This is a long one, but it’s only because we simply love this music. Our picks for the top-12 songs of 1983 include legendary new wave tracks, massive pop ballads, the early stages of Heartland Rock and two records that will come to define 1980s dance.
After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1983, plus tunes from 1982, ’81, ’79, ’78 and ’76 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now at hallofsongs.com and come back on June 24, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1983 nominees (spoilers below; highlight to reveal):
- “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” as performed by Eurythmics
- Written by Annie Lennox and David Stewart; recorded summer 1982; released January 1983
- “Sunday Bloody Sunday” as performed by U2
- Written by U2; recorded fall 1982; released February 1983
- “True” as performed by Spandau Ballet
- Written by Gary Kemp; recorded fall 1982; released March 1983
- “Blue Monday” as performed by New Order
- Written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; recorded late 1982; released March 1983
- “Between the Sheets” as performed by The Isley Brothers
- Written by Rudolph Isley, O’Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper; recorded February 1983; released March 1983
- “Blister in the Sun” as performed by Violent Femmes
- Written by Gordon Gano; recorded July 1982; released April 1983
- “Every Breath You Take” as performed by The Police
- Written by Sting; recorded early 1983; released May 1983
- “Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place)” as performed by Talking Heads
- Written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth; recorded late 1982; released June 1983
- “Let the Music Play” as performed by Shannon
- Written by Chris Barbosa and Ed Chisolm; recorded summer 1983; released September 1983
- “Time After Time” as performed by Cyndi Lauper
- Written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman; recorded June 1983; released October 1983
- “Pink Houses” as performed by John Cougar Mellencamp
- Written by John Mellencamp; recorded July 1983; released October 1983
- “Jump” as performed by Van Halen
- Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth; recorded summer 1983; released December 1983
Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down to vote. Then, come back on May 20, 2022 to find out the voting results, and May 22, 2022 for our discussion on 1983.