Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
In the 1980s, a decade that saw musical diversity in genres like folk songs and pop, singer-songwriters emerged across various styles and left behind numerous classic hits.
Here, we present a ranking of popular songs by male singer-songwriters from the 1980s.
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- Popular Nostalgic Hits and Classics Ranking [1980s Japanese Music Ranking]
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- Masterpieces by male artists known for their captivating high notes. Recommended popular songs.
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1980s Male Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026] (21–30)
Make it a slow boogie (I want you)Minami Yoshitaka22rank/position
Released in 1981, Yoshitaka Minami’s “Suro na Boogie ni Shite Kure (I want you)” is a song distinguished by lyrics characteristic of Japanese kayōkyoku.
The content—“I want you”—has a straightforward, kayōkyoku-style line that gives it a slightly nostalgic feel.
On top of that, the whole track has a bluesy tone, which pairs perfectly with Minami’s sultry vocals to create a sweet atmosphere.
You don’t hear many blues-tinged songs like this these days, so it should feel very fresh even to listeners of the younger generation!
Merry Xmas to youOda Kazumasa23rank/position
This is a classic Christmas song that represents the 1980s, with Kazumasa Oda’s gentle voice and melody resonating in the heart! Released in December 1989 as his fourth single, it was produced as a commercial song for Dai-ichi Life.
Accompanied by striking footage of Oda running across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, it was reportedly aired for only two days.
The lyrics, which balance poignancy and warmth, express the loneliness of not being able to be with a loved one while conveying a heartfelt Merry Xmas—capturing a complex emotional state.
In 1995, it was released with a new arrangement, with live bass and drums adding even more warmth to the track.
It’s the perfect song to listen to on Christmas Eve, filled with feelings for someone special.
WaveKadamatsu Toshiki24rank/position
The final track from their debut album “SEA BREEZE,” released in 1981.
It’s a beautiful ballad you’ll want to listen to on a summer sunset beach.
Its bittersweet, mellow chord progression and melody feel luxurious and bubbly, evoking both the buoyant spirit of the booming ’80s and the poignancy of a summer romance’s end.
A hidden summer gem cherished by fans.
For me to be myselfOzaki Yutaka25rank/position
This song powerfully expresses the cries of young hearts.
It explores themes of self-identity and one’s relationship with society.
Included on the album “Seventeen’s Map,” released in December 1983, it has remained one of Mr.
Ozaki’s signature works, beloved by many.
It is recommended for those who need the courage to face society while staying true to themselves—especially students stepping into new environments.
Each listen will remind you of the importance of confronting your true self.
Seventeen-Year-Old’s MapOzaki Yutaka26rank/position
Released in December 1983 as the title track of Yutaka Ozaki’s debut album “Seventeen’s Map,” this song pairs sharply observed lyrics about youth’s loneliness and impatience with a rock-inflected sound.
It was released as a single in March 1984 and has remained one of Ozaki’s signature songs, beloved by many fans.
Highly recommended for those navigating the complex emotions of adolescence or anyone wanting to experience Ozaki’s musicality.
Its deeply resonant lyrics and powerful vocals are sure to strike a chord with you.
GraduationOzaki Yutaka27rank/position
This song, which sings about the hazy, helpless frustration of student days, will probably resonate especially with those who had a mischievous school life.
It’s a passionate graduation song by Yutaka Ozaki that speaks for students’ feelings.
Maybe graduating from school is nothing more than a passing point.
In the truest sense, graduation might be being released from the peculiar haze of being a student—the cramped life, the watchful eyes of others—being freed from all that and becoming truly free.
Yet beyond that freedom lies another kind of constraint.
Perhaps the song is teaching us that this is how we grow into adults.
Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki28rank/position
This is the major debut single by singer-songwriter Hideaki Tokunaga, who has earned enduring popularity with his distinctive high-tone voice and lyrical singing.
Given how many prominent musicians have covered it, chances are everyone has heard it at least once.
The lingering feelings for an unforgettable, precious person intertwine with the rainy scenery, and Tokunaga’s androgynous, translucent vocals double the sense of poignancy.
Its fragile, beautiful melody soothes a wounded man’s heart, making it a quintessential unrequited-love song.