In the 1980s, music lovers witnessed a shift in the music industry with the unveiling of some of the greatest of all time singers, songwriters and musicians. The magic in music was mainly a contribution by women pop stars that very confidently filled music with bold fashion, heart-touching lyrics and fusion of musical elements. Here is a list of some of the top female pop stars of the 80s, let’s see how many your favorites are:
1. Paula Abdul
From cheerleading to choreography and a judge at American idol, Paula Abdul has been impressive at everything she has done. As a singer, Paula released three albums and several singles, forever your Girl being one the most famous one to hit the Billboard 200 chart. While she judged American Idol for eight years, she also starred in movies like Bruno, Robots, Touched By Evil, The Waiting Game and many others. She has received numerous awards so far and is also the spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association. At current, she is a dance trainer and recently launched a song and video for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Top 3 Hits
- Rush Rush
- Blowing Kisses in the Wind
- The Promise of a New Day
2. Debbie Gibson
Debbie is not only known for hit singles but also for being the songwriter for all her 20 singles. Her first album Out of the Blue had many hits including Foolish Beat which was Billboard Hot 100 number-one single and since then there has been no looking back. With more than 16 million albums sold worldwide, Debbie has had record-breaking achievements in her career. Right now, you would find her on 53-city North American Mixtape Tour.
Top 3 Hits
- Only in My Dreams
- Foolish Beat
- Lost in Your Eyes
3. Belinda Carlisle
This American singer, musician and author was the lead singer of the Go-Go’s making it one of the most successful pop music bands of this era. Apart from music, Belinda is also a supporter of animal rights and LGBT rights, both very evident in her music campaigns and videos.
Top 3 Hits
- Heaven Is a Place on Earth
- I Get Weak
- Circle In the Sand
4. Tina Turner
While many 80s artists were bringing innovation in music and performance, Tina was one who consistently maintained her style. She started her music career as the lead singer with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm but took a twist when she became the member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In the 80s, Tina was in her mid-forties and yet a sizzling combo of confidence, sensuality and versatility. Turner has received Grammy Awards and ranked on number 63 on the list of the 100 greatest artists of all time and 17th on its list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.
Top 3 Hits
- What’s Love Got to Do with It
- River Deep – Mountain High
- We Don’t Need Another Hero
5. Pat Benatar
The four-time Grammy Award winner Pat Benatar got her break from MTV. Her turning single was “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” which gave her new doors to fame, wealth and fans. She released eight albums in the 80s and five tours. Her achievements include five platinum albums, three gold albums, two RIAA-certified multi-platinum albums and 15 Billboard Top 40 singles including “Love Is a Battlefield“, “Treat Me Right”, “We Belong“, and “Invincible“.
Top 3 Hits
- Heartbreaker
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot
- Promises in the Dark
6. Joan Jett
This punk rocker started her career in the late 70s performing with The Runaways but her rock and roll side was more into the limelight with her appearance on MTV. Her hit singles include “Cherry Bomb“, “I Love Rock ‘n Roll“, “Bad Reputation“, “Crimson and Clover“, “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)“, “Light of Day“, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and “Dirty Deeds“. Joan has not only proved to be the Queen of Rock and Roll but also very confidently maintained her bold image without letting media intrude into her personal life.
Top 3 Hits
- I Love Rock and Roll
- Cherry Bomb
- Bad Reputation
7. Annie Lennox
This lead singer of Eurythmics made a timeless combination with David Stewart and gave some smashing hits in the 80s such as “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)“, “Here Comes the Rain Again“, “Would I Lie to You?” and “Missionary Man“. From her 6 solo album releases and a compilation album, The Annie Lennox Collection, Annie has received four Grammy Awards, One MTV Video Music Award, eight Brit Awards, a Billboard Century Award and many more. She also won the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Into the West“, the soundtrack for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Annie is also titled as the “The Greatest White Soul Singer Alive” by VH1 and one of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone
Top 3 Hits
- Why
- Love Is a Stranger
- Would I Lie to You
8. Janet Jackson
In the Pop music industry, Janet Jackson has been evidence of evolution, growth and success. Starting from the television series, The Jacksons, Janet Jackson has been on a troll of success with hit after hit albums, giving music a whole new dimension and fusion. Her contract with Virgin Records made her the highest-paid artist of the industry. With more than 100 million records sold, Janet is yet one the world’s best-selling music artists and the second most successful dance club artists of all-times. So far she has made 78 singles and 11 studio albums.
Top 3 Hits
- Black Cat
- Miss You Much
- If
9. Whitney Houston
With her first album launched in 1985, Whitney Houston has been famous for her talent, appearance and record-breaking hits. She is the only artist who had seven consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, the first female artist to enter the Billboard200 album chart at #1and the only artist with eight consecutive multi-platinum albums (Whitney Houston, Whitney, I’m Your Baby Tonight, The Bodyguard, Waiting To Exhale, and The Preacher’s Wife soundtracks; My Love Is Your Love and Whitney: The Greatest Hits). She is also the founder of The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children and an active donor to many charity organizations.
Top 3 Hits
- I Will Always Love You
- Greatest Love of All
- How Will I Know
10. Madonna
Madonna, the queen of Pop is one name you can hear even in the 20th century. She wanted to become a modern dancer but started her career as a drummer, guitarist and vocalists until she contracted with Sire Records. She also worked in movies including Desperately Seeking Susan, Dick tract, Evita and A league of their Own. Apart from music, Madonna is also a businesswoman in different fields such as fashion designing, health clubs, filmmaking and children’s books. She is also the founder of Ray of Light, an organization that promotes peace, equal rights and education for all.
Top 3 Hits
- Borderline
- Lucky Star
- Like a Virgin
(via Illuminating Facts – Madonna By The Numbers Graphs)
These are just a few female stars that made evolved the music industry with their dynamic appearance and innovative vocals. Have you heard of any of these?
All pop stars already have a huge fan following, but they still like to go to social sites such as ispace1 where they can potentially find a special friend or true love of their life.