Top Western Music Artists of the 1980s: Ranking [2025]

Funky TownLipps Inc64rank/position

Lipps Inc. – Funkytown (Official Audio)

Formed around Stephen Greenberg, who transitioned from being a wedding DJ, the American studio band Lipps Inc.

released this track as a single from their debut album “Mouth to Mouth” in March 1980.

It became a disco classic, conquering 28 countries worldwide and topping the Billboard chart for four consecutive weeks.

The song expresses a heartfelt desire to escape a dull everyday life and move to an energizing city.

Cynthia Johnson—who was crowned Miss Black Minnesota—delivers a powerful vocal performance that vividly conveys both a longing for the big city and an impatience with the status quo.

Many of you may remember it from its use in the film Shrek 2.

If you want to change your circumstances and take a step into somewhere new, this song will surely give you a push.

Every Rose Has It’s ThornPoison65rank/position

Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Official Music Video)

A signature ballad by Poison, one of the defining rock bands of the 1980s that gained popularity not only in their home country of the United States but also in Japan, armed with flashy looks and catchy melodies.

With an unforgettable tune and lyrics that resonate, it masterfully captures the pain of heartbreak and the complexities of love.

Released in October 1988, the song was included on their second album, “Open Up and Say.

.

.

Ahh!,” and became the band’s only number-one hit in the U.

S.

It has been highly praised by media outlets such as Guitar World and Rolling Stone and is considered a landmark of ’80s hair-metal ballads.

It’s a recommended track for times when you want to heal the pain of a breakup or look back on memories with someone special.

I Just Called To Say I Love YouStevie Wonder66rank/position

I Just Called To Say I Love You

Stevie Wonder is one of the artists who helped build the New Soul boom of the 1970s.

Despite being blind, he is a well-known genius with exceptionally high-level piano skills and a uniquely powerful vocal presence.

Among his works, the one that’s especially perfect for autumn is “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” It’s a classic wrapped in a gentle melody that suits the season perfectly.

CenterfoldThe J. Geils Band67rank/position

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.

And The Beat Goes OnThe Whispers68rank/position

The Whispers – “And The Beat Goes On” (Official Video)

The Whispers, who created a classic that has long been cherished as a defining soul-disco sound of the ’80s.

Hailing from California, their October 1979 release is a masterpiece that sets a positive, forward-looking message about a breakup—one of life’s turning points—to an upbeat groove.

Its effective use of synthesizers made it a pivotal track symbolizing the transition from disco to post-disco.

In 2002, it was featured on the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, winning over a new generation of listeners.

With rhythms and melodies that feel right at home on the dance floor, it’s the perfect song for anyone ready to move forward.

A gem of a disco tune, dedicated to those who, while carrying a hint of heartache, want to take a bold new step.

I Heard RumourBananarama69rank/position

Bananarama – I Heard a Rumour

Bananarama’s hit song “Venus” is well known, but this track also became a big hit, reaching No.

3 on the U.

S.

Dance Club Songs chart.

Their fashion is quintessentially ’80s—like a British version of Madonna.

Sunglasses at NightCorey Hart70rank/position

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!