Don't Stop Believin' by Journey tops Singa's list of the 100 most popular 80s karaoke songs, with ABBA — the decade's dominant force on our stages thanks to the enduring Mamma Mia! effect — leading the artist chart. This ranking is drawn from real karaoke performances on Singa across 2024–2026, so what you see is what people actually pick up the mic to sing.
TL;DR — the top 5
- Don't Stop Believin' — Journey
- Take On Me — A-ha
- Livin' on a Prayer — Bon Jovi
- Mamma Mia — ABBA
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) — Whitney Houston
Methodology. We ranked every song originally released in the 1980s by the number of times it was actually sung on Singa across recent years. Play counts are aggregated by song title across all catalog versions (originals and covers), then filtered to tracks whose signature version comes from the 1980s. The top 100 titles by real karaoke performances are listed below.
The 80s karaoke room is a strange, wonderful hybrid. Arena rock and hair-metal power ballads sit next to synth-pop shimmer, MTV-era dance-pop, and the theatrical soul of a Whitney or a Tina Turner belter. Above all of it looms ABBA, punching well above the calendar because Mamma Mia! — the stage musical that opened in 1999 and the two films that followed — has stitched their catalogue into every karaoke bar's collective muscle memory. The result is a decade that ages better on a karaoke screen than almost any other: everyone knows the words, and the songs were built to be shouted back.
Top 10 most-sung 80s artists
ABBA's runaway lead is unusual for a decade full of icons: Michael Jackson, Journey, and Bon Jovi are the anchors of the traditional 80s canon, and a-ha's Take On Me alone carries them into the top five. Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Bonnie Tyler round out the pop and power-ballad territory, while Wham! (with George Michael's solo material folded in) and Guns N' Roses cover the two poles of the decade — pure pop and pure rock. It is a top ten that would look very different in almost any other decade.
Sub-genres of the 80s karaoke canon
Three flavours dominate what people actually pick up the mic for. Arena rock and hair metal — Livin' on a Prayer, Sweet Child O' Mine, Wanted Dead or Alive, Eye of the Tiger — give confident singers the chorus of their lives. Synth-pop and New Wave — Take On Me, Don't You Want Me, Tainted Love, Sweet Dreams — reward the singers who lean into the strangeness rather than smoothing it out.
Then there's the theatrical middle: Total Eclipse of the Heart, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, The Winner Takes It All, Time of My Life, and the entire ABBA/Mamma Mia! wing of the catalogue. These are the songs that turn a karaoke room into a group performance rather than a solo turn, and they account for a startling share of what actually gets sung on any given night.
The full list: 100 most popular 80s karaoke songs
1. Don't Stop Believin' — Journey
Journey's arena-rock anthem has quietly become karaoke's universal reset button — the moment a room stops watching phones and starts singing shoulder-to-shoulder.
Sing Don't Stop Believin' karaoke on Singa.
2. Take On Me — A-ha
A-ha's shimmering synth line and stratospheric chorus reward anyone willing to commit to that final high note. Two decades on, Take On Me still sounds like the future the 80s promised.
Sing Take On Me karaoke on Singa.
3. Livin' on a Prayer — Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi hands you the mic and dares you not to raise a fist on the chorus. The talkbox intro sets the stage; the whole bar handles the rest.
Sing Livin' on a Prayer karaoke on Singa.
4. Mamma Mia — ABBA
ABBA's disco-drama classic gets a fresh wave of karaoke plays every time the Mamma Mia! musical tours through town, and the sing-along chorus does the heavy lifting for you.
Sing Mamma Mia karaoke on Singa.
5. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) — Whitney Houston
This Whitney Houston song was one of her earlier hits that brought her to national attention. It has a classic 808 drum machine and great R&B singing. Whitney has a very powerful voice, so if you want to pull this song off make sure you add a touch of soul to your vocals.
Sing I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) karaoke on Singa.
6. Total Eclipse of the Heart — Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler's operatic power ballad is the karaoke equivalent of a five-act play. Pace yourself for the key change — that's the part everyone came for.
Sing Total Eclipse of the Heart karaoke on Singa.
7. Careless Whisper — George Michael, Wham!
That opening sax line is the most recognisable audition you'll ever give. George Michael's smoky delivery is forgiving, and the tempo lets you actually breathe.
Sing Careless Whisper karaoke on Singa.
8. Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's most-covered 80s track rewards precision over range. Lock the bassline in your head and the phrasing takes care of itself.
Sing Billie Jean karaoke on Singa.
9. The Winner Takes It All — ABBA
ABBA's break-up ballad turns any karaoke room into a soap opera in three minutes. Agnetha's phrasing is the model — restrained until it isn't.
Sing The Winner Takes It All karaoke on Singa.
10. Lay All Your Love on Me — ABBA
Another ABBA staple lifted straight from Mamma Mia!'s cultural revival. The tempo is friendly, the chorus is loud, and someone will always join in on the second verse.
