[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 (1–10)
Don’t Stop Me NowQueen
The moment the piano intro starts, you’re swept up in a rush of excitement that makes your heart dance—this is one of the signature songs by the British band Queen.
Released as a single in 1979, it’s included on the classic album “Jazz.” Written by Freddie Mercury, the song brims with overwhelming energy and euphoria, declaring, “No one can stop me.” Guitarist Brian May reportedly had reservations at first about its unabashedly hedonistic content.
In Japan, it’s well known from commercials for Cosmo Oil and JR Central, as well as its use in the film “Shaun of the Dead,” and just listening to it makes you feel invincible.
It’s a timeless killer tune that’s perfect for pumping up a drive or a party.
I Wanna Dance With SomebodyWhitney Houston
A track from Whitney Houston’s second album, “Whitney,” which won a Grammy Award.
This song itself also won a Grammy in the female pop artist category.
When she passed away in 2012, many people mourned her, and the song was played widely in the media as one of her signature hits.
Do You Believe In LoveHuey Lewis & The News
It reached No.
7 in the U.
S.
in 1982.
This breakout hit was released as a single from their second album, “Picture This.” Huey Lewis had originally spent many years struggling, but he went on to release the classic album “Sports,” achieving massive success that swept away those difficult times.
There’s little more to say about the Back to the Future era, but apart from his own work, he played a major role in the music scene by helping to revive Tower of Power and discovering Bruce Hornsby.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (11–20)
Eye Of The TigerSurvivor
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.
About A GirlNirvana
Nirvana, the band that emerged from Washington State in the late ’80s and brought a fresh breeze to the music scene.
Contrary to the intense sound typically associated with grunge, this track resonates with a poppy, beautiful melody reminiscent of the Beatles.
The small misunderstandings and frustrations of living with a partner come through painfully in Kurt Cobain’s languid yet gentle voice.
Included on their 1989 debut album Bleach, some may have discovered it through the 1994 acoustic live recording.
It’s a song that, when listened to at a time when a relationship has started to feel “normal,” can make you realize anew just how much the other person means to you.
Take on Mea-ha
This is a 1985 single by the Norwegian band a-ha.
Both the lyrics and music were created by all the members, and the song became a huge hit worldwide and is still loved today.
Its animated music video also attracted attention, winning six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.
(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)Beastie Boys
It’s a rousing rock anthem that humorously portrays the rebellious spirit of young people getting scolded by their parents—“Stop partying and study!” Hailing from New York City, the Beastie Boys originally started as a punk band, then took the world by storm by fusing hip-hop and rock.
This track was released as a single in December 1986 and appears on their debut album, Licensed to Ill.
While it was actually intended as a parody poking fun at generic party songs, it was embraced as a straightforward rallying cry and climbed to No.
7 on the U.
S.
charts.
That gap between intent and reception is pretty fascinating, isn’t it? Watching them push back against unreasonable oppression and demand their rights might just blow away your everyday frustrations.