[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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- Love songs in Western music that were hits in the 1980s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- Club Hits: Dance music from Western artists that energized the dance floors in the 1980s
- 80s Western pop hits featured in commercials. A roundup of nostalgic CM songs.
- The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classics and hit songs
- [80s Western Music] A roundup of debut songs by girl bands
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- Golden age of Western music! Recommended summer songs that were hits in the 80s
- 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 (101–110)
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.
Back in BlackAC/DC
It’s the song “Back in Black,” released in 1980 by the legendary rock band AC/DC, whose guitarist’s shorts and high-pitched vocals are trademarks.
The aggressive guitar riff is especially memorable.
It’s also a standard tune musicians jam on.
It’s an irresistible track for the generation of rock-loving moms and dads.
Rush HourJane Wiedlin
Jane, who played rhythm guitar for the Go-Go’s—the first all-female rock band to reach No.
1 on the U.S.
charts—didn’t achieve the same solo breakout as Belinda Carlisle after the band split, but she did reach No.
9 on the Billboard Hot 100 with this song.
It showcases a fresh, wholesome style of girl-pop that’s distinct from Belinda’s.
Bitter Is BetterKim Wilde
A song that frequently played on TV in 1982 as a soft drink commercial jingle.
They say the manufacturer was flooded with inquiries asking, “Who is that beauty?” Kim’s sexy vocals—she was even called Madonna’s rival at the time—are striking.
The composition and production were by Masami Tsuchiya of Ippu-Do.
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.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (111–120)
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.
I Wanna Be AdoredThe Stone Roses
This is a signature track from The Stone Roses’ debut album, said to have had a major influence on later British rock bands such as Oasis.
The title means “I want to be adored,” and the song conveys a message about not pretending to be someone you’re not and having confidence in yourself.