[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 (71–80)
Another Day In ParadisePhil Collins
It’s a single released in 1989 by the British musician Phil Collins.
It was a popular song that reached No.
2 on the UK Singles Chart and No.
1 on the Billboard 200.
Later, it was used in Japan for a Mazda “Cronos” commercial.
Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield
It hit No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1981.
After appearing on the TV drama General Hospital, he became an instant star thanks to his handsome looks.
Riding that momentum, this song also shot to No.
1 in his main field of music.
It likely became a hit not because of his acting popularity, but because the song itself was good.
Rick, who plays guitar whenever he has a spare moment, also loves slide guitar, and there are rumors he’ll release a blues album next.
I Just Called To Say I Love YouStevie Wonder
It’s a song released in 1984, also known for being used on the soundtrack of the Gene Wilder–directed film The Woman in Red.
It was originally provided to Bread & Butter, with lyrics by Yumi Matsutoya and arrangement by Haruomi Hosono, but there’s an anecdote that Stevie’s side requested to release it first as the film’s theme song.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (’81–’90)
VacationThe Go-Go’s
It reached No.
8 in the U.S.
in 1982.
They were pioneers of the all-girl band scene, formed around Jane Wiedlin and Belinda Carlisle.
There were hard rock acts like the Runaways, but this might have been the first time a pop band of this kind also achieved major commercial success.
That said, they originally started out as a punk/new wave band.
In the music video, the five members stand side by side in pink outfits, doing water-skiing—the same image used on the album cover—which left a strong impression.
But apparently the actual water-skiing was done by professional players, and the video used compositing.
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.
ShoutTears for Fears
A song that catapulted these UK natives to fame in the United States and around the world.
Since two of the original members experienced their parents’ divorce in childhood, many of their songs lean toward anti-establishment themes, boldly and consistently presenting soft-spoken laments and cries about the state of the world.
No Sleep Till BrooklynBeastie Boys
A legendary unit that evolved from a punk band and became a pioneer of white hip-hop.
Rather than a funk-leaning rap style, their “rap rock,” characterized by punkish beats and a hard rock vibe, exerted an enormous influence across a wide range of genres.