Club Hits: Dance music from Western artists that energized the dance floors in the 1980s

Undercover Of The NightThe Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones – Undercover Of The Night – OFFICIAL PROMO (EXPLICIT)

It’s a dance number by the legendary British rock band The Rolling Stones, where tense, urgent percussion intertwines with razor-sharp guitars.

Released in October 1983, it was the lead single from the album Undercover.

Its hard-edged groove, infused with New Wave and funk influences, has the power to set the dance floor ablaze.

Yet the lyrics ride that beat to depict political violence and oppression lurking in the night, lending the song a serious theme that sets it apart from a mere party track and gives it distinctive depth and thrill.

This bold sound, steered by Mick Jagger, almost seems to reflect the internal tensions within the band at the time.

It’s a perfect pick for an intelligent, cool, grown-up party night.

Owner of a Lonely HeartYES

YES – Owner of a Lonely Heart (Official Music Video)

This is a superbly danceable dance-rock number by the British progressive rock band Yes.

Its unforgettable sound fuses razor-sharp guitar riffs with the then state-of-the-art sampler’s orchestral hits.

The song is an anthem for those carrying lonely hearts, packed with a powerful message: don’t fear the future—forge your own path.

Its perspective is unique: loneliness isn’t a bad thing; it’s far better than having your heart shattered.

Released in October 1983, the track appears on the classic album 90125 and was also featured in a Toyota commercial.

If you’re looking to surrender to the groove and enjoy a party night, this one’s perfect!

I Feel for YouChaka Khan

I Feel for You

Chaka Khan is a female R&B singer known for her powerful vocals.

Even younger listeners have probably at least heard her name.

Her greatest appeal, I think, lies in her vocal technique.

From delicate delivery to energetic belting, her impressive skill lets her handle anything.

“I Feel for You” is one of her signature songs.

Savor its era-evoking melody that blends R&B with dance-pop.

MemorabiliaSoft Cell

Soft Cell – Memorabilia

This is a track released in 1981 by the UK electronic music duo Soft Cell that sent the club scene into a frenzy.

Over a sterile, icy synth beat, Marc Almond’s emotionally charged vocals drift, creating a sound that heralds the dawn of the New Romantic era.

The lyrics evoke a stream of fragmented images where feelings like happy memories, emptiness, and lingering attachment swirl together.

It’s as if you’re gazing at photos and letters scattered across a room, unable to put them in order—falling into a bittersweet yet somehow detached mood.

Perhaps it’s precisely this glittering, decadent worldview that captivated so many people.

All Night LongLionel Richie

Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Night)

Lionel Richie is a male singer-songwriter who churned out multiple hit songs in the 1980s.

Even today, many Black artists tend to perform genres known as Black music—such as R&B, hip-hop, and blues—but he was unusual in that he thrived with a primarily pop-oriented sound.

Among his works, the song I especially recommend is “All Night Long.” Its flowing melody—like a blend of smooth jazz and pop music—is particularly striking.

You Spin Me RoundDead Or Alive

Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (Official Video)

Dead or Alive, the British band often cited as pioneers of Eurobeat and Hi-NRG.

Released as a single in 1984, this track became their first global hit.

The lyrics, likening an intense possessiveness toward a love-at-first-sight crush to a record spinning at high speed, are particularly striking.

Pete Burns’s powerful vocals fused with synths carrying a rock-like aggressiveness make for a sensational sound.

Also featured on the classic album Youthquake, the song reached No.

9 on the UK Albums Chart.

If you love dance numbers that set the floor on fire, this is an unmissable track.

Add it to your party playlist and you’re guaranteed to get everyone dancing.

Being BoiledThe Human League

The Human League – Being Boiled – 1978

This track by The Human League, a unit emblematic of the British New Wave of the ’80s, truly hinted at “the music of the future.” The ominous synthesizers and Philip Oakey’s detached vocals burn themselves into your mind after a single listen.

The lyrics sing, “Listen to the voice of Buddha and abandon silk” (or, “give up sericulture”), a provocative message that is startling even now.

You can feel the sharpness of that initial creative impulse as they groped for sounds no one had ever heard before.

This cold yet innovative sound may well have laid a solid foundation for the glamorous Neo-Romantic scene that followed.