Legendary Western rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 80s
Aerosmith, Queen, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC…
From the legendary Western rock that defined the 1980s, here are the classic and hit tracks recommended by our studio staff.
It’s a mighty playlist by rock giants who rewrote the history of music worldwide.
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- Classic songs by foreign (non-Japanese) all-female bands. Recommended popular tracks.
- Great Western rock classics and hit songs of the ’90s
- 80s Western pop hits featured in commercials. A roundup of nostalgic CM songs.
Legendary 80s Western rock masterpieces and hit songs (71–80)
I Love Rock ‘n’ RollJoan Jett & The Blackhearts
Joan Jett was a member of The Runaways, a female rock band that took the 1970s by storm in lingerie-clad outfits, but The Runaways were talked about more for their visuals than their music.
After the band broke up, Joan Jett formed The Blackhearts and pursued full-fledged rock, and this song became a massive hit, reaching No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1982.
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)David Bowie
David Bowie is a legendary artist who, beyond his music, wielded immense influence across a wide range of fields—including his innovative style, philosophy, and ideas, as well as fashion and art.
In the realm of manga, he had a particularly significant impact in Japan from the 1970s to the 1980s, especially on the design of characters in shoujo manga.
Naturally, Bowie’s song titles are also referenced in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
In Part 7, the Stand of Dr.
Ferdinand is named “Scary Monsters,” which is both the title of an album Bowie released in 1980 and its title track.
Bowie’s vocals sung in a Cockney accent and Robert Fripp of King Crimson on guitar make it a fantastic and stylish song—be sure to check it out!
This Little GirlGary U. S. Bonds
Gary U.S.
Bonds is a rock ’n’ roller who was active mainly in the 1960s.
This song was produced by Bruce Springsteen—who idolized Bonds’s music—and released in 1981.
Boosted by Springsteen’s popularity, it became a hidden gem that reached No.
11 on the U.S.
charts.
Welcome To The JungleGuns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses, dubbed “the most dangerous band in the world,” achieved explosive success after their debut in the late 1980s, went through a series of member departures and periods of inactivity, and today in the 2020s continue to perform energetically as a world-class active rock band.
In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, several Guns N’ Roses songs are referenced as Stand names, and it’s said that the character “Axl RO” who appears in Part 7, Steel Ball Run, is derived from the band’s frontman, Axl Rose.
In conclusion
In the 1980s, coming on the heels of the New Wave boom, many songs with unconventional structures—unlike anything rock had seen before—made their debut.
No matter which track you listened to, each had a rich individuality and offered a pretty satisfying listen, don’t you think? At Rug Music, we also introduce classic rock songs from various other eras.
Be sure to check out our other articles too!