The Music of... 1983

[afroakuma]

Hello all, I'm trying to compile a personal database of popular music for each year beginning at 1980. While I've been bombarded with a lot of this music for years, the fact is that I wasn't around in 1980 and there are a lot of great songs that I've heard but don't remember.

If you know of any songs from 1980 that you personally enjoyed or that were considered hits, please post the title and the artist's name - a YouTube link would of course be even better!

As far as what I'm looking for, I'm generally looking at pop, rock or dance music. Specifically excluded:

• Black or death metal, unless the song itself is considered relatively mainstream.

• Bluegrass and folk music.

Thanks in advance!

[ZeroNumerous]

Try Chicken in Black. It may be country, but it was pretty damn popular back in the day.

[RTGoodman]

Billboard has a compiled list of its Top 5 for each year. That'd be where I'd start. It might not get every song that some people associate with the year, but it'll get most of them.

1980, for instance, has:

1. Blondie - Call Me
2. Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
3. Olivia Newton-John - Magic
4. Michael Jackson - Rock with You
5. Captain & Tennille - Do That To Me One More Time

[Starscream]

1980? Not the best year of that decade, but I'm biased because I wasn't around either.

Let's see...

Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar is a good one. So is Escape (the Pina Colada Song). And Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen.

[Myatar_Panwar]

Try Chicken in Black. It may be country, but it was pretty damn popular back in the day.

Thats an awesome song.

[RTGoodman]

After a bunch of lag, I also managed to find another site that lists all the Top 100 for each year: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1980.htm. Just replace the year in the URL with the one you want.

In other news, I never realized "Here I Go Again," "Livin' on a Prayer," "La Bamba," "Everybody Have Fun Tonight," "(I Just) Died in Your Arms," and a bunch of other songs came out in my birth year.

[afroakuma]

Wow... great source.

But what a slim year for songs that stuck in the public consciousness. I mean, I'd be hard-pressed to ID even 10 of the ones on that top 100 list.

Well, along with the top 100, I'm sure others have their favorites, but I think the well on this year has gone dry, so let's now go back and look at 1981.

[Metal Head]

Death metal didn't really exist in 1980. Just saying.

Anyways, from 1980 I loved Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden. Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath, and Neon Knights were great songs.

[Quincunx]

Listening now to Visage - Fade to Grey. It was a good year for New Romantics and New Wave music, and I suspect that with MTV debuting in this year (albeit with a song from '79) that your recognition of the hits from now on will increase.

[bosssmiley]

Relevant to your interests: The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock. 1136 pages of modern music nerdery.

[Moff Chumley]

Joe Jackson-Night and Day (Album) I believe was '81.

[rubakhin]

This only means something to you if you come from Eastern Europe, but both Kino and DDT were formed in 1981 (the two most famous Russian bands ever) but I don't think they put out any albums until 1982. And if you want to put Kino on there you'd do best to wait a few years until they put out Gruppa Krovy. Also, Akvarium (third most famous Russian band) came out with their first three albums, which are generally considered to be among their best stuff.

[zeratul]

Black metal as it is known today didn;t really develope til the mid to late 80s. Really the only metal you'll have by 1980 is New Wave of Brittish Heavy Metal, Glam Metal, and Classic Metal

[afroakuma]

Relevant to your interests: The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock. 1136 pages of modern music nerdery.

Not actually, although thanks for the idea. I am really looking more towards pop music and less towards rock.

Well, I imagine I'll get more results as I advance the dial, so let's proceed to 1982.

[RTGoodman]

Well, I imagine I'll get more results as I advance the dial, so let's proceed to 1982.

Well, I mean, the site I linked about has pages for 1981, 1982, and every other year basically. And it's the Top 100, so it's the mainstream/pop/whatever that you're looking for, I think. Some popular songs (or, at least, ones that I particularly know or like) from each year of the '80s:

Spoiler

Show

1981:
-Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes
-Endless Love, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
-Lady, Kenny Rogers
-Celebration, Kool and The Gang
-I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbitt
-Keep On Loving You, REO Speedwagon
-Theme From "Greatest American Hero", Joey Scarbury
-Morning Train (Nine To Five), Sheena Easton
-Queen Of Hearts, Juice Newton
-Just The Two Of Us, Grover Washington Jr.
-The Best Of Times, Styx
-Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Pat Benatar


1982:
-Physical, Olivia Newton-John
-Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor
-I Love Rock N' Roll, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
-Ebony And Ivory, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
-Centerfold, J. Geils Band
-Jack And Diane, John Cougar
-Hurts So Good, John Cougar
-Abracadabra, Steve Miller Band
-Tainted Love, Soft Cell
-Chariots Of Fire, Vangelis
-867-5309 (Jenny), Tommy Tutone
-Always On My Mind, Willie Nelson
-We Got The Beat, Go-Go's
-Who Can It Be Now?, Men At Work
-Let's Groove, Earth, Wind and Fire
-Open Arms, Journey
-Heat Of The Moment, Asia
-Take It Easy On Me, Little River Band
-Pac-man Fever, Buckner and Garcia


1983:
-Every Breath You Take, Police
-Billie Jean, Michael Jackson
-Flashdance... What A Feelin, Irene Cara
-Down Under, Men At Work
-Beat It, Michael Jackson
-Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Bonnie Tyler
-Maneater, Daryl Hall and John Oates
-Maniac, Michael Sembello
-Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Eurythmics
-Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, Culture Club
-Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners
-She Works Hard For The Money, Donna Summer
-Hungry Like The Wolf, Duran Duran
-Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant
-She Blinded Me With Science, Thomas Dolby
-Mr. Roboto, Styx
-Der Kommissar, After The Fire
-Sexual Healing, Marvin Gaye
-The Safety Dance, Men Without Hats
-Mickey, Toni Basil
-Separate Ways, Journey
-1999, Prince


