Essential Songs of 1983
Michael Jackson, who had been a star in the music industry for over a dozen years, moonwalked his way into the stratosphere of popular culture in 1983. Over the past three decades, the Thriller album has sold over 45 million copies worldwide.
Prince Rogers Nelson also became a pop sensation with his double album 1999 and that little ol’ band from Texas conquered the MTV generation and had their greatest success after a decade plus of recording. Ray Davies and The Kinks had the most heartwarming comeback of the year, hitting the Top Ten on the U.S. pop charts for the first time since 1970’s “Lola.”
1999, Prince
Beat It, Michael Jackson
Billy Jean, Michael Jackson
Blister in the Sun, Violent Femmes
Blue Monday, New Order
Burning Down the House, Talking Heads
Come Dancing, The Kinks
Cruel Summer, Bananarama
Every Breath You Take, The Police
Everyday I Write the Book, Elvis Costello
Gimme a Ride to Heaven, Terry Allen
Gimme All Your Lovin’, ZZ Top
I’m Still Standing, Elton John
Let’s Dance, David Bowie
Little Red Corvette, Prince
Love is a Battlefield, Pat Benatar
Mexican Radio, Wall of Voodoo
The Metro, Berlin
Modern Love, David Bowie
New Year’s Day, U2
Oblivious, Aztec Camera
Our House, Madness
Pancho and Lefty, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson
Radio Free Europe, R.E.M.
Roll Me Away, Bob Seger
Sharp Dressed Man, ZZ Top
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), The Eurythmics
Swingin’, John Anderson
They Don’t Know, Tracey Ullman
Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper
Whenever You’re on My Mind, Marshall Crenshaw
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