25 Best Songs from Taylor Swift's 1989: A Definitive Ranking

Updated at: 14/03/2025

1989 was a monumental year in music, a vibrant tapestry woven with sounds both rebellious and romantic. This wasn't just a year of chart-toppers; it was a cultural shift, a soundtrack to a generation finding its voice. To celebrate this incredible year and introduce its timeless treasures to a new audience, we've compiled a list of the best songs from 1989. From the power ballads that filled stadium arenas to the dance anthems that pulsed through nightclubs, the year offered a stunning diversity of sounds. You'll find anthems of heartbreak and hope, songs that capture the raw energy of youth and the quiet contemplation of adulthood, all echoing the spirit of a transformative era. Think soaring vocals, unforgettable hooks, and the kind of production that still sounds fresh decades later.

This list isn't just a trip down memory lane; it's a journey into a sonic landscape that continues to inspire and influence musicians today. Whether you were there to experience it firsthand or are discovering it now, you'll find yourself captivated by the raw emotion, musical innovation, and sheer artistry that defined 1989's greatest hits. Prepare to be transported back to a time when music truly moved mountains, and rediscover the songs that shaped a generation. The power and vulnerability, the joy and sorrow – it's all here, waiting to be rediscovered. You'll find yourself humming along, tapping your feet, and maybe even shedding a tear or two as you relive the magic of 1989.

  • Paradise City
    1

    Paradise City

    Guns N' Roses

    1987

    Appetite For Destruction

  • Another Day in Paradise
    2

    Another Day in Paradise

    Phil Collins

    1989

    ...But Seriously (Deluxe Edition)

  • Like a Prayer
    3

    Like a Prayer

    Madonna

    1989

    Faith

  • Girl You Know It's True
    4

    Girl You Know It's True

    Milli Vanilli

    1989

  • Black Velvet
    5

    Black Velvet

    Alannah Myles

    1989

    Alannah Myles

  • Back To Life
    6

    Back To Life

    Soul II Soul,Caron Wheeler

    1989

    Keep On Movin'

  • A Little Respect
    7

    A Little Respect

    Erasure

    1989

  • Every Rose Has Its Thorn
    8

    Every Rose Has Its Thorn

    Poison

    1988

  • Janie's Got A Gun
    9

    Janie's Got A Gun

    Aerosmith

    1989

    Nine Lives

  • My Prerogative
    10

    My Prerogative

    Bobby Brown

    1989

  • Straight Up
    11

    Straight Up

    Paula Abdul

    1989

  • The Living Years
    12

    The Living Years

    Mike , The Mechanics

    1989

  • Baby Don't Forget My Number
    13

    Baby Don't Forget My Number

    Milli Vanilli

    1989

  • Roni
    14

    Roni

    Bobby Brown

    1989

  • Blame It on the Rain
    15

    Blame It on the Rain

    Milli Vanilli

    1989

  • Belfast Child
    16

    Belfast Child

    Simple Minds

    1989

  • Cold Hearted
    17

    Cold Hearted

    Paula Abdul

    1989

  • Miss You Much
    18

    Miss You Much

    Janet Jackson

    1989

  • Look Away
    19

    Look Away

    Chicago

    1989

    Chicago 19 (Expanded Edition)

  • When the Children Cry
    20

    When the Children Cry

    White Lion

    1989

    Pride

  • Americanos
    21

    Americanos

    Holly Johnson

    1989

  • All This Time
    22

    All This Time

    Tiffany

    1989

  • I Wanna Have Some Fun
    23

    I Wanna Have Some Fun

    Samantha Fox

    1989

  • Angel of Harlem
    24

    Angel of Harlem

    U2

    1989

  • Mayor of Simpleton
    25

    Mayor of Simpleton

    XTC

    1989