Songs you'll want to listen to in autumn. A selection of recommended hits from 80s Western music!

If You LeaveOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – If You Leave (Official Music Video)

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the British band known as pioneers of synth-pop, rose to popularity with a sound that fuses experimental electronic tones and pop melodies.

Among their works, the song introduced here is one that especially suits the autumn season.

Smooth synth textures envelop the track, suffusing it with a subtly wistful and fragile atmosphere.

The song explores the anxiety of standing at a crossroads in life and the loneliness of parting, and its sentimental theme aligns beautifully with autumn’s melancholy.

Released in April 1986, it was written specifically for the final scene of the film Pretty in Pink.

It’s a timeless piece, perfect for a long autumn night when you want to indulge in a slightly sentimental mood.

DriveThe Cars

The Cars – Drive (Official Music Video)

The Cars, a band that took the world by storm with a sound that fused new wave and rock.

Their cool, synth-heavy style still captivates many fans today.

Among their works, the ballad from the album Heartbeat City is one to savor on an autumn night.

The song gently addresses someone who has lost their way, depicting a worldview where deep compassion mingles with resignation.

Bassist Benjamin Orr’s sweet, mellow vocals blend with the plaintive synth tones to deliver a poignantly moving experience.

Its iconic use at Live Aid in 1985 also makes this piece particularly special.

Spending an autumn evening alone, listening closely to this track—highly recommended.

October (Love Song)Chris & Cosey

Chris & Cosey – October Love Song

Chris & Cosey, a duo who carved out their own path in the cutting-edge electronic music scene, have produced many works that are sensual yet pop, rooted in industrial.

Among their catalog is a classic that you might find yourself reaching for on a long autumn night.

Released as a single in October 1983, this song is a love ballad that captures the intimate air of a budding romance.

Its world of cool, textured synths and a gentle, whisper-soft vocal close to your ear feels perfectly attuned to autumn’s bittersweet, lonely mood.

There’s even an anecdote that Cosey recorded the vocals as if whispering to Chris in the next room—an image that speaks to the song’s warm atmosphere.

If you’re in a sentimental mood, be sure to give it a listen.

Wicked GameChris Isaak

Wicked Game – Single Edit – Official Music Video

There’s a piece whose otherworldly guitar tone evokes the melancholy of twilight, as if translating it into sound.

The artist behind it is Chris Isaak, known for a style that revives ’50s rockabilly in the modern era and for his sentimental ballads.

The protagonist’s inner conflict—knowing he shouldn’t be drawn in, yet drowning in the irresistible pull of love—is rendered beautifully through Isaak’s sweet yet aching falsetto.

The reverb-soaked guitar, like wandering through a dream, instantly draws listeners into its world.

Though the track originally appeared on the 1989 album Heart Shaped World, it gained popularity after being used in David Lynch’s film Wild at Heart and became a major hit in 1991.

Isn’t it the perfect piece to listen to on an autumn night when you’re feeling wistful and reflective?

SeptemberDavid Sylvian

September

David Sylvian, known as the former frontman of the British band Japan, has forged a uniquely artistic musical world since going solo.

Here’s a track of his that pairs beautifully with the quiet of autumn.

This piece delicately portrays an inner landscape in which lovers, seeming happy under clear skies, secretly wish for rain in their hearts.

The minimal soundscape woven by Sylvian’s wistful vocals and piano could be described as autumn itself.

Included on the album Secrets of the Beehive, released in October 1987, this brief work of about one minute features strings arranged by Ryuichi Sakamoto that leave a deep afterglow.

Why not listen to it alone on a long autumn night, when you want to sink into quiet contemplation?

Fall On MeR.E.M.

R.E.M. – Fall On Me

R.E.M., a band that epitomizes alternative rock in the 1980s.

Their intellectual lyrics and beautiful melodies are still beloved by many music fans.

Among their works, a perfect song for autumn is the lead single from the album Lifes Rich Pageant, released in July 1986.

It originally addressed environmental issues, but was elevated into a theme of resisting more universal forms of pressure.

Its crystalline guitar arpeggios and gorgeous choral work convey a firm resolve amid a sense of melancholy.

There’s a certain introspective atmosphere to it that might accompany you as you spend reflective time gazing at the evening sky.

Be sure to check it out.

Englishman in New YorkSting

Sting – Englishman In New York

Sting, also known as the lead vocalist of The Police, has captivated many fans in his solo career with a more refined musical sensibility.

Among his works, the song I want to listen to when I’m in a sentimental autumn mood is a track from his 1987 album …Nothing Like the Sun.

The piece portrays the solitude of an English gentleman living in a foreign land, as well as the dignity of staying true to one’s own way.

The urbane, slightly melancholic saxophone makes you feel as if you’re walking a New York street in the autumn wind.

Even if you don’t quite fit in with those around you, remaining true to yourself seems to mirror the autumn air—sorrowful yet crisp and composed.

The album that includes this track won the 1988 BRIT Award and was also used in a car commercial in the UK.