Nostalgic or fresh? Great Western pop masterpieces and hit songs from the 1980s
The 1980s transformed music history and had a profound impact on later musicians.
Even those who didn’t live through the era can bask in a sense of nostalgia that feels somehow familiar.
Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper…
We researched pop hits from the West that defined the ’80s.
From those, we carefully selected the most popular tracks based on reliable feedback from music fans who visit our site.
Find a favorite track and dive in!
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Nostalgic? Or fresh? Great Western pop masterpieces and hit songs of the 80s (71–80)
Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield
Rick Springfield is a musician from Australia.
He’s a man with two sides—musician and actor—and it’s no wonder, since the phrase “sweet, handsome face” suits him perfectly.
His song “Jessie’s Girl” is another classic, with a shining white Stratocaster.
Shout To The TopThe Style Council
An iconic 80s anthem packed with powerful energy and an inspiring message.
Its passionate vocals and a sound that fuses soul and jazz leave a strong impression.
Released in October 1984, it reached No.
7 on the UK charts.
It was also featured in the 2000 film “Billy Elliot,” earning love across generations.
This work represents the fruition of The Style Council’s pursuit of a new musical form.
It’s a song that gives you the courage to stay true to yourself and charge toward your dreams.
Perfect for a morning jog or whenever you need a boost.
Every listen makes your heart dance—overflowing with irresistible charm.
Sweet Child O’ MineGuns N’ Roses
This is a song with an electrifying guitar riff.
Any guitar kid probably covered it using an instructional book.
Beyond this, Guns N’ Roses released hits like “Paradise City” and “Welcome to the Jungle,” growing into a monster band.
In 2017, they did a dome tour during their Japan visit, showcasing their enduring popularity.
Sister ChristianNight Ranger
Their two ace guitarists’ outstanding technique and the contrasting pop sensibilities of their two vocalists won wide popularity, leading to a string of big hits in the 1980s.
After disbanding once in 1989, they reunited in the 1990s and have continued to work steadily ever since.
Let’s GrooveEarth, Wind & Fire
The lead single from Earth, Wind & Fire’s 11th album, Raise!, released in 1981, became one of the band’s signature songs.
Incorporating elements of soul and disco, the track is defined by its catchy synthesizer riff and striking vocoder vocals, and it gained popularity as the ultimate party anthem that set dance floors alight.
The music video is known for being the first ever aired on BET’s Video Soul.
With lyrics that encourage sharing love through music and dance and enjoying the night until dawn, the song naturally draws listeners onto the dance floor.
To this day, it remains a beloved classic that transcends generations and is frequently played at parties and celebrations.
Into the GrooveMadonna
The theme song from Desperately Seeking Susan, in which Madonna starred as Susan.
However, the film itself didn’t do very well in Japan.
It’s a catchy, highly commercial dance number, but although it wasn’t released as a single in the United States, it was issued as a single in the UK, Japan, and other countries, where it gained popularity.
What A FeelongIrene Cara
This is the song known as the theme from the movie Flashdance.
In Japan, it became a mega-hit, topping the Oricon Western music singles chart for 21 consecutive weeks.
Namie Amuro, who recently made headlines with her retirement announcement, covered the song in 2008 and it became a hit.