[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs
The 1980s brought changes to music history and had a huge influence on later musicians.
Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Madonna, Earth, Wind & Fire…
Even those who didn’t live through the era can sink into a sense of nostalgia that feels familiar somehow.
Compared to modern songs, the classics of the ’80s often boast purer song quality and stronger musical structure—or, seen another way, the larger market meant bigger budgets, letting you enjoy luxuriously produced sounds.
Find a favorite track and really dive into it!
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- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
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- Dance music in Japanese (J-pop) that people in their 50s used to listen to. Nostalgic classic hits.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (61–70)
ManiacMichael Sembello
It reached No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1983.
He originally made his name on the jazz scene, but he also built a track record as a session musician for major rock artists, which led to his big break on the soundtrack of the blockbuster film Flashdance.
Phil Ramone, who handled the film’s music, happened to like this song—originally written for a horror movie—and decided it was perfect for the protagonist’s training scenes.
It didn’t get much attention, but he’s also a master guitarist.
The highlight is the guitar solo in the interlude.
GoodbyeNight Ranger
It’s a deeply moving classic ballad by Night Ranger that sings, “I’m not good at saying goodbye.” The vocals are handled by drummer Kelly Keagy.
Among the many rock bands that emerged from the West Coast in the ’80s, this band is especially renowned for their ballads.
Sunday Bloody SundayU2
Speaking of U2, they’re now a monster band in the rock world, but in the ’80s they were still a promising up-and-coming act.
Their third album, War, released in 1983, was a powerful work that tackled social issues and religious views in their native Ireland head-on, and it’s regarded as an early masterpiece that set the stage for their breakthrough.
Call MeBlondie
Number one in the U.S.
in 1980.
It’s the theme from the Richard Gere film American Gigolo.
Giorgio Moroder, who was in charge of the music, supposedly first approached Stevie Nicks.
The song matched the film’s opening scene of driving along the coastline very well.
The ReflexDuran Duran
It’s the third single from the British band Duran Duran’s 1983 album “Seven and the Ragged Tiger,” and it reached number one in both the UK and the US.
Its danceable vibe is invigorating even for the listener!
99 LuftballonsNena
A song by the West German rock band Nena.
Despite being in German, it reached No.
2 in the United States and No.
1 in the United Kingdom the year after its 1983 release, and it also topped Japan’s Western music chart for four consecutive weeks.
It was later given English lyrics and re-released.
Woman in LoveBarbra Streisand
Her presence as both an actress and a singer was indispensable in the ’80s.
This song became her biggest hit, a ballad whose blend of poignancy and grandeur captivated everyone.
Despite being an actress, her powerful, diva-like vocals likely stem from having performed as a singer in nightclubs during her teenage years.
