Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
Speaking of Western music from the ’80s, it was the heyday of MTV, with countless flashy music videos airing on TV.
There were innumerable global hits that we enjoyed with the same familiarity as domestic hit songs in Japan.
For those who spent their youth in the ’80s, chances are that a beloved classic from Western music is playing somewhere in the pages of your memories.
In this article, we’ve gathered masterpieces that focus specifically on “ballads” from ’80s Western music.
The ’80s catalog is far too deep to cover exhaustively, but please enjoy a wide range of ballad classics—from straightforward ballads to medium-tempo ballads and power ballads by rock bands.
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Waiting for a Girl Like YouForeigner
This is a slow number from Foreigner, a US-UK mixed rock band of veteran musicians, included on their 1981 album 4.
Lou Gramm, whose soulful voice evokes the great British rock vocalist Paul Rodgers, sings with restraint as he delivers lyrics about feeling destined to meet a woman who has finally appeared before him and asking to confirm that feeling.
In the chorus, his emotional shouts are incredibly powerful, shaking the listener’s feelings to the core.
The floating, atmospheric sound that makes effective use of synthesizers is very characteristic of the 1980s, and the way it creates a sharp contrast with Lou’s vocals shows the band’s keen sense of style.
Never Say GoodbyeBon Jovi
A gem of a Bon Jovi ballad that wraps a romantic declaration of love in a grand, sweeping sound.
Featured on the 1986 album “Slippery When Wet,” it became a massive hit, especially across Europe.
While depicting a heartbreaking moment of parting, the lyrics convey a powerful resolve to never say goodbye, striking a deep chord.
Jon Bon Jovi’s emotive vocals and Richie Sambora’s memorable guitar solo are captivating.
As one of the defining power ballads of the ’80s, it remains a beloved classic to this day.
Never Tear Us ApartINXS
It’s that famous ballad from INXS’s sixth album, Kick, released in 1988, with Michael Hutchence at the helm.
The sound makes effective use of strings like violins, adding dignity and grandeur to Michael’s wild, radiating vocals—both distinctive in its own right and, sadly, a poignant reminder of how truly irreplaceable he was after his death by suicide.
His scandalous way of life, which echoes that of The Doors’ Jim Morrison, feels like it embodies one facet of 20th-century rock.
Listening again now, in the 21st century, is deeply moving and rekindles a renewed sense of rock music’s enduring presence.
Still Loving YouScorpions
A masterful power ballad whose poignant yet powerful melody resonates deep in the heart.
The earnest feelings of a man trying to win back a lost love are conveyed through Klaus Meine’s distinctive vocals.
Included on the 1984 album “Love at First Sting,” the song became a worldwide hit.
In France it even turned into a social phenomenon, with anecdotes claiming it contributed to the 1985 baby boom.
The guitar’s delicate tone and the gradually swelling sound gently embrace those troubled by love.
It’s a track you’ll want to play on nights when you look back on memories with someone special—truly a classic ’80s ballad.
One More NightPhil Collins
A renowned ballad from the first album released after Phil Collins, formerly the drummer of the British progressive rock group Genesis, went solo.
The sound and vocals evoke a dim, shadowy space that, true to the title, conjures the night—so striking that it invites comparison to Miles Davis’s equally nocturnal “’Round Midnight.” The lyrics, with their plaintive repetition of “one more night, one more night…,” are simple yet piercing.
Although Phil went on to rack up numerous hits with catchy, pop-savvy tunes after this number, he is in fact a master of heartfelt ballads as well, as shown by “Take a Look at Me Now,” which he performed for the film Against All Odds.
On a night when you’re alone with a bittersweet ache, give this song a listen, too.
In Your EyesPeter Gabriel
From an intro infused with world music elements, this masterpiece immediately draws you into a grand realm of love.
Created by the innovative British musician Peter Gabriel, the track appears on his acclaimed 1986 album So.
It’s a universal love song that sings of a soul-deep bond—finding salvation, a future, and a place to return within a loved one’s eyes.
With the prayerful vocals of Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, the entire piece radiates a sacred aura.
Featured in the iconic 1989 film Say Anything… during the scene where the protagonist holds up a boombox, it became known as a timeless anthem of love.
On a night when you want to feel the presence of someone special anew, why not surrender to this song’s warm yet passionate sound?
All timeless hits! A collection of nostalgic ’80s Western ballads (21–30)
I Want To Know What Love IsForeigner
A song by the British-American rock band Foreigner, known as a leading example of stadium rock that incorporates hard rock and AOR.
Included on their fifth album, Agent Provocateur, it became one of their signature tracks, reaching No.
1 on both the U.
S.
and U.
K.
charts in 1985.
It expresses a poignant yearning to understand what true love is, overcoming the heartache and loneliness experienced in past relationships.
Lou Gramm’s soulful vocals combined with a gospel choir create a majestic harmony that brings a sacred atmosphere capable of stirring the listener’s soul.
It’s an emotional ballad whose prayer-like message resonates deeply when you’re searching for something in life.