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[80s Western Music] Debut Songs by Male Artists
The 1980s are often associated with a dazzling, glamorous image, and you can see that reflected in the hit charts of the time.
Here in Japan as well, it’s said to be the era when Western music shone the brightest, and compilation albums of hits from that period remain steadily popular even now in the 2020s.
In this article, we focus on the debut songs of male artists from that radiant 1980s Western music scene.
Our lineup centers on singers who debuted in the ’80s, including those who built careers in bands before launching solo debuts during the decade.
Please enjoy everything from the massive hits that defined the ’80s to lesser-known hidden gems!
[80s Western Music] Debut Songs by Male Artists (1–10)
In the Air TonightPhil Collins
Back in 1970, when Phil Collins joined Genesis—the UK’s quintessential progressive rock band—as their drummer, was there anyone who could have predicted his global success as a solo artist from the 1980s onward? As mentioned earlier, Collins, who would later become Genesis’s lead vocalist, racked up numerous hits as a solo artist, and the song introduced here, In The Air Tonight, is a masterpiece that became a worldwide smash as his solo debut single.
It opens his 1981 solo debut album, Face Value, which was also a global hit; in Japan, the song shares the same Japanese title as the album: “Yoru no Sasayaki” (Whisper of the Night).
While the track is a gem that showcases Collins’s beautiful voice with a touch of AOR atmosphere, a closer listen reveals arrangements that set it apart from typical pop songs.
Beyond the mysterious, atmospheric ensemble, the powerful drum break in the latter half is exactly what you’d expect from an artist who started out as a drummer.
Keep those points in mind as you listen!
Never Gonna Give You UpRick Astley
No matter how you slice it, this song is the epitome of the ’80s—the bubbly vibe is absolutely top-notch.
Riding the disco-to-Eurobeat boom of the time, “Never Gonna Give You Up” became a massive hit in Japan as well.
Released in 1987 by British singer Rick Astley, it was both his debut single and his signature song.
His debut album, “Whenever You Need Somebody,” which includes the track, was also a worldwide success.
For those who remember the bubble era well, this song is probably etched in memory as something inseparable from the atmosphere of that time.
Listening again now, Rick’s deep, soulful vocals—especially striking given that he was only 21—are incredibly captivating, and the contrast with the song’s meticulously crafted, irresistibly catchy pop sensibility is brilliant.
Starting around 2007 in the internet age, the music video became widely used as a so-called bait-and-switch meme known as “Rickrolling,” which amusingly led to a renewed appreciation of Rick’s vocal talent.
Give Me Your LoveBryan Adams
Bryan Adams is a singer-songwriter who represents Canada, scored global hits especially in the 1980s, and remains an active, full-throttle performer in the 2020s.
His de facto debut single, “Give Me Your Love,” is a ballad included on his self-titled debut released in 1980, when Adams was just 20 years old, and in Japan the phrase was also used as the album’s Japanese title.
Looking at the album as a whole, the inclusion of such a calm, beautiful ballad among the straight-ahead, youthful rock numbers you’d expect from a 20-year-old rock ’n’ roller reveals Adams’s outstanding talent as a songwriter.
The falsetto-laced melody is wonderful, and the simple yet moving guitar solo is clearly something that appeals to Japanese tastes.
Listening to it in light of Adams’s later career, in which he produced a string of hit ballads, may lead to new discoveries.
Everything I OwnBoy George
Speaking of Boy George, he’s well known as the flamboyant, frontman of Culture Club, who scored hits here in Japan with his flashy looks and soulful low voice.
That said, many people might not be familiar with his work as a solo artist.
The song we’re featuring this time, Everything I Own, was the lead single from George’s 1987 solo debut album Sold, and it hit number one on the UK charts.
The song was originally released in 1972 by the American soft rock band Bread, and the version that became famous was the 1974 cover by reggae singer Ken Boothe.
George covered it as a reggae-inflected pop song; while it seems to have been panned in some quarters at the time, I personally think the sweet melody and vocals create a relaxed vibe that really works.
Even if you only know George from Culture Club—or don’t know Culture Club at all—I’d love for you to give it a listen at least once!
I Found SomebodyGlenn Frey
Glenn Frey, one of the founding members and the leader of the Eagles—one of the greatest rock groups to emerge from the U.
S.
West Coast—sang lead on signature numbers like “Take It Easy” and contributed to writing and composing many classics.
In the 1980s, he also achieved success as a solo artist.
The song featured here, “I Found Somebody,” was his milestone solo debut single, released in 1982.
While rooted in West Coast rock, it’s a melodic number with a relaxed, laid-back vibe that feels distinct from Frey’s work with the Eagles.
Though it didn’t become a major hit, the romantic saxophone and Frey’s gentle, warm vocals make it a pleasure to listen to.
Precisely because it isn’t a flashy track, it invites you to appreciate anew his superb songwriting talent and remarkable voice.
Key LargoBertie Higgins
From the very opening of the music video, the crisp white jacket, boldly open neckline, and impressive mustache give off a wonderfully suave vibe.
This is “Key Largo,” the 1981 debut single by singer-songwriter Bertie Higgins, who rose to prominence during the AOR boom that was hugely popular in Japan.
He may not be as widely known as big names like Boz Scaggs, Bobby Caldwell, or Christopher Cross, but “Casablanca,” a track from his debut album Just Another Day in Paradise released in 1982, became famous in Japan when Hiromi Go covered it under the Japanese title “Aishuu no Casablanca.” As you can see in the MV, “Key Largo” is a breezy, romantic number that perfectly suits a summer beach setting.
As an aside, Higgins is said to be a descendant of the great German poet Goethe! With such a unique background, be sure to pay attention to the lyrics as well, where you can sense Higgins’s literary flair.
GirlfriendBobby Brown
Bobby Brown made his debut in 1983 as a teenager with the R&B group New Edition, but left in 1986.
He then found success as a solo artist and became well known among fans of ’80s R&B.
His second album, Don’t Be Cruel, released in 1988, was a massive hit, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
His commemorative solo debut track, Girlfriend, which he released at the age of 17, is a wonderfully mellow number with an urban vibe that feels quintessentially ’80s.
While his performance—confidently singing about an adult world—seems a bit beyond his years, it’s also marked by a youthful innocence in his voice that’s the unique charm of a teenage singer.
Savor that rare brilliance that can only shine during this brief moment in time.