Top 100 Songs of 1988

Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1988. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.

Top 100 Songs of 1988

1

Got My Mind Set On You – George Harrison

2

Need You Tonight – INXS

3

Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley

4

Faith – George Michael

5

Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses

6

So Emotional – Whitney Houston

7

Heaven is a Place on Earth – Belinda Carlisle

8

Could’ve Been – Tiffany

9

Hands to Heaven – Breathe

10

Roll With It – Steve Winwood

11

One More Try – George Michael

12

Wishing Well – Terence Trent d’Arby

13

The Flame – Cheap Trick

14

Anything for You – Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine

15

Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car – Billy Ocean

16

Seasons Change – Expose

17

Is This Love – Whitesnake

18

Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard

19

I’ll Always Love You – Taylor Dayne

20

Man In the Mirror – Michael Jackson

21

Simply Irresistible – Robert Palmer

22

Hold On to the Nights – Richard Marx

23

Shattered Dreams – Johnny Hates Jazz

24

Father Figure – George Michael

25

Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) – Samantha Fox

26

A Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins

27

Foolish Beat – Debbie Gibson

28

Hazy Shade of Winter – The Bangles

29

The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson

30

Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

31

Make Me Lose Control – Eric Carmen

32

Red, Red Wine – UB40

33

Bad Medicine – Bon Jovi

34

I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That – Elton John

35

Together Forever – Rick Astley

36

Monkey – George Michael

37

Should’ve Known Better – Richard Marx

38

I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love – Chicago

39

The Loco-Motion – Kylie Minogue

40

What Have I Done to Deserve This? – Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield

More 60 Top Songs of 1988

41. 41. Wild, Wild West – Escape Club
    42. Shake Your Love – Debbie Gibson
    43. Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen
    44. Love Bites – Def Leppard
    45. Endless Summer Nights – Richard Marx
    46. Where Do Broken Hearts Go – Whitney Houston
    47. Angel – Aerosmith
    48. She’s Like the Wind – Patric Swayze
    49. Kokomo – The Beach Boys
    50. Devil Inside – INXS
    51.  Make It Real – Jets
    52.  What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) – Information Society
    53.  Tell It to My Heart – Taylor Dayne
    54.  Out of the Blue – Debbie Gibson
    55.  Don’t You Want Me – Jody Watley
    56.  Desire – U2
    57.  I Get Weak – Belinda Carlisle
    58.  Sign Your Name – Terence Trent d’Arby
    59.  I Want To Be Your Man – Roger
    60.  Girlfriend – Pebbles
    61.  Dirty Diana – Michael Jackson
    62.  1-2-3 – Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
    63.  Mercedes Boy – Pebbles
    64.  Perfect World – Huey Lewis and the News
    65.  New Sensation – INXS
    66.  Catch Me I’m Falling – Pretty Poison
    67.  If It Isn’t Love – New Edition
    68.  Rocket 2 U – Jets
    69.  One Good Woman – Peter Cetera
    70.  Don’t Be Cruel – Cheap Trick
    71.  Candle In the Wind – Elton John
    72.  Everything Your Heart Desires – Daryl Hall and John Oates
    73.  Say You Will – Foreigner
    74.  I Want Her – Keith Sweat
    75.  Pink Cadillac – Natalie Cole
    76.  Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
    77.  Electric Blue – Icehouse
    78.  The Valley Road – Bruce Hornsby and The Range
    79.  Don’t Be Cruel – Bobby Brown
    80.  Always On My Mind – Pet Shop Boys
    81.  Piano in the Dark – Brenda Russell Featuring Joe Esposito
    82.  When It’s Love – Van Halen
    83.  Don’t Shed a Tear – Paul Carrack
    84.  We’ll Be Together – Sting
    85.  I Hate Myself for Loving You – Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
    86.  I Don’t Want to Live Without You – Foreigner
    87.  Nite and Day – Al B. Sure
    88.  Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do? – Steve Winwood
    89.  One Moment In Time – Whitney Houston
    90.  Can’t Stay Away from You – Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
    91.  Kissing a Fool – George Michael
    92.  Cherry Bomb – John Cougar Mellancamp
    93.  I Still Believe – Brenda K. Starr
    94.  I Found Someone – Cher
    95.  Never Tear Us Apart – INXS
    96.  Valerie – Steve Winwood
    97.  Just Like Paradise – David Lee Roth
    98.  Nothin’ But a Good Time – Poison
    99.  Wait – White Lion
    100.  Prove Your Love – Taylor Dayne

Looking For More Great Music From The 90s and 2000s?

If so, check out our thoughts on the Best Counting Crows Songs of All Time, the Best Barenaked Ladies Songs of All Time, the Top Staind Songs of All Time, the Best 3 Doors Down Songs, the Best 90s Rock Songs, and the Best 90s Rock Bands for more incredible song selections.

100 Top Songs of 1988 – Final Thoughts

The top songs of 1988 were a reflection of the era’s sound and style. From pop and rock to hip-hop and dance, this list had it all. Among the chart-topping hits were classics like “Faith” by George Michael, “Need You Tonight” by INXS, and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. These songs continue to be celebrated and played on the radio to this day. Other notable songs included “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison, “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin, and “So Emotional” by Whitney Houston. The top songs of 1988 remain a testament to the talent and creativity of the artists of that time.