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!

Playlist

Golden age of Western music! Recommended summer songs that were hits in the 80s
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Every Breath You TakeThe Police		A blockbuster ballad from the summer of 1983
2	Girls Just Want To Have FunCyndi Lauper		Cyndi Lauper retires, final tour in Japan
3	Summer Of ‘69Bryan Adams		Bryan Adams's summer song
4	The Boys of SummerDon Henley		Don Henley's 1984 classic
5	La Isla BonitaMadonna		Madonna’s Latin pop summer anthem
6	VacationThe Go-Go’s		The Go-Go’s’ summer smash hit “Vacation”
7	SummertimeFun Boy Three		Fanboy Three's summer song
8	PanamaVan Halen		Van Halen’s signature song, “Panama.”
9	JumpVan Halen		Introducing Van Halen’s signature song “Jump”
10	CongaMiami Sound Machine		Gloria Estefan’s signature Latin disco song
11	Endless Summer NightsRichard Marx		Richard Marx's 80s hit songs
12	I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)Whitney Houston		Whitney Houston's big 1980s hit song
13	Hungry like the WolfDuran Duran		A new wave dance themed on Little Red Riding Hood
14	Cum on Feel the NoizeQuiet Riot		Quiet Riot's signature song
15	Youth Gone WildSkid Row		Skid Row’s defiant rock anthem
16	Ain’t NobodyRufus and Chaka Khan		Chaka Khan Love Dance Classic
17	Need You TonightINXS		INXS's representative work from 1987
18	Private EyesDaryl Hall & John Oates		A representative classic of blue-eyed soul
19	Let’s DanceDavid Bowie		Depicting a life behind a mask through Bowie’s signature songs
20	Into The GrooveMadonna		Madonna’s 1985 dance-pop masterpiece
21	RosannaTOTO		Toto "Rosanna" Grammy Award–winning song
22	Hot Summer NightsMiami Sound Machine		Miami Sound Machine’s summer song
23	Long Hot SummerThe Style Council		A heartbreak song by The Style Council
24	Our Last SummerABBA		A ballad that recalls a summer love that has passed
25	ShoutTears for Fears		Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith's smash hit
26	Summer NightsVan Halen		Van Halen scores a major hit with their new vocalist
27	Karma ChameleonCulture Club		Culture Club's signature song 'Karma Chameleon'
28	Eyes Without A FaceBilly Idol		Billy Idol 1984 single
29	RioDuran Duran		Duran Duran’s summer song “Rio”
30	KokomoThe Beach Boys		The Beach Boys’ classic summer song
31	Summertime RollsJane’s Addiction		An alternative rock band from California
32	Dirty DianaMichael Jackson		Michael Jackson's 1988 rock song
33	MagicOlivia Newton-John		The Xanadu soundtrack is a big hit
34	Walking On SunshineKatrina and The Waves		A track composed by the guitarist of the Soft Boys
35	Bette Davis EyesKim Carnes		Kim Carnes's 1981 Grammy Award-winning song
36	Cold HeartedPaula Abdul		Paula Abdul's funky song
37	GhostbustersRay Parker Jr.		Ghostbusters theme song
38	Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield		Rick Springfield’s classic song
39	Like A PrayerMadonna		Madonna's 1989 release song
40	Club TropicanaWham!		Wham!'s 1983 summer hit song
41	Sea Of LoveRobert Plant		Robert Plant covers a hit song from ’59
42	Papa Don’t PreachMadonna		Madonna’s socially conscious love song
43	Cold HeartedPaula Abdul		Paula Abdul 1989 No.1 single
44	If You Don’t Know Me By NowSimply Red		Simply Red's song wins an award in a film
45	Lonely Summer NightsStray cats		Introduction to the Stray Cats’ classic ballads
46	On The BeachChris Rae		Chris Rea's deep, rugged voice is captivating.
47	Forever YoungAlphaville		Introduction to Alphaville's 1984 song
48	Little JeannieElton John		Elton John 1980 No. 1 song
49	Summer’s HereJames Taylor		A soothing, jazz-style piece that depicts the arrival of summer
50	Danger ZoneKenny Loggins		Kenny Loggins, an insert song from Top Gun
51	CherishKool and The Gang		Kool & the Gang’s summer classic from 1985
52	ManiacMichael Sembello		Introduction to the Flashdance theme song “Maniac”
53	Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield		Rick Springfield's 1981 hit song
54	Take On Mea-ha		Representative synth-pop songs are suitable for summer.
55	Coming UpPaul McCartney		Paul's experimental synth-pop song
56	The One That You LoveAir Supply		Air Supply’s classic song “Seaside Love”
57	Just Like ParadiseDavid Lee Roth		David Lee Roth's solo song, an iconic summer hit from the '80s
58	Wild Summer NightsEddie&The Cruisers		An ’80s summer song that hints at the end of youth
59	If This Is ItHuey Lewis & The News		A love song by an American band from the ’80s
60	Hurts So GoodJohn Mellencamp		John Mellencamp's 1982 smash hit
61	Hurts So GoodJohn Mellencamp		Introduction to John Mellencamp’s classic songs
62	Summer FunThe Barracudas		Barracuda, early British surf rock
63	Don’t You Want MeThe Human League		A synth-pop classic depicting heartbreak
64	It’s Still Rock & Roll to MeBilly Joel		Billy Joel’s scathing rock critique song
65	High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night)Def Leppard		Def Leppard’s signature song, capturing the exhilaration of a weekend night
66	Straight UpPaula Abdul		Paula Abdul’s signature song becomes a massive hit
67	Caribbean QueenBilly Ocean		Billy Ocean broke through in '84
68	There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)Eurythmics		Eurythmics’ 1985 smash hit that sings of love and joy
69	The Power of LoveHuey Lewis & The News		A big hit with Back to the Future
70	Self ControlLaura Branigan		Laura Branigan's signature song, Self Control
71	Roll With ItSteve Winwood		A love message song about overcoming hardships
72	Cruel SummerBananarama		A hit song by Bananarama depicting a summer romance
73	You Give Love A Bad NameBon Jovi		A Bon Jovi classic that's perfect for a summer drive
74	Coming UpPaul McCartney		1980 single featuring Paul's wife Linda
75	Eye Of The TigerSurvivor		Survivor’s hit song “Eye of the Tiger”
76	KissPrince & The Revolution		Prince's innovative funk track that hit No. 1 in the U.S. in 1986
77	Wake Me Up Before You Go-GoWham!		Introducing Wham!’s summer-friendly song “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”
