29 Best Songs From 1982

21. “Only Time Will Tell” by Asia

Asia was a supergroup containing members of various progressive rock bands of the time. The genre was on the downturn in the 1980s, but this group exploded onto the charts with its debut album. The best song on the album is “Only Time Will Tell.”

Driven by electric guitars and synths, the singer tells the story of a love that is coming to an end. Both participants in the relationship realize it is over, and only time will tell if they can successfully move on.

22. “Back on the Chain Gang” by The Pretenders

The Pretenders were on the pulse of where alternative rock was headed with its song “Back on the Chain Gang.” The song is catchy and has that distinctive jangle sound bands like R.E.M. were experimenting with.

The lyrics and atmosphere around the band were dour at the time. The band’s guitarist had recently died, and singer Chrissie Hynde wrote this song in memory of him.

23. “Subdivisions” by Rush

“Subdivisions” and the album Rush released it on, Signals, marked the beginning of the band using synthesizers heavily. The result is a song that retains Rush’s progressive rock roots while still pushing the band in a new direction.

“Subdivisions” talks about the expectations put on people by society. Drummer and lyricist Neil Peart said the song was autobiographical and captured his feelings of isolation and inability to fit in.

24. “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen was already established as the face of heartland rock by 1982. So how did he continue his success as an artist? He ditched the E-Street Band and recorded the solo album Nebraska, featuring “Atlantic City,” one of the Boss’ most macabre songs.

“Atlantic City,” tells the story of a couple where the man gets mixed up in organized crime. It is a grim tale of the decline of the American city and the desperate measures many took to survive.

25. “Allentown” by Billy Joel

Much like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel also created a working-class anthem in 1982 with his hit “Allentown.” Joel sings about the plight of the blue-collar workers in the titular Pennsylvania town and the difficulties they face finding work as manufacturing jobs become harder to find.

“Allentown” has a mixed reception in the town Joel named it for. Some residents found the song to be an unfair depiction, while others sang it with pride.

26. “Maneater” by Hall & Oates

Hall & Oates was a hit-making machine in its heyday, and “Maneater” was another classic from the duo.

Most listeners assume the titular character is a woman, but John Oates said he wrote the song about New York in the 1980s. He saw plenty of greed that chewed people up and spit them out and decided to write about it.

27. “Abracadabra” by The Steve Miller Band

The Steve Miller Band went to new places with “Abracadabra” in 1982. Miller wanted the song to evoke the sound of a Diana Ross track.

Miller said he had to fight with the record company to release this song as a single, as they didn’t believe in it. “Abracadabra” was a worldwide success and put the band at the top of the charts.

28. “Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant

Eddy Grant drew from funk and reggae to record “Electric Avenue.” The song did not have much success on his album Killer on the Rampage but found new life as a single.

Grant wrote the song about the 1981 Brixton riot and would soon leave England in response to the violence. The lyrics evoke imagery of the riot and the government’s response to it.

29. “Always On My Mind” by Willie Nelson

Numerous artists have performed versions of “Always On My Mind,” but Willie Nelson has a claim to the best cover of the staple. Nelson won three Grammys for the song, and it helped establish him to a new audience.

Some critics have suggested that this song is about a failing marriage and a partner who cannot get the idea of being cheated on out of their head. No matter your interpretation, no list of good music of 1982 is complete without this song.

Top Songs From 1982, Final Thoughts

There were so many top songs from 1982 that it was impossible to fit everything in. The year was pivotal in the careers of many artists and set the stage for the rest of the decade.

What is your favorite track from 1982? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!