[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 (21–30)
Union Of The SnakeDuran Duran
They are a British band that made one of the biggest contributions to the MTV boom of the 1980s.
In Japan in particular, they enjoyed idol-like popularity and produced a string of hits.
The late Princess Diana was reportedly a fan.
Despite multiple lineup changes, the band is still active today.
Once In A LifetimeTalking Heads
It’s a song that jolts you in those moments when your life suddenly feels like it’s on autopilot.
Created by the innovative American band Talking Heads, it sets existential questions about everyday life against a sound that fuses New Wave and Afrobeat.
The protagonist’s bewilderment—having acquired a beautiful house yet asking, “Why am I here?”—is memorably conveyed through David Byrne’s anxious, spoken delivery.
Released as a single from the classic album Remain in Light in January 1981, it was also featured in the film Down and Out in Beverly Hills.
Hailed by NPR as one of the “100 most important American musical works of the 20th century,” this masterpiece might offer a fresh perspective when you find yourself questioning the everyday.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (31–40)
Karma ChameleonCulture Club
This is a single released from the album Colour by Numbers by the British band Culture Club.
Released in 1983, it became the band’s biggest hit, reaching number one in 16 countries worldwide.
The message conveyed through the music video is also noteworthy.
Welcome To The JungleGuns N’ Roses
With razor-sharp guitar riffs and scream-like vocals that stir the listener’s instincts, this is a shocking track by Guns N’ Roses.
Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, which features this song, has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
It powerfully portrays the fear of young people thrown into the urban jungle and their descent into chaos.
Since its release as a single in the UK in September 1987, it has colored countless forms of media, including the film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and various games.
When you want to blast away the boredom of everyday life or push yourself to the limit, listening to it will ignite the fighting spirit within.
It’s My LifeTalk Talk
An iconic song by the British band Talk Talk, distinguished by its cool synthesizer tones.
The group evolved from their early new wave sound into an experimental style that gradually incorporated jazz and art rock.
Released in January 1984, the track signaled the beginning of that transformation.
With a theme that seems to declare, “This is my life,” and a resolve not to let anyone interfere, it gives you the courage to stay true to yourself.
It drew renewed attention in 1990 during promotion for a best-of compilation, becoming a hit that reached No.
13 on the UK chart.
It’s a talisman-like number that gently supports you when you’re swayed by others’ voices or want to firm up your own resolve.
Separate WaysJourney
Despite their long career, they shot to fame in the 1980s by churning out a string of hits.
After the addition of the renowned vocalist Steve Perry, they achieved tremendous success as a commercial rock act.
This song is one of their signature works, notable for its striking intro.
Straight Outta ComptonN.W.A
A landmark track by the American hip-hop group N.
W.
A that delivered a scathing critique of the police and laid bare the realities of the streets, shocking society.
Opening the classic 1988 album Straight Outta Compton, this song features powerful lyrics that pierce the heart, declaring pride in their roots and a tough way of life.
Its content was so provocative that the FBI even sent a warning letter—pure defiance against injustice.
It later became known for playing a key role as the theme song of their biographical film Straight Outta Compton.
If you’re feeling stifled by society, listening to this might give you the strength to stand firm in the face of any adversity.