Debut songs by female Western artists from the 1980s

Looking For A New LoveJody Watley

Jody Watley – Looking For A New Love

Included on the 1987 album “Jody Watley.” Born in 1959, she is a singer from Los Angeles.

This is the first solo single she released after leaving the music group Shalamar.

Her vocals blend nicely with the digital sound that evokes disco, giving the single a distinctive flavor.

Touch Me (I Want Your Body)Samantha Fox

Samantha Fox – Touch Me (I Want Your Body)

Included on the 1986 album “Touch Me.” Born in 1966, she is a London-born singer.

This was her debut single as a singer after working as a model.

The song quickly became a hit not only in her home country of the UK but also in the United States, earning her fame as a vocalist.

It’s a single with a melody full of pop sensibility that’s pleasing to the ear.

All Night With MeLaura Branigan

Laura Branigan -All Night With Me

Included on the 1982 album “Branigan.” Born in 1952, she was a singer from New York State.

In the 1980s, she scored a string of hits like “Self Control,” making her a popular star.

This is her debut single—a mid-tempo ballad with a richly emotive, ‘wet’ melody that really hits home.

Pickin’ Up PiecesBrenda K. Starr

Pickin’ Up Pieces (Long Version)

This is the debut single released in 1985 by Brenda K.

Starr, a New York–born artist from the United States.

At the time, she burst onto the music scene following a film appearance, and her powerful vocals left a strong impression.

Riding on a cutting-edge freestyle sound with heavy beats and shimmering synths, the song portrays a strong woman picking herself up after heartbreak.

Many listeners were surely encouraged by the lyrics about gathering the fragments of a broken heart and starting anew.

It’s a dance number that became the starting point of the brilliant career of the artist who would later be called the “Diva of Salsa.”

Your AlibisLisa Stansfield

Lisa Stansfield Yours Alibi’s

This is the memorable debut single released by Lisa Stansfield from the UK when she was 15.

She would later captivate the world with her soulful voice, but on this 1981 track she offers a sound that fuses new wave and pop.

The airy synth tones and her still-innocent vocals are a perfect match, aren’t they? Despite the slightly grown-up title, “Your Excuse,” the melody seems to hold both the fragility and purity of youth.

It’s a captivating song that makes you feel that this raw, uncut brilliance was the prelude to her later global success.

I Could BeSinitta

Sinitta I Could Be – Radio Edit

Born into a musical family and active between the UK and the US, this is Sinitta’s memorable debut single.

Released in 1983, the track is pure synth-pop, packed with the spirit of the ’80s.

Its glittering sound and buoyant beat hint at the global hits she would later achieve.

“I could be that special someone for you.” You can picture a scene where that blend of confidence and anticipation is sent across the dance floor with a burning gaze.

With this song, Sinitta drew attention in the club scene and began her path to pop stardom.

Perhaps this single contains the raw gem that would later shine so brightly in her career.

Good TraditionTanita Tikaram

Tanita Tikaram – Good Tradition (Official Video)

This is the debut single by Tanita Tikaram, a singer-songwriter born in Germany and based in the UK.

When the song was released in 1988, she was only 19! Her deep, calm voice and intellectually nuanced lyrics create a perfect contrast with her youth.

The cheerful folk-rock rhythm is layered with lively violin played by members of Dexys Midnight Runners, giving it a festive feeling—as if you’ve stumbled upon a street celebration somewhere in Europe.

Singing about her family’s “good traditions,” this track feels timeless, a song that warms the heart across generations.