[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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- Love songs in Western music that were hits in the 1980s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- 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)
Another One Bites the DustQueen
Queen is one of the rock bands that represent the United Kingdom.
They had been active since the 1970s, and in 1980 they released what became the band’s biggest hit: “Another One Bites the Dust.” In Japan, it was hugely popular at the time under the title “Jigoku e Michizure.” Its dance music–like rhythm is complemented by Freddie Mercury’s distinctive vocals, giving it a unique and unparalleled appeal.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (51–60)
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.
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.
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!
Waiting For A Girl Like YouForeigner
It peaked at No.
2 on the U.S.
charts in 1981—an astonishing 10 consecutive weeks—earning it the nickname “the tragic Number Two.” For nine of those ten weeks, Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” held the top spot.
That’s understandable.
However, even when “Physical” dropped to No.
3, it still couldn’t reach No.
1; at that time, Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” was No.
1.
Incidentally, the band later soothed their frustrations by finally scoring their first U.S.
No.
1 in 1985 with “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
AllentownBilly Joel
Peaked at No.
17 in the U.S.
in 1983.
Billy Joel’s 1982 album The Nylon Curtain is now regarded as a classic, but at the time of its release it was harshly criticized as “dark” and “uncharacteristic.” It was probably a turning point for him, coinciding with his motorcycle accident.
This song was the second single, following “Pressure.” The lyric “I’ve got the diploma on the wall but it never helped me at all” really resonates.
Billy soon released An Innocent Man, reeling off a string of hit singles and blowing away the negative reception of this album, though in hindsight An Innocent Man itself feels a bit curious.
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.