[80s Western Music] A roundup of debut songs by girl bands
When it comes to the Western music scene of the 1980s—often called the “golden age of pop”—it was an era that gave rise to countless artists and bands who scored mega-hits around the world, including in Japan.
With the advent of MTV and rapid technological innovation, the decade has a very glamorous image.
Among the Western music of the ’80s, this time we’re focusing on the debut songs of all-girl bands that burst into a male-dominated music scene.
Rather than vocal groups, we researched bands that played instruments as much as possible, and we’ll be showcasing, all at once, the memorable debut tracks of uniquely individual girl bands—spanning rock, pop, metal, and punk—regardless of genre or fame.
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- [1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80's Best Hit Songs
- Recommendations for Western All-Female Bands—from Legendary Groups to Promising Newcomers
- [2025] Female-vocal Western music bands. Featuring many rock and metal bands too!
- Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 1980s Western Music
- 1980s: Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs
- Debut song by a 90s Western girls' band
- Club Hits: Dance music from Western artists that energized the dance floors in the 1980s
- [Golden Age of Rock] Debut Songs by Western Rock Bands of the 1970s
- Debut songs by female Western artists from the 1980s
- [Y2K] A roundup of debut songs by Western girl bands that emerged in the 2000s
- [Western Music] Start with this one! Classic and popular songs of alternative rock
- [80s Western Music] Debut Songs by Male Artists
[Western music of the 80s] A roundup of debut songs by girl bands (21–30)
Show MeCover Girls
The Cover Girls were a producer-driven dance group, which were unusually common at the time.
Their song “Show Me” is well known in Japan thanks to Yukari Morikawa’s cover.
For some reason, it didn’t become a hit in the United States and didn’t even make it into the Top 40.
Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)Mel & Kim
Mel & Kim are a British sister duo.
Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, their debut single jumped straight to No.
3 on the UK charts.
The follow-up, “Respectable,” topped the charts not only in the UK but across many European countries.
[80s Western Music] Debut Songs of Girl Bands (31–40)
I’d Rather JackThe Reynolds Girls
The Reynolds Girls are a British sister duo.
Their song “I’d Rather Jack” was crafted by Stock Aitken Waterman, and it’s a quintessentially catchy number from that producer team.
It became a major hit in their home country, reaching number 8.
Hooked on YouSweet Sensation
Among the popular dance music groups of the 1980s, Sweet Sensation was particularly well-known.
Although their debut single initially failed to make an impact, a remixed version became a moderate hit in 1989.
Then in 1990, their release “If Wishes Came True” reached the top of the Billboard chart.
FascinatedCompany B
Producer-driven girl groups sprang up one after another from the 1980s to the 1990s, and Company B was one of them.
Their bleepy, unmistakably prefab sound now feels nostalgic.
On the Billboard chart, their highest position was No.
21.
HeartachePepsi & Shirlie
Pepsi & Shirlie, formed by Helen “Pepsi” DeMacque and Shirlie Holliman, who were backing vocalists for Wham!, scored a huge hit with their debut single “Heartache,” which shot to No.
2 on the UK charts and reached the top ten in other European countries as well.
SeductionSeduction
Seduction was active from 1988 to 1991—a very short-lived dance group.
However, most of the singles they released were hits on the dance charts, and in particular, “Two to Make It Right” became a major hit, reaching No.
2 on the Billboard Hot 100.