[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!
- Legendary Western rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 80s
- A Collection of Classic 80s Western Ballads with Male Vocals
- Must-listen! Recommended! Spotlight on male solo artists in Western music
- [Western Music] A roundup of male singers who were active in the 1980s
- Love songs in Western music that were hits in the 1980s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- Debut songs by female Western artists from the 1980s
- Top Western Music Artists of the 1980s: Ranking [2025]
- A roundup of debut songs by male Western artists/singers from the ’90s
- [80s Western Music] A roundup of debut songs by girl bands
- Debut songs by male Western artists from the 2000s
- [1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80's Best Hit Songs
- Breakup songs in Western music that were hits in the 80s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- Nostalgic or fresh? Great Western pop masterpieces and hit songs from the 1980s
[80s Western Music] Male Artists’ Debut Songs (11–20)
TrulyLionel Richie
A tear-jerking love ballad featuring a soul-cleansingly beautiful piano tone, strings, and a vocal performance of stunning expressiveness! The song was included on Lionel Richie’s self-titled solo debut, released in 1982, and served as his debut single as a solo artist.
Known in Japan by the somewhat curious title “Ai to Hakariaeru Hodo ni” (literally, “As Much as It Can Be Measured Against Love”), the track also lent its name to Richie’s 1997 best-of collection of love songs.
“Truly” topped the U.
S.
Billboard chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
If you’re in the mood for a straightforward, excellent love ballad, be sure to give this song a listen!
Johnny Can’t ReadDon Henley
Don Henley, renowned as the Eagles’ co-lead vocalist and songwriter alongside Glenn Frey—and also famous as a drummer—has released many timeless classics that will go down in music history.
While many might cite “The Boys of Summer” as the quintessential showcase of Henley’s wistful vocals from his solo career that began in the 1980s, his 1982 solo debut single “Johnny Can’t Read” offers a different kind of appeal.
Also known in Japan by the title “Johnny no Seishun,” this track is such a sparkling, keyboard-forward killer tune that you can’t help but wonder what Eagles fans thought when they first heard it.
Perhaps influenced by the rise of new wave at the time, Henley sounds great delivering a pop performance in this vein.
Highly recommended for power-pop fans and those who enjoy early Elvis Costello.
Soft and WetPrince
Prince—known as His Royal Highness—handled everything himself: not only songwriting, but vocals, all instruments, and production.
He was a prolific creator who released numerous works, and it’s said there’s also a vast trove of unreleased recordings that never made it out due to his perfectionism.
A true genius in every sense, Prince crafted his debut single “Soft and Wet” entirely on his own and released it on his 20th birthday alongside the album.
His distinctive falsetto was already fully formed at this point, and the layered one-man choral work makes for an impressively funky pop tune.
The lyrics are a straightforward love song packed with the kind of sexy elements so characteristic of Prince, yet they still carry a touch of youthful innocence—and that’s part of the charm.
As a valuable document capturing Prince in his early, fresh-faced phase before he hit his peak in the 1980s, this is something fans who only know his ’80s hits should especially check out.
The Boy Who Came BackMarc Almond
Marc Almond, who served as the vocalist for Soft Cell—a group that gained popularity as a singular, unconventional presence in the ’80s UK New Wave movement.
Speaking of Soft Cell, their sound was defined by then-cutting-edge synth-pop paired with Marc’s soulful vocals, and lyrics that, while conveying a sense of literary sophistication, also took on provocative themes.
Marc’s solo debut single, “The Boy Who Came Back,” released under his own name in 1984, stands apart from electro sounds: led by a briskly strummed acoustic guitar backing, it’s a pop song marked by a catchy main piano motif and the memorable beauty of Marc’s voice.
That said, it still exudes Marc’s distinctive sultriness and an unmistakable decadence, making it a pop song that perfects the individuality of a cult star rather than a conventional pop idol—so quintessentially Marc, and absolutely brilliant.
If You Let Me StayTerence Trent D’Arby
Terence Trent D’Arby, known as a singer-songwriter who follows in the lineage of Stevie Wonder and Prince and can play most instruments, is now active under the name Sananda Maitreya.
His debut album, Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby, released in 1987, was a massive hit, selling a total of 12 million copies worldwide and instantly propelling him into the ranks of top stars.
If you listen to his debut single from the same year, If You Let Me Stay—a crossover sound that blends soul, funk, rock, and gospel—you can sense Terence’s extraordinary talent.
It still sounds incredibly cool even beyond the 2020s, and I especially hope those who weren’t around at the time will give it a fresh listen, album included.
Ride Like the WindChristopher Cross
If you’re a fan of AOR, you’ve surely heard of Christopher Cross, the American singer-songwriter.
His self-titled debut album, released in 1979 and a massive hit, is also known in Japan by the title “The Man from the South.” The album and one of his signature tracks, “Sailing,” enjoyed great success, including winning a Grammy in 1981.
His clear, soaring high-tenor voice is truly exquisite, and he’s very popular in Japan as well.
His debut single “Ride Like the Wind,” given the Japanese title “Kaze Tachinu,” is not only marked by his overwhelmingly beautiful vocals and lush choral work, but also features strings and a hard-driving guitar solo, incorporating the disco-influenced sound that was booming at the time—very cool indeed.
If you’ve only ever listened to softer, mellow songs like “Sailing,” you might be in for a surprise!
[80s Western Music] Debut Songs by Male Artists (21–30)
Something in 4/4 TimeDaryl Hall
Hall & Oates are a quintessential blue-eyed soul duo, with more hit songs than you can count.
It was only natural for Daryl Hall, who wrote most of their songs, to make his solo debut.
As expected, this debut single is a pop tune with a soulful flair.