Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 1980s Western Music
The 1980s saw dramatic changes—from technological advances to the birth of MTV—and produced many massive hit songs that made music history.
At the same time, a wide range of genres flourished, from new wave and soul to disco and pop, and it was also an era that saw the rise of many leading female singers.
This article highlights female Western artists who colored the era, focusing on those who debuted in the 1980s while also including artists who had been active since the 1970s.
Enjoy it together with the hit songs these women sang in the ’80s!
- Debut songs by female Western artists from the 1980s
- Love songs in Western music that were hits in the 1980s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces and Hit Songs of 80s Disco
- Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
- [Western Music] A Recommendation of the Lady of Soul: Wonderful Female Soul Singers
- Top Western Music Artists of the 1980s: Ranking [2025]
- [1990s] Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers in Western Music
- [80s Western Music] A roundup of debut songs by girl bands
- Club Hits: Dance music from Western artists that energized the dance floors in the 1980s
- [1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80's Best Hit Songs
- [1970s] Recommended Nostalgic Western Music: Female Singers
- [1980s] A Collection of Classic Western Ballads with Female Vocals
- 1980s: Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs
Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 80s Western Music (21–30)
Toy SoldiersMartika
Among the female Western pop singers who brightened the 1980s, Martika—who has Latin roots—holds a special place.
Catapulted to stardom with her 1988 debut single, her voice is brimming with a pop sensibility while remaining richly soulful.
Her signature song reached No.
1 in the U.
S.
and became a worldwide smash.
She continued to release buzzworthy work, including collaborations with Prince.
In 2004, Eminem sampled one of her tracks, drawing renewed attention.
Martika’s music blends pop, dance, R&B, and rock, making it perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the sounds of the ’80s.
9 to 5Dolly Parton
For Dolly Parton—an icon of country music and the songwriter behind Whitney Houston’s classic “I Will Always Love You”—the 1980s were a time when she moved closer to pop music.
Hits like the theme song for the Jane Fonda–starring film “9 to 5” topped the charts.
It’s no surprise that Taylor Swift, who also transitioned from country to pop, has openly said she listened to Dolly’s music.
Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 80s Western Music (31–40)
The Power of LoveJennifer Rush
The smash hit “The Power of Love” by the world-renowned diva Céline Dion was originally released by Jennifer Rush in 1985.
Many people of a certain generation likely remember it not as the ballad Céline Dion made famous in the ’90s, but as a quintessential ballad of the ’80s.
Although Jennifer isn’t as widely known as Céline, her clear, beautiful voice is truly remarkable, and she’s a songstress who deserves renewed appreciation.
Take My Breath Away – Love Theme from “Top Gun”Berlin
Despite their name, the band is from California.
Starting with the hit of their major-label debut, Pleasure Victim, released in 1982, they gained popularity not only in the United States but also in Japan.
Their song Take My Breath Away, featured in the film Top Gun, is likely something everyone has heard at least once.
The beautiful voice and melodies of their sole female member and vocalist, Terri Nunn, are well worth a listen.
Angel Of The MorningJuice Newton
She’s a female singer-songwriter rooted in country who also scored major hits in the pop music world.
Her 1981 album “Juice” was a huge success, and singles like “Angel of the Morning” and “Queen of Hearts” became hits across the U.
S.
In Japan, the upbeat pop song “Sunshine of Love,” used in a Honda commercial, is also well known.
Another noteworthy point is that Andrew Gold played guitar.
She Works Hard For The MoneyDonna Summer
When it comes to the Queen of Disco, that would be Donna Summer.
For those who remember the disco boom that swept from the 1970s into the 1980s, her name is a nostalgic one.
Her sound, which fused danceable disco tunes with pop-rock elements, managed to appeal to many listeners beyond disco fans.
Her massive hit Hot Stuff even achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
Freeway Of LoveAretha Franklin
Even within the long career of Aretha Franklin, the world’s most famous “Lady Soul,” the late 1970s to early 1980s—when the disco boom was in full swing—was a period short on hits.
In 1985, however, Who’s Zoomin’ Who, produced by Narada Michael Walden, became a smash and the biggest hit of Aretha’s career, which seems to have drawn mixed reactions from classical soul fans.
That said, I want to emphasize that even with a poppier sound, the appeal of Aretha’s voice was not diminished in the slightest!