[80s Western Music] Debut Songs by Male Artists

Solsbury HillPeter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel – Solsbury Hill

Peter Gabriel formed Genesis in 1967 while still a teenager; the band would later become a world-renowned progressive rock group.

As the original frontman with a distinctive style, he helped drive the band’s popularity.

After leaving the band in 1975, Gabriel took a break from music, but in 1977 he made a fresh start as a solo artist.

While this feature focuses on his peak solo years beginning in the 1980s, strictly speaking he did make his solo debut in the late 1970s.

Gabriel’s solo debut track was Solsbury Hill, released in 1977.

At that point, the hallmark fusion of world music and pop that would define his later style wasn’t yet prominent; instead, it’s a bright, pop-leaning number characterized by light acoustic guitar backing, a percussive groove, and the pastoral tone of the flute.

What merits special attention are the lyrics, which reflect Gabriel’s state of mind at the time.

Be sure to read along with the Japanese translation and see for yourself.

Goody Two ShoesAdam Ant

Adam Ant – Goody Two Shoes

The “New Romantic” movement that swept through the UK in the 1980s had a huge impact on Japanese artists and so-called visual-kei bands.

Adam Ant, whom we’re introducing here, is the frontman of Adam & the Ants, considered emblematic of that scene.

Adam also debuted as a solo artist in 1982, and his solo debut track, “Goody Two Shoes,” was not only a UK number one but also a breakout hit in the United States.

The snappy guitar backing, brilliant horn section, bouncy beat, and poppy melody still sound great today.

Ozawa Kenji even makes bold use of it in one of his own songs, so if you’re interested, check it out.

Iron Out the Rough SpotsPaul Young

Paul Young – Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)

Paul Young is a singer-songwriter from the UK who gained popularity across Europe in the 1980s.

Known for his soulful voice, he was also well-loved in Japan as one of the representative blue-eyed soul singers of the ’80s.

While his signature hit is the Hall & Oates cover “Everytime You Go Away,” today’s feature is on his debut single, “Iron Out the Rough Spots,” released in 1982.

The track is also included on his debut album No Parlez, which topped the UK charts and became a major hit, but at the time of its single release, it didn’t even make the charts and received little attention.

In fact, the song is a cover of a 1966 track by soul musician Don Covay.

There’s also a 1970 version by R&B singer-songwriter Nolan Porter.

It’s fun to listen to each version and compare them!

Sunglasses at NightCorey Hart

Corey Hart – Sunglasses At Night (Official Music Video)

Hearing the distinctive synth phrase in the intro will make many people squint with nostalgia! Born in 1962 and hailing from Canada, Corey Hart was a singer who rose to popularity in the ’80s alongside fellow Canadian Bryan Adams.

His debut single, “Sunglasses at Night,” released in 1983, was a hit that reached No.

7 on the U.

S.

charts.

Built around that intro phrase mentioned above, the song is peak ’80s—from Hart’s sultry, soaring vocals that match his sweet looks, to the expansive chorus melody and the hard-edged guitar.

Even the title, taken literally as “Sunglasses at Night,” is spot on.

We recommend enjoying a bubble-era style drive—say, racing alone down the highway at night—while listening to this track!

I Want Your SexGeorge Michael

George Michael – I Want Your Sex (Stereo Version)

The title is pretty straightforward and provocative, but if you’re told it’s a George Michael song, you can’t help but nod in agreement! A singer-songwriter and pop star of whom the UK can be truly proud, George Michael rose to fame as a member of Wham! and went on to release global hits after his solo debut.

This is a breezy dance-pop classic he released in 1987.

Issued as the lead single from his explosively successful solo debut album Faith, which came out the same year, it was also his first solo single since Wham!’s breakup.

What’s interesting is that the track is structured in three parts collectively titled “Rhythms,” and the version you hear as a single is the part known as “Rhythm One: Lust.” The album includes a version that connects two of the parts, while a fully integrated version containing all three can be heard on the 12-inch single and similar releases.

New SongHoward Jones

Howard Jones – New Song

The 1980s were a time when music gear advanced dramatically, and countless classic pop songs featuring synthesizers were born.

A true child of that era is the British artist Howard Jones.

He’s a popular figure in genres like synth-pop and electropop, and many from the generation who experienced the ’80s in real time remember him as an artist who delivered multiple hits.

His debut single “New Song,” released in 1983, is a gem—its breezy melody over a brisk synth sound is irresistibly catchy! The instrumental break, where Jones himself lets loose with brilliant keyboard playing, is another highlight.

It’s easy to see why both the artist and his debut track enjoyed idol-like popularity in Japan.

Don’t Mean NothingRichard Marx

richard marx – don’t mean nothin’

It’s a debut single that suddenly reached No.

3 on the U.

S.

charts in 1987! Richard Marx, an American singer-songwriter and music producer, is a talented artist who, at the young age of 19, was recognized by Lionel Richie and took part in one of his albums.

Although he has mainly worked behind the scenes since the 1990s, his first Japan tour in 1988 was at the Nippon Budokan, and his achievements in the ’80s were truly remarkable.

His milestone debut song, “Don’t Mean Nothing,” is a killer tune distinguished by its breezy West Coast sound and sparkling pop sensibility, but when you read the lyrics, you’ll find a cynical take on the U.

S.

show business industry.

I highly recommend checking out the Japanese translation.