6 That Dominated The Decade

If we consider the decade of the 1980s (1980-1989), there are 6 artists who hold the distinction of spending at least one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in each of the 10 years of the decade.  Who do you think they are?  Michael Jackson?  Nope.  Bruce Springsteen?  Nope.  Madonna?  Not her, either.  A couple of the answers may surprise you.

First, Elton John.  He placed a total of 22 different songs on the Hot 100 during the 80s, including 6 Top 10 songs and one #1 (a duet with Dionne Warwick).  Next up, Prince.  27 songs in all, including 10 Top 10s and 4 #1 songs.

Phil Collin's 'No Jacket Required' LP, from which several of his 80s hit came

Third, John Mellencamp.  He placed 20 songs in the Hot 100 during the decade, including 6 as 'John Cougar', and 14 as 'John Cougar Mellencamp'.  Eight Top 10s and a single #1 ("Jack & Diane") for him.  next, Rod Stewart.  Rod was certainly more successful during the 1970s, but he still managed 21 different Hot 100 appearances during the 80s, including 7 Top 10 songs.

Number five on our list is Phil Collins.  He cheated a bit, because he needed his involvement with the band Genesis in order to hit the charts in 1980 and 1987.  Still, 30 hits in all (15 solo, 15 with Genesis), including 9 Top 10 songs and 8 #1s.

Last up, and most surprising, is the band Survivor.  They only managed 18 hits in the decade, including 4 Top 10s and a #1 ("Eye Of The Tiger").  Their peak years were 1982-1986, but they still cracked the charts in the remaining years.