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

CenterfoldThe J. Geils Band

J. Geils Band – Centrefold [HQ]

When leader J.

Geils formed the band in ’67, they were a blues-rock outfit, but after signing with EMI in the ’80s they changed their musical style, and this track, released in ’81, reached No.

1 in the U.

S.

It was also a hit in Japan under the Japanese title “Ochita Tenshi” (Fallen Angel) and was used in commercials.

Shout To The TopThe Style Council

The Style Council – Shout To The Top

This is a track from The Style Council’s second album, a group that enjoyed immense popularity as chic music of the 1980s.

As a British pop-rock band, it’s said that not only their music but also their fashion and very presence were objects of admiration for fans.

Sunday Bloody SundayU2

Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live From Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado, USA / 1983 / Remastered 2021)

Speaking of U2, they’re now a monster band in the rock world, but in the ’80s they were still a promising up-and-coming act.

Their third album, War, released in 1983, was a powerful work that tackled social issues and religious views in their native Ireland head-on, and it’s regarded as an early masterpiece that set the stage for their breakthrough.

We Are The WorldUSA For Africa

USA For Africa – We Are The World (Subtitles)

This is the song “We Are the World” by USA for Africa, released in 1985.

USA for Africa, which featured a lineup of prominent artists such as Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and Stevie Wonder, was a charity project aimed at relieving the famine in Africa, a major social issue at the time.

It remains a beloved song around the world to this day.

FreedomWham!

Wham! – Freedom (Official Video)

Released in 1984 by the British pop duo Wham!, this song reached No.

1 in the UK and No.

3 in the US.

It features a catchy melody that makes you want to hum along.

Its upbeat, lively rhythm will have you itching to dance.

Last ChristmasWham!

Wham! – Last Christmas (Official Video)

Last Christmas by Wham! was a massive hit in the 1980s.

Since it’s a song used by many media outlets in Japan, I’m sure many of you are familiar with it.

Even in the 2020s, isn’t this the song that comes to mind when you think of Christmas? With Wham’s sweet vocals and beautiful sound, it’s a pop number that also achieved huge commercial success.

WaitWhite Lion

White Lion – Wait (Official Music Video)

Featured on the classic 1987 album Pride, this song is known as one of White Lion’s signature tracks.

With moving lyrics and melody, it expresses the resolve to win back a lost love.

Its music video began receiving regular airplay on MTV in 1988, and the song reached the U.

S.

Top 10.

As a mid-tempo rock ballad, it has captured the hearts of fans around the world.

The album Pride was a major success, peaking at No.

11 on the U.

S.

album chart and selling around two million copies.

It’s a recommended track for when you want a romantic atmosphere or to enjoy a classic hit from the ’80s.