1984:
-When Doves Cry, Prince
-What's Love Got To Do With It, Tina Turner
-Footloose, Kenny Loggins
-Jump, Van Halen
-Ghostbusters, Ray Parker Jr.
-Karma Chameleon, Culture Club
-All Night Long (All Night), Lionel Richie
-Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper
-Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper
-99 Luftballons, Nena
-I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Elton John
-Borderline, Madonna
-Sunglasses At Night, Corey Hart
-Uptown Girl, Billy Joel
-Sister Christian, Night Ranger
-The Heart Of Rock 'N' Roll, Huey Lewis and The News
-The Warrior, Scandal


1985:
-Like A Virgin, Madonna
-Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Wham!
-I Want To Know What Love Is, Foreigner
-Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Tears For Fears
-Money For Nothing, Dire Straits
-Take On Me, A-Ha
-Everytime You Go Away, Paul Young
-Can't Fight This Feeling, REO Speedwagon
-Don't You (Forget About Me), Simple Minds
-We Are The World, U.S.A. For Africa
-Shout, Tears For Fears
-Heaven, Bryan Adams
-Miami Vice Theme, Jan Hammer
-Rhythm Of The Night, Debarge
-You're The Inspiration, Chicago
-Raspberry Beret, Prince and The Revolution


1986:
-Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy
-Addicted To Love, Robert Palmer
-Sledgehammer, Peter Gabriel
-Rock Me Amadeus, Falco
-Papa Don't Preach, Madonna
-You Give Love A Bad Name, Bon Jovi
-Dancing On The Ceiling, Lionel Richie
-Manic Monday, Bangles
-Amanda, Boston


1987:
-Walk Like An Egyptian, Bangles
-Livin' On A Prayer, Bon Jovi
-La Bamba, Los Lobos
-Everybody Have Fun Tonight, Wang Chung
-With Or Without You, U2
-I Think We're Alone Now, Tiffany
-Lady In Red, Chris De Burgh
-I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, U2
-I Want Your Sex, George Michael
-(I Just) Died In Your Arms, Cutting Crew
-Keep Your Hands To Yourself, Georgia Satellites
-Hip To Be Square, Huey Lewis and the News
-Bad, Michael Jackson



1988:
-Faith, George Michael
-Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley
-Sweet Child O' Mine, Guns N' Roses
-Heaven Is A Place On Earth, Belinda Carlisle
-Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean
-Is This Love, Whitesnake
-Pour Some Sugar On Me, Def Leppard
-Simply Irresistible, Robert Palmer
-Hold On To The Nights, Richard Marx
-Father Figure, George Michael
-A Groovy Kind Of Love, Phil Collins
-Love Bites, Def Leppard
-Angel, Aerosmith
-The Way You Make Me Feel, Michael Jackson
-Don't Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
-Red Red Wine, UB40
-Kokomo, Beach Boys
-I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That, Elton John


1989:
-Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison
-Straight Up, Paula Abdul
-Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler
-Girl You Know Its True, Milli Vanilli
-Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird, Will To Power
-Heaven, Warrant
- Blame It On The Rain, Milli Vanilli
-I'll Be There For You, Bon Jovi
-Like A Prayer, Madonna
-Wild Thing, Tone Loc
-When I See You Smile, Bad English
-If I Could Turn Back Time, Cher
-Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Great White
-Love Shack, B-52's
-Hangin' Tough, New Kids On The Block
-You Got It (The Right Stuff), New Kids On The Block

You can find your own YouTube videos.

[BizzaroStormy]

1982? simple...

Michael Jackson - Thriller

[Crow]

1982? simple...

Michael Jackson - Thriller

You win. Michael Jackson jokes aside...Dude, it's THRILLER.

[Boo]

You guys need some Discipline in music. You gotta get on the Beat! If not, then you're just three [short] of a perfect pair.
Don't take this seriously you ninny! :P

Also: Queen has maybe four albums between '80 and '89. They Might Be Giants had two albums between '86 and '89. The Tubes had maybe three albums. Styx had two albums. And for the hell of it, I'll mention that Tiny Tim released his album "Chameleon" in 1980.

There are many many more, but I'm too lazy to go through any more than what's at the top of my head.

[Moff Chumley]

You, good sir, are truly a model man. In fact, I'm howling your praise right now, causing many a sleepless night.

[afroakuma]

Well, I mean, the site I linked about has pages for 1981, 1982, and every other year basically. And it's the Top 100, so it's the mainstream/pop/whatever that you're looking for, I think.

Oh yes, and it's an excellent resource, but I assume there were some that for whatever reason didn't climb onto the list but were still well-received.

[kpenguin]

Safety Dance by Men Without Hats was 1982, I believe.

[Boo]

You, good sir, are truly a model man. In fact, I'm howling your praise right now, causing many a sleepless night.

And knowing is half the battle!

[afroakuma]

It appears, based on some of the more popular/prolific dance songs of the 90's/early 00's, that I should also request euro hits, most especially from the UK and Germany.

But really, most anything from most anywhere that was popular. I've always found Samba de Janeiro to be obscenely catchy, and apparently FIFA agrees with me.

[Decoy Lockbox]

You could always try a few song off of any of these best albums of:
1980
1981
1982
1983

[Sequinox]

Well, back to 1981, Rush's Moving Pictures was probably their best-known album, although I'd argue that the album before that, 1980's Permanent Waves, was even better. Although their best album is... Up to debate. I go back and forth.

As for 1982, Signals, another Rush album, was pretty good, but other than that... It's before my time. Rush is really the only band I listen to from the early '80's.