[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!
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces and Hit Songs of 80s Disco
- Legendary Western rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 80s
- Ranking of Popular Western Music Artists of the 1980s [2026]
- Nostalgic or fresh? Great Western pop masterpieces and hit songs from the 1980s
- Love songs in Western music that were hits in the 1980s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
- 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 (151–160)
Take It EasyAndy Taylor
A solo single by former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor.
It’s a featured song in the film “American Anthem.” True to Andy—who said in an interview at the time that what he really wanted to do was hard rock—it’s a straightforward, refreshing rock track.
DominosRobbie Nevil
C’est La Vie was a huge hit across the United States.
Perhaps because his subsequent activities were relatively low-profile, Robbie has sometimes been labeled a one-hit wonder, but in America he continued to turn out hit songs.
He is also well known as a producer and even provided songs for Seiko Matsuda in the past.
VenusBananarama
Shining as a monumental pillar of 1980s pop music, this track elevated Bananarama, the British girl group, into perfectly evolved dance-pop.
Transforming a classic rock original into a Hi-NRG arrangement, its dazzling disco sound—driven by synthesizers and electronic textures—pairs seamlessly with captivating female vocals.
Released in May 1986, it reached No.
1 on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100 in September of the same year, making them the first British girl group to top the chart in America.
It hit the top of the charts worldwide, and its music video made a major splash on MTV.
With rhythm that ignites the dance floor and sleek production, it remains a beloved party staple to this day.
Uptown GirlBilly Joel
This song features a lively melody strongly influenced by 1960s doo-wop.
Billy Joel skillfully portrays a universal love story in which a working-class young man falls in love with a woman from high society.
Set to a bright, cheerful tune, the piece depicts a romance that transcends social class and was released as a single from the album An Innocent Man in September 1983.
It reached No.
1 in the UK and became a major hit, selling approximately 975,000 copies.
In 1984, it was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award and received high praise as a sophisticated pop tune.
Its upbeat rhythm and hopeful message encourage a positive outlook on love.
I Feel for YouChaka Khan
Released in October 1984 by American singer Chaka Khan, this track blends gleaming synthesizers with a masterful rap by Grandmaster Melle Mel.
It transforms Prince’s original into a vibrant mix of R&B, funk, and hip-hop, reaching No.
3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.
1 on both the R&B and Dance charts.
Issued as the lead single from the album “I Feel for You,” it became one of the defining songs of her solo career.
Featuring Stevie Wonder’s distinctive chromatic harmonica, it’s a perfect choice for heating up the dance floor or indulging in classic ’80s disco sounds.
SearchingChange
Change, heavily influenced by the legendary disco band Chic.
Change was an Italian-American post-disco group formed in Bologna, Italy, in 1979 by executive producers Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi.
Flashdance… What A FeelingIrene Cara
This is a signature song by Irene Cara, used as the theme for the hit 1983 film Flashdance.
Even if you can’t place it at first, many people will recognize it as soon as the chorus comes in.
Besides the original, several cover versions became hits in Japan, and Namie Amuro also covered it in 2008.
Mutha (Don’t want to go to school today)Extreme
Formed in 1985, Extreme became a popular band with their distinctive sound that blends hard rock with elements of funk.
While their ballad “More Than Words” is particularly famous, their true appeal lies in the fusion of bouncy rhythms and hard rock.
This song from their debut album, “Extreme,” is packed with everything that makes them so compelling.
Give Me The NightGeorge Benson
Released in the summer of 1980, Give Me The Night was produced by Quincy Jones.
It reached number one on both the soul and jazz album charts.
A classic anthem, it could be heard multiple times in a single night at the disco.
Creeping DeathMetallica
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Metallica, the American heavy metal band, is the most famous metal band.
Their low-slung Explorers are still the object of admiration for many guitarists.
All the members have long hair—they’re intense, rugged, and utterly cool.