Songs of the Year
Songs of the Year: 1983
What A Feeling!
1983 was a another year of big singles… from Thriller. MJ’s 1982 album absolutely dominated the charts in 1983, although even the king of pop couldn’t outdo the creepiest “love” song of all time, Every Breath you Take, the swan song of The Police, which was the top Billboard hit of the year.
On the Billboard Hot 100, Duran Duran, Cindy Lauper, Madonna, Irene Cara, Prince, Phil Collins and Def Leppard also had pretty great years. Plus surprise appearances from the Kinks (Come Dancing), Stray Cats (She’s Sexy + 17) and Frank Stallone (Far from Over).
This year, Joe busts out a favorite from a recent discography, which will go up against Jason’s shrewd powerhouse from a previous winner and Kramzer’s “destined for a distant third place” pick.
It’s a simple concept. We pick five of our favorite songs that made the Billboard Top 100 (established in 1958) during any time that year. We also select five “wildcards” that can be any songs released as a single or on an album or EP that year. Finally, we also pick our “worst” song of the year, just for fun.
We started in 1958 and we’re going until we run out of years.
Standings So Far …
Kramzer’s pick of The English Beat’s Save it For Later almost pulled off the shocker of the decade, but in the end couldn’t handle Prince’s Little Red Corvette as Joe added to his lead with a win in 1982. Jason’s back-to-back Petty pick put up a good fight in 1981, but landed a distant third.
Joe: 13
Jason: 10.5
Kramzer: 7.5
Vote
Which Was the Best Song of 1983?
- This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody) by The Talking Heads (44%, 87 Votes)
- This Charming Man by The Smiths (37%, 74 Votes)
- Like a Song by U2 (19%, 38 Votes)
Total Voters: 199
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My favorite songs of 1983:
Rank-Title-Artist
1. THE ONE THING – INXS
2. HEART & SOUL – HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
3. FLASHDANCE (WHAT A FEELING) – IRENE CARA
4. MODERN LOVE – DAVID BOWIE
5. ON THE LOOSE – SAGA
6. IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW – DURAN DURAN
7. SAY IT ISN’T SO – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
8. RED SKIES – FIXX
9. PHOTOGRAPH – DEF LEPPARD
10. MIRROR MAN – HUMAN LEAGUE
11. LET’S DANCE – DAVID BOWIE
12. TWILIGHT ZONE – GOLDEN EARRING
13. CUTS LIKE A KNIFE – BRYAN ADAMS
14. IN A BIG COUNTRY – BIG COUNTRY
15. DEAD GIVEAWAY – SHALAMAR
16. HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF – DURAN DURAN
17. SAVED BY ZERO – FIXX
18. SHE’S A BEAUTY – TUBES
19. CHINA GIRL – DAVID BOWIE
20. WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHING – MICHAEL JACKSON
21. SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE – THOMAS DOLBY
22. I WON’T BE HOME TONIGHT – TONY CAREY
23. QUEEN OF THE BROKEN HEARTS – LOVERBOY
24. WHY ME ? – PLANET P PROJECT
25. FAITHFULLY – JOURNEY
26. LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD – PAT BENATAR
27. SOULS – RICK SPRINGFIELD
28. STREET OF DREAMS – RAINBOW
29. PROMISES, PROMISES – NAKED EYES
30. TOO SHY – KAJAGOOGOO
31. MEXICAN RADIO – WALL OF VOODOO
32. BEAT IT – MICHAEL JACKSON
33. BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG – PRETENDERS
34. ROCK OF AGES – DEF LEPPARD
35. SOLITAIRE – LAURA BRANIGAN
36. EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE – POLICE
37. SHARP DRESSED MAN – ZZ TOP
38. INDUSTRIAL DISEASE – DIRE STRAITS
39. THIS TIME – BRYAN ADAMS
40. WIND HIM UP – SAGA
More of my favorite songs of 1983:
