[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 (141–150)
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.
And The Beat Goes OnThe Whispers
The Whispers, who created a classic that has long been cherished as a defining soul-disco sound of the ’80s.
Hailing from California, their October 1979 release is a masterpiece that sets a positive, forward-looking message about a breakup—one of life’s turning points—to an upbeat groove.
Its effective use of synthesizers made it a pivotal track symbolizing the transition from disco to post-disco.
In 2002, it was featured on the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, winning over a new generation of listeners.
With rhythms and melodies that feel right at home on the dance floor, it’s the perfect song for anyone ready to move forward.
A gem of a disco tune, dedicated to those who, while carrying a hint of heartache, want to take a bold new step.
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.
Arthur’s ThemeChristopher Cross
Number one in the U.S.
in 1981.
The theme from the film “Arthur,” starring Liza Minnelli and Dudley Moore.
A collaboration by Carole Bayer Sager and Burt Bacharach with C.
Cross.
Peter Allen’s name is also included, apparently because the lyric “when you get caught between the moon and New York City” was quoted from one of his works.
Come On EileenDexys Midnight Runners
It hit number one in the U.S.
in 1983.
The frontman, Kevin Rowland, came out of the punk scene, and it’s said that this song wasn’t really their usual style.
In the UK they had another hit, “Geno,” but in the U.S.
they shot to the top and then disappeared just as quickly—that’s the impression I have.
The music video was a bit odd too.
They showed up in overalls and bandanas.
Hippies? At first I even wondered if they were a jug band.
Still, the song itself is absolutely outstanding.
Shy BoyBananarama
When you think of Bananarama, their hit song “Venus” is the most famous.
But they have plenty of underrated gems, including this early track.
The trio’s laid-back harmonies and unique fashion are their trademarks, and their music videos served as style inspiration for ’80s girls.