[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!
- [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.
- Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
- 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 (41–50)
Purple RainPrince
Alongside Michael Jackson, he was one of the defining Black artists of the 1980s.
A charismatic figure whose wide-ranging musicality influenced the music scene, he can truly be called a genius.
He passed away in 2016, but his name and works will continue to be spoken of forever, even after his death.
Run To YouBryan Adams
A single released ahead of the album from Canadian singer Bryan Adams’s fourth album, Reckless, which came out in 1984.
It reached No.
6 on the US charts.
The powerful yet wistful vocals and the supporting beat leave a strong impression.
I Want to Know What Love IsForeigner
Foreigner is an American band that churned out many hits from the 1970s through the 1980s.
Their hallmark is grand, keyboard-forward ballads.
Among them, the biggest favorite was the song known in Japan as “I Wanna Know,” which became a massive hit not only in the United States but around the world.
CenterfoldThe J. Geils Band
When leader J.
Geils formed the band in ’67, they were a blues-rock outfit, but after signing with EMI in the ’80s they changed their musical style, and this track, released in ’81, reached No.
1 in the U.S.
It was also a hit in Japan under the Japanese title “Ochita Tenshi” (Fallen Angel) and was used in commercials.
Video Killed The Radio StarThe Buggles
This is the song “Video Killed the Radio Star,” released in 1979 by the British new wave group The Buggles.
Its catchy melody and playful arrangement captured the hearts of many.
From radio to television—it’s a song that perfectly captures a shift in the times.
It’s a nostalgic classic, so if you sing it at karaoke with foreign friends, it’s sure to be a hit!
RioDuran Duran
“Rio” is the second album by the British new wave and synth-pop band Duran Duran, first released worldwide on May 10, 1982.
It reached number 2 in the UK and topped the charts at number 1 in Australia.
With synth percussion, a driving bassline, and arpeggiators, it’s a breezy midsummer number.
FreedomWham!
Released in 1984 by the British pop duo Wham!, this song reached No.
1 in the UK and No.
3 in the US.
It features a catchy melody that makes you want to hum along.
Its upbeat, lively rhythm will have you itching to dance.
Heaven Is a Place On EarthBelinda Carlisle
This is the song “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” released in 1987.
It’s sung by Belinda Carlisle, a singer who was extremely popular in Japan at the time.
Her soaring, electrifying voice captivated the world.
Although it was released in 1987, it’s still a classic that you often hear on TV and elsewhere even today!
I’m In the Mood for DancingThe Nolans
This song by The Nolans, a vocal group of sisters from Ireland, was released in 1979 and became a hit in Japan under the Japanese title “Dancing Sister.” Since then, it’s been used in commercials and TV dramas in Japan, so you’ve probably heard it at least once.
In fact, there’s also a Japanese-language version of the song, and it was performed on shows overseas as well.
Believe It or NotJoey Scarbury
The theme song of the American hit drama “The Greatest American Hero,” which also aired in Japan.
It’s a wacky comedy about an unremarkable high school teacher who acquires a red super-suit and fights evil, but the unexpectedly catchy and beautiful melody is very pleasing to the ear.