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 (’81–’90)
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.
Let’s DanceDavid Bowie
He is an artist with numerous awards, including Grammy Awards.
In 1996, he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A Japanophile, he owned a vacation home in Kyoto in the 1980s.
David Bowie, too, suddenly passed away in 2016.
FootlooseKenny Loggins
This is also a movie theme song.
It’s a work by Kenny Loggins, who is known as the singer of the theme from the movie Top Gun.
Kenny Loggins is a highly accomplished artist who won a Grammy as a composer in the 1970s.
It’s a song you still often hear these days, including in TV commercials.
Play The GameQueen
The girl group Citizen Queen consistently delivers powerful messages centered on women’s empowerment.
In this work, themes focusing on romance and self-expression unfold, conveying positive messages and the importance of self-awareness to listeners.
Released in April 2021, this track further cemented their musical identity.
Drawing on their experience as the opening act for Pentatonix’s world tour, they showcase skills that stand strong on the biggest stages.
It’s a recommended song for anyone who wants to value their individuality or needs a boost of positivity.
99 LuftballonsNena
This is another song that’s better known by its Japanese title.
Nena is a pop group from Germany, and this track is sung entirely in German.
It’s one of the few cases of a globally successful hit by an artist from Germany.
In Japan, it topped the Oricon Western music singles chart for four consecutive weeks.
Come On EileenDexys Midnight Runners
A seven-piece Irish group best known for this one track—rooted in Kevin Rowland’s eccentric, Celtic-inspired folk sound and distinguished by its unique worldview—that became a massive hit worldwide.
The band’s name is said to mean “people who take drugs and dance all night.”
Nostalgic or Fresh? Great Western Pop Masterpieces and Hit Songs of the 80s (91–100)
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.