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