[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 (31–40)
ManeaterDaryl Hall & John Oates
They are a duo representing the United States, consisting of Daryl Hall and John Oates.
With their distinctive pop sound infused with elements of Black music such as soul, they became hugely popular in the 1980s.
They are also very popular in Japan and performed there five times during the 1980s alone.
Do They Know It’s ChristmasBand Aid
A charity project formed by bringing together stars from the UK and Ireland.
Inspired by this project, initiatives such as USA for Africa and Live Aid were formed and held in the United States, triggering a major charity boom.
Union Of The SnakeDuran Duran
They are a British band that made one of the biggest contributions to the MTV boom of the 1980s.
In Japan in particular, they enjoyed idol-like popularity and produced a string of hits.
The late Princess Diana was reportedly a fan.
Despite multiple lineup changes, the band is still active today.
The Final CountdownEurope
They are a pioneering and hugely popular Nordic metal band that had a massive hit in the 1980s.
The image of Nordic metal as “melodic tunes and high-pitched vocals” owes much to their success.
They reunited in the 2000s and are still active today.
Never Gonna Give You UpRick Astley
This is a song released in 1987 as the debut single of British singer Rick Astley.
He gained popularity with his soulful vocals and became one of the defining pop stars of the ’80s.
Although the music video now feels quite dated, it was widely used in the 2000s as the target of prank links on overseas internet forums, which ultimately led to a revival hit for the track.
Girls Just Want to Have FunCyndi Lauper
Released in 1983 as Cyndi Lauper’s first major single, it spawned more than 38 versions including promotional ones.
It became a hit, reaching No.
2 in both the U.S.
and the U.K., and is also known for later having its lyrics rewritten from a male perspective to a female perspective.
Easy LoverPhilip Bailey, Phil Colins
This is the song “Easy Lover,” released in 1984.
It’s a dream collaboration between American R&B singer Philip Bailey and British rock vocalist Phil Collins.
With soulful vocals and a funky rhythm infused with rock elements, it’s an incredibly cool track!
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)Eurythmics
Sweet Dreams, a hit in 1983.
Its distinctive intro and interlude stick in your ears, and once you hear it, you can’t get it out of your head.
The cool electropop sound gained popularity and reached No.
1 in the U.S.
One of its draws was the androgynous, beautiful female vocals.
I Was Born To Love YouFreddie Mercury
This is a song released in 1985 by Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of the British rock band Queen, and it is included on the album Mr.
Bad Guy.
It’s a familiar tune in Japan as it has been widely used in commercials and TV dramas.
Lost In Your EyesDebbie Gibson
Reached No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1989 and ranked 13th on the year-end chart.
Along with Tiffany, she helped lead the teenage idol boom that suddenly erupted in the mid-to-late ’80s.
While Tiffany had a more exotic look, Debbie was a quintessential blonde white girl, which made for an interesting contrast.
She writes and produces her own songs, and I’ve heard she was trained from a young age to succeed in show business.
This song is also a thoroughly dreamy, girlish ballad, but that actually works in its favor—it’s one of the finest ballads of the ’80s.