[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!
- Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
- [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.
- 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 (131–140)
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.
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.
Slow an’ EasyWhitesnake
Formed by David Coverdale in 1977 after Deep Purple disbanded.
The 1980s marked a period of breakthrough as they expanded into the United States, and this first release on Geffen Records became a major hit album, achieving double platinum status.
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.
A Night To RememberShalamar
This is a landmark of post-disco sound created in January 1982 by Shalamar, one of America’s leading R&B groups.
Its catchy melody line and groove-laden rhythm made it an iconic track that electrified dance floors.
Released as a single from the album “Friends,” it reached No.
44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.
5 in the UK.
The song was also used in a commercial for the Harvester restaurant chain and featured in the TV series “Girlfriends.” With its shimmering blend of synthesizers and a funky bassline, it offers the full thrill of 80s disco.
Whether you love dance music or need a guaranteed party-pleaser, this track won’t disappoint.
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.
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.