[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 (131–140)
Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)Pink Floyd
The music video is notable for its strong social message.
This track is among Pink Floyd’s biggest hits of the 1980s.
They still have a devoted fan base, but their highly progressive style was not universally embraced.
However, this song is different.
It can’t exactly be called catchy, yet it was highly regarded by many.
TrueSpandau Ballet
It’s a long-running hit from the ’80s—a piece of contemporary music that still feels fresh today.
It topped the UK singles chart for four weeks and ranked sixth for two consecutive years.
It was highly acclaimed in 20 other countries.
This song is Spandau Ballet’s biggest hit.
Heart(Stop Beating in Time)Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer, from the UK.
His specialty is, above all, mellow ballads that showcase his beautiful voice.
Songs like “When I Need You” and “More Than I Can Say” are melodies almost everyone has heard at least once.
Hidden behind those massive hits, this track has a dreamy, addictive melodic line that really hits the spot.
Crazy Little Thing Called LoveQueen
Also known in Japan by the title “Desire by the Name of Love,” this song was a massive hit that reached No.
1 in the United States.
Considering that its parent album, The Game, sold 4.
1 million copies in the U.
S.
alone, you could say it heralded the dawn of Queen’s 1980s era.
While every member of Queen could write lyrics and compose music, this particular track was written and composed by Freddie Mercury.
It’s also the only song on which Freddie—who wasn’t especially adept at guitar—played guitar live.
ImagineQueen
A smash hit that sings of humanity’s peace.
Its melody alone brings a sense of calm, and the more you read the lyrics, the deeper they feel—one reason it has been beloved around the world for so long.
You’ve probably heard this song in many contexts, from films to TV dramas.
In A Big CountryBig Country
They’re often described as a quintessential one-hit wonder, becoming legendary for this single big hit that featured bagpipes from their native Scotland.
In Japan, it was covered by George Yanagi.
In reality, they had a few other hits in the UK, but they’re hardly known outside the country.
Wake Me Up Before You Go-GoWham!
Wham! had enjoyed idol-like popularity since the early ’80s, but with this song they aimed for a cheerful image makeover and became even bigger stars.
The track—released in Japan under the title “Ukiki Wake Me Up”—was included on the album Make It Big, which became a global smash and spent a total of 11 weeks at No.
1 on Japan’s international album chart.
Not only the song but also the shirts featured in the music video sparked a craze.