Lovely hit song

Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 1980s Western Music

Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.
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.

The 1980s saw dramatic changes—from technological advances to the birth of MTV—and produced many massive hit songs that made music history.

At the same time, a wide range of genres flourished, from new wave and soul to disco and pop, and it was also an era that saw the rise of many leading female singers.

This article highlights female Western artists who colored the era, focusing on those who debuted in the 1980s while also including artists who had been active since the 1970s.

Enjoy it together with the hit songs these women sang in the ’80s!

Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 80s Western Music (51–60)

I’m Every WomanChaka Khan

Chaka Khan ~ I m Every Woman

I'm Every WomanChaka Khan

She is the queen of R&B, blessed with overwhelming vocal power and a soaring high-tone voice, and has influenced countless female singers.

Her career dates back to the 1970s, when she debuted as the lead vocalist of a funk band and churned out hit songs through the mid-1980s.

Although she also went through a difficult period without major hits, she continued to work across genres, and in 2019 she proved she was still going strong by releasing her first new album in 12 years.

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PhysicalOlivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John – Physical

PhysicalOlivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John, who was born in the UK and raised in Australia, began her career as a singer and actress in the mid-1960s.

Although she had a period of working her way up, she went on to win a Grammy with her 1974 release I Honestly Love You.

She’s also well known for the huge success of the musical film Grease, in which she starred alongside John Travolta.

In the 1980s, her track Physical, which brought rock-to-disco stylings to the forefront, became a massive hit.

The music video—mindful of the fitness craze of the time—was startling in more ways than one.

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In conclusion

As mentioned at the beginning, the 1980s were also a time when many female singers were in the spotlight—from pop singers to self-contained singer-songwriters, from disco and soul divas to vocalists fronting bands.

There are plenty of big hits and classic songs, of course, but it gets really interesting when you dig deeper, including the more obscure ones!