[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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[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (91–100)
Upside DownDiana Ross
Diana Ross is a superstar who kept producing hits from her time with The Supremes in the 1960s.
She went solo in the ’70s and became widely known as a diva.
This song was such a massive hit that it can be considered one of her signature tracks.
Its crisp, stylish, and tasteful sound was played constantly in clubs—and in Japan at the time, there wasn’t a day it didn’t spin at the disco.
As a dance number, it had a tremendous impact on music history.
Darlin’ IVanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams, a former Miss America who continues to thrive as a model, actress, and singer.
This is a classic on par with her huge ’80s hit “Save The Best For Last.” An R&B ballad with an air of mature allure, included on the album “The Right Stuff.”
Let’s GrooveEarth, Wind & Fire
This is a track included on the album “Raise!” released in 1981 by the American funk band Earth, Wind & Fire.
The song is pure groove—both the lyrics and the performance scream that tonight’s party anthem is set! It’s a dance number through and through.
Don’t Fight ItKenny Loggins ft. Steve Perry
If you listen to it when you’re feeling down, it’ll definitely fill your whole body with power! A classic duet by Kenny Loggins and Journey’s Steve Perry.
Their soaring vocals and the guitar intro are quintessential, straight-ahead rock.
The Japanese title is “Sunrise Party.”
Chariots of FireVangelis
The theme song from the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, which won Best Picture and Best Original Score at the 54th Academy Awards.
It’s a signature masterpiece by Vangelis, a world-renowned composer who has worked not only on original albums but also on numerous film, television, and stage scores.
Just hearing the main phrase is likely to make most people feel they’ve heard it at least once.
A Night To RememberShalamar
This is a landmark of post-disco sound created in January 1982 by Shalamar, one of America’s leading R&B groups.
Its catchy melody line and groove-laden rhythm made it an iconic track that electrified dance floors.
Released as a single from the album “Friends,” it reached No.
44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.
5 in the UK.
The song was also used in a commercial for the Harvester restaurant chain and featured in the TV series “Girlfriends.” With its shimmering blend of synthesizers and a funky bassline, it offers the full thrill of 80s disco.
Whether you love dance music or need a guaranteed party-pleaser, this track won’t disappoint.
The One That You LoveAir Supply
When talking about the Western music scene of the ’80s, we mustn’t forget Air Supply.
Everyone was captivated by their beautiful voices, lush sound, and grand melodies.
Following their previous hit “Lost in Love,” this song became one of their biggest hits.
You could say it established the quintessential Air Supply sound.
I remember hearing it everywhere—on the streets, in cafés, in all sorts of places.
Total Eclipse of the HeartBonnie Tyler
The lyrics are said to have been written with hints from the protagonists of Wuthering Heights, depicting a relationship in which the two are powerfully drawn to each other yet are not good for one another.
The title means a total eclipse of the heart, a state in which one’s shadow side even obscures the brighter parts of oneself.
Gimme All Your Lovin’ZZ Top
The American blues-rock band ZZ Top, active since the ’70s, struck gold in the ’80s with their “techno boogie” direction.
This album became a legendary smash hit in the United States, selling 10 million copies.
Today, they’re regarded as a nationally beloved Southern rock band.
Burn Rubber On MeGap Band
The Gap Band, an American group that established a sound influencing everything from funk and R&B to modern hip-hop.
Their signature hit, which lit up the disco scene of the ’80s, is a masterpiece that expresses the sorrow of a man betrayed by his lover through an uptempo funk groove.
Featured on the album The Gap Band III, the track is marked by an exquisite groove driven by Charlie Wilson’s Minimoog synthesizer bassline.
It topped the U.S.
R&B chart in 1980 and earned the band their first platinum record.
It’s a song that shines not only on the dance floor but also for cruising and party scenes, and was even included on the soundtrack of the racing game DiRT 3.