Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
Speaking of Western music from the ’80s, it was the heyday of MTV, with countless flashy music videos airing on TV.
There were innumerable global hits that we enjoyed with the same familiarity as domestic hit songs in Japan.
For those who spent their youth in the ’80s, chances are that a beloved classic from Western music is playing somewhere in the pages of your memories.
In this article, we’ve gathered masterpieces that focus specifically on “ballads” from ’80s Western music.
The ’80s catalog is far too deep to cover exhaustively, but please enjoy a wide range of ballad classics—from straightforward ballads to medium-tempo ballads and power ballads by rock bands.
- A collection of popular Western rock ballads: a roundup of moving, tear-jerking masterpieces.
- [1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80's Best Hit Songs
- I Want to Be Healed from the Heart: Recommended Western Ballads Sung by Female Vocalists
- 1980s: Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs
- [Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
- A classic medium-tempo ballad in Western music
- [2026] A curated list of recommended popular ballads sung by male Western artists
- Songs That Make You Cry: Heart-Wrenching Western Music—from Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits
- Breakup songs in Western music that were hits in the 80s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- [1980s] A Collection of Classic Western Ballads with Female Vocals
- Piano ballads of Western music—from timeless hits to the latest songs
- 80s Western pop hits featured in commercials. A roundup of nostalgic CM songs.
- [Ballads] Hidden gems of Japanese music. Songs that really hit you.
All Timeless Classics! A Collection of Nostalgic ’80s Western Pop Ballads (11–20)
True ColorsCyndi Lauper
This is a celebrated ballad counted among the signature songs of Cyndi Lauper, a leading American artist and a well-known Japanophile.
Released in 1986 as the first single from her second album, True Colors, it reached No.
1 on the U.S.
charts.
The song conveys empathy and encouragement for those in distress, emphasizing the importance of valuing one’s true self.
Cyndi’s distinctive voice and personality further enhance the song’s appeal.
It has also come to be used as an anthem for LGBTQ+ rights, continuing to influence many people.
Never Tear Us ApartINXS
It’s that famous ballad from INXS’s sixth album, Kick, released in 1988, with Michael Hutchence at the helm.
The sound makes effective use of strings like violins, adding dignity and grandeur to Michael’s wild, radiating vocals—both distinctive in its own right and, sadly, a poignant reminder of how truly irreplaceable he was after his death by suicide.
His scandalous way of life, which echoes that of The Doors’ Jim Morrison, feels like it embodies one facet of 20th-century rock.
Listening again now, in the 21st century, is deeply moving and rekindles a renewed sense of rock music’s enduring presence.
One More NightPhil Collins
A renowned ballad from the first album released after Phil Collins, formerly the drummer of the British progressive rock group Genesis, went solo.
The sound and vocals evoke a dim, shadowy space that, true to the title, conjures the night—so striking that it invites comparison to Miles Davis’s equally nocturnal “’Round Midnight.” The lyrics, with their plaintive repetition of “one more night, one more night…,” are simple yet piercing.
Although Phil went on to rack up numerous hits with catchy, pop-savvy tunes after this number, he is in fact a master of heartfelt ballads as well, as shown by “Take a Look at Me Now,” which he performed for the film Against All Odds.
On a night when you’re alone with a bittersweet ache, give this song a listen, too.
Still Loving YouScorpions
A masterful power ballad whose poignant yet powerful melody resonates deep in the heart.
The earnest feelings of a man trying to win back a lost love are conveyed through Klaus Meine’s distinctive vocals.
Included on the 1984 album “Love at First Sting,” the song became a worldwide hit.
In France it even turned into a social phenomenon, with anecdotes claiming it contributed to the 1985 baby boom.
The guitar’s delicate tone and the gradually swelling sound gently embrace those troubled by love.
It’s a track you’ll want to play on nights when you look back on memories with someone special—truly a classic ’80s ballad.
In Your EyesPeter Gabriel
From an intro infused with world music elements, this masterpiece immediately draws you into a grand realm of love.
Created by the innovative British musician Peter Gabriel, the track appears on his acclaimed 1986 album So.
It’s a universal love song that sings of a soul-deep bond—finding salvation, a future, and a place to return within a loved one’s eyes.
With the prayerful vocals of Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, the entire piece radiates a sacred aura.
Featured in the iconic 1989 film Say Anything… during the scene where the protagonist holds up a boombox, it became known as a timeless anthem of love.
On a night when you want to feel the presence of someone special anew, why not surrender to this song’s warm yet passionate sound?