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!
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- Hidden gems of Western music. Lesser-known songs.
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Golden Age of Western Music! Recommended Summer Songs That Hit in the ’80s (91–100)
Sunset GrillDon Henley
No introduction is needed at this point, but Don Henley, the Eagles’ drummer and vocalist.
When it comes to his summer songs, it has to be the 1984 smash hit “The Boys of Summer.” On the other hand, “Sunset Grill” is also quite a gem.
It climbed to No.
22 on the U.S.
charts in 1985.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)Eurythmics
This is the song Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics, the charismatic duo of the British synth-pop scene.
It was included on the self-titled album released in 1983.
Major artists like Avicii and Marilyn Manson have released covers of it.
Even in different eras, something about the song must have resonated with them.
It has had a tremendous influence on many musicians.
And Annie Lennox—also known for her activism—delivers a powerful vocal performance that is undeniably captivating.
It’s a highly addictive track.
Paradise CityGuns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses is a hard rock band from the United States that racked up hit after hit in the 1980s and remains hugely popular in Japan.
They’ve released numerous classic songs, and among them, the one I especially recommend is Paradise City.
It’s a track from their 1987 debut album, Appetite for Destruction, and it was released as a single in November of the following year thanks to its exceptional quality.
At 6 minutes and 46 seconds, it’s a long song, but every phrase is crafted with such detail that you never get bored with its progression.
It stands as one of the finest works in the history of hard rock, so if you love rock music, be sure to check it out.
Flashdance… What A FeelingIrene Cara
The theme song from the 1983 film Flashdance.
Released by American singer-songwriter and actress Irene Cara, it reached No.
1 on charts around the world.
The track won a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe.
Sealed With A KissJason Donovan
Born in Australia.
Active since childhood as a child actor, and became an idol in her teens.
In the 1980s, she became popular in Japan through a duet with Kylie Minogue.
This song is an oldies number known in Japan as “Namida no Kuchizuke” (Tears of a Kiss).
Many artists, including Brian Hyland and The Lettermen, have covered it.
Crazy Crazy NightsKISS
When it comes to a feverish anthem that colored the summers of the ’80s, this track is indispensable.
The energetic anthem unleashed by KISS seems to embody those truly “crazy” summer nights.
With lyrics that cherish individuality and celebrate the power of music, it delivers a positive message perfect for the hot season.
Released in September 1987 as the first single from the album Crazy Nights, the song achieved the remarkable feat of reaching No.
4 in the UK.
Alongside Paul Stanley’s powerful vocals, Bruce Kulick’s guitar riffs leave a strong impression.
It’s a highly recommended track for amping up that free-spirited mood—whether on a summer drive or at a BBQ with friends.
LambadaKaoma
In the late 1980s, amid Japan’s booming bubble economy, a massive craze swept the country: lambada, the dance and music said to have originated in South America.
The excitement was so great that in 1990 a film themed around lambada, titled “Lambada/Heat of Youth,” was released, giving you an idea of just how big the phenomenon was.
Composed of passionate Latin rhythms and a sensual partner dance, lambada is the very image of midsummer.
A representative song on the musical side of this trend is “Lambada,” released in 1989 by Kaoma, a multinational band from France.
For those who spent their youth during the bubble era, it likely remains a treasured summer memory.
