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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | Every Breath You TakeThe Police | play_arrow | A beautiful s... that everyone has heard at least once |
| 2 | Girls Just Want To Have FunCyndi Lauper | play_arrow | Announced retirement from tours in 2024, 20… |
| 3 | Summer Of ‘69Bryan Adams | play_arrow | A major star born in Canada, and in 2020... |
| 4 | The Boys of SummerDon Henley | play_arrow | The legendary band that will go down in rock history, the Eagles’ dra… |
| 5 | JumpVan Halen | play_arrow | A representative of hard rock and heavy metal... |
| 6 | La Isla BonitaMadonna | play_arrow | They were enormously active from the 1980s through the 1990s… |
| 7 | SummertimeFun Boy Three | play_arrow | Britain’s representative pop band, Funbo… |
| 8 | Hungry like the WolfDuran Duran | play_arrow | A dynamic portrayal of a hunter’s mood, ravenous like a wolf... |
| 9 | PanamaVan Halen | play_arrow | A powerful guitar riff that leaps into your ears... |
| 10 | VacationThe Go-Go’s | play_arrow | A pioneering all-female band... |
| 11 | Endless Summer NightsRichard Marx | play_arrow | A assertive snare resonance and a romantic sa... |
| 12 | CongaMiami Sound Machine | play_arrow | Speaking of Latin disco from the ’80s, Glo... |
| 13 | I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)Whitney Houston | play_arrow | The flashy synth sound in the opening... |
| 14 | Need You TonightINXS | play_arrow | In the dance-rock scene of the 1980s, abs... |
| 15 | Cum on Feel the NoizeQuiet Riot | play_arrow | The ... of 1980s American hard rock |
| 16 | Youth Gone WildSkid Row | play_arrow | A skit from the U.S. state of New Jersey… |
| 17 | Private EyesDaryl Hall & John Oates | play_arrow | The 1980s saw booms across a variety of genres… |
| 18 | Let’s DanceDavid Bowie | play_arrow | In 1983, when the disco boom was in full swing, Lily... |
| 19 | Ain’t NobodyRufus and Chaka Khan | play_arrow | It's impossible to talk about the funk scene of the '80s without mentioning... |
| 20 | Into The GrooveMadonna | play_arrow | This song, which sings of a passion for the dance floor and a budding romance, is a mas… |
| 21 | Hot Summer NightsMiami Sound Machine | play_arrow | In the Western music scene of the 1980s, the most “... |
| 22 | Our Last SummerABBA | play_arrow | Everyone must have some memories related to summer. Tho… |
| 23 | ShoutTears for Fears | play_arrow | Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith... |
| 24 | Karma ChameleonCulture Club | play_arrow | The British band that gained worldwide popularity in the 1980s… |
| 25 | RosannaTOTO | play_arrow | Released in 1982 by Toto... |
| 26 | RioDuran Duran | play_arrow | Combining outstanding looks with advanced musicality, ... |
| 27 | Long Hot SummerThe Style Council | play_arrow | The British rock band, The Style Coun... |
| 28 | Summertime RollsJane’s Addiction | play_arrow | R.E.M and Red Hot Chili Pepp... |
| 29 | Dirty DianaMichael Jackson | play_arrow | A song about a woman at a concert or club... |
| 30 | Bette Davis EyesKim Carnes | play_arrow | Donna Weiss and Jackie D… |
| 31 | Cold HeartedPaula Abdul | play_arrow | An American singer who colored the 80s, P… |
| 32 | If You Don’t Know Me By NowSimply Red | play_arrow | Originally, Kenny Gamble and Leo… |
| 33 | Lonely Summer NightsStray cats | play_arrow | Stray Cats, the ’81 “goin’ D… |
| 34 | KokomoThe Beach Boys | play_arrow | When it comes to summer, this band—the legendary Beach Bo... |
| 35 | Eyes Without A FaceBilly Idol | play_arrow | B… is a British rock musician... |
| 36 | Like A PrayerMadonna | play_arrow | Lily by Madonna in 1989… |
| 37 | Summer NightsVan Halen | play_arrow | Van Halen’s seventh album, released in ’86… |
| 38 | Club TropicanaWham! | play_arrow | George, a pop star representing the United Kingdom... |
| 39 | On The BeachChris Rae | play_arrow | From their home country of the UK, as an AOR artist… |
| 40 | MagicOlivia Newton-John | play_arrow | The movie Xanadu, released in 1980… |
| 41 | CherishKool and The Gang | play_arrow | With seagull cries and the sound of waves playing as sound effects, a sorrowf... |
| 42 | Walking On SunshineKatrina and The Waves | play_arrow | He was originally the guitarist for The Soft Boys... |
| 43 | Papa Don’t PreachMadonna | play_arrow | The album “To…” released in 1986 |
| 44south_east | Cold HeartedPaula Abdul | play_arrow | Paula Ab..., an American singer |
