5th November 1983 for five weeks

Another brilliant song at Number 1. I don’t remember hearing this song as a child, but I am certain that I did.

It was definitely one of those songs that you heard on the radio and in the shops.

It is such a fabulous song and one that you can’t help but sing along to.

Even Westlife didn’t ruin it when they sang it years later.

10/10

24th September 1983 for six weeks

1983’s longest running Number 1 is yet another classic record. Karma Chameleon is yet another Number 1 that everyone knows.

As a child I thought the words were “Come-a Chameleon”. I didn’t know what karma was and didn’t understand it.

This was a song that you heard a lot in the Eighties. I don’t remember the first time I heard it, but I do remember my mum laughing at me at the hairdressers as I thought the lady was Boy George.

Karma Chameleon is a great song and has aged well, sounding just as good forty years later.

10/10

3rd September 1983 for three weeks

And yet another brilliant Number 1. Red Red Wine is one of those songs that everyone knows. Everyone knows this song because they’ve heard it on the radio, in a club or have it on a playlist.

I cannot remember the first time that I heard Red Red Wine – it is just one of those songs that I’ve grown up with.

Listening to it again this morning, after not hearing it for a while, I am reminded about how fabulous it is. A proper singalong song.

10/10

13th August 1983 for three weeks

1983 continues its run of outstanding Number 1s. Give It Up is an utter joy. It is wonderful.

The song is still an absolute bop, and I love it as much today as I did when I first heart it on TV when I was a child.

There are some memorable songs from 83, but, for me, I think this is up there with the absolute best. One of the best songs of the year? One of the best songs of the decade.

10/10

23rd July 1983 for three weeks

1983 was a great year for Paul Young. He released some cracking songs. Perhaps the finest is this one, although I have some thoughts:

From what I can tell, this is the third Number 1of the Eighties to include brackets so far, but this is the greatest. Why he felt the need to add brackets to the title is beyond me.

Why was he laying his hat anyway? Apparently this is a cover of a Marvin Gaye song – maybe this is a question we need to ask him.

It’s a great song and Paul Young could certainly sing. His hits seemed to dry up after the early Nineties and I can’t remember the last time he was talked about online or on the radio. I wonder what happened there?

7/10

2nd July 1983 for three weeks

Rod Stewart was huge during the Seventies and Eighties. By the time I became more aware of pop music, I couldn’t really comprehend what everyone loved about him. Maybe it was just that I was born too late to get drawn into his appeal.

Later in life I have appreciated his music more and Baby Jane has got a certain appeal about it. In my mind, it’s not one of the best songs of the year, but I can see why it was well-liked.

6/10

4th June 1983 for four weeks

Where do you begin with this one? It is an an absolute classic. A perfect pop song.

I remember that, at one point, Every Breath was in the top ten grossing songs of all time. It was huge all over the world and then it was used in Puff Daddy’s I’ll Be Missing You which brought it to a whole new audience.

The lyrics of the song work on many levels, and I always thought it was a love song. Apparently Sting wrote it about  stalking, which does make you think differently about it.

It is quite possibly one of the best pop songs ever and deserved its place at Number 1.

10/10

28th May 1983 for one week

I haven’t heard this song in years. It is a really catchy one! I had forgotten how good it is!

I can easily see why this song reached Number 1. It feels like a bubblegum pop classic, pioneering the way for many a boyband in the future.

You never hear the song around. I’ve never heard a cover or a remix. I wonder why, as it has potential. Maybe one day.

7/10

30th April 1983 for four weeks

True is another great song. 1983 is really making up for the dross of 1982.

There’s something about True that has made it timeless. The ha-ha-ha-haaaa-has are so memorable, as is the saxophone solo. The lyrics and melody are brilliant.

It’s been a while since I heard True, but just happened to watch the episode of Modern Family in which the song featured yesterday and it reminded me of how great it is.

9/10

9th April 1983 for three weeks

I have never really ‘got’ David Bowie. So many people claim him to be a musical genius. I have never understood it. There are not many songs of his that I like. I don’t like his singing style and have never understood why his music is so popular.

Let’s Dance is one of his better songs. It’s ok. I don’t think I can say much more than that.

5/10