The year 1982 was all about Michael Jackson's Thriller
which became the best selling album of all time. The video for the song
proved to be challenging for the MTV airwaves and it is also considered
as one of the best videos of all time. Along with Michael Jackson's
success other artists followed; David Bowie released Let's Dance,
his most commercial album to date and ladies rocked too, Madonna and
Cyndi Lauper released their debuts too exploring the weird and
unconventional and Kim Wilde won the Brit Award for best British female
artist.
In 1982, the first compact discs were produced in Germany and were
already sold in Japan during the third quarter of the same year. In 1983
they also went on sale in the USA and they will certainly revolutionize the
music industry in the coming years.
New Wave slowly faded into Pop and its biggest stars of the decade
Michal Jackson, Madonna, Prince and George Michael will rule the charts
for the rest of the decade and beyond.
The following Top 50 represents the result of the 'Best of 1983 - The Singles List' poll from 2013 together with our in-house votes.
Updated: 06/2020
02. Depeche Mode- Everything Counts
03. The Smiths- This Charming Man
04. Michael Jackson - Thriller
05. The Sisters of Mercy- Temple of Love
06. Simple Minds- New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84
07. Frankie Goes To Hollywood- Relax
08. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
09. The The- This is the Day
10. Siouxsie and The Banshees- Dear Prudence
11. Yazoo- Nobody's Diary
12. Echo & The Bunnymen- The Cutter
13. U2- New Year’s Day
14. David Bowie – Let's Dance
15. Cyndi Lauper- Girls Just Wanna have Fun
16. Pat Benetar - Love is a Battlefield
17. Talking Heads - Burning Down The House
18. R.E.M.- Radio Free Europe
19. Spandau Ballet - True
20. PIL- This is not a Love Song
21. Michal Jackson – Beat It
22. Depeche Mode- Get The Balance Right
23. Culture Club- Karma Chameleon
24. Kraftwerk- Tour de France
25. Kajagoogoo- Too Shy
26. The Stranglers- Midnight Summer Dream
27. Eurythmics – Who’s That Girl
28. Madonna - Burning Up
29. Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days
30. Cocteau Twins - Sugar Hiccup
31. Heaven 17 - Temptation
32. INXS - The Original Sin
33. Malcolm Mclaren - Double Dutch
34. Pointer Sisters - Automatic
35. Paul Young - Come Back and Stay
36. The Cure - Love Cats
37. Orange Juice - Rip it Up
38. OMD – Genetic Engineering
39. Howard Jones- What is Love?
40. Fiction Factory - (Feels Like) Heaven
41. Howard Devoto - Rainy Season
42. David Bowie - Modern Love
43. Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
44. Bananarama – Cruel Summer
45. Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow
46. Blancmange – Blind Vision
47. The Chameleons – Don’t Fall
48. Thomas Dolby - One of Our Submarines
49. This Mortal Coil – Song to the Siren
50. The Icicle Works - Love is a Wonderful Colour
22. Depeche Mode- Get The Balance Right
23. Culture Club- Karma Chameleon
24. Kraftwerk- Tour de France
25. Kajagoogoo- Too Shy
26. The Stranglers- Midnight Summer Dream
27. Eurythmics – Who’s That Girl
28. Madonna - Burning Up
29. Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days
30. Cocteau Twins - Sugar Hiccup
31. Heaven 17 - Temptation
32. INXS - The Original Sin
33. Malcolm Mclaren - Double Dutch
34. Pointer Sisters - Automatic
35. Paul Young - Come Back and Stay
36. The Cure - Love Cats
37. Orange Juice - Rip it Up
38. OMD – Genetic Engineering
39. Howard Jones- What is Love?
40. Fiction Factory - (Feels Like) Heaven
41. Howard Devoto - Rainy Season
42. David Bowie - Modern Love
43. Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
44. Bananarama – Cruel Summer
45. Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow
46. Blancmange – Blind Vision
47. The Chameleons – Don’t Fall
48. Thomas Dolby - One of Our Submarines
49. This Mortal Coil – Song to the Siren
50. The Icicle Works - Love is a Wonderful Colour