The Biggest Songs of 1983

Well, there you have it. 40 of the biggest hits in 1983. They’re also some of the most recognizable songs from the 80’s. In all honesty, there could have been 50-55 songs on this list but some of them had to be left off. This playlist reads like a four disc set from K-Tel’s “Hooked On The 80’s” collection. Which is why I’ve asserted for a long time that 1983 is the biggest year for 80’s music. 1983 is when music seemed to finally throw off the 70’s sound and the disco feel and become 80’s pop. It’s also the year that heavy metal started appearing in the top 40.

And there we have it. 1983 is all wrapped up. Happy new year!

US Top 40 Singles for the Week Ending November 5, 1983

Kenny and Dolly are still holding strong at #1. Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” moves into the top 5. Joel had originally titled the song “Uptown Girls” and it was conceived on an occasion when he was surrounded by Christie Brinkley, Whitney Houston and his then girlfriend Elle Macpherson. According to numerous interviews with Joel, the song was initially written about his relationship with Macpherson, but it ended up also becoming about his soon to be wife, Brinkley (both women being two of the most famous supermodels of the 1980s).