Songs you'll want to listen to in autumn. A selection of recommended hits from 80s Western music!

October (Love Song)Chris & Cosey

Chris & Cosey – October Love Song

Chris & Cosey, a duo who carved out their own path in the cutting-edge electronic music scene, have produced many works that are sensual yet pop, rooted in industrial.

Among their catalog is a classic that you might find yourself reaching for on a long autumn night.

Released as a single in October 1983, this song is a love ballad that captures the intimate air of a budding romance.

Its world of cool, textured synths and a gentle, whisper-soft vocal close to your ear feels perfectly attuned to autumn’s bittersweet, lonely mood.

There’s even an anecdote that Cosey recorded the vocals as if whispering to Chris in the next room—an image that speaks to the song’s warm atmosphere.

If you’re in a sentimental mood, be sure to give it a listen.

My Ever Changing MoodsThe Style Council

The Style Council – My Ever Changing Moods

The Style Council, formed by Paul Weller after leading The Jam, was his pursuit of a more jazzy and sophisticated musical style.

This track, released as a single from the acclaimed 1984 album Café Bleu in February of that year, became a hit, reaching No.

29 on the U.

S.

charts.

The lyrics portray ever-changing states of mind, set against a refined sound with lightly dancing piano.

It all melts into a wistful autumn atmosphere, slowly seeping into the depths of your heart.

Weller’s languid yet soulful vocals are simply a pleasure.

It’s a track to savor alone on a long autumn night when you want to indulge in a sentimental mood.

Fall On MeR.E.M.

R.E.M. – Fall On Me

R.

E.

M.

, a band that epitomizes alternative rock in the 1980s.

Their intellectual lyrics and beautiful melodies are still beloved by many music fans.

Among their works, a perfect song for autumn is the lead single from the album Lifes Rich Pageant, released in July 1986.

It originally addressed environmental issues, but was elevated into a theme of resisting more universal forms of pressure.

Its crystalline guitar arpeggios and gorgeous choral work convey a firm resolve amid a sense of melancholy.

There’s a certain introspective atmosphere to it that might accompany you as you spend reflective time gazing at the evening sky.

Be sure to check it out.

Wicked GameChris Isaak

Wicked Game – Single Edit – Official Music Video

There’s a piece whose otherworldly guitar tone evokes the melancholy of twilight, as if translating it into sound.

The artist behind it is Chris Isaak, known for a style that revives ’50s rockabilly in the modern era and for his sentimental ballads.

The protagonist’s inner conflict—knowing he shouldn’t be drawn in, yet drowning in the irresistible pull of love—is rendered beautifully through Isaak’s sweet yet aching falsetto.

The reverb-soaked guitar, like wandering through a dream, instantly draws listeners into its world.

Though the track originally appeared on the 1989 album Heart Shaped World, it gained popularity after being used in David Lynch’s film Wild at Heart and became a major hit in 1991.

Isn’t it the perfect piece to listen to on an autumn night when you’re feeling wistful and reflective?

SeptemberDavid Sylvian

September

David Sylvian, known as the former frontman of the British band Japan, has forged a uniquely artistic musical world since going solo.

Here’s a track of his that pairs beautifully with the quiet of autumn.

This piece delicately portrays an inner landscape in which lovers, seeming happy under clear skies, secretly wish for rain in their hearts.

The minimal soundscape woven by Sylvian’s wistful vocals and piano could be described as autumn itself.

Included on the album Secrets of the Beehive, released in October 1987, this brief work of about one minute features strings arranged by Ryuichi Sakamoto that leave a deep afterglow.

Why not listen to it alone on a long autumn night, when you want to sink into quiet contemplation?

Fast CarTracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (Official Music Video)

Singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, who sets deeply resonant social messages to music.

Since her debut she has enjoyed great success and continues to be respected by many people.

Among her works, the one that best suits the melancholy air of autumn might be a narrative track from her debut album, “Tracy Chapman.” This folk-rock song poignantly portrays the fleeting hope and intractable reality of a protagonist yearning to escape poverty.

Her performance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute in June 1988 brought it worldwide attention.

How about listening to it on a quiet, solitary autumn night?

Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

Whitesnake – Here I Go Again ’87 (Official Music Video)

Whitesnake is a hard rock band led by the former vocalist of Deep Purple.

While rooted in blues rock, they achieved worldwide success in the 1980s.

Among their works, this particular number is especially perfect for autumn.

Written by vocalist David Coverdale against the backdrop of his marital breakdown, the song expresses a piercing resolve to walk one’s own path in solitude.

Its melody, blending melancholy with strength, seems to resonate uncannily with the sentimental mood of the season.

First released on the 1982 album “Saints & Sinners,” the re-recorded version topped the U.

S.

charts in October 1987.

Also featured in the film “Man Up,” this track is ideal for those long autumn nights when you want to be alone with your thoughts.