Golden age of Western music! Recommended summer songs that were hits in the 80s
When it comes to the music scene of the ’80s, it’s often said that here in Japan, Western music was at its most dazzling, and the era produced countless hit songs that remain vivid in both memory and record.
With the disco boom, the spread of synthesizers that brought glittering, flashy sounds, and the visual strategies built around music videos following the birth of MTV, a succession of legendary superstars emerged.
In this article, we’ve focused on summer hits from the ’80s, while also weaving in tracks with a summery feel and timeless songs that seem perfect for listening to in the summer.
For those who lived through the era, it’s nostalgic; for younger listeners, it’s fresh.
Enjoy this selection of hits!
- [1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80's Best Hit Songs
- Club Hits: Dance music from Western artists that energized the dance floors in the 1980s
- 1980s: Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs
- Classic nostalgic summer hits from the ’80s. A roundup of summer songs.
- A collection of summer-like songs: tracks that go perfectly with summer, like the sea and the sky.
- Get fired up for the hot season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z
- Songs you want to listen to at the end of summer: Late-summer classics to look back on the season
- [Oldies] Summer Songs Recommended for People in Their 50s [2026]
- [Western Music] Summer songs that were hits in the ’90s: Recommended classics and popular tracks
- Summer songs from Western music that were hits in the 2000s
- A special feature on classic and hit songs by bands that were active in the 1980s
- Hidden gems of Western music. Lesser-known songs.
- Recommended Summer Songs for People in Their 60s: Classic and Popular J-Pop Hits [2026]
Golden age of Western music! Recommended summer songs that were hits in the 1980s (61–70)
If This Is ItHuey Lewis & The News
When it comes to American bands that define the ’80s, this group has got to be it.
Their theme song for the movie Back to the Future, Power of Love, is famous, but this track is also a summer staple.
It’s a bittersweet love song where he pleads, “If we’re over, please just say it clearly,” yet the sound is endlessly happy.
Hurts So GoodJohn Mellencamp
A track released as a single in 1982 by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp.
It reached No.
1 on the U.S.
charts.
The music video was filmed in Indiana, where John was born and raised.
Summer FunThe Barracudas
The Barracudas are a British surf rock band formed in 1979.
This track was released as a single in 1980 and reached No.
37 on the UK Singles Chart.
The track was inspired by the advertising campaign for the 1960s car, the Plymouth Barracuda.
Permanent VacationAerosmith
The title track of the album Permanent Vacation, released by Geffen Records in 1987, is a work that symbolizes Aerosmith’s musical rebirth as they sought to overcome drug addiction.
Skillfully blending hard rock with elements of pop metal and blues, its sound features a lively rhythm and catchy melodies, making it a key song that signaled a new direction for the band.
The album, including this track, sold over five million copies and achieved 5× Platinum certification, marking a major success.
Put it on for a summer drive or a get-together with friends, and you can fully soak in the atmosphere of the golden age of ’80s Western pop and rock!
It’s Still Rock & Roll to MeBilly Joel
1980 was a landmark year that saw a new wave sweep through the music world, and this track—Billy Joel’s first-ever No.
1 on the U.S.
charts—is a thrilling rock number packed with a scathing critique of the scene at the time.
Written from a sharp perspective that even so-called “new” movements like New Wave were ultimately just rehashes of past styles, and featuring a distinctive sax solo, the song became a signature single from the album Glass Houses, spending six consecutive weeks at No.
1.
Crank it up for a midsummer drive or any event and let the good times roll.
High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night)Def Leppard
The title track of Def Leppard’s second album, High ’n’ Dry, released in 1981 by the hard rock band from Sheffield, England, is a classic that brilliantly captures the excitement and sense of freedom of a weekend night.
Featuring an energetic sound that fuses elements of hard rock and heavy metal, its tightly interwoven guitar riffs and rhythm section create a powerful performance that draws listeners in.
The song has received high acclaim, ranking 33rd on VH1’s “40 Greatest Metal Songs,” and it continues to be cherished as one of Def Leppard’s signature tracks.
Forget about tomorrow—crank it up and enjoy it at full blast at a midsummer night party!
Straight UpPaula Abdul
Paula Abdul, an American artist who revolutionized the late-’80s dance-pop scene.
Having first found success as a choreographer, she released her debut album Forever Your Girl in 1988, and its third single became a landmark work that would define her musical career.
Its sound—an adroit blend of New Jack Swing and funk—stands out alongside lyrics that candidly express the complexities of romance.
The black-and-white music video, directed by David Fincher, featured Abdul’s own sophisticated choreography and became a sensation, winning four awards at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards.
The song topped the Billboard chart for three consecutive weeks and became a global smash, reaching the top 10 in more than 16 countries.
A perfect pick for your midsummer playlist!