80s Western pop hits featured in commercials. A roundup of nostalgic CM songs.
“What was that song they used in that commercial again…?” Everyone’s had that moment at least once.
And when it’s a Western song, you might only remember the lyrics vaguely.
In this article, we’re rounding up and introducing popular tracks from the 1980s—the so-called golden age of Western music—that were featured in Japanese commercials!
The lineup includes not only nostalgic commercials from the ’80s for those who remember the era, but also recent ads that have revived ’80s hits.
Younger readers might even discover that a familiar commercial jingle was actually a hit from the 1980s.
Enjoy!
- 80s commercial songs. A roundup of Japanese songs from the 80s that have been used in commercials.
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- Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles. Introducing famous songs recently featured in commercials, too!
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80s Western pop hits featured in commercials. A roundup of nostalgic CM songs (51–60)
Lay Your Hands On MeThompson Twins
Thompson Twins are a British new wave band whose song “In The Name of Love” became a hit after being featured in the film Ghostbusters.
However, internal conflicts arose within the band, and they became a trio.
Their song “Lay Your Hands on Me” was used in a commercial for the Maxell UD series.
In the CityMadness
Madness is a British ska band that was active in the 1980s, known for a distinctive sound based on ska, bluebeat, and rock.
Their 1981 song “In the City” was used as the commercial theme for Honda’s City.
Uptown GirlBilly Joel
This commercial conveys, through Shiori Sato’s reflections on her memories, that with Greens Free you can enjoy a special taste even without alcohol.
It unfolds like looking back at memories through photographs, and her full-on smile—perfectly in step with Greens Free—really brings out the fun.
The song that further highlights the cheerful mood of the visuals is Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl.” Its buoyant, light rhythm is striking, evoking a happy image of everyday life becoming more colorful and enjoyable.
The ReflexDuran Duran
The British rock band Duran Duran helped spark the early-1980s New Romantic movement and the rise of MTV.
They also appeared in a commercial for Suntory Whisky Q.
The version of the commercial featuring their chibi, two-heads-tall characters used “The Reflex” as the CM song.
Open ArmsJourney
This is a 2001 commercial for the Elgrand, Nissan’s flagship minivan.
It highlights the powerful performance of its 3.5-liter V6 engine, featuring striking, American-inspired visuals such as riding alongside a cruiser motorcycle and a cowboy on horseback crossing in front of the car.
The background music is “Open Arms” by the American rock band Journey, a beautiful rock ballad known for its grand sound, which was also chosen as the theme song for the 2004 film Umizaru.
