[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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- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
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- 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 (161–170)
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.
Psycho KillerTalking Heads
In the opening of the film they starred in, Stop Making Sense, there’s a striking scene where David Byrne walks onto the stage alone carrying a boombox, switches it on, and calmly begins performing this song.
Incidentally, the film was directed by Jonathan Demme—then still unknown—who later made The Silence of the Lambs.
There’s far too much to say about them, but for example, the Tom Tom Club, which they launched as a side project within the band: their single Genius of Love was a commercial success, and their early engagement with African beats had a major impact on the music scene that followed.
In any case, they were the most formidable artistic collective of the 1980s.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (171–180)
Make It RealThe Jets
A sibling band from Minneapolis that was a big hit in the ’80s.
You don’t hear this one as often as their U.S.
No.
1 “You Got It All,” but it’s another heartbreak song full of melancholy.
The group’s appeal, above all, lies in the overwhelming vocal power of Elizabeth.
They Don’t KnowTracey Ullman
As an actress, Tracey Ullman continues to be active in films and TV dramas.
Her nostalgia-filled music video truly showcases her acting prowess.
Her comedic performance is irresistibly cute.
And there’s even a surprise appearance at the end by the real Paul McCartney.
Tryin’ To Kill A Saturday NightKeane
A group centered around the Keane brothers, Tom and John, it was also known as TOTO’s younger-brother band.
Remarkably, Tom and John, who handled all the writing, composing, and performing, were still teenagers at the time.
They continue to be active as producers today.
A masterpiece highly regarded not only by rock fans but also as AOR.
Especially For YouKylie Minogue & Jason Donovan
A pop ballad duet by Kylie Minogue, an ’80s songstress on par with Madonna, and Jason Donovan, a popular actor and singer from Australia like her.
The collaboration between these two top idols of the time became a major talking point.
SledgehammerPeter Gabriel
It hit No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1986.
He left Genesis in 1975 due to family reasons, despite having established a solid position in the British prog scene.
Genesis, having lost their leader, went on to great success thanks to the contributions of the later-joining Phil Collins.
Meanwhile, he continued to release high-quality works that appealed to connoisseurs.
Just when it seemed he had nothing to do with the charts, this song became a big hit.
The clay-animation music video was mind-blowing.