Recommended Western music for men in their 40s: world classics and popular songs

Holding Back The YearsSimply Red

Simply Red – Holding Back The Years (Official 4K Remaster)

It hit No.

1 in the U.

S.

in 1986—this was their breakthrough.

Simply Red kept scoring hits with the soulful vocals of their red-haired frontman, Mick Hucknall.

In Japan, there was quite a buzz around Gota Yashiki joining the band as their drummer around the time of another hit, Stars.

In 1989, they reached No.

1 in the U.

S.

with their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ If You Don’t Know Me by Now.

Mick is great at soul covers, too.

The up-tempo Money’s Too Tight (to Mention) and The Right Thing are also excellent tracks.

TrueSpandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet – True (HD Remastered)

It’s a long-running hit from the ’80s—a piece of contemporary music that still feels fresh today.

It topped the UK singles chart for four weeks and ranked sixth for two consecutive years.

It was highly acclaimed in 20 other countries.

This song is Spandau Ballet’s biggest hit.

Mr. RobotoStyx

Styx – Mr. Roboto (Official Video)

A band representing American progressive hard rock that has been active since the 1970s.

In the 1980s, this song—part of the rock opera “Kilroy Was Here” and featuring Japanese lyrics—quietly drew attention in Japan, where it was treated somewhat like a novelty.

Eye Of The TigerSurvivor

Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger (Official HD Video)

This is Survivor’s biggest hit, which won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.

Its adrenaline-pumping intro helped it become an even bigger hit as the theme song for the movie Rocky III.

Even today, fighters still use it as their entrance music.

It’s a quintessential ’80s rock track, distinguished by its memorable guitar riff.

Don’t Answer MeThe Alan Parsons Project

The Alan Parsons Project – Don’t Answer Me (Official HD Video)

In the 1980s, the heyday of MTV, this music video was especially impactful.

It’s a ballad by The Alan Parsons Project, known for their hit “Eye in the Sky.” The comic book–style visuals pair perfectly with the nostalgic melody—a classic that epitomizes a bright, optimistic era.

You Might ThinkThe Cars

The Cars – You Might Think (Official Music Video)

Speaking of the ’80s, it was the heyday of MTV, but the landmark song that beat out Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” to win the very first MTV Video Music Awards’ “Video of the Year” was “You Might Think”! The video, which made extensive use of what was then rare computer graphics, was groundbreaking, and it’s a visual work packed with the band’s innovation alongside an ultra-pop, catchy track.

“You Might Think” is one of the signature hits released in 1984 by The Cars, a leading new wave band active from the late ’70s to the mid-’80s.

With live performances on par with their studio recordings, the outstanding songwriting talent of Ric Ocasek—who would later shine as a producer for bands like Weezer—and a lineup of distinctive members, they not only wrote great songs but also had a strong commitment to visuals and artwork, making them a wonderful band that balanced artistry with commercial success.

Be sure to check out the MVs for their other songs too!

Don’t You Want MeThe Human League

The Human League – Don’t You Want Me (Official Music Video)

It’s one of the new wave/technopop groups that sparked a boom centered in the UK in the early ’80s.

This song, which was a hit in the UK in ’81, caught fire in the U.

S.

a year later and became one of the few technopop tracks to reach No.

1 on the American charts.