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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The golden age of Western pop! Recommended summer songs that were hits in the ’80s (1–10)
Hungry like the WolfDuran Duran
A dynamic dance tune that captures the feeling of a hunter hungry like a wolf, this track stands as a defining song of the early 1980s New Wave scene and still shines with undimmed appeal today.
Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, the lyrics thrillingly express fierce desire and primal impulses in love, while Simon Le Bon’s sensual vocals lend a taut tension to the entire piece.
Featured on the album Rio, it achieved global success—its innovative, adventure film–like music video, shot in Sri Lanka, became a hot topic on MTV and won the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.
With sparkling synths from the Roland Jupiter-8 and a funky groove, it’s the perfect track for a summer drive or a beach party!
PanamaVan Halen
This is one of the signature songs by Van Halen, the hard rock band from California, whose powerful guitar riffs leap into your ears and set your heart racing.
Released in June 1984 as the third single from the album “1984,” it became a classic that reached No.
13 on the U.S.
Billboard chart.
The title was inspired by a race car called the “Panama Express” that David Lee Roth spotted in Las Vegas, and the song channels a love of cars through its exhilarating sense of speed.
Its biggest draw is, without a doubt, Eddie Van Halen’s overwhelming guitar work, coupled with the real engine sound of a 1972 Lamborghini Miura S heard in the bridge, creating a visceral impact.
It’s the perfect track for a midsummer drive or whenever you want to get pumped up!
VacationThe Go-Go’s
The Go-Go’s are a pioneering all-female band, known for their debut album “Beauty and the Beat,” released in 1981, which became the first U.S.
number one by a girls’ band.
As its title suggests, “Vacation” is brimming with summer vibes.
Released in 1982 as the lead single from their second album of the same name, it’s also known as one of the band’s biggest hits.
The Go-Go’s signature hard-driving guitars, catchy synths, and breezy melody will put you in a great mood just by listening.
The delightfully dated, blatantly synthetic music video has its own charm too, so be sure to check it out along with the song!
Golden age of Western music! Recommended summer songs that hit in the ’80s (11–20)
Endless Summer NightsRichard Marx
From the assertive snap of the snare and the romantic tone of the saxophone right in the intro, this is a song that practically screams the ’80s.
It’s one of the signature tracks by American singer-songwriter Richard Marx, whose 1987 debut album, “Richard Marx,” became a sudden smash and catapulted him to stardom.
Released as a single from that debut in 1988, it was also a hit that reached No.
2 on the U.S.
Billboard chart.
The lyrics vividly portray a summer romance that never lasted, and anyone who’s had a similar experience will likely find themselves empathizing with the song’s protagonist.
It’s fresh and breezy, yet tinged with a certain melancholy—that bittersweet mix is part of its charm.
CongaMiami Sound Machine
When it comes to Latin disco in the ’80s, we mustn’t forget the signature hit by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.
Released in 1985 by this American band led by Estefan, who was born in Cuba, the track captivated the world with its innovative sound, seamlessly blending Latin rhythms driven by energetic percussion and a bold brass section with a catchy pop melody.
It peaked at No.
10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved the remarkable feat of charting simultaneously on the pop, dance, Black, and Latin charts.
As a pioneering work that opened the door for Latin music to enter the mainstream U.S.
market, it continues to influence countless artists to this day.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s massive hit with that gloriously flashy synth sound in the opening—80s to the max! Even the Japanese title “Suteki na Somebody” (literally “Lovely Somebody”), which really feels of its time, perfectly matches the vibe of the track.
Like “How Will I Know,” her first U.S.
No.
1, this one was also written by the husband-and-wife duo George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, resulting in a sparkling, danceable pop song.
Beyond her overwhelming vocal power, Whitney—still with a touch of innocence—beltedly asking “Won’t someone dance with me?” is just impossibly cute.
It’s not exactly a summer song, but with that memorable cover of Whitney in a tank top, it’s guaranteed to lift your spirits when you play it in the summer!
Need You TonightINXS
One of the signature works released in 1987 by INXS, the Australian band that wielded enormous influence in the dance-rock scene of the 1980s, this landmark track cemented their international success.
Seamlessly blending funk and rock, the song paints a sexy, urban nighttime scene, highlighted by Michael Hutchence’s sensual vocals.
At the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards, it won five categories including Video of the Year, and its innovative visual expression became a hot topic.
The electronic beat generated by the drum machine and the distinctive guitar riff feel great, creating an atmosphere perfect for summer night drives or sophisticated, grown-up moments.