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The 1981 year chart of the Dutch Top 40 is the ranking of the best records of that year, calculated across all 52 weekly charts of 1981. Every weekly entry counts 41 minus the position: 40 points for a number 1, 1 point for number 40. The 100 records with the most points are listed below, the best at the top. Top is How 'Bout Us by Champaign, with 598 points from 19 weeks.

All weeks, number ones and new entries of 1981 Decade chart 1980s

The 100 best records of 1981

  1. 1How 'Bout Us
    Champaign · 598 points · 19 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 15
  2. 2Why Tell Me Why
    Anita Meyer · 473 points · 14 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 35
  3. 3Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
    The Police · 436 points · 14 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 39
  4. 4Stars On 45
    Stars On 45 · 436 points · 13 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 4
  5. 5Pretend
    Alvin Stardust · 385 points · 12 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 41
  6. 6One Day In Your Life
    Michael Jackson · 375 points · 12 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 28
  7. 7Shine Up
    Doris D., The Pins · 370 points · 13 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 1
  8. 8Vienna
    Ultravox · 367 points · 12 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 11
  9. 9Making Your Mind Up
    Bucks Fizz · 367 points · 12 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 16
  10. 10Dance on
    Doris D., The Pins · 356 points · 14 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 17
  11. 11In The Air Tonight
    Phil Collins · 349 points · 12 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 8
  12. 12Can You Feel It
    The Jacksons · 349 points · 13 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 13
  13. 13I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)
    Grace Jones · 349 points · 12 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 21
  14. 14For Your Eyes Only
    Sheena Easton · 345 points · 11 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 33
  15. 15Don't Stop The Music
    Yarbrough & Peoples · 345 points · 12 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 9
  16. 16Angel Of Mine
    Frank Duval · 341 points · 11 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 13
  17. 17This Ole House
    Shakin' Stevens · 337 points · 13 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 16
  18. 18De Verzonken Stad
    Frank & Mirella · 333 points · 13 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 17
  19. 19'N Beetje Verliefd
    Andre Hazes · 327 points · 13 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 37
  20. 20Without Your Love
    Roger Daltrey · 322 points · 11 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 12
  21. 21Amoureux solitaires
    Lio · 321 points · 12 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 2
  22. 22Physical
    Olivia Newton-John · 321 points · 11 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 42
  23. 23Medley: The Caribbean Disco Show
    Lobo · 319 points · 11 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 28
  24. 24Super Freak
    Rick James · 316 points · 11 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 40
  25. 25The Old Calahan
    BZN · 314 points · 11 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 33
  26. 26Lola
    The Kinks · 313 points · 9 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 1
  27. 27Chanson d'amour
    BZN · 311 points · 11 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 15
  28. 28De Nederlandse Sterre Die Stralle Overal
    Rubberen Robbie · 310 points · 10 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 31
  29. 29Kids In America
    Kim Wilde · 307 points · 13 weeks · peak position 6 · from week 17
  30. 30I'm So Glad That I'm a Woman
    Love Unlimited · 301 points · 10 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 37
  31. 31Funkin' for Jamaica
    Tom Browne · 300 points · 10 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 1
  32. 32Wordy Rappinghood
    Tom Tom Club · 296 points · 10 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 31
  33. 33Embarrassment
    Madness · 295 points · 10 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 5
  34. 34If You Could Read My Mind
    Viola Wills · 294 points · 10 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 3
  35. 35R. R. Express
    Rose Royce · 293 points · 10 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 43
  36. 36One Night Affair
    Spargo · 293 points · 11 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 12
  37. 37Chequered Love
    Kim Wilde · 292 points · 10 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 25
  38. 38Rio
    Maywood · 292 points · 11 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 27
  39. 39Hands Up
    Ottawan · 289 points · 10 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 32
  40. 40Rain In May
    Max Werner · 288 points · 11 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 19
  41. 41Celebration
    Kool & The Gang · 282 points · 9 weeks · peak position 2 · from week 1
  42. 42Hold On Tight
    Electric Light Orchestra · 282 points · 10 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 31
  43. 43Only Crying
    Keith Marshall · 277 points · 11 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 23
  44. 44It's a Love Thing
    The Whispers · 271 points · 10 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 9
  45. 45Klap Maar In Je Handen
    Peter Koelewijn · 265 points · 10 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 22
  46. 46Runaway Boys
    Stray Cats · 264 points · 8 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 1
  47. 47Going Back to My Roots
    Odyssey · 261 points · 10 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 27
  48. 48Endless Love
    Diana Ross, Lionel Richie · 261 points · 10 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 36
  49. 49Ma quale idea
    Pino D'Angiò · 260 points · 9 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 23
  50. 50More Stars (U.S.A. Version)
    Stars On 45 · 256 points · 9 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 29
  51. 51Just For You
    Spargo · 256 points · 9 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 36
  52. 52The Marvellous Marionettes
    Doris D., The Pins · 254 points · 10 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 37
  53. 53No me hables
    Juan Pardo · 253 points · 9 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 30
