Billboard Magazine's top 20 pop songs of 1981

Well, what you don't see is Punk Rock which really gained in popularity after Disco music had died. Also, the singers who wrote & played their songs onstage was a dying art which ruled in the 1970's. There were 2 songs called, "9 to 5." I think Sheena Easton's song changed so it wouldn't be confused with Dolly Parton's hit from the movie "9 to 5." Sheena's changed to "Morning Train (Nine to Five)." Dolly had to go to court to prove she wrote her song & won the lawsuit. She is so Country that she brought her guitar & sang the song on the court steps after winning. 

MTV was launched & every musician & band  began recording videos. They just stood there and performed which looked Stiff. Music videos would evolve when Michael Jackson took control. That's when music executives began producing $1 million dollar videos for each song. Rick Springfield was a singer who worked on a soap opera. They used his popularity to cross over into pop music with of course "Jesse's Girl." They tried to make him into a movie star & put him in some terrible films.

Sadly, John Lennon of the Beatles was shot & killed in New York. His last album of songs were released & became big hits. 

I actually liked "Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters & of course, "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang.