Pick: What would you listen to on the radio in 1980?

Do your tastes run more Queen, the King of Pop or Kenny?

The radio delivered loads of hits in 1980. People were ready to ring in a new decade with new sounds, from electronic dance to new-wave to slick country ballads.

All of these songs continue to remain favorites today, 40 years later. Most of them hit No. 1 on the charts back then. 

Let's take a spin through the dial in 1980. Pretends these top hits from each month are playing at the same time on the radio. Which one would you listen to? See how your tastes compare!

  1. We start in January. Are you in the mood for Kenny, MJ… or piña coladas and getting caught in the rain?
  2. In February are you ready to rock, soft rock… or for Summer?
  3. Do you march to a different beat in March?
  4. In April are you hungry for Blondie, Billy… or yacht rock?
  5. In May are you heading for Funkytown… or elsewhere in your "Cars"?
  6. As summer arrives, will you listen to a Beatle, Bette or Bob?
  7. Which of these rock legends will soundtrack your July BBQ?
  8. In August, will you go sailing… or to 'Xanadu'?
  9. Which September song will "live forever"?
  10. As fall arrives, will you rock Freddie, Babs… or Devo?
  11. November was a month full of country and funk.
  12. Finally, which track will be your present in December?

Pick: What would you listen to on the radio in 1980?

Your Result...

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79 Comments

Amalthea 10 days ago
39% different, but I liked almost ALL of the choices! There were only 2 songs that I would choose last: The Pina Colada Song & Emotional Rescue. #5 was the hardest one: I wanted to choose them all!
ThomasPotter 3 months ago
54 percent, but I answered the questions as to what I would have listened to then, my tastes have changed quite a bit.
JERRY6 39 months ago
This is all comercial radio jubk , i could not listen to the choices given , maybe 2 or 3 songs listed . where is the good stuff . the list above is easy listening go to sleep music
biscuits18521 45 months ago
77% similar. And they forgot the first "s" in Genesis in question 8.
jimmyvici 45 months ago
82 %. Some of those songs listed, no bueno.
Evan 46 months ago
Wish I could've had the choice of "none of the above" on a few.
JERRY6 Evan 39 months ago
agree terrible list for a decade of great music
Diz 46 months ago
50%. Acts who had fave records of mine in 1980 not mentioned in the quiz: Utopia, XTC, Hall & Oates, Pretenders, Ian Hunter, Peter Gabriel - though I do understand that the quiz was based on what would have been heard on top 40 radio.
ThomasPotter Diz 3 months ago
oooohh! Ian Hunter "all of the good ones are taken" one of my favorites. Mott the Hoople was also a very underated band.
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