[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 (131–140)
Wake Me Up Before You Go-GoWham!
Wham! had enjoyed idol-like popularity since the early ’80s, but with this song they aimed for a cheerful image makeover and became even bigger stars.
The track—released in Japan under the title “Ukiki Wake Me Up”—was included on the album Make It Big, which became a global smash and spent a total of 11 weeks at No.
1 on Japan’s international album chart.
Not only the song but also the shirts featured in the music video sparked a craze.
Hands To HeavenBreathe
A splendid ballad that even exudes a solemn atmosphere, praying to God for a reunion with a loved one.
It’s the signature song of Breeze, a pop band from London.
Beyond the song’s beauty, the striking good looks of the vocalist, David Glasper, also drew considerable attention at the time.
Up Where We BelongJoe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
It was number one in the U.S.
in 1982.
This classic plays at the end of the film An Officer and a Gentleman, starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger.
“An Officer and a Gentleman” is the original title; “officer” is used in the sense of a commissioned military officer.
The song was written by Will Jennings and the renowned Jack Nitzsche.
When it comes to duets, you think of Jennifer Warnes, and the legendary Joe Cocker’s voice blends with hers superbly.
Owner Of A Lonely HeartYES
It’s a song by the British rock band YES, released in 1983.
In stark contrast to their previous progressive sound, it has a pop-rock style, and it has been featured frequently in commercials and anime in Japan.
Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne
When it comes to Black Sabbath, the band is often regarded as the origin of heavy metal.
After leaving Black Sabbath, vocalist Ozzy Osbourne formed his own band and released the album “Blizzard of Ozz” in 1980.
The track “Crazy Train” from this album is not only one of his signature songs, but also a classic packed with the appeal of hard rock, including its guitar solo.
Holding Back The YearsSimply Red
It hit No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1986—this was their breakthrough.
Simply Red kept scoring hits with the soulful vocals of their red-haired frontman, Mick Hucknall.
In Japan, there was quite a buzz around Gota Yashiki joining the band as their drummer around the time of another hit, Stars.
In 1989, they reached No.
1 in the U.S.
with their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ If You Don’t Know Me by Now.
Mick is great at soul covers, too.
The up-tempo Money’s Too Tight (to Mention) and The Right Thing are also excellent tracks.
Take your time (Do it right)The SOS Band
A quintessential disco sound of the 1980s from America’s representative R&B group, the S.O.S.
Band.
Its sophisticated arrangement—woven from a groovy bassline and synthesizers—and Mary Davis’s powerful, soulful vocals are irresistibly compelling.
Released in March 1980, their debut single spent five consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the U.S.
R&B chart and became a platinum-certified smash hit.
As the lead single from the album “S.O.S.,” it brilliantly fused disco, funk, and soul into an innovative sound.
Its danceable beat and smooth melody make it perfect as background music for parties or a drive.
The Tide Is HighBlondie
Speaking of Blondie, the explosively popular hit Call Me at the end of the ’70s is well known, but this song is actually a cover of one performed in ’67 by the Jamaican vocal group The Paragons.
With its irresistibly pleasing blend of reggae rhythms and a Latin flavor, it became one of her hits in 1980.
It’s a song that evokes a southern island, with a repeating phrase that listeners found comfortably lovable.
9 to 5Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton, a celebrated American singer-songwriter who also wears many hats as an actress and author.
This song, with its dazzling arrangement and catchy melody, was a massive hit released during the period when she, known as a leading figure in country music, moved closer to pop.
It served as the theme song for the film “9 to 5,” in which she also appeared.
For many, hearing the song instantly brings the movie to mind.
Rock the CasbahThe Clash
Many references to Western music in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure include punk bands, and a representative example is the Stand name “Clash” used by Squalo in Part 5, Golden Wind.
It’s said to be based on The Clash, one of the defining British punk bands of the 1970s, known for their aggressive performances, their genre-blending music that incorporated reggae and dub, and their socially conscious stance.
As mentioned, not only their early punkish sound but also their later albums, which show musical evolution, are all compelling—so I recommend giving them a listen, even if you’re not a dedicated punk fan.