Rank-Title-Artist
41. NEW YEARS DAY – U2
42. I KNOW THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON – FRIDA
43. RADIO FREE EUROPE – R.E.M.
44. WALKING IN L.A. – MISSING PERSONS
45. LITTLE TOO LATE – PAT BENATAR
46. UNION OF THE SNAKE – DURAN DURAN
47. WHITE WEDDING – BILLY IDOL
48. GOT ME UNDER PRESSURE – ZZ TOP
49. NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO – SERGIO MENDES
50. SUNDAY, BLOODY SUNDAY – U2
51. SEPERATE WAYS – JOURNEY
52. BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE – TALKING HEADS
53. ROCK THE CASBAH – THE CLASH
54. IT’S GONNA GET BETTER – GENESIS
55. CRUMBLIN’ DOWN – JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP
56. THE FLYER – SAGA
57. OUR HOUSE – MADNESS
58. I’M STILL STANDING – ELTON JOHN
59. STATE OF THE NATION – INDUSTRY
60. DER KOMMISSAR – AFTER THE FIRE
61. CAN’T SHAKE LOOSE – AGNETA FALTSKOG
62. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT – ZEBRA
63. AFRICA – TOTO
64. HOW CAN I REFUSE – HEART
65. SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY – DONNA SUMMER
66. BABY JANE – ROD STEWART
67. STAND BACK – STEVIE NICKS
68. BIG LOG – ROBERT PLANT
69. MIDNIGHT BLUE – LOUISE TUCKER
70. CHANCE OF A LIFETIME – LOVERBOY
71. DOWN UNDER – MEN AT WORK
72. ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER – FIXX
73. WISHING (IF I HAD A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOU) – FLOCK OF SEAGULLS
74. KISS THE BRIDE – ELTON JOHN
75. BILLIE JEAN – MICHAEL JACKSON
76. LITTLE RED CORVETTE – PRINCE
77. TAKE ME TO HEART – QUARTERFLASH
78. LIES – THOMPSON TWINS
79. FOOLIN’ – DEF LEPPARD
80. SALT IN MY TEARS – MARTIN BRILEY
81. MANIAC – MICHAEL SEMBELLO
82. SHIP TO SHORE – CHRIS DEBURGH
83. JEOPARDY – GREG KIHN BAND
84. FAMILY MAN – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
85. AIN’T NOBODY – RUFUS AND CHAKA KHAN
86. IT’S A MISTAKE – MEN AT WORK
87. BANG THE DRUM ALL DAY – TODD RUNDGREN
88. GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN’ – ZZ TOP
89. DON’T PAY THE FERRY MAN – CHRIS DEBURGH
90. HUMAN TOUCH – RICK SPRINGFIELD
91. SLIPPING AWAY – DAVE EDMUNDS
92. CHINA – RED ROCKERS
93. JUST BE GOOD TO ME – S.O.S. BAND
94. COME ON EILEEN – DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNER
95. ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME – NAKED EYES
96. DON’T TELL ME YOU LOVE ME – NIGHT RANGER
97. I MELT WITH YOU – MODERN ENGLISH
98. WINDOWS – MISSING PERSONS
99. LOVE IN STORE – FLEETWOOD MAC
100. DESPERATE BUT NOT SERIOUS – ADAM ANT
More of my favorite songs in 1983:
Rank-Title-Artist
101. WHY ME? – IRENE CARA
102. I’VE GOT A ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HEART – ERIC CLAPTON
103. TRUE – SPANDAU BALLET
104. MAKIN’ THUNDERBIRDS – BOB SEGER
105. THE WALLS CAME DOWN – THE CALL
106. DON’T YOU GET SO MAD – JEFFREY OSBORNE
107. TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART – BONNIE TYLER
108. OBLIVIOUS – AZTEC CAMERA
109. WHO’S BEHIND THE DOOR – ZEBRA
110. SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER – MOTELS
111. AFTER THE FALL – JOURNEY
112. ALLENTOWN – BILLY JOEL
113. LOOKING FOR A STRANGER – PAT BENATAR
114. LADY LOVE ME (ONE MORE TIME) – GEORGE BENSON
115. BELLY OF THE WHALE – BURNING SENSATIONS
116. HOT GIRLS IN LOVE – LOVERBOY
117. YOU GOT LUCKY – TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS
118. HUMAN RACE – RED RIDER
119. CHAIN REACTION – JOURNEY
120. CAUGHT IN THE GAME – SURVIVOR
121. PSYCHOBABBLE – ALAN PARSONS PROJECT
