Club Hits: Dance music from Western artists that energized the dance floors in the 1980s
80s music is back in the spotlight amid the current revival boom.
The 1980s were a whirlwind of genres, but I can confidently say that dance music best represents the decade’s character.
This time, we’ve selected Western hits from the 80s that lit up disco dance floors.
Unlike today, rock was also popular as a form of dance music back then, and there are plenty of tracks that crank up the voltage.
If you want to boost your mood with nostalgic tunes, please enjoy to the very end.
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[Club Hits] Western Dance Music That Lit Up the Floor in the 1980s (21–30)
I Was Made For Lovin’ YouKISS
KISS, the American hard rock band known for their white-painted makeup and theatrical live shows.
This is likely their most danceable rock number, unleashed at the height of the disco era.
There’s an anecdote that Paul Stanley took inspiration from disco and wrote it in a short time—and you can believe it, given how irresistibly catchy the song is.
Centered on a straightforward, passionate love message—“I was made for loving you”—the track’s burning emotion rides a disco beat, as if dramatizing a fateful encounter on the dance floor.
Released as a single from the album Dynasty in May 1979, it became a massive hit, reaching No.
1 or No.
2 on the charts in 11 countries worldwide.
It’s a quintessential disco-rock classic that can heat up any party night.
Pump Up The JamTechnotronic
Technotronic, from Belgium, scored a global smash right out of the gate with this debut single.
It reached No.
2 in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and hit No.
1 in their home country of Belgium.
The woman singing in the music video is a model and reportedly not the actual vocalist.
[Club Hits] Western Dance Music That Rocked the Floor in the 1980s (31–40)
Flashdance… What A FeelingIrene Cara
This is the theme song used for the 1983 film Flashdance.
In Japan, it was covered by Miki Asakura as the ending song for the TV drama Stewardess Monogatari.
Since the film also centers on dance, the track became a worldwide hit as an emblematic piece of 1980s dance music.
In 2008, Namie Amuro sampled it for a commercial song, bringing it back into the spotlight.
High EnergyEvelyn Thomas
A powerhouse dance number released in April 1984 by Evelyn Thomas, a singer who dominated the American disco scene.
Recorded at London’s Trident Studios, this track brilliantly blends cutting-edge ’80s synthesizer sounds with her commanding four-octave vocals.
At the time, it hit No.
1 on the Billboard Dance Chart, reached No.
5 in the UK, and held No.
1 in Germany for four consecutive weeks.
Celebrated worldwide in clubs as the ultimate Hi-NRG sound that ignites dance floors, this masterpiece—featured on the album High Energy—stands as a shining milestone of success.
Highly recommended for anyone looking to amp up a party or event.
Do You Wanna FunkSylvester
Sylvester, also known as Sylvester James.
He was a singer with extraordinary vocal prowess and a drag queen who fought against the prejudices of his time.
Produced by Patrick Cowley, famed as a creator of disco music, this track is still thrillingly cool even today.
TeardropsWomack & Womack
This hit song was released in 1988 by a husband-and-wife duo with an almost too-blue-blooded lineage: the children of Bobby Womack and Sam Cooke.
Despite its upbeat groove, the mellow sound carries a touch of wistfulness, and the restrained, soulful vocals are simply a pleasure.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on a quiet Sunday afternoon when you have nothing planned.
I Should Be So LuckyKYLIE MINOGUE
Kylie Minogue is from Australia, but this song was released in the UK and became a major hit mainly in Europe.
It also reached as high as No.
10 in the United States, becoming an explosive hit worldwide.
She released hits in the 2000s as well and is still active today.