Sing Lay All Your Love on Me karaoke on Singa.
11. Last Christmas — Wham!
Sing Last Christmas karaoke on Singa.
12. Islands In the Stream — Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton
Sing Islands In the Stream karaoke on Singa.
13. Like a Prayer — Madonna
Sing Like a Prayer karaoke on Singa.
14. Girls Just Want to Have Fun — Cyndi Lauper
Sing Girls Just Want to Have Fun karaoke on Singa.
15. Wicked Game — Chris Isaak
Sing Wicked Game karaoke on Singa.
16. The Best — Tina Turner
Sing The Best karaoke on Singa.
17. Africa — TOTO
18. 9 To 5 — Dolly Parton
19. Still Loving You — Scorpions
Sing Still Loving You karaoke on Singa.
20. Black Velvet — Alannah Myles
Sing Black Velvet karaoke on Singa.
21. Sweet Child O' Mine — Guns N' Roses
Sing Sweet Child O' Mine karaoke on Singa.
22. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) — The Proclaimers
Sing I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) karaoke on Singa.
23. Beat It — Michael Jackson
Sing Beat It karaoke on Singa.
24. Poison — Hazbin Hotel, The Living Tombstone, Blake Roman
25. It's Raining Men — The Weather Girls
Sing It's Raining Men karaoke on Singa.
26. Holding Out For A Hero — Bonnie Tyler
Sing Holding Out For A Hero karaoke on Singa.
27. Love Shack — The B-52's
Sing Love Shack karaoke on Singa.
28. Never Gonna Give You Up — Rick Astley
Sing Never Gonna Give You Up karaoke on Singa.
29. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
Sing La Isla Bonita karaoke on Singa.
30. Part of Your World — The Little Mermaid Soundtrack
Sing Part of Your World karaoke on Singa.
31. New York, New York — Frank Sinatra
Sing New York, New York karaoke on Singa.
32. Rebel Yell — Billy Idol
Sing Rebel Yell karaoke on Singa.
33. Heaven — Talking Heads
34. You Give Love a Bad Name — Bon Jovi
Sing You Give Love a Bad Name karaoke on Singa.
35. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) — Eurythmics
Sing Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) karaoke on Singa.
36. Super Trouper — ABBA
Sing Super Trouper karaoke on Singa.
37. I'm Still Standing — Elton John
Sing I'm Still Standing karaoke on Singa.
38. The Phantom of the Opera — The Phantom of The Opera the Musical
Sing The Phantom of the Opera karaoke on Singa.
39. It Must Have Been Love — Roxette
Sing It Must Have Been Love karaoke on Singa.
40. Hallelujah — Paramore
Sing Hallelujah karaoke on Singa.
41. Eye of the Tiger — Survivor
Sing Eye of the Tiger karaoke on Singa.
42. The Final Countdown — Europe
Sing The Final Countdown karaoke on Singa.
43. Man in the Mirror — Michael Jackson
Sing Man in the Mirror karaoke on Singa.
44. Forever Young — Ava Max, Alphaville, David Guetta
Sing Forever Young karaoke on Singa.
45. Alone — Céline Dion
46. Down Under — Men at Work
Sing Down Under karaoke on Singa.
47. Listen to Your Heart — Roxette
Sing Listen to Your Heart karaoke on Singa.
48. Purple Rain — The Revolution, Prince
Sing Purple Rain karaoke on Singa.
49. I Want to Break Free — Queen
Sing I Want to Break Free karaoke on Singa.
50. If I Could Turn Back Time — Cher
Sing If I Could Turn Back Time karaoke on Singa.
51. Every Breath You Take — Police
Sing Every Breath You Take karaoke on Singa.
52. Like a Virgin — Madonna
Sing Like a Virgin karaoke on Singa.
53. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) — Kate Bush
Sing Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) karaoke on Singa.
54. Hello! — Kelly Yu
55. Everybody Wants to Rule the World — Tears for Fears
Sing Everybody Wants to Rule the World karaoke on Singa.
56. Wanted Dead Or Alive — Bon Jovi
Sing Wanted Dead Or Alive karaoke on Singa.
57. (I've Had) The Time of My Life — Jennifer Warnes, Bill Medley
Sing (I've Had) The Time of My Life karaoke on Singa.
58. Dancing in the Dark — Bruce Springsteen
Sing Dancing in the Dark karaoke on Singa.
59. Memory — 김혜림
60. Happy Birthday — DJ BoBo
Sing Happy Birthday karaoke on Singa.
61. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out — The Smiths
Sing There Is A Light That Never Goes Out karaoke on Singa.
62. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
Sing Don't You Want Me karaoke on Singa.
63. Human Nature — Michael Jackson
Sing Human Nature karaoke on Singa.
64. Highwayman — The Highwaymen
Sing Highwayman karaoke on Singa.
65. Eternal Flame — The Bangles
Sing Eternal Flame karaoke on Singa.
