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
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- 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 Hit in the ’80s (21–30)
Our Last SummerABBA
Everyone must have memories related to summer.
And regardless of what they are, there are times when the arrival of summer brings them back to mind.
With that in mind, let me introduce “Our Last Summer,” a piece released by the Swedish music group ABBA.
It’s a passionate ballad that evokes a beautiful romance from a summer long past.
It’s also lovely that the song leaves out the details—what happened afterward, what emotions the protagonist feels upon remembering—and leaves them to the listener’s imagination.
ShoutTears for Fears
A duo consisting of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.
A single released in 1984, it became a massive hit, reaching No.
2 in the UK and No.
1 in the US.
With its exotic, sultry, reverb-drenched synthesizer sound and a catchy chorus introduction, it’s a track with a mesmerizing quality that sticks in your head after just one listen.
Karma ChameleonCulture Club
Culture Club is a British pop music band that achieved worldwide popularity in the 1980s.
Centered around genres like New Wave and New Romantic, they helped define the decade’s distinctive sound.
One of their signature works is Karma Chameleon.
Its lyrics are both unique and bittersweet, portraying a gay man who pines for another man that won’t return his affection, likening him to a chameleon.
The chorus is frequently used in Japanese media, so many people are likely familiar with it.
RosannaTOTO
A track released by Toto in 1982.
Keyboard player Steve Porcaro was inspired by actress Rosanna Arquette, whom he was dating at the time.
It became a hit around the world and won a Grammy Award.
The music video features actor Patrick Swayze.
RioDuran Duran
Duran Duran combine stunning looks with advanced musicality, enjoying overwhelming popularity not only in their native UK but around the world, including Japan.
They’re also known as key figures in the so-called New Romantic and MTV movements, and they were hugely popular as idols at the time.
Their 1982 release Rio was a massive hit, reaching No.
2 on the UK charts and No.
6 in the US.
The title track, which opens the album, is an ultra-cool, stylish, danceable number driven by John Taylor’s memorable bass lines.
The music video—featuring the band on a boat and relaxing on the beach—perfectly captures a summer vibe and is great fun.
What’s interesting is that despite the song being drenched in summer atmosphere, it’s not actually about Rio de Janeiro.
Long Hot SummerThe Style Council
The Style Council is a British rock band.
One of their best-known songs is Long Hot Summer.
It blends elements of jazz and soul, creating a downcast mood.
The lyrics tell of someone devastated by a breakup, who realizes the long summer has ended while they were in despair.
Listening to it can make your chest ache.
Incidentally, 1983, the year the song was released, is also remembered in the UK for an unusually intense heatwave.
Summertime RollsJane’s Addiction
Like R.E.M.
and Red Hot Chili Peppers, they are a California group that gained popularity as an alternative rock band.
This track is from their 1988 debut album, Nothing’s Shocking.