| 45 | GhostbustersRay Parker Jr. | play_arrow | Ghost, a film that has been loved for many years... |
| 46 | ManiacMichael Sembello | play_arrow | American singer-songwriter Mi... |
| 47 | Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield | play_arrow | Handsome singer from Australia, Ri… |
| 48 | Self ControlLaura Branigan | play_arrow | The Brooklyn-born singer, Laura Branigan… |
| 49 | Hurts So GoodJohn Mellencamp | play_arrow | John Mellencamp's Hurt… |
| 50 | Don’t You Want MeThe Human League | play_arrow | The heyday of British synth-pop was, with this song, a... |
| 51 | Sea Of LoveRobert Plant | play_arrow | Former Led Zeppelin vocalist, Robe… |
| 52 | Goin’ CrazyDavid Lee Roth | play_arrow | A hard rock sound that explodes right from the intro... |
| 53 | Caribbean QueenBilly Ocean | play_arrow | He broke through with the 1984 album Suddenly... |
| 54 | There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)Eurythmics | play_arrow | Sung about happiness through love and pure joy... |
| 55 | Forever YoungAlphaville | play_arrow | A song about the virtues of youth and the fear of aging and death... |
| 56 | Little JeannieElton John | play_arrow | In 1980 by Elton John... |
| 57 | Summer’s HereJames Taylor | play_arrow | As a song that makes you feel the arrival of summer, “Summe…” |
| 58 | Danger ZoneKenny Loggins | play_arrow | In the Western music scene of the 1980s, the most “... |
| 59 | Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield | play_arrow | Australian singer Rick … |
| 60 | Take On Mea-ha | play_arrow | The genre that gained the most popularity in the 1980s and… |
| 61 | The One That You LoveAir Supply | play_arrow | A soft rock group from Australia… |
| 62 | Just Like ParadiseDavid Lee Roth | play_arrow | The 80s, draped in the glittering atmosphere of summer… |
| 63 | Wild Summer NightsEddie&The Cruisers | play_arrow | 『Wild Summer Nights』… |
| 64 | If This Is ItHuey Lewis & The News | play_arrow | An American band that represents the ’80s, and... |
| 65south_east | Hurts So GoodJohn Mellencamp | play_arrow | An American singer-songwriter... |
| 66 | Summer FunThe Barracudas | play_arrow | The Barracudas, in 1979... |
| 67 | Permanent VacationAerosmith | play_arrow | In 1987, Geffen Records… |
| 68 | It’s Still Rock & Roll to MeBilly Joel | play_arrow | Speaking of 1980, a new wave emerged in the music world... |
| 69 | High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night)Def Leppard | play_arrow | A hard rock band from Sheffield, England... |
| 70 | Straight UpPaula Abdul | play_arrow | A revolution in the late-80s dance-pop scene… |
| 71 | The Power of LoveHuey Lewis & The News | play_arrow | The band H…, based in San Francisco |
| 72 | Cruel SummerBananarama | play_arrow | This woman with the distinctive name Bananarama... |
| 73 | You Give Love A Bad NameBon Jovi | play_arrow | Not just in America, but the world’s hard roc… |
| 74 | Coming UpPaul McCartney | play_arrow | By Paul McCartney in 19… |
| 75south_east | Coming UpPaul McCartney | play_arrow | The legendary rock band, The Beatles… |
| 76 | Eye Of The TigerSurvivor | play_arrow | Everyone’s familiar with Survivor’s “Eye …” |
| 77 | KissPrince & The Revolution | play_arrow | Beautifully blurring the line between funk and pop... |
| 78 | Wake Me Up Before You Go-GoWham! | play_arrow | Wham, the duo that’s hugely popular in Japan as well. Speaking of Wham... |
| 79 | I’m So ExcitedThe Pointer Sisters | play_arrow | The P... is an American R&B group. |
| 80 | Hot In The CityBilly Idol | play_arrow | In the 70s, positioned as the younger brother of the Sex Pistols, and... |
| 81 | Summer RainBelinda Carlisle | play_arrow | After leaving the Go-Go’s, Be… has been active as a solo artist. |
| 82 | Under The BoardwalkBette Midler | play_arrow | A moving portrayal of a 30-year friendship between two women. |
| 83 | Don’t Worry Be HappyBobby McFerrin | play_arrow | Suddenly, but what kind of image do you have of summer… |
| 84 | Dancing In the DarkBruce Springsteen | play_arrow | Primarily active in pop rock and heartland rock… |
| 85 | The FlameCheap Trick | play_arrow | Originally a British singer, Elki… |
| 86 | Never SurrenderCorey Hart | play_arrow | Canadian singer Corey Har... |
| 87 | Pour Some Sugar On MeDef Leppard | play_arrow | An ear-catching guitar riff and an unforgettable chorus... |
