It has become commonplace for people of my generation to celebrate the 80s as the last great decade for music, and in conversation for the greatest musical decade, period. I tend to lean that way myself.
It makes sense that the music that scored your coming of age will hold a special place in your heart. I’m sure every generation feels that way about its formative decade.
But take a look at the Hot 100 top five the week of May 25, 1985, and tell me the 80s shouldn’t be in the conversation.
At #1 was Wham!’s ‘Everything She Wants,’ an absolute banger. At #2 and #3 were, quite simply, two of the greatest songs ever recorded: Simple Minds’ ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)‘ and Tears For Fears’ ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World.’ In the fifth spot was Sade’s timeless classic ‘Smooth Operator.’
And among all that greatness sat Harold Faltermeyer’s ‘Axel F,’ an addictive electro instrumental bop that served as the theme song of one of the era’s great action comedies, Beverly Hills Cop.
This catchy ditty, on which the German Faltermeyer played every instrument, made it to #3 on the Hot 100 and reached the top ten in a dozen other countries. This track sits next to Jan Hammer’s Miami Vice theme as one of the great instrumental works of 80s pop culture.
Meet Me In Montauk 
My sister and her friend Michael had an ongoing debate/argument for years about whether the 60s or the 80s was the best musical decade. Back in the 90s and 00s, I tended to side with my sister who felt the 60s won, but I’ve come to appreciate even the songs from the 80s I was less fond of (probably due to overplaying on radio at the time).
In addition to artists who are uniquely of the 80s like George Michael, Tears for Fears, REM, Tracy Chapman, Journey, etc., you have the greats from the 60s and 70s putting out some of their best work in the 80s, including Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and on and on.
So the fact that the best artists of the 60s shined in the 80s along with the new artists leads me to say that the 80s wins.
that’s a good point Dana!