[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 (111–120)
Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)Pink Floyd
The music video is notable for its strong social message.
This track is among Pink Floyd’s biggest hits of the 1980s.
They still have a devoted fan base, but their highly progressive style was not universally embraced.
However, this song is different.
It can’t exactly be called catchy, yet it was highly regarded by many.
Crazy for YouMadonna
Madonna, the American singer known as the “Queen of Pop.” This work is a signature ballad that reinvented her image and led her into new territory.
It was the first time the dance-pop star delivered a tender love song, expressing in a straightforward way the uncontrollable, passionate feelings of falling head over heels for someone.
Produced in March 1985 as the theme song for the film Vision Quest, it reached No.
1 on the U.S.
charts in May of the same year.
It also became the milestone that earned Madonna her first Grammy nomination.
If you listen to it while experiencing a bittersweet romance, it will surely resonate with your heart.
Its sweet, romantic melody evokes the dazzling nights of the 1980s.
Once In A LifetimeTalking Heads
It’s a song that jolts you in those moments when your life suddenly feels like it’s on autopilot.
Created by the innovative American band Talking Heads, it sets existential questions about everyday life against a sound that fuses New Wave and Afrobeat.
The protagonist’s bewilderment—having acquired a beautiful house yet asking, “Why am I here?”—is memorably conveyed through David Byrne’s anxious, spoken delivery.
Released as a single from the classic album Remain in Light in January 1981, it was also featured in the film Down and Out in Beverly Hills.
Hailed by NPR as one of the “100 most important American musical works of the 20th century,” this masterpiece might offer a fresh perspective when you find yourself questioning the everyday.
Crazy Little Thing Called LoveQueen
Also known in Japan by the title “Desire by the Name of Love,” this song was a massive hit that reached No.
1 in the United States.
Considering that its parent album, The Game, sold 4.1 million copies in the U.S.
alone, you could say it heralded the dawn of Queen’s 1980s era.
While every member of Queen could write lyrics and compose music, this particular track was written and composed by Freddie Mercury.
It’s also the only song on which Freddie—who wasn’t especially adept at guitar—played guitar live.
It’s My LifeTalk Talk
An iconic song by the British band Talk Talk, distinguished by its cool synthesizer tones.
The group evolved from their early new wave sound into an experimental style that gradually incorporated jazz and art rock.
Released in January 1984, the track signaled the beginning of that transformation.
With a theme that seems to declare, “This is my life,” and a resolve not to let anyone interfere, it gives you the courage to stay true to yourself.
It drew renewed attention in 1990 during promotion for a best-of compilation, becoming a hit that reached No.
13 on the UK chart.
It’s a talisman-like number that gently supports you when you’re swayed by others’ voices or want to firm up your own resolve.
TrueSpandau Ballet
It’s a long-running hit from the ’80s—a piece of contemporary music that still feels fresh today.
It topped the UK singles chart for four weeks and ranked sixth for two consecutive years.
It was highly acclaimed in 20 other countries.
This song is Spandau Ballet’s biggest hit.
ImagineQueen
A smash hit that sings of humanity’s peace.
Its melody alone brings a sense of calm, and the more you read the lyrics, the deeper they feel—one reason it has been beloved around the world for so long.
You’ve probably heard this song in many contexts, from films to TV dramas.
Under PressureQueen
It’s said that while Freddie, Queen’s vocalist, handled the lyrics, the song was created amid various discussions, arguments, and quarrels as the other members weighed in.
It’s also famous as a collaboration with David Bowie, and although the original title was supposed to be “People on the Street,” at David’s strong request it was changed to “Under Pressure.”
In A Big CountryBig Country
They’re often described as a quintessential one-hit wonder, becoming legendary for this single big hit that featured bagpipes from their native Scotland.
In Japan, it was covered by George Yanagi.
In reality, they had a few other hits in the UK, but they’re hardly known outside the country.
Heart(Stop Beating in Time)Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer, from the UK.
His specialty is, above all, mellow ballads that showcase his beautiful voice.
Songs like “When I Need You” and “More Than I Can Say” are melodies almost everyone has heard at least once.
Hidden behind those massive hits, this track has a dreamy, addictive melodic line that really hits the spot.