Songs you'll want to listen to in autumn. A selection of recommended hits from 80s Western music!
The Western music scene of the 1980s, boosted by the birth of MTV and the evolution of synth sounds, was a period that produced countless massive hits still loved today.
Here, we’ve put together a selection of songs that are especially perfect for listening in autumn.
Of course, we’ve included tracks that directly take autumn as their theme, but we’ve also selected smooth adult contemporary tunes and sentimental ballads that suit the season’s atmosphere.
We’ve even highlighted some hidden gems, so be sure to find the autumn songs from the ’80s that best match your taste.
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Songs you’ll want to listen to in autumn: A selection of recommended 80s Western hits (11–20)
Englishman in New YorkSting
Sting, also known as the lead vocalist of The Police, has captivated many fans in his solo career with a more refined musical sensibility.
Among his works, the song I want to listen to when I’m in a sentimental autumn mood is a track from his 1987 album …Nothing Like the Sun.
The piece portrays the solitude of an English gentleman living in a foreign land, as well as the dignity of staying true to one’s own way.
The urbane, slightly melancholic saxophone makes you feel as if you’re walking a New York street in the autumn wind.
Even if you don’t quite fit in with those around you, remaining true to yourself seems to mirror the autumn air—sorrowful yet crisp and composed.
The album that includes this track won the 1988 BRIT Award and was also used in a car commercial in the UK.
Purple RainPrince
Prince is one of America’s greatest musicians.
He was a hugely successful artist in the 1980s and, thanks to his massive popularity and distinct musical style, is often mentioned alongside Michael Jackson as his equal.
Among his works, the one I especially recommend for autumn is Purple Rain.
Though centered on the theme of rain, it’s crafted into a distinctive ballad that strongly reflects Prince’s unique qualities.
Its singular sense of poignancy perfectly matches the mood of fall, so be sure to give it a listen.
OctoberU2
U2 is a rock band that has won a record 22 Grammy Awards as a group—the most in the world.
As their number of Grammys suggests, they’ve produced an extraordinary array of hit songs.
Among them, a particularly recommended classic is October.
Its melody evokes the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, and the overall atmosphere is delicate and ephemeral.
If you want to gaze at the autumn sky and sink into a sentimental mood, be sure to give it a listen.
Late September DogsMelissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge, who has won numerous music awards.
When it comes to songs you want to hear in the fall, isn’t “The Late September Dogs” the one? The title literally means something like “the dogs of late September.” The song is set in September and portrays the feelings of someone enduring sorrow.
Dogs appear in the lyrics, and they can be interpreted as a metaphor for the protagonist.
Why not give it a listen while letting your imagination roam?
The Boys Of SummerDon Henley
Speaking of numbers that evoke the tail end of the 1980s summer, you can’t leave out this song by Don Henley.
Released in 1984, this piece, which sings of nostalgia for a bygone love and youth, reached No.
5 on the U.
S.
Billboard Hot 100.
Its lyrics, filled with memories of summer days spent surfing and of a former lover, are sure to resonate with many.
It’s best enjoyed as autumn deepens; play it during a sunset drive, and you’ll be able to bask in a pleasant nostalgia while savoring the lingering afterglow of summer.
AloneHeart
A captivating song that resonates with a sentimental atmosphere and a powerful melody.
The Wilson sisters’ strong vocals brilliantly convey the feelings of a protagonist suffering from loneliness and love.
Released in May 1987, it reached number one in the United States and Canada, spending three consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
Featured on the album “Bad Animals,” this track became a popular hit and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when spending a long autumn night alone or when thinking of someone special.
Perfect for anyone carrying hidden feelings in their heart.
Songs you’ll want to listen to in autumn: selected recommendations from 1980s Western hit songs (21–30)
Leaves That Are GreenSimon&Garfunkel
When autumn begins, there are times you find yourself missing the lush, verdant scenery of summer, aren’t there? The song I’d like to recommend for moments like these is “Leaves That Are Green.” It’s a classic by the world-renowned folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, crafted into a delicate folk tune that evokes the end of summer.
Its relaxed yet cheerful atmosphere makes it perfect for reminiscing about summer.
Be sure to give it a listen.