Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1987. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.
Contents
Top 100 Songs of 1987
1
Shake You Down – Gregory Abbott
2
Walk Like an Egyptian – Bangles
3
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship
4
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
5
C’est La Vie – Robbie Nevil
6
Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
7
The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
8
La Bamba – Los Lobos
9
Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi
10
Everybody Have Fun Tonight – Wang Chung
11
Head to Toe – Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
12
I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany
13
The Lady In Red – Chris De Burgh
14
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2
15
I Want Your Sex – George Michael
16
Notorious – Duran Duran
17
Only In My Dreams – Debbie Gibson
18
(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
19
The Next Time I Fall – Peter Cetera and Amy Grant
20
(I Just) Died in Your Arms – Cutting Crew
21
Keep Your Hands to Yourself – The Georgia Satellites
22
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) – Aretha Franklin and George Michael
23
Control – Janet Jackson
24
Somewhere Out There – Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
25
Land of Confusion – Genesis
26
Jacob’s Ladder – Huey Lewis and The News
27
Who’s That Girl – Madonna
28
Touch Me (I Want Your Body) – Samantha Fox
29
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You – Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett
30
In Too Deep – Genesis
31
Let’s Wait Awhile – Janet Jackson
32
Hip to Be Square – Huey Lewis and the News
More 68 Top Songs of 1987
-
- Alone – Heart
- Shakedown – Bob Seger
- Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
- Always – Atlantic Starr
- With or Without You – U2
- Looking for a New Love – Jody Watley
- Mony Mony – Billy Idol
- At This Moment – Billy Vera and The Beaters
- Didn’t We Almost Have It All – Whitney Houston
- Lean On Me – Club Nouveau
- Open Your Heart – Madonna
- Lost In Emotion – Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
- Heart and Soul – T’pau
- You Keep Me Hangin’ On – Kim Wilde
- U Got the Look – Prince
- You Got It All – Jets
- Causing a Commotion – Madonna
- Will You Still Love Me? – Chicago
- Little Lies – Fleetwood Mac
- Luka – Suzanne Vega
- I Heard a Rumour – Bananarama
- Don’t Mean Nothing – Richard Marx
- Songbird – Kenny G
- Carrie – Europe
- Don’t Disturb This Groove – System
- La Isla Bonita – Madonna
- Bad – Michael Jackson
- Sign ‘O’ the Times – Prince
- Change of Heart – Cyndi Lauper
- Come Go With Me – Expose
- Can’t We Try – Dan Hill
- To Be a Lover – Billy Idol
- Mandolin Rain – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
- Breakout – Swing Out Sister
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- Tonight, Tonight, Tonight – Genesis
- Someday – Glass Tiger
- When Smokey Sings – ABC
- Casanova – Levert
- Rhythm Is Gonna Get You – Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
- Rock Steady – Whispers
- Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi
- Big Time – Peter Gabriel
- The Finer Things – Steve Winwood
- Let Me Be the One – Expose
- Is This Love – Survivor
- Diamonds, Herb Alpert
- Point of No Return – Expose
- Big Love – Fleetwood Mac
- Midnight Blue – Lou Gramm
- Something So Strong – Crowded House
- Heat of the Night – Bryan Adams
- Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You – Glenn Medeiros
- Brilliant Disguise – Bruce Springsteen
- Just to See Her – Smokey Robinson
- Who Will You Run To – Heart
- Respect Yourself – Bruce Willis
- Cross My Broken Heart – Jets
- Victory – Kool and The Gang
- Don’t Get Me Wrong – Pretenders
- Doing It All for My Baby – Huey Lewis and The News
- Right On Track – Breakfast Club
- Ballerina Girl – Lionel Richie
- Meet Me Half Way – Kenny Loggins
- I’ve Been in Love Before – Cutting Crew
- (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party) – Beastie Boys
- Funky Town – Pseudo Echo
- Love You Down – Ready For The World
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Top 100 Songs of 1987 – Final Thoughts
The year 1987 was a significant one for music, with many influential songs released that still hold up today. The Top 100 Songs of 1987 were dominated by pop, rock, and R&B hits, showcasing the diversity of the era. Michael Jackson’s “Bad” was a standout hit, as was Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and U2’s “With or Without You.”
The inclusion of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” reflected the popularity of rock music at the time. Overall, the Top 100 Songs of 1987 represent a time of great creativity and innovation in popular music, and continue to be celebrated and enjoyed today.