66. Country Roads — Yoko Honna (本名陽子)
Sing Country Roads karaoke on Singa.
67. We Are the World — USA for Africa
Sing We Are the World karaoke on Singa.
68. Slipping Through My Fingers — ABBA
Sing Slipping Through My Fingers karaoke on Singa.
69. Under Pressure — David Bowie, Queen
Sing Under Pressure karaoke on Singa.
70. With or Without You — U2
Sing With or Without You karaoke on Singa.
71. Smooth Criminal — Michael Jackson
Sing Smooth Criminal karaoke on Singa.
72. Time After Time — Iron & Wine
Sing Time After Time karaoke on Singa.
73. Thriller — Michael Jackson
Sing Thriller karaoke on Singa.
74. A Little Respect — Erasure
Sing A Little Respect karaoke on Singa.
75. The Greatest Love of All — Whitney Houston
Sing The Greatest Love of All karaoke on Singa.
76. Cheri, Cheri Lady — Modern Talking
Sing Cheri, Cheri Lady karaoke on Singa.
77. White Wedding — Billy Idol
Sing White Wedding karaoke on Singa.
78. Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
Sing Come On Eileen karaoke on Singa.
79. Bourbon Street — Hurriganes
Sing Bourbon Street karaoke on Singa.
80. Tainted Love — Soft Cell
Sing Tainted Love karaoke on Singa.
81. Run to the Hills — Iron Maiden
Sing Run to the Hills karaoke on Singa.
82. Crazy Train — Ozzy Osbourne
Sing Crazy Train karaoke on Singa.
83. The River — Chely Wright
Sing The River karaoke on Singa.
84. Brothers In Arms — Dire Straits
Sing Brothers In Arms karaoke on Singa.
85. Three Little Birds — Bob Marley & The Wailers
Sing Three Little Birds karaoke on Singa.
86. Gold — Spandau Ballet
87. I Want to Know What Love Is — Foreigner
Sing I Want to Know What Love Is karaoke on Singa.
88. This Charming Man — The Smiths
Sing This Charming Man karaoke on Singa.
89. Here I Go Again — Whitesnake
Sing Here I Go Again karaoke on Singa.
90. Material Girl — Madonna
Sing Material Girl karaoke on Singa.
91. Dirty Old Town — The Pogues
Sing Dirty Old Town karaoke on Singa.
92. Never Too Much — Luther Vandross
Sing Never Too Much karaoke on Singa.
93. Anthem — Ellinoora
94. Fast Car — Luke Combs
Sing Fast Car karaoke on Singa.
95. In the Air Tonight — Phil Collins
Sing In the Air Tonight karaoke on Singa.
96. Uptown Girl — Billy Joel
Sing Uptown Girl karaoke on Singa.
97. Smooth Operator — Sade
Sing Smooth Operator karaoke on Singa.
98. You Shook Me All Night Long — AC/DC
Sing You Shook Me All Night Long karaoke on Singa.
99. Karma Chameleon — Culture Club
Sing Karma Chameleon karaoke on Singa.
100. Money for Nothing — Dire Straits
Sing Money for Nothing karaoke on Singa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular 80s karaoke song of all time?
On Singa, Journey's Don't Stop Believin' is the most-sung song of the decade — narrowly ahead of a-ha's Take On Me. Its universal recognisability and the fact that everyone can join in on the chorus have made it karaoke's default closer, decade after decade.
Which 80s artists dominate karaoke rooms today?
ABBA leads by a wide margin, mostly on the strength of the Mamma Mia! musical and film revival. After ABBA it is Michael Jackson, Journey, Bon Jovi, and a-ha — the four artists whose catalogues most reliably survive the transition from radio to karaoke screen.
Are ABBA really 80s karaoke songs?
ABBA's biggest hits — Mamma Mia, The Winner Takes It All, Lay All Your Love on Me, Super Trouper — were all released in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the stage musical is a modern engine that keeps their play counts high. For the purposes of this ranking they count firmly as 80s karaoke.
What is a good easy 80s karaoke song for beginners?
Don't Stop Believin', Livin' on a Prayer, Never Gonna Give You Up and Girls Just Want to Have Fun sit in a friendly vocal range and give the whole room something to sing on the chorus. They are the classic first-time karaoke picks from the decade.
What 80s karaoke song is best for a group?
Total Eclipse of the Heart, Islands in the Stream, (I've Had) The Time of My Life, and Love Shack are built for two or more voices trading lines. They tend to bring the loudest cheers of any 80s selection.
How was this list of 100 karaoke songs put together?
We looked at every song originally released during the 1980s and ranked them by how many times each was actually sung on Singa across recent years. Nothing here is editorial guesswork — the order reflects real karaoke performances.
Ready to pick up the mic? Start singing on Singa — the app is packed with the songs above and thousands more. If you still want more nostalgia after this decade, our most popular 90s karaoke songs list picks up exactly where this one leaves off.
