Favorite Songs of 1983

In 1983, I entered the 11^th grade (Senior High School). Music had taken precedence in my life and my music collection was growing. I focused on art and music to forget the stress of everyday life. I was a good student in high school. I had friends in and out of high school. My best friend at the time went to a Catholic High School while I was still in public.

My older sisters were more involved in my life at this point taking the place of my sister who had been hit and killed by a drunk driver in 1980. At the time, it was amazing to me that I was still surviving. Music helped me through high school and the grieving process growing up in a small town in Northwestern New Jersey.

Several albums came out this year that are all time favorites such as The Wild Heart by Stevie Nicks, She’s So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper, War by U2, Cuts Like a Knife by Bryan Adams, and Get Nervous by Pat Benatar. The Wild Heart was very significant because it was the first rock album written in a feminine voice where it was acceptable to see through the eyes of a female whose is not trying to be tough but displays empathy.

The following is a list of my favorite songs from 1983. I will only list my favorite song from each album, despite liking several. (The list contains affiliate links that if you click, I may earn a commission if purchased within a limited time.)

Wild Heart – Stevie Nicks. This song is from her Wild Heart album released in June of 1983. This is her second solo album and in my opinion the best. This album is on my favorite album list of all time. Other songs on this album I love are Nightbird, If Anyone Falls, and Beauty and the Beast. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Radio Free Europe – R.E.M. This song is from their Murmur album released in April of 1983. Other songs on this album include Talk About the Passion and Pilgrimage. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Photograph – Def Leppard. This song is from their Pyromania album released in January of 1983. Other songs I like on this album are Comin’ Under Fire, Rock of Ages, and Too Late for Love. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
New Year’s Day – U2. This song is from their War album released in February 1983. Other songs on this album include Sunday Bloody Sunday, Surrender, Like a Song, and 40. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Chance – Big Country. This song is from their The Crossing album released in July of 1983. Other songs on this album include In a Big Country and Fields of Fire. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
All Through the Night – Cyndi Lauper. This song is from her She’s So Unusual album released in October of 1983. Other hits on this album include Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Time After Time, She Bop, When You Were Mine, and Money Changes Everything. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Borderline – Madonna. This song is from her self-titled album, Madonna, released in July of 1983, Other hits on this album are Holiday and Lucky Star. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
On the Dark Side – John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. This song is on the Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack. Other hits on the album (all by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band) are Tender Years, Wild Summer Nights, and Boardwalk Angel. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Cruel Summer – Bananarama. This song is on the Miller Lite High Life soundtrack but later released on their Bananarama album in 1984. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Faithfully – Journey. This song is from their Frontiers album which was released in February of 1983. Other hits on this album include Separate Ways, Send Her My Love, and After the Fall. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
What a Feeling – Irene Cara. This song is from the Flashdance soundtrack released in April of 1983. Other hits from this album include Laura Branigan’s Imagination and Michael Sembello’s Maniac. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top. This is from their Eliminator album released in March of 1983. Other hits from this album include Gimme All Your Lovin’, Legs, and Under Pressure. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Every Breath You Take – The Police. This song is from their Synchronicity album released in June of 1983. King of Pain is also on this album. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
To Look at You – INXS. This song is from their Shabooh Shoobah album released in October of 1982. Other hits on this album include The One Thing and Don’t Change. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Straight From the Heart – Bryan Adams. This song is from his Cuts Like a Knife album released January of 1983. Other hits on this album include Cuts Like a Knife, Take Me Back, and This Time. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Red Red Wine – UB40. This song is from their Labour of Love album released in September of 1983. Other hits on this album include Sweet Sensation. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Let the Music Play – Shannon. This song is from her Let the Music Play album released in September of 1983. Other hits on this album include Give Me Tonight. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Say it Isn’t So – Daryl Hall and John Oates. This song is from their Rock’ N Soul Part 1 album released in October 1983. This album also includes Kiss on my List, You Make My Dreams, I Can’t Go for That, and Sara Smile. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
Shadows of the Night – Pat Benatar. This song is from her Get Nervous album released in October of 1982. Other hits from this album include Looking for a Stranger and Little Too Late. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.
China Girl – David Bowie. This song is from his Let’s Dance album released in April of 1983. Other hits on this album include Let’s Dance, Cat People (Putting Out the Fire) and Modern Love. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of the album.

I created a playlist on my Youtube Channnel – Musical Pier entitled “Favorite Songs of 1983” so you can listen to these songs performed by the artists listed. Check it out! Thanks for reading!

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