| 88 | Rhythm Of The NightDeBarge | play_arrow | A dance classic that evokes the summers of the ’80s… |
| 89 | Let’s Hear It for the BoyDeniece Williams | play_arrow | An urban dance classic overflowing with exhilaration... |
| 90 | Upside DownDiana Ross | play_arrow | Singer Dia from Detroit, USA… |
| 91 | Walk Of LifeDire Straits | play_arrow | The legendary rock band from the United Kingdom, Da... |
| 92 | Sunset GrillDon Henley | play_arrow | No explanation is needed at this point, but the Eagles’ dra... |
| 93 | Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)Eurythmics | play_arrow | A charismatic duo in the UK synth-pop scene… |
| 94 | Paradise CityGuns N’ Roses | play_arrow | An American who churned out hit songs in the 1980s... |
| 95 | Flashdance… What A FeelingIrene Cara | play_arrow | The 1983 film “Flashdance…” |
| 96 | Sealed With A KissJason Donovan | play_arrow | Originally from Australia. Active since childhood as a child actor, … |
| 97 | Crazy Crazy NightsKISS | play_arrow | Speaking of a rousing song that colored the summers of the ’80s,… |
| 98 | LambadaKaoma | play_arrow | In the late 1980s, buoyed by the booming bubble economy... |
| 99 | Sunshine ReggaeLaid Back | play_arrow | The so-called one-hit wonder… |
| 100 | All Night LongLionel Richie | play_arrow | Not only in Black music but also in popular... |
| 101 | FunkytownLipps Inc | play_arrow | The disco hit that took the world by storm in 1980... |
| 102 | La BambaLos Lobos | play_arrow | Originally popular at weddings and other celebratory occasions… |
| 103 | Down UnderMen At Work | play_arrow | A leading representative of Australia in the 1980s, Ro... |
| 104 | PhysicalOlivia Newton-John | play_arrow | Olivia Newton-Johnによ… |
| 105 | Nothin’ But A Good TimePoison | play_arrow | An energetic ... that blows away the summer heat. |
| 106 | When Doves CryPrince | play_arrow | The 1984 album “Purpl… |
| 107 | Losing My ReligionR.E.M. | play_arrow | A legendary rock band that had a global impact... |
| 108 | Never Gonna Give You UpRick Astley | play_arrow | Rick Astley, who achieved a global smash hit... |
| 109 | Steal AwayRobbie Dupree | play_arrow | Singing, “Let’s sneak out together at night, just the two of us…” |
| 110 | Dressed For SuccessRoxette | play_arrow | Rox…, a Swedish rock duo |
| 111 | Don’t Answer MeThe Alan Parsons Project | play_arrow | The Alan Parsons Project is Bee... |
| 112 | We Got The BeatThe Go-Go’s | play_arrow | Th… who dominated the rock scene of the 1980s |
| 113 | Suddenly Last SummerThe Motels | play_arrow | An '80s film called 'One Last Summer of Memories'… |
| 114 | Your LoveThe Outfield | play_arrow | Based in London, England, and highly regarded around the world... |
| 115 | Summer GirlsY&T | play_arrow | A hard rock band from California… |
| 116 | Turn Up the RadioAutograph | play_arrow | This song, known as a hit from the 1980s... |
| 117 | SacrificeElton John | play_arrow | The painful lyrics depicting a breakup between a man and a woman are striking… |
| 118 | You Belong to the CityGlenn Frey | play_arrow | Don Henley, a fellow member of the Eagles… |
| 119 | Stone In LoveJourney | play_arrow | That nostalgic summer night is calling me—what should I do… |
| 120 | School’s OutKrokus | play_arrow | A Swiss-born ha—who rose to popularity in the 1980s... |
| 121 | Toy SoldiersMartika | play_arrow | A track that sings about drug addiction. A… |
| 122 | SledgehammerPeter Gabriel | play_arrow | Hailing from the UK, the legendary rock band Gen… |
| 123 | Love ShackThe B-52’s | play_arrow | The moment that singing voice hit my ears, I sudde... |
| 124 | Summer of LoveThe B-52’s | play_arrow | Known for a pop sound that uses keyboards... |
| 125 | MagicThe Cars | play_arrow | The Cars’ fifth album, Heartbeat… |
| 126 | What’s Love Got To Do With ItTina Turner | play_arrow | Black music with a rock flavor… |
| 127 | It’s Still Rock and Roll to MeBilly Joel | play_arrow | In 1980 by Billy Joel… |
| 128 | SailingChristopher Cross | play_arrow | Speaking of the leading and quintessential figure in AOR, … |
| 129 | Don’t Stop BelievinJourney | play_arrow | Gaining immense popularity in the rock scene of the 1980s... |
| 130 | Round and RoundRatt | play_arrow | Combining outstanding looks with advanced musicality, ... |
| 131 | Roll With ItSteve Winwood | play_arrow | A perfect love song for summer—and even a cheer anthem... |


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