Here we are again, diving deep into the sounds of the past with the latest installment of our popular series. After a much-anticipated wait, we’re thrilled to unveil the results of our reader’s poll for the top 100 songs of 1989. This extensive survey, part of the ongoing Best of the ’80s Redux series on Slicing Up Eyeballs, reflects the collective taste of dedicated music fans who cast their votes to rank the very best tracks from this pivotal year in music history.
For those new to this series, the Best of the ’80s Redux polls are a spin-off from our well-received Best of the ’80s year-by-year album polls. We started this journey some years ago, exploring the top songs from years like 1980 and 1981. After a brief hiatus, we brought back the polls in 2018, continuing our exploration of the decade with surveys for 1982 through 1988. Now, we’re excited to present the highly anticipated results for 1989.
Listen on Spotify: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Top 100 songs of 1989 playlist on Spotify
In this latest poll, we invited our readers to select up to 25 of their favorite songs that were initially released in 1989. This could be anything from singles and B-sides to album tracks that first graced our ears during that calendar year. The response was fantastic, with a total of 5,473 votes cast. After carefully reviewing the submissions, removing songs from other years (including some popular tracks mistakenly attributed to 1989), and resolving ties with a coin flip, we’ve compiled the definitive list of the top 100 songs of 1989, according to you, the listeners.
This year’s list showcases a few artists who clearly dominated the year in music. The Cure lead the pack with an impressive seven songs, all from their landmark album Disintegration. Pixies’ iconic Doolittle and New Order’s Technique, fresh off their success with the 1988 hit “Fine Time,” each secured five spots on the list. The Stone Roses’ self-titled debut also made a strong showing with four entries, highlighting the diverse and dynamic musical landscape of 1989.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated by voting and sharing their musical passions. Now, without further ado, we present the complete Top 100 Songs of 1989 as chosen by Slicing Up Eyeballs readers. Take a look at the list below and join the conversation in the comments – we want to hear your thoughts, agreements, and even disagreements with the results!
Looking ahead, we’re already planning the next step in our retrospective journey. Just as we did with our year-by-year album polls, we’re building towards a grand finale: a poll to determine the best overall songs of the entire 1980s. Stay tuned for more updates!
Slicing Up Eyeballs Readers Poll: Top 100 Songs of 1989
Jesus and Mary Chain Head On
1. The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Head On”
2. The Stone Roses, “I Wanna Be Adored”
3. New Order, “Round & Round”
4. Love and Rockets, “So Alive”
5. The Cure, “Pictures of You”
6. Electronic, “Getting Away With It”
7. Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”
8. Peter Murphy, “Cuts You Up”
9. Pixies, “Debaser”
10. The Ocean Blue, “Between Something and Nothing”
Lightning Seeds Pure
11. The Lightning Seeds, “Pure”
12. The Cult, “Fire Woman”
13. Pixies, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”
14. Nine Inch Nails, “Head Like a Hole”
15. The Stone Roses, “Fools Gold”
16. The Sugarcubes, “Regina”
17. XTC, “Mayor of Simpleton”
18. The Cure, “Fascination Street”
19. New Order, “Vanishing Point”
20. Pixies, “Wave of Mutilation”
Beastie Boys Hey Ladies
21. Beastie Boys, “Hey Ladies”
22. Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”
23. Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”
24. Throwing Muses, “Dizzy”
25. Tears For Fears, “Sowing the Seeds of Love”
26. Indigo Girls, “Closer to Fine”
27. The Replacements, “Achin’ to Be”
28. The Cure, “Lovesong”
29. The B-52s, “Roam”
30. Bob Mould, “See a Little Light”
Elvis Costello Veronica
31. The Cure, “Plainsong”
32. Elvis Costello, “Veronica”
33. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Higher Ground”
34. 10,000 Maniacs, “Trouble Me”
35. The Stone Roses, “She Bangs the Drums”
36. Xymox, “Obsession”
37. The Wonder Stuff, “Don’t Let Me Down, Gently”
38. The B-52s, “Love Shack”
39. Nine Inch Nails, “Down In It”
40. Michael Penn, “No Myth”
De La Soul Me Myself I
41. De La Soul, “Me, Myself and I”
42. Ministry, “Burning Inside”
43. The Smithereens, “A Girl Like You”
44. Morrissey, “The Last of the Famous International Playboys”
45. The Mighty Lemon Drops, “Where Do We Go From Heaven?”
46. Lou Reed, “Dirty Blvd.”
47. Madonna, “Like a Prayer”
48. The Cure, “Lullaby”
49. 808 State, “Pacific State”
50. Morrissey, “Interesting Drug”
Hoodoo Gurus
51. Hoodoo Gurus, “Come Anytime”
52. Erasure, “Blue Savannah”
53. New Order, “Run”
54. The The, “The Beat(en) Generation”
55. Chris Isaak, “Wicked Game”
56. Faith No More, “Epic”
57. Public Image Ltd., “Disappointed”
58. The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Blues From a Gun”
59. Nirvana, “About a Girl”
60. The Cure, “Disintegration”
Kate Bush
61. Kate Bush, “Love and Anger”
62. Nine Inch Nails, “Sin”
63. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Knock Me Down”
64. Ramones, “Pet Sematary”
65. The Stone Roses, “I Am the Resurrection”
66. XTC, “King for a Day”
67. Front 242, “Never Stop”
68. The Ocean Blue, “Drifting, Falling”
69. Peter Murphy, “A Strange Kind of Love”
70. The Replacements, “I’ll Be You”
Robyn Hitchcock
71. Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians, “Madonna of the Wasps”
72. Ian McCulloch, “Proud to Fall”
73. The House of Love, “I Don’t Know Why I Love You”
74. Lenny Kravitz, “Let Love Rule”
75. Ministry, “Thieves”
76. The B-52s, “Channel Z”
77. The Sundays, “Can’t Be Sure”
78. Tom Petty, “Free Fallin’”
79. Camper Van Beethoven, “Pictures of Matchstick Men”
80. New Order, “Mr. Disco”
James Sit Down
81. James, “Sit Down”
82. Revenge, “7 Reasons”
83. Neil Young, “Rockin’ in the Free World”
84. Erasure, “Drama”
85. Ministry, “So What”
86. Pixies, “Gouge Away”
87. Prince, “Batdance”
88. Concrete Blonde, “God is a Bullet”
89. Soul II Soul, “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)”
90. Kate Bush, “The Sensual World”
Creatures Standing There
91. The Creatures, “Standing There”
92. Kirsty MacColl, “Days’
93. The Cure, “Untitled”
94. The Blue Nile, “The Downtown Lights”
95. Wire, “Eardrum Buzz”
96. Madonna, “Express Yourself”
97. New Order, “Dream Attack”
98. Morrissey, “Ouija Board, Ouija Board”
99. Love and Rockets, “No Big Deal”
100. The Call, “Let the Day Begin”
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