Lovely commercial jingle

80s Western pop hits featured in commercials. A roundup of nostalgic CM songs.

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

“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 Western pop hits featured in commercials. A roundup of nostalgic CM songs (51–60)

Honda Stepwgn

Never Ending StoryLimahl

Limahl – Never Ending Story (Official Music Video)

Never Ending StoryLimahl

In the Honda Stepwgn commercial that aired in 2005, the song “Never Ending Story” was used.

Originally released in 1984 as the theme for the film The NeverEnding Story, it was sung by Limahl, a member of Kajagoogoo.

In contrast, the Stepwgn commercial featured a cover version performed by Miu Sakamoto rather than Limahl himself.

While Limahl’s original is a synth-driven pop track, Sakamoto’s cover employs piano and strings, resulting in a beautifully refreshing arrangement.

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In conclusion

When you listen to the 80s hit songs that were used in commercials in Japan, it’s easy to see why they regularly enjoy revival hits—they’re all absolute killer tunes. Even many younger listeners have probably felt like they’ve heard them somewhere. Since the music scene of the 2020s also has an 80s boom aspect, this is a great chance to dig deeper.