Some music historians have called 1983 the last great year for pop music. Billboard magazine lists that 60 percent of the Hot 100 singles that charted 40 years ago were in the pop rock category.
With my latest music blog message, I will be counting down what I consider to be my favorite singles and videos that MTV aired during 1983.
The genesis of pop music’s explosion in the 80s goes back to the demise of disco music being aired on Top 40 stations. In lieu of playing disco hits, radio playlists consisted of mainly pop, rock, easy listening ballads and country crossover singles.
In my hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, K92 FM 92.3 was the number 1 rated radio station. This hot, hip and happening Top 40 outlet remained the biggest and most listened to station throughout the 80s decade. Below is an audio clip of K92’s David Lee Michaels from July 1981.
Elsewhere in the early 80s, many top 40 programmers and consultants rebranded their stations with a new format name: “Contemporary Hit Radio” (CHR). Most of these CHR outlets were on the FM dial.
During 1981, radio consultant Mike Joseph was hired by WCAU FM Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to set a new tone for that radio station. Joseph created the “Hot Hits” radio format for WCAU and is credited as revitalizing CHR/Top 40 radio for FM stations in the 80s.
One of the DJs on WCAU FM was Terry Young, who began his career in 1973 working at WROV 1240 AM Roanoke. Below is an audio clip of Young on WCAU FM in 1983, provided by Ellis Feaster via YouTube.
1983 also saw the launch of CHR Z100 New York. This legendary radio station was programmed by DJ Scott Shannon and went from “worst to first” with ratings in just 60 days. I am sharing an audio clip of Shannon on Z100’s third day on the air, August 4, 1983. Aircheck provided by Ellis Feaster via YouTube.
The rise of pop music can also be attributed to the advent of airing music video clips on cable TV. Music Television (MTV) debuted on August 1, 1981 and MTV totally revolutionized how music was heard and seen by folks in the United States.
During the first 18 months of MTV, the cable music channel aired an “Album Oriented Rock” (AOR) format. One of the chief criticisms of MTV during this time period was the lack of music videos by Black artists being played on the cable music channel.
It wasn’t until March 1983, that Michael Jackson’s video for “Billie Jean” was added and became the first video by a Black artist to be aired in heavy rotation on MTV. In my humble opinion, Jackson’s “Billie Jean” clip is the number one best and most influential music video that MTV aired during the first two years in operation.
Soon after, MTV added “Little Red Corvette” by Prince into its hot rotation. Then “Beat It” by Michael Jackson and “1999” from Prince were regularly aired on MTV. Finally Black music had a place on the cable music channel.
Probably the most renowned video that MTV played in 1983 was from the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson and his single “Thriller.” This clip was released during the fall of ‘83 and set the standard for well-produced music videos during the 80s decade.
Other influential video clips aired on MTV during 1983:
- Hungry like the Wolf—Duran Duran
- Rio—Duran Duran
- Every Breathe You Take—The Police
- King of Pain—The Police
- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)—The Eurythmics
- Total Eclipse of the Heart—Bonnie Tyler
- Sharp Dressed Man—ZZ Top
- Modern Love—David Bowie
For the remainder of this message, I will be counting down what I consider to be the best CHR singles of 1983. The countdown is entirely based on my opinions. My selections are songs that I deem to be culturally, historically, aesthetically significant, meaningful or relevant.
In researching 1983 historical musical data for this article, I used 3 sources: Billboard and Cash Box magazines, along with MTV, for documentation.
Before staring the countdown, below are 1983 singles that I consider to be excellent songs but fell outside my top 25 selections. These selections are not ranked and are placed in a random order:
- Der Kommissar—After the Fire
- The Safety Dance—Men Without Hats
- Too Shy—Kajagoogoo
- Jeopardy—The Greg Kihn Band
- She Works Hard for the Money—Donna Summer
- Straight from the Heart—Bryan Adams
- I Know There’s Something Going On—Frida
- 99 Luftballons—Nena
- Shock the Money—Peter Gabriel
- Photograph—Def Leppard
- Back on the Chain Gang—The Pretenders
- Our House—Madness
- Lawyers in Love—Jackson Browne
- Heart to Heart—Kenny Loggins
- Rock the Casbah—The Clash
- Come Dancing—The Kinks
- Breaking Us in Two—Joe Jackson
- You Got Lucky—Tom Pretty & the Heartbreakers
- Maneater— Daryl Hall & John Oates
- Maniac—Michael Sembello
- Electric Avenue—Eddie Grant
- Tell Her About It—Billy Joel
- Islands in the Stream—Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
- (Keep Feeling) Fascination—The Human League
- True—Spandau Ballet
Without further ado, my quality 1983 CHR singles countdown begins:
25. Love is a Battlefield—Pat Benatar
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Mainstream Rock: #5 Hot 100
Up tempo song, mixing traditional rock instruments with electronic dance music. Pat Benatar won a Grammy Award for “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance” with this single.
