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 want to listen to in autumn: Recommended selections from 1980s Western hit songs (51–60)
I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of LoveStephanie Mills
It’s one of the signature classics of the 1980s R&B scene and a work that defined Stephanie Mills’s career.
The lyrics, which speak to learning to honor the power of love, resonate deeply with many listeners.
Her powerful vocals and expressive delivery further enhance the song’s appeal.
Released in January 1986, it reached No.
1 on the Billboard R&B chart.
Issued as the second single from the album “Stephanie Mills,” it became her first R&B chart-topper—a milestone in her career.
It’s a perfect track to savor on a long autumn night.
Ebony & IvoryStevie Wonder & Sir Paul McCartney
The song “Ebony & Ivory,” a smooth, harmony-focused track, pairs Stevie Wonder and Sir Paul McCartney, both regulars on the hit charts at the time.
Using piano keys as a metaphor—Black people as the ebony keys and white people as the ivory keys—it calls for harmony between the two.
In fact, it’s a very difficult song to sing, and both singers have distinctly unique vocal timbres.
Despite that, their harmonies display a technically and almost miraculously seamless blend, which is one of the reasons the song is so highly regarded.
Indian Summer SkyU2
In recent years, the Irish rock band U2—who made waves both with that new album that suddenly appeared in people’s iPods and as ever as a dapper, veteran group of musicians—have continued to impress.
Whether you come to U2 from an artistic angle or from an appreciation of their technique and craftsmanship, their sonic development never fails to make you nod in admiration.
The title “Indian Summer” is, as we learn in school, kobayori—those balmy “little spring” days.
It evokes the calm, sunny skies of the harvest season.
This time, please enjoy their 1984 live recording.
Halloween ParadeLou Reed
Lou Reed, also known as the vocalist of The Velvet Underground who influenced many rock musicians.
He had periods of mainstream success as well as times when his uniquely experimental style was not widely appreciated, but his 1989 album “New York” is a masterpiece that represents the culmination of his work in the ’80s.
Among its tracks, “Halloween Parade” can be called a classic where you can enjoy his signature vocal style.
Songs you’ll want to listen to in autumn: A selection of recommended 80s Western hit songs (61–70)
Calling YouJevetta Steele
An insert song that plays throughout the globally successful 1987 film Bagdad Cafe.
This West German movie portrays the people who gather at a run-down cafe in the Mojave Desert near Las Vegas, and it impressed cinephiles around the world with its deft depiction of emotional subtleties.
The screen’s dry color palette and the dimly lit interiors have a faintly sepia touch.
Many viewers are reminded of the crisp air of autumn by the imagery, as if even the dry wind had been captured on film.
Cover MeBruce Springsteen
In Japan, among Bruce Springsteen’s works from that period, this one wasn’t a particularly flashy hit, but it did fairly well.
It’s a track from his 1984 album “Born in the U.
S.
A.” that, for some reason, doesn’t have a music video—despite MVs being all the rage at the time.
In colder regions, it especially evokes the feeling of autumn, with lines like a call-and-response “it will soon turn to snow.” The melody itself, however, doesn’t necessarily feel autumnal.
Tougher Than the RestBruce Springsteen
A perfect song for long autumn nights by one of America’s iconic rock singers, Bruce Springsteen.
Featured on his 1987 album Tunnel of Love, this track is a gentle ballad that sings of the strength of love and the resolve it requires.
The story begins on a Saturday night with two people meeting, and portrays their determination to move forward together after overcoming past setbacks.
It achieved international success, reaching No.
3 in Switzerland and No.
11 in the UK.
An ideal track to set the mood while spending time with someone special on an autumn evening.