122. ALL THIS LOVE – DEBARGE
123. CHURCH OF THE POSION MIND – CULTURE CLUB
124. SO MANY MEN, SO LITTLE TIME – MIQUEL BROWN
125. PRIDE & JOY – STEVIE RAY VAUGHN
126. ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT) – LIONEL RICHIE
127. IF LOVE SHOULD GO – STREETS
128. LIPSTICK LIES – PAT BENATAR
129. HEART OF THE NIGHT – JUICE NEWTON
130. YOUR LOVE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY – SAMMY HAGAR
131. CHANGE OF HEART – TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS
132. IF ANYONE FALLS – STEVIE NICKS
133. DR. HECKYLL & MR. JIVE – MEN AT WORK
134. ON THE DARK SIDE – EDDIE & THE CRUISERS
135. I LIKE – MEN WITHOUT HATS
136. OVERKILL – MEN AT WORK
137. SECONDS – U2
138. KING OF PAIN – POLICE
139. FASCINATION – GREG KIHN BAND
140. BOOMTOWN BLUES – BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
141. LOVE’S GOT A LINE ON YOU – SCANDAL
142. MR. ROBOTO – STYX
143. NUMBER ONE – AIDA
144. IT MUST BE LOVE – MADNESS
145. EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK – ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS
146. FADE AWAY – LOZ NETTO
147. EVEN NOW – BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
148. UNDERCOVER OF THE NIGHT – ROLLING STONES
149. HUMAN NATURE – MICHAEL JACKSON
150. UNCERTAIN SMILE – THE THE
151. LIGHT IN THE TUNNEL/POWER (STRENGTH IN NUMBERS) – RED RIDER
152. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IS KING – ELO
153. SHOCK THE MONKEY – PETER GABRIEL
154. (SHE’S) SEXY + 17 – STRAY CATS
155. 1999 – PRINCE
156. I CAN PLAY THAT ROCK & ROLL – JOE WALSH
157. UPTOWN GIRL – BILLY JOEL
158. SWEET DREAMS – EURYTHMICS
159. COME DANCING – KINKS
160. ALLERGIES – PAUL SIMON
161. SYCHRONICITY II – POLICE
162. TOO TOUGH – ROLLING STONES
163. FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE – KANSAS
164. MY CITY WAS GONE – PRETENDERS
165. SAFETY DANCE – MEN WITHOUT HATS
166. MY TOWN – MICHAEL STANLEY BAND
167. BE GOOD JOHNNY – MEN AT WORK
168. FOREVER – LITTLE STEVEN & THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL
169. STRAY CAT STRUT – STRAY CATS
170. ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD – DIONNE WARWICK
171. EMINENCE FRONT – THE WHO
172. MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME) – PETER SCHILLING
173. STRANGER IN MY HOUSE – RONNIE MILSAP
174. MAD WORLD – TEARS FOR FEARS
175. FREAK-A-ZOID – MIDNIGHT STAR
176. GOODY TWO SHOES – ADAM ANT
177. YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE – PHIL COLLINS
178. WINDS OF CHANGE – JEFFERSON STARSHIP
179. SHAME ON THE MOON – BOB SEGER
180. TIME (CLOCK OF THE HEART) – CULTURE CLUB
181. MASQUERADE – BERLIN
182. TEA IN THE SAHARA – POLICE
183. LOVE THEME FROM “FLASHDANCE” – HELEN ST. JOHN
184. BURNING HEART – VANDENBERG
185. HEART TO HEART – KENNY LOGGINS
186. YOU’RE DRIVING ME OUT OF MY MIND – LITTLE RIVER BAND
187. ALL RIGHT – CHRISTOPHER CROSS
188. YOU AND I – EDDIE RABBITT & CRYSTAL GAYLE
189. WELCOME TO HEARTLIGHT – KENNY LOGGINS
190. CRACK THE SKY – RED RIDER
191. ROLL ME AWAY – BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
192. SEXUAL HEALING – MARVIN GAYE
193. ROCKIT – HERBIE HANCOCK
194. ISLANDS IN THE STREAM – KENNY ROGERS WITH DOLLY PARTON
195. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT’S TRUE – PHIL COLLINS
196. I LOVE IT LOUD – KISS
197. SOMETHING TO GRAB FOR – RIC OCASEK
198. I KNEW YOU WHEN – LINDA RONSTADT
199. LOVE MY WAY – PSYCHEDELIC FURS
200. I CAN SEE IT IN YOUR EYES – MEN AT WORK