[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs

99 LuftballonsNena

NENA | 99 Luftballons [1983] [Offizielles HD Musikvideo]

A song by the West German rock band Nena.

Despite being in German, it reached No.

2 in the United States and No.

1 in the United Kingdom the year after its 1983 release, and it also topped Japan’s Western music chart for four consecutive weeks.

It was later given English lyrics and re-released.

FootlooseKenny Loggins

Footloose (From “Footloose” Soundtrack)

Triggered by the main theme song of the worldwide smash hit film Footloose, this track also became a massive hit.

With its lively sound and irresistibly danceable vibe, it stands as one of the quintessential songs of the 1980s.

It brings back memories of everyone tapping their shoes and dancing as they walked.

It was Kenny Loggins’s biggest hit and is still loved today.

Oh GirlBoy Meets Girl

Boy Meets Girl – Oh Girl (1985)

The duo of George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who are now divorced.

Their signature work from the ’80s is undoubtedly “Waiting For A Star To Fall,” which was in heavy rotation on the radio back then.

This song, released as their first single in 1985, is also a mellow and breezy pop tune.

Walk Like An EgyptianThe Bangles

The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian (Official Video)

True to its quirky title, “Walk Like an Egyptian,” the music video drew attention for its amusing concept of people dancing a style called the Egyptian dance.

The creator, Liam Sternberg, has said he was inspired after seeing people boarding a ferry in the English Channel walking while trying to keep their balance.

And The Beat Goes OnThe Whispers

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.

Rock With YouMichael Jackson

Rock with You

Michael Jackson wasn’t just an artist emblematic of the ’80s—he was someone beloved across every era.

This song was released in the late ’70s and was widely listened to throughout the ’80s.

He would go on to release the massive hit Thriller and become a globally renowned artist, but this track captivates with his free, expansive vocals—something that stays with us in our memories forever.

VenusBananarama

Bananarama – Venus (Official Video)

Shining as a monumental pillar of 1980s pop music, this track elevated Bananarama, the British girl group, into perfectly evolved dance-pop.

Transforming a classic rock original into a Hi-NRG arrangement, its dazzling disco sound—driven by synthesizers and electronic textures—pairs seamlessly with captivating female vocals.

Released in May 1986, it reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

Billboard Hot 100 in September of the same year, making them the first British girl group to top the chart in America.

It hit the top of the charts worldwide, and its music video made a major splash on MTV.

With rhythm that ignites the dance floor and sleek production, it remains a beloved party staple to this day.