[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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- 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 (11–20)
Take My Breath AwayBerlin
This is the award-winning ballad that served as the love theme for the 1986 blockbuster film Top Gun, honored with an Academy Award.
It was performed by the American band Berlin, with the composition handled by disco maestro Giorgio Moroder.
Teri Nunn’s passionate, soulful vocals leave a strong impression.
The bittersweet yet burning emotions of falling in love—so overwhelming you can hardly breathe—resonate warmly alongside the majestic synthesizer tones.
Released in June 1986, the song reached No.
1 on the U.S.
singles chart.
It’s sure to make a romantic evening with someone special even more dramatic.
Don’t You Want MeThe Human League
Here’s that Human League song with the nostalgic synthesizer sound in the intro.
It was released in 1982 and became a hit.
The song is about a man who picks up a woman, polishes her up, and is ultimately dumped by her, and it’s structured like a male–female back-and-forth.
In fact, the unit reportedly added a female member who was in high school at the time when she joined, and later they went on to have a hit.
About A GirlNirvana
Nirvana, the band that emerged from Washington State in the late ’80s and brought a fresh breeze to the music scene.
Contrary to the intense sound typically associated with grunge, this track resonates with a poppy, beautiful melody reminiscent of the Beatles.
The small misunderstandings and frustrations of living with a partner come through painfully in Kurt Cobain’s languid yet gentle voice.
Included on their 1989 debut album Bleach, some may have discovered it through the 1994 acoustic live recording.
It’s a song that, when listened to at a time when a relationship has started to feel “normal,” can make you realize anew just how much the other person means to you.
Private EyesDaryl Hall & John Oates
Released in 1981, this song is a signature track from Hall & Oates at the height of their success.
While the song itself is highly polished, the performers can seem a bit hesitant in the video… Still, given their top-tier musicianship that captivated audiences worldwide, their true strength was likely in their live performances.
Their Blue-Eyed Soul era from their 1972 debut through 1978 also has some really nice tracks.
Beat ItMichael Jackson
A re-cut single from Michael Jackson’s smash-hit album Thriller.
For the music video, rival LA street gangs, the Crips and the Bloods, were cast, creating a highly volatile filming environment.
Because they could only shoot once, a famous outtake among fans—where Michael steps on Mr.
Peters’s foot while he’s standing next to him in a white outfit—ended up being used.
(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)Beastie Boys
It’s a rousing rock anthem that humorously portrays the rebellious spirit of young people getting scolded by their parents—“Stop partying and study!” Hailing from New York City, the Beastie Boys originally started as a punk band, then took the world by storm by fusing hip-hop and rock.
This track was released as a single in December 1986 and appears on their debut album, Licensed to Ill.
While it was actually intended as a parody poking fun at generic party songs, it was embraced as a straightforward rallying cry and climbed to No.
7 on the U.S.
charts.
That gap between intent and reception is pretty fascinating, isn’t it? Watching them push back against unreasonable oppression and demand their rights might just blow away your everyday frustrations.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (21–30)
True ColorsCyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper, a singer from the United States known for her colorful and energetic image, is truly memorable.
This work is a ballad that symbolizes her career, having topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks in October 1986.
Imbued in her whisper-soft, gentle vocals is the desire to overcome the sorrow of losing a close friend and to be there for the listener’s heart.
It carries a warm message that affirms your true self and tells you “you are beautiful” when you’re feeling down and on the verge of losing your colors.
A track from the album “True Colors,” it was featured in Kodak commercials and the Olympics, becoming a timeless classic loved across generations.
When you lack confidence or want to encourage someone dear to you, listening to it will surely cleanse your heart.