Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1983.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 1983, wearing seat belts in the front of cars becomes compulsory (though this didn’t sway my Grandad to do this), the CD goes on sale for the first time, the one pound coin is introduced in England & Wales, Margaret Thatcher wins the general election again with a landslide victory, Neil Kinnock is elected leader of the Labour Party, an IRA bomb kills 6 and injures 90 people outside Harrods in London, another IRA bombs explodes on Christmas Day in London, but does not harm anyone and Flashdance is released. And I turned 7 years old.

Again, I’ve omitted a very popular tune this week and that tune is Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. As much as I loved that song and still appreciate it’s a great pop tune, I’ve listened to it too many times and it doesn’t quite carry the same sense of magic for me as it used to. So, here are my personal 10 favourite songs from 1983.

1. Karma Chameleon by Culture Club

2. Modern Love by David Bowie

3. This Charming Man by the Smiths

4. Love Cats by the Cure

5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) by Eurythmics

6. Blue Monday by New Order

7. Drop the Pilot by Joan Armatrading

8. Africa by Toto

9. Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

10. Uptown Girl by Billy Joel

Another strong year for British music, but which is your favourite? Whilst Billy Joel is obviously a very close second, it’s New Order that’s my top tune from this collection of 1983 gems. See you next week for 1984.