24. Heart and Soul—Huey Lewis & the News
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Top Rock Tracks, #8 Hot 100
First single from the 1983 “Sports” album which produced 5 top 20 hits. Nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of “Best Rock Vocal, Group.”
23. China Girl—David Bowie
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #3 Mainstream Rock, #10 Hot 100
Written by Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Co-produced by Nile Rodgers. Second top 10 hit from the “Let’s Dance” album. Clip of the song won an MTV video award for “Best Male Video.”
22. Dirty Laundry—Don Henley
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Top Rock Tracks, #3 Hot 100
First solo hit for Don Henley. An all-star group of musicians play on single: Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, Steve Lukather, Danny Kortchmar, and Steve Porcaro. Lyrics portray callousness and insensitivity of network news anchors.
21. Beat It—Michael Jackson
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 5th Biggest Song of 1983
The “King of Pop” scored a massive hit with this rock song. Features a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. Single sold 11 million copies world-wide. Won two Grammy Awards: for “Record of the Year” and “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.”
20. Stand Back—Stevie Nicks
Peak positions on Billboard Charts: #2 Top Rock Tracks, #5 Hot 100
Stevie Nicks penned this new wave, synth rock hit. Prince played synthesizer during recording but was uncredited on the track. The Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter continues to perform “Stand Back” during solo concerts here in 2023.
19. She’s a Beauty—The Tubes
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Top Rock Tracks, #10 Hot 100
Single was co-written by Tubes band member Fee Waybill, producer David Foster and Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. Biggest top 40 hit for the San Francisco-based rock band.
18. Twilight Zone—Golden Earring
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Mainstream Rock, #10 Hot 100
Golden Earring’s guitarist George Kooymans wrote this driving rock single. One of two top 40 hits by the Dutch band (“Radar Love” reached #13 in 1974).
17. Let’s Dance—David Bowie
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 18th Biggest Song of 1983
David Bowie wrote song and co-produced the track with Nile Rodgers. Incorporates pop, rock, funk and new wave with a superb bass line. Diverse musical instruments on track: trumpet, saxophone, guitar, woodblocks, congas and tambourine.
16. Mr. Roboto—Styx
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #3 Mainstream Rock, #3 Hot 100
Track is from “Kilroy Was Here” a concept rock opera album by Styx. Written by band member Dennis DeYoung, who sang lead vocals and played keyboards on single.
15. Owner of a Lonely Heart—Yes
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, #1 Mainstream Rock
The band Yes switched up their progressive rock sound on this chart-topping song. Jon Anderson provides lead vocals. Tune is a mixture of pop, rock, electronic dance music.
14. Uptown Girl—Billy Joel
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #5 Hot 100, #8 Top Rock Tracks
A tribute to Frank Valli and the Four Seasons. Video featured Christie Brinkley, who married Billy Joel two years later in 1985.
13. She Blinded Me with Science—Thomas Dolby
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #5 Hot 100, #6 Top Rock Tracks
Quirky new wave synth-pop. Thomas Dolby was also a producer and session musician. The artist is considered a one hit wonder in the U.S.
12. Africa—Toto
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, #5 Adult Contemporary
Toto’s band members David Paich and Jeff Porcaro co-wrote song. Signature song by group. Rolling Stone rates “Africa” as one of the “Greatest songs of all-time.”
11. Down Under—Men at Work
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, #1 Top Rock Tracks
Considered a patriotic song in Men at Work’s home country of Australia. Co-written by band members Colin Hay and Ron Strykert. Second consecutive number 1 single on Billboard Hot 100.
10. Burning Down the House—Talking Heads
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #6 Top Rock Tracks, #9 Hot 100
New York City rock band. Biggest top 40 hit for group. Single is a combination of pop, new wave, art rock and funk. David Byrne is lead singer.
9. Allentown—Billy Joel
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #17 Hot 100, 43rd Biggest Song of 1983
Billy Joel’s chronicle with the decline of blue-collar manufacturing in Rust Belt America. This pop rock tune was one of four top 20 singles for the “Piano Man” during ’83.