78	Hot In The CityBilly Idol		The legendary vocalist of punk’s golden era is still active today.
79	Upside DownDiana Ross		Diana Ross’s 1980 smash hit
80	PhysicalOlivia Newton-John		Let's Get Physical 1981 Pop
81	Nothin’ But A Good TimePoison		A Poison rock number that sings of the desire to be freed from the struggles of everyday life
82	Losing My ReligionR.E.M.		R.E.M.’s summer-leaning alternative rock
83	Permanent VacationAerosmith		A song that symbolizes Aerosmith’s musical revival
84	Goin’ CrazyDavid Lee Roth		A flashy hard rock song from LA
85	Summer RainBelinda Carlisle		A song of Belinda waiting for her husband at the battlefield
86	Dancing In the DarkBruce Springsteen		Introduction to Bruce Springsteen’s Masterpieces
87	Never SurrenderCorey Hart		Corey Hart’s 1985 hit song
88	Sunset GrillDon Henley		Don Henley's summer classic
89	Flashdance… What A FeelingIrene Cara		The movie theme song became a global hit
90	Crazy Crazy NightsKISS		Introducing KISS’s iconic summer anthems from the 1980s
91	Sunshine ReggaeLaid Back		Laid Back is a one-hit wonder, but the song is good and easy to listen to.
92	Down UnderMen At Work		A summer-themed work by Men at Work
93	Never Gonna Give You UpRick Astley		Rick Astley's classic synth-pop
94	Steal AwayRobbie Dupree		A Nighttime Love Song for Just the Two of Us
95	Dressed For SuccessRoxette		Rock duo released as a single in 1988
96	Don’t Answer MeThe Alan Parsons Project		Alan Parsons' 1984 hit song
97	We Got The BeatThe Go-Go’s		Introduction to the Go-Go’s’ energetic rock songs
98	Suddenly Last SummerThe Motels		The Motels’ 80s hit song
99	Under The BoardwalkBette Midler		A 30-year friendship story of two women
100	Don’t Worry Be HappyBobby McFerrin		Introducing the perfect tracks for summer chill time
101	The FlameCheap Trick		Love song tops the charts at No. 1
102	Pour Some Sugar On MeDef Leppard		A summer-ready rock song with exhilarating guitar riffs
103	Rhythm Of The NightDeBarge		DeBarge’s ’80s dance classic
104	Let’s Hear It for the BoyDeniece Williams		An urban dance classic overflowing with exhilaration...
105	Walk Of LifeDire Straits		A rockabilly-style song of Dire Straits’ famous tunes
106	Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)Eurythmics		Eurythmics no meikyoku Sweet Dreams
107	Paradise CityGuns N’ Roses		Introduction to Guns' classic song, Paradise City
108	Sealed With A KissJason Donovan		Australian idol singer
109	LambadaKaoma		Lambada became a huge craze in Japan in the 1980s.
110	All Night LongLionel Richie		Lionel Richie's smash hit song
111	FunkytownLipps Inc		1980 global disco hit song
112	La BambaLos Lobos		Mexican folk song tops the global charts
113	When Doves CryPrince		Explanation of Prince's blockbuster hit song
114	Your LoveThe Outfield		The Outfield’s summer pop rock song “Your Love”
115	Summer GirlsY&T		Y&T, 80s hard rock.
116	Turn Up the RadioAutograph		A refreshing hit song that lets you escape the everyday through music
117	SacrificeElton John		A masterpiece that depicts Elton John’s farewell
118	You Belong to the CityGlenn Frey		Introducing Glenn Frey’s signature summer songs
119	Stone In LoveJourney		A song of longing for nostalgic summer nights
120	School’s OutKrokus		80s hard rock from Switzerland
121	Toy SoldiersMartika		A 1989 song with the theme of drug addiction
122	SledgehammerPeter Gabriel		Peter Gabriel's solo song
123	Love ShackThe B-52’s		The B-52s’ distinctive music group
124	Summer of LoveThe B-52’s		A keyboard-pop summer love dance number
125	MagicThe Cars		The Cars' signature summer song
126	I’m So ExcitedThe Pointer Sisters		The Pointer Sisters’ 1982 hit song
127	What’s Love Got To Do With ItTina Turner		Tina Turner’s summer-appropriate songs
128	It’s Still Rock and Roll to MeBilly Joel		Billy Joel's 1980 No. 1 hit song
129	SailingChristopher Cross		Christopher Cross's classic song "Sailing"
130	Don’t Stop BelievinJourney		I recommend Journey’s classic song “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
131	Round and RoundRatt		RATT's representative glam metal song from the '80s