  54. 54Double Dutch Bus
    Frankie Smith · 250 points · 10 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 18
  55. 55Stand and Deliver
    Adam & The Ants · 247 points · 11 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 23
  56. 56Rock This Town
    Stray Cats · 246 points · 9 weeks · peak position 3 · from week 7
  57. 57Green Door
    Shakin' Stevens · 246 points · 9 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 35
  58. 58Tainted Love
    Soft Cell · 246 points · 9 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 40
  59. 59Shaddap You Face
    Joe Dolce Music Theatre · 241 points · 9 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 10
  60. 60Under Pressure
    Queen, David Bowie · 236 points · 7 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 46
  61. 61Jealous Guy
    Roxy Music · 233 points · 10 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 12
  62. 62You Drive Me Crazy
    Shakin' Stevens · 232 points · 9 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 26
  63. 63Hurt
    Timi Yuro · 232 points · 8 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 41
  64. 64All American Girls
    Sister Sledge · 232 points · 10 weeks · peak position 6 · from week 7
  65. 65Ain't No Mountain High Enough/Remember Me
    Boys Town Gang · 226 points · 10 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 41
  66. 66Shine On
    L-T-D · 225 points · 12 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 6
  67. 67Let's Groove
    Earth, Wind & Fire · 224 points · 9 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 44
  68. 68Er Staat Een Paard In De Gang
    André van Duin · 224 points · 8 weeks · peak position 6 · from week 4
  69. 69Attention to Me
    The Nolans · 224 points · 10 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 22
  70. 70Imagine
    John Lennon · 223 points · 8 weeks · peak position 5 · from week 6
  71. 71Een Barg Die Hé Un Krul In De Steert
    De Aal · 217 points · 9 weeks · peak position 9 · from week 1
  72. 72You Better You Bet
    The Who · 215 points · 10 weeks · peak position 9 · from week 13
  73. 73Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees
    Marcia Hines · 213 points · 9 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 44
  74. 74Mama He's A Soldier Now
    Saskia & Serge · 210 points · 7 weeks · peak position 6 · from week 1
  75. 75Ik Heb Zo Waanzinnig Gedroomd
    Kinderen voor Kinderen · 207 points · 9 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 10
  76. 76P.S.
    Dolly Dots · 206 points · 9 weeks · peak position 6 · from week 34
  77. 77It's Raining
    Shakin' Stevens · 206 points · 8 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 45
  78. 78Who Let The Heartache In
    Patricia Paay · 205 points · 9 weeks · peak position 9 · from week 32
  79. 79Why Do Fools Fall in Love
    Diana Ross · 201 points · 7 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 46
  80. 80Let's Start II Dance Again
    Bohannon, Dr. Perri Johnson · 201 points · 7 weeks · peak position 6 · from week 46
  81. 81Just the Two of Us
    Grover Washington, Jr., Bill Withers · 201 points · 10 weeks · peak position 11 · from week 18
  82. 82My Feet Won't Move
    Fruitcake · 200 points · 8 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 2
  83. 83Mister Sandman
    Emmylou Harris · 200 points · 8 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 13
  84. 849 to 5
    Dolly Parton · 199 points · 10 weeks · peak position 10 · from week 13
  85. 85Ghost Town
    The Specials · 197 points · 8 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 31
  86. 86Love Games
    Level 42 · 195 points · 8 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 45
  87. 87Santa Maria
    Roland Kaiser · 194 points · 6 weeks · peak position 1 · from week 1
  88. 88Don't Stop
    K.I.D. · 194 points · 8 weeks · peak position 8 · from week 24
  89. 89't Is moeilijk bescheiden te blijven
    Peter Blanker · 193 points · 8 weeks · peak position 10 · from week 16
  90. 90Ik Wil Op M'n Kop Een Kamerbreed Tapijt
    Barry Hughes, De Kwaffeurs · 192 points · 8 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 4
  91. 91Baggy Trousers
    Madness · 191 points · 6 weeks · peak position 4 · from week 1
  92. 92A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)
    Ray Parker Jr., Raydio · 190 points · 8 weeks · peak position 7 · from week 29
  93. 93Then The Music Stopped
    Pussycat, Toni Willé · 190 points · 9 weeks · peak position 11 · from week 16
  94. 94Leila (The Queen of Sheiba)
    Dolly Dots · 189 points · 9 weeks · peak position 9 · from week 9
  95. 95Hollanders
    Alexander Curly · 187 points · 10 weeks · peak position 13 · from week 40
  96. 96While You See A Chance
    Steve Winwood · 185 points · 8 weeks · peak position 10 · from week 6
  97. 97Mexico
    The Les Humphries Singers · 184 points · 8 weeks · peak position 9 · from week 40
  98. 98Net as Gisteren
    Normaal · 184 points · 8 weeks · peak position 10 · from week 4
  99. 99He's Just a Runaway
    Sister Sledge · 183 points · 9 weeks · peak position 10 · from week 20
  100. 100Hopeloos
    Will Tura · 179 points · 9 weeks · peak position 10 · from week 24

Source: top40.nl

Frequently asked questions

What is the best record of 1981 in the Dutch Top 40?

How 'Bout Us by Champaign tops the 1981 year chart, with 598 points from 19 weeks in the chart (peak position 1). The top 5: 1. How 'Bout Us (Champaign), 2. Why Tell Me Why (Anita Meyer), 3. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police), 4. Stars On 45 (Stars On 45), 5. Pretend (Alvin Stardust).

How is the 1981 year chart calculated?

Every weekly entry in 1981 earns points: 41 minus the position, so 40 points for a number 1 and 1 point for number 40. The sum of those points sets the order; on a tie the peak position counts, then the number of weeks, then the earliest week. Only the weeks of 1981 count, also for a record that entered the year before or stayed on into the next year.

Is the number 1 of the year chart also the record that spent longest at number 1?

Not necessarily. The year chart counts every week in the chart, including the weeks lower in the Top 40; a record that stayed high for a long time can therefore end above a shorter-lived number 1. The number ones of 1981, the longest-charting records and the highest new entries are on the 1981 year page.

How many weeks does the 1981 year chart cover?

52 weekly charts, with 325 different records between them, 17 of which reached number 1. Every week can be viewed separately from the year page.