8. Synchronicity II—The Police
Peak Position on Billboard: #16 Hot 100
Powerful driving rock single written by band member Sting. Lyrics depicts the theory of synchronicity, a concept by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. The third of four top 20 hits in 1983 by the Police.
7. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)—Journey
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Top Rock Tracks, #8 Hot 100
Co-written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry of Journey. Up-tempo rock with a Motown/R&B groove. Song is still a crowd favorite during Journey concerts during 2023.
6. Steppin’ Out—Joe Jackson
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #4 Adult Contemporary, #6 Hot 100
New wave, synth pop, rock single. Has a catchy tune. Biggest selling hit in the U.S. for Joe Jackson. Lyrics celebrate driving/cruising around town with a lover or significant other relationship.
5. Human Nature—Michael Jackson
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #2 Adult Contemporary, #7 Hot 100
Produced by Quincy Jones. Members of the band Toto are the musicians on this smooth yacht rock single. Michael Jackson’s fifth consecutive top 10 ten hit from the biggest album of 1983: “Thriller.” An outstanding melodic ballad.
4. Major Tom (Coming Home)—Peter Schilling
Peak Positions on Billboard Chart: Number 2 Dance, #14 Hot 100
Major Tom was a character in David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” single. German songwriter Peter Schilling created an unofficial response to Bowie’s character with this 80s hit. Tune has a pulsating synth-pop beat and was popular on dance floors in the U.S.
3. The One Thing—INXS
Peak Positions on Billboard Chart: #2 Top Rock Charts
MTV introduced Australian rock group INXS to America. Michael Hutchence, and Andrew Farriss of the band co-wrote “The One Thing.” The first U.S. hit for INXS paved the way for international success during the mid 80s.
2. Overkill—Men at Work
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #3 Hot 100, #3 Mainstream Rock
Written by Men at Work band member Colin Hay. This melodic tune features outstanding saxophone playing by Greg Ham. Third consecutive top 3 U.S. smash hit by the Australian band.
- New Year’s Day—U2
Peak Positions on Billboard Chart: #2 Top Rock Tracks
My top selection on this countdown is “New Year’s Day” by U2. The lyrics for this song are credited to all four members of the Irish band.
The “New Year’s Day” single was the first track from U2’s 1983 “War” album. Subject matter of the song was inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement of the early 80s.
Musically, it features a distinctive bassline by Adam Clayton, melodic piano and guitar playing from the Edge, superb drumming by Larry Mullen Jr. and strong, heartfelt vocals from Bono.
Without a doubt, I proclaim that “New Year’s Day” as my favorite U2 song of all-time. And the band’s first single to chart in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100, is my number 1 best CHR single of 1983.
That wraps up what I consider to be my favorite and best top CHR hits for 1983. I completely understand that my listing of songs in this category was written from my point of view and is subjective.
If you were creating a similar register of excellent 1983 singles, your tabulation may be totally different. What do you consider to be best preeminent singles from ’83? I hope you will comment below.
Listening to music on CHR radio and watching music video clips from MTV during 1983, will always have a special place in my heart. I still cherish and fondly remember the excellent music of 40 years ago. Rock on!
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DJ Dave's Musical Musings 
1983 was a sad/but fun time for me. Sad that I left my hometown of Roanoke, but fun because I was moving to Baltimore and working – like Terry Young and so many others – with Mike Joseph and the Hot Hits format on WMAR in Baltimore. What a year for music too. My Favorites from ‘83 in no particular order.
-Let’s Dance – David Bowie
-All Night Long – Lionel Richie
-Tell Her About It – Billy Joel
-King of Pain – Police
-Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
-Owner of A Lonely Heart – Yes
Such an intriguing subject. I was in Germany with the Air Force in 83. Before I left, a unique new station named “MTV” had came out. Superb idea to mix songs with videos!
I first will give a honorable mention to Weird Al Yankovich. “Eat it” was a controversial, but hilarious video. Imitation of the King of Pop’s song “Beat It”.
My top 5 list and in no particular order except number one “Beat It”.
Sharp dressed man – ZZ Top
She works hard for the Money – Donna Summer
Rock-it – Herbie Hancock
Candy Girl – New Edition
Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
The best of 1983 to
Beat it – Michael Jackson
Enjoyed the blog! The early 80s saw synths and drum machines take over which I didn’t always like. But there were still a lot of great songs. U2 became a big favorite and loved Toto’s music!
My Favs are ” Africa”, “Twilight Zone”, and “Flashdance”. Thanx David. Another great blog!!!
Africa, Down Under, Synchronicity, Owner of the Lonely Hearts, Let’s Dance and Beat It are my favorites. Great research David !!!