a boyband member to a leading pop icon". His music video showed him dealing with guilt over an affair. They shot it in Miami's Coconut Grove and Watson Island. The video had its share of problems - they lost footage and Michael flew his sister from England to fix his haircut. The band thought they "screwed up" the video, so they added more performance shots at London's Lyceum Theatre.
Legacy of Careless Whisper
The song still connects with new generations 40 years later. YouTube viewers watch it almost half a million times each day, and it's now part of both YouTube's and Spotify's Billions Club. The song has gone 7x Platinum in the United States and sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK. Twenty other countries have awarded it Platinum and Diamond status. A special EP came out for its 40th anniversary in 2024, showing its place as a modern classic - even if Michael never quite saw it that way.
Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" shines bright among the colourful hits that shaped the UK music scene of the 80s. The song's distinctive melody and commercial appeal made it one of the best selling singles of the 80s.
Song background
Boy George created "Karma Chameleon" during his Egyptian vacation. His bandmates laughed and called it a "country song" when he shared it with them. The band showed strong resistance to recording the track. George "had to kind of fight to get it on the record" and even "threaten to leave the band". The song carried deeper meaning beneath its catchy tune. George explained it spoke about "the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody". The lyrics also reflected his secret relationship with drummer Jon Moss, particularly evident in the line "You're my lover, not my rival".
Chart performance of Karma Chameleon
"Karma Chameleon" shot to the top spot on UK charts in its second week after its September 1983 release. The song dominated the charts for six straight weeks. It became 1983's highest-selling UK single with 955,000 copies sold that year. The track spent ten weeks in the UK top 10. Its popularity spread worldwide as it claimed the number one position in 20 countries. Global sales exceeded 5 million copies. The song ranks 38th on the UK's all-time biggest-selling singles list with over 1.52 million copies sold.
Cultural impact of Karma Chameleon
The song's massive success established Boy George as "one of the most iconic popstars of his generation". Recognition came in the form of awards. "Karma Chameleon" won Best British Single at the 1984 Brit Awards. Culture Club also took home the Best British Group BRIT that year. The song's music video transported viewers to 1870 Mississippi. George appeared in his trademark style: "colourful costume, fingerless gloves, long braids, and a black bowler hat".
Legacy of Karma Chameleon
"Karma Chameleon" remains a cultural phenomenon 40 years after its release. British voters ranked it as "the nation's ninth favourite 1980s number one" in 2015. The band's guitarist Roy Hay reflected on its mixed legacy: "I think we lost a lot of credibility with 'Karma Chameleon,' but it's what we're remembered for". Boy George's relationship with the song has fluctuated - he has "fallen out of love with it a number of times" but stays "very proud of it". The song lives on as a wedding disco favourite and continues to rack up streams on various platforms.
A power ballad that changed music history tops our chart countdown. Jennifer Rush's "The Power of Love" became one of the best selling singles of the 80s, though American audiences never embraced it fully.
Song background
Rush recorded this masterpiece in Frankfurt, Germany, where she made her home. The American-born singer joined forces with German producers Gunther Mende and Candy DeRouge (real name: Wolfgang Detmann). The song came straight from Rush's heart - she penned the lyrics about her boyfriend, Harvard graduate Steven Engebretson, who was only her second serious love. Her poems transformed into music with help from her producers, who didn't speak English. Poet/lyricist Mary Susan Applegate contributed to the songwriting process and earned credits alongside Rush, Mende and DeRouge.
Chart performance of The Power of Love
The song took Europe by storm after its December 1984 release. British success proved remarkable - it took 16 weeks to climb to number one (setting a record then). The song dominated the charts for five straight weeks from October to November 1985. Rush made history as the first female soloist to sell a million singles in Britain, claiming the year's top spot. The song conquered charts worldwide, reaching number one in Australia, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and Spain. North American release in January 1986 brought mixed results - Canadian listeners embraced it fully, while US audiences left it lingering at #57.
Cultural impact of The Power of Love
The song's emotional pull reached royal heights - Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson chose it for their first wedding dance in 1986. The Guinness Book of Records recognised it as Britain's biggest-selling single of 1985.
Legacy of The Power of Love
The song held its crown as "the best-selling single by a female solo artist in British music industry history" until Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" claimed the title in 1992. Celine Dion's 1994 version achieved what Rush couldn't - it soared to America's number one spot.
Conclusion
The 80s, without doubt, marked a golden age of British music hits. Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" became not just the decade's biggest seller but revolutionised charity fundraising forever. Frankie Goes to Hollywood pulled off something exceptional - they matched The Beatles and John Lennon's record by holding the top two chart spots with "Relax" and "Two Tribes."
These massive hits exceeded pure entertainment value. "Last Christmas" grew from a festive favourite into a chart phenomenon over its 39-year trip to reach Christmas number one. South Africa banned Stevie Wonder's music after he dedicated his Oscar for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" to Nelson Mandela. "Eye of the Tiger" evolved from a movie soundtrack into everyone's go-to motivational anthem.
Many of these smash hits faced resistance at first. George Michael had to convince his bandmates about "Karma Chameleon." The Human League's Philip Oakey thought "Don't You Want Me" was the weakest song on their album. Boy George even threatened to quit Culture Club over recording "Karma Chameleon." All the same, these songs ended up selling millions.
Female artists broke new ground too. Jennifer Rush's "The Power of Love" made history as Britain's first million-selling single by a female soloist, shattering the male-dominated industry's ceiling.
These songs still shape our cultural world today. Movies, ads, and playlists feature them regularly, and they connect different generations through shared musical moments. The way we listen to music has changed dramatically since the 80s, but these timeless classics show why this decade created some of the most memorable, meaningful, and commercially successful singles that ever spread.
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