Top 10 Songs of 1983
February 1st 2009 22:00
What a feelin'
As the years ramp-up and the disco songs start to be left behind, it gets harder for me to pick 10 songs from an increasingly improving set of singles. ..
SONGS OF 1983
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
M.J. was the artist of the 80s, and this album is the album of all time.
The title track had a huge video and even a dance, Beat It had some great riffs by Steve Lukather and a blazing solo by Eddie Van Halen – but Billie Jean is what got the album selling and is one of the most popular songs ever.
Cum on Feel the Noize – Quiet Riot
The first ever metal album to top the charts. The title track Metal Health, which was recently featured in The Wrestler, was probably superior – but this song is what made it for them. I was lucky enough to talk to frontman Kevin Dubrow just months before he died in his hotel room in ‘07. R.I.P
Holiday – Madonna
Maddy’s first hit and still one of her most melodic and best. She always said it was one of her favourites, but recently took it from her set list, stating she’d never play this or Like a Virgin again for less than 30,000,000 dollars.
Legs – ZZ Top
ZZ Top busted out of their blues-based 70s style rock to top the 80s charts with their new and modernised sound. There’s a classic Simpsons clip where this song plays during a commercial for the revamped Catholic Church – “We’ve made a few changes”
Blister In The Sun – Violent Femmes
This is one of those songs that I have heard so many times that I could probably pass on ever hearing it again. A party classic.
Flashdance (What a Feeling) – Irene Cara
This thing won an Academy Award and topped the charts around the world. Mostly it reminds you of Jennifer Beals hot legs in action...
Seek & Destroy – Metallica
Kill ‘Em All unleashed Metallica and the first ever thrash album onto the unsuspecting public. 25 years later and they’re still playing this song at every gig. It’s funny to think how shocking and underground this album was, compared to now that they are the biggest hard rock band in the world. I ran into them a few years ago and they were near flawless.
Photograph – Def Leppard
Often rated as one of the best albums of the 80s, Def Leppard started to refine their sound and get ready to write their mega- album Hysteria. I saw them just a few months ago and couldn’t believe how good they sounded – pro’s all the way.
Australiana – Austen Tayshus
This is the kind of song that only appears once ina lifetime. Austen Tayshus sure picked the right lifetime too – right in the middle of the Australian culture boom.
“I think he's trying to crack on Too-woomba, he's already tried to Mount Isa and he'll definitely try to lead you Austra-liana!”
Every Breath You Take – The Police
One of the sappiest and most over-used songs ever. The irony being that the lyrics are completely unromantic and are about Sting being stalked by some nutcase fan.
Other notable mentions:
Too Young to Fall in Love - Mötley Crüe, Reckless – Australian Crawl , Never Gonna Die – The Choirboys, Lick It Up – Kiss, Little Red Corvette – Prince, Gloria – Laura Branigan, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me – Culture Club, I Was Only 19 – Redgum , Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler, Karma Chameleon – Culture Club, Uptown Girl – Billy Joel , All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie, Let's Dance – David Bowie, I'm Still Standing – Elton John, You Can't Hurry Love – Phil Collins, Send Me an Angel – Real Life, Overkill – Men at Work, Beat It – Michael Jackson, Thriller – Michael Jackson, Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics, Another State Of Mind – Social Distortion, Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne, Don't You Want Me – Human League, Gimme All Your Lovin' – ZZ Top, Holy Diver – Dio, Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mad World – Tears for Fears, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet – BTO, Love Is a Battlefield – Pat Benatar
"Shes got legs, she knows how to use them, she never begs, she knows how to choose them, shes got a dime all of the time."
| 129 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I was living in India when many of these came out and can remember how popular ~ almost an obsession ~ Legs was amongst Delhi~ites back then! *lol* some great memories attached to so many of those in your list ... gosh Every Step U take was such a craze when I got back from India, it could be heard from every open window in Canberra for at least two years!
Lilla ...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Some great pop songs indeed. And arguably the drum beat and synth bass line of Billie Jean is the most memorable of them all.
While many of them haven't aged as well as we'd like to think, others sound better now than they did at the time.
Comment by Aimzster
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
First Time Mum
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Nomad - Social D are one of my favourite bands ever, and one of the only ones I never saw live.
Bryn - A 'workin' woman' always has plenty of dimes to spare...
And I thought it was a about a stalker, but it tuns out it was about neither. I just read an interview and he said he woke up and wrote it for no reason, said he thought of it like Big Brother. Don't u hate that...
Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
Comment by moonglow
A Lot of Scrap
Paranormal Paranormal
Teacup Tales
Rubber Ball
In Zoo
Comment by May
Music Dime