[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 (41–50)
Burn Rubber On MeGap Band
The Gap Band, an American group that established a sound influencing everything from funk and R&B to modern hip-hop.
Their signature hit, which lit up the disco scene of the ’80s, is a masterpiece that expresses the sorrow of a man betrayed by his lover through an uptempo funk groove.
Featured on the album The Gap Band III, the track is marked by an exquisite groove driven by Charlie Wilson’s Minimoog synthesizer bassline.
It topped the U.
S.
R&B chart in 1980 and earned the band their first platinum record.
It’s a song that shines not only on the dance floor but also for cruising and party scenes, and was even included on the soundtrack of the racing game DiRT 3.
[1980s Western Music] Nostalgic 80’s Best Hit Songs (51–60)
Run To YouBryan Adams
A single released ahead of the album from Canadian singer Bryan Adams’s fourth album, Reckless, which came out in 1984.
It reached No.
6 on the US charts.
The powerful yet wistful vocals and the supporting beat leave a strong impression.
CenterfoldThe J. Geils Band
When leader J.
Geils formed the band in ’67, they were a blues-rock outfit, but after signing with EMI in the ’80s they changed their musical style, and this track, released in ’81, reached No.
1 in the U.
S.
It was also a hit in Japan under the Japanese title “Ochita Tenshi” (Fallen Angel) and was used in commercials.
Purple RainPrince
Alongside Michael Jackson, he was one of the defining Black artists of the 1980s.
A charismatic figure whose wide-ranging musicality influenced the music scene, he can truly be called a genius.
He passed away in 2016, but his name and works will continue to be spoken of forever, even after his death.
Another One Bites the DustQueen
Queen is one of the rock bands that represent the United Kingdom.
They had been active since the 1970s, and in 1980 they released what became the band’s biggest hit: “Another One Bites the Dust.” In Japan, it was hugely popular at the time under the title “Jigoku e Michizure.” Its dance music–like rhythm is complemented by Freddie Mercury’s distinctive vocals, giving it a unique and unparalleled appeal.
Believe It or NotJoey Scarbury
The theme song of the American hit drama “The Greatest American Hero,” which also aired in Japan.
It’s a wacky comedy about an unremarkable high school teacher who acquires a red super-suit and fights evil, but the unexpectedly catchy and beautiful melody is very pleasing to the ear.
Video Killed The Radio StarThe Buggles
This is the song “Video Killed the Radio Star,” released in 1979 by the British new wave group The Buggles.
Its catchy melody and playful arrangement captured the hearts of many.
From radio to television—it’s a song that perfectly captures a shift in the times.
It’s a nostalgic classic, so if you sing it at karaoke with foreign friends, it’s sure to be a hit!