August 1, 1981, marked the launch of MTV, which revolutionized music promotion and the music industry. Synth-Pop Dominates: The 1980s saw the rise of synth-pop, with bands like Soft Cell and Adam & The Ants gaining popularity. Top Singles: "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes was the number one song of 1981. "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie was a massive hit. "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League was the biggest-selling single in the UK. "Jesse's Girl" by Rick Springfield was a pop-rock classic. Other Notable Events: Simon & Garfunkel reunited for a massive concert in Central Park. Dolly Parton hit #1 with "9 To 5". Eric Clapton was involved in a car accident. Gary Numan performed "farewell concerts". John Phillips (of The Mamas & the Papas) was sentenced to jail for drug possession. Duke Ellington's musical "Sophisticated Ladies" opened in NYC. Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" won a Grammy for Record of the Year. The Rolling Stones had the longest run atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with "Start Me Up".
TOP 100 HITZ 1981
| Number | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bette Davis Eyes | Kim Carnes |
| 2 | Endless Love | Diana Ross & Lionel Richie |
| 3 | Lady | Kenny Rogers |
| 4 | (Just Like) Starting Over | John Lennon |
| 5 | Jessie's Girl | Rick Springfield |
| 6 | Celebration | Kool & the Gang |
| 7 | Kiss on My List | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 8 | I Love a Rainy Night | Eddie Rabbitt |
| 9 | 9 To 5 | Dolly Parton |
| 10 | Keep on Loving You | REO Speedwagon |
| 11 | Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) | Joey Scarbury |
| 12 | Morning Train (Nine to Five) | Sheena Easton |
| 13 | Being with You | Smokey Robinson |
| 14 | Queen of Hearts | Juice Newton |
| 15 | Rapture | Blondie |
| 16 | A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) | Raydio |
| 17 | The Tide Is High | Blondie |
| 18 | Just the Two of Us | Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers |
| 19 | Slow Hand | The Pointer Sisters |
| 20 | I Love You | Climax Blues Band |
| 21 | Woman | John Lennon |
| 22 | Sukiyaki | A Taste of Honey |
| 23 | The Winner Takes It All | ABBA |
| 24 | Stars on 45 Medley | Stars on 45 |
| 25 | Angel of the Morning | Juice Newton |
| 26 | Love on the Rocks | Neil Diamond |
| 27 | Every Woman in the World | Air Supply |
| 28 | The One That You Love | Air Supply |
| 29 | Guilty | Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb |
| 30 | The Best of Times | Styx |
| 31 | Elvira | The Oak Ridge Boys |
| 32 | Take It on the Run | REO Speedwagon |
| 33 | (There's) No Gettin' Over Me | Ronnie Milsap |
| 34 | Living Inside Myself | Gino Vannelli |
| 35 | Woman in Love | Barbra Streisand |
| 36 | The Boy from New York City | The Manhattan Transfer |
| 37 | Urgent | Foreigner |
| 38 | Passion | Rod Stewart |
| 39 | Lady (You Bring Me Up) | Commodores |
| 40 | Crying | Don McLean |
| 41 | Hearts | Marty Balin |
| 42 | It's My Turn | Diana Ross |
| 43 | You Make My Dreams | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 44 | I Don't Need You | Kenny Rogers |
| 45 | How 'Bout Us | Champaign |
| 46 | Hit Me with Your Best Shot | Pat Benatar |
| 47 | The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) | The Greg Kihn Band |
| 48 | Time | The Alan Parsons Project |
| 49 | Hungry Heart | Bruce Springsteen |
| 50 | Sweetheart | Franke and the Knockouts |
| 51 | Somebody's Knockin' | Terri Gibbs |
| 52 | More Than I Can Say | Leo Sayer |
| 53 | Together | Tierra |
| 54 | Too Much Time on My Hands | Styx |
| 55 | What Are We Doin' in Love | Dottie West & Kenny Rogers |
| 56 | Who's Crying Now | Journey |
| 57 | De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da | The Police |
| 58 | This Little Girl | Gary U.S. Bonds |
| 59 | Stop Draggin' My Heart Around | Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty |
| 60 | "Giving It Up for Your Love" | Delbert McClinton |
| 61 | A Little in Love | Cliff Richard |
| 62 | America | Neil Diamond |
| 63 | Ain't Even Done with the Night | John Cougar |
| 64 | Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) | Christopher Cross |
| 65 | Another One Bites the Dust | Queen |
| 66 | Games People Play | The Alan Parsons Project |
| 67 | I Can't Stand It | Eric Clapton |
| 68 | While You See a Chance | Steve Winwood |
| 69 | Master Blaster (Jammin') | Stevie Wonder |
| 70 | Hello Again | Neil Diamond |
| 71 | Don't Stand So Close to Me | The Police |
| 72 | Hey Nineteen | Steely Dan |
| 73 | I Ain't Gonna Stand for It | Stevie Wonder |
| 74 | All Those Years Ago | George Harrison |
| 75 | Step By Step | Eddie Rabbitt |
| 76 | The Stroke | Billy Squier |
| 77 | Feels So Right | Alabama |
| 78 | Sweet Baby | George Duke |
| 79 | Same Old Lang Syne | Dan Fogelberg |
| 80 | Cool Love | Pablo Cruise |
| 81 | Hold On Tight | Electric Light Orchestra |
| 82 | It's Now or Never | John Schneider |
| 83 | Treat Me Right | Pat Benatar |
| 84 | Winning | Santana |
| 85 | What Kind of Fool | Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb |
| 86 | Watching the Wheels | John Lennon |
| 87 | Tell It Like It Is | Heart |
| 88 | Smoky Mountain Rain | Ronnie Milsap |
| 89 | I Made It Through the Rain | Barry Manilow |
| 90 | You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 91 | Suddenly | Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard |
| 92 | For Your Eyes Only | Sheena Easton |
| 93 | The Beach Boys Medley | The Beach Boys |
| 94 | Whip It | Devo |
| 95 | Modern Girl | Sheena Easton |
| 96 | Really Wanna Know You | Gary Wright |
| 97 | Seven Year Ache | Rosanne Cash |
| 98 | I'm Coming Out | Diana Ross |
| 99 | Miss Sun | Boz Scaggs |
| 100 | Time Is Time | Andy Gibb |
