[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs
The 1980s brought changes to music history and had a huge influence on later musicians.
Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Madonna, Earth, Wind & Fire.
.
.
Even those who didn’t live through the era can sink into a sense of nostalgia that feels familiar somehow.
Compared to modern songs, the classics of the ’80s often boast purer song quality and stronger musical structure—or, seen another way, the larger market meant bigger budgets, letting you enjoy luxuriously produced sounds.
Find a favorite track and really dive into it!
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[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (61–70)
LukaSuzanne Vega
Peaked at No.
3 in the U.
S.
in 1987.
A single cut from the album “Solitude Standing.” It’s the second track on an album that tackles introspective yet socially conscious themes.
The first track, “Tom’s Diner,” starts abruptly with a cappella, with her singing like she’s muttering to herself.
Then comes this second track.
The bright, breezy intro makes it feel as if light suddenly pours in, but in fact it’s a serious song about child abuse, which was becoming a social issue in the U.
S.
at the time.
Back then I thought, “Child abuse? America is such a strange country,” but later in Japan as well… Even so, the fact that a song like this reached No.
3 on the charts shows that, in a way, America is pretty remarkable.
Heaven Is a Place On EarthBelinda Carlisle
This is the song “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” released in 1987.
It’s sung by Belinda Carlisle, a singer who was extremely popular in Japan at the time.
Her soaring, electrifying voice captivated the world.
Although it was released in 1987, it’s still a classic that you often hear on TV and elsewhere even today!
RioDuran Duran
“Rio” is the second album by the British new wave and synth-pop band Duran Duran, first released worldwide on May 10, 1982.
It reached number 2 in the UK and topped the charts at number 1 in Australia.
With synth percussion, a driving bassline, and arpeggiators, it’s a breezy midsummer number.
Let’s DanceDavid Bowie
After moving away from the glam rock of the ’70s and shifting to a pop-rock direction, David Bowie released “Let’s Dance” in 1983, which became one of his signature songs.
With this track, he succeeded in capturing the hearts of the youth of the time, and it became a major hit.
The album Let’s Dance, which includes the song, was also a worldwide success, establishing David Bowie’s status as a star.
Naughty NaughtyJohn Parr
In 1984, John Parr debuted with the dubious tagline of a “rocker with amnesia.” The theme song for the film St.
Elmo’s Fire became a huge hit in the U.
S.
, and for some reason the song alone became well-known in Japan as well.
Meanwhile, this debut track strikes a perfect balance between a cool melody and a goofy music video.
Smooth OperatorSade
A single from the 1984 debut album Diamond Life.
The album has sold six million copies worldwide, and Smooth Operator has been covered by numerous artists to this day.
Its languid sound and her husky voice captivated many fans.
GoodbyeNight Ranger
It’s a deeply moving classic ballad by Night Ranger that sings, “I’m not good at saying goodbye.” The vocals are handled by drummer Kelly Keagy.
Among the many rock bands that emerged from the West Coast in the ’80s, this band is especially renowned for their ballads.