[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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[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (171–180)
Tainted LoveSoft Cell
The original was sung by Gloria Jones in 1964, but Soft Cell’s cover turned it into a major hit.
The Japanese release title was “Utagarenaki Ai” (literally, “Stainless Love”), which is the opposite in meaning to the modern interpretation.
Many young people resonated with Marc Almond’s emotional vocal delivery.
What I Like About YouThe Romantics
The Romantics is a band from Detroit, USA, whose name is said to have been inspired by the fact that they formed on Valentine’s Day.
They struggled to score hits for a while, but finally caught fire in their seventh year.
Their popularity surged in Japan at the time as well, and they even performed there.
I Can Dream About YouDan Hartman
It reached No.
6 on the U.S.
charts in 1984.
In the film “Streets of Fire,” starring Diane Lane and Michael Paré, it’s presented as a number performed late in the story by the Black doo-wop group the Sorels.
Dan was originally a musician specializing in soul and dance styles and was talented enough to have been a member of the Edgar Winter Group.
He has also provided many compositions, and his most famous work as a composer is “Living in America,” sung by James Brown in the film “Rocky IV,” which reached No.
4 in the U.S.
Still of the NightWhitesnake
The band formed by David Coverdale, who made his mark as the vocalist of Deep Purple, is Whitesnake.
The lineup changed frequently, and even after the release of the hugely successful 1987 album “Whitesnake,” the members were completely replaced.
The musicians who appear in the music video for “Still of the Night,” included on this album, were not part of the recording lineup, but later officially joined the band.
La BambaLos Lobos
“La Bamba” is a song based on a Mexican folk tune, and it’s likely that everyone has heard it at least once.
The song became famous thanks to the arrangement by Ritchie Valens, a rock and roll musician who epitomized the 1950s.
Later, for the 1987 film La Bamba, which depicts his brief life, the version performed by the Mexican American band Los Lobos was used as the theme song.
The film’s soundtrack was also a major hit.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (181–190)
Red LightsCuriosity Killed The Cat
A blue-eyed soul band from London.
“Ordinary Day” was a hit in Japan, but this classic is every bit as outstanding.
All the members were so good-looking that they were treated like idols, yet even now their music doesn’t feel dated—proof of their genuine talent.
Don’t You (Forget About Me)Simple Minds
It’s the song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” released in 1985 by the British new wave band Simple Minds.
It was also used in the hugely popular coming-of-age film “The Breakfast Club.” The dreamy vocals and synthesizers are really pleasant to listen to!
In conclusion
The hit songs of Western music from the 1980s are full of timeless charm that never fades.
The synthesizer sounds, powerful vocals, and catchy melodies continue to captivate music fans around the world even today.
Why not find your favorite track and create your very own 1980s Western music playlist?