The article highlights four hit singles from 1980 by prominent solo female artists, presenting them as examples of how established performers adapted to a changing pop landscape. It covers Olivia Newton-John’s “Magic”, Bette Midler’s “The Rose”, Diana Ross’s “Upside Down” and Kim Carnes’s cover of “More Love”.

– Olivia Newton-John’s “Magic”, written by longtime collaborator John Farrar for the Xanadu soundtrack, paired a restrained, sultry vocal with a soaring chorus.
– Bette Midler’s “The Rose”, written by Amanda McBroom for the film of the same name, reached the US Top 5 and helped broaden Midler’s profile as both an actor and singer.
– Diana Ross’s “Upside Down”, from her Diana album, was written and produced by Chic’s Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers; it reached number one and was followed by the Top 10 hit “I’m Coming Out”.
– Kim Carnes recorded “More Love”, originally a modest 1967 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles single, before her later breakthrough with “Bette Davis Eyes”; Raphael Ravenscroft played the saxophone solo.