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]
The Golden Age of Western Music! Recommended Summer Songs That Hit in the ’80s (31–40)
Like A PrayerMadonna
A track released by Madonna in 1989.
Before its release, it was featured in a Pepsi TV commercial and became a hot topic.
It is characterized by a gospel sound.
The music video, directed by Mary Lambert, was filmed in California and won an MTV Video Music Award.
CherishKool and The Gang
The intro, where the plaintive tones of a piano layer over an SE of seagulls calling and waves rolling, evokes a summer evening, doesn’t it? “Cherish” is a hit released in 1985 by Kool & the Gang, a group that has been active in the soul and funk scene since their formation in 1964.
Even among the many hits they churned out in the ’80s, this is likely the first number that comes to mind for many when you say “a summer song.” With lead vocalist J.T.
Taylor delivering a sweet, soaring performance, this medium-tempo, pop-tinged urban soul classic boasts a beautiful, soothing melody.
Its subtly wistful sound is perfect for cooling down a body flushed by the midsummer heat.
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.
Walking On SunshineKatrina and The Waves
A track written by Kimberly Rew, originally the guitarist of The Soft Boys who later became a member of Katrina & the Waves.
It was released in 1985.
The track has been used in many films, including American Psycho.
Bette Davis EyesKim Carnes
A track written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon.
It was inspired by the 1942 film Now, Voyager.
Released in 1981 by American singer Kim Carnes, the track won a Grammy Award.
Golden age of Western music! Recommended summer songs that were hits in the ’80s (41–50)
Papa Don’t PreachMadonna
A single released from the 1986 album True Blue.
It reached number one on the U.S.
Billboard charts; the literal translation of the title is “Papa, stop lecturing me.” The lyrics tell the story of a young, unmarried girl who becomes pregnant and decides to have the baby, and its socially charged focus on the risks of teenage romance sparked widespread discussion.
Cold HeartedPaula Abdul
A track released as a single in 1989 by American singer Paula Abdul.
It reached No.
1 on the U.S.
charts.
The music video, a tribute to the film Flashdance, was directed by David Fincher.