Culture Club – Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?

23rd October 1982 for three weeks

Another great Number 1. I don’t really remember this one so much when I was a child. I think I became more aware of it as a teenager, especially when I bought a few Best of the Eighties compilations.

It was used in The Wedding Singer and I remember it vividly from that.

It’s a good song, but not my favourite Culture Club song. That one will come in 1983.

6/10

Musical Youth – Pass The Dutchie

2nd October 1982 for three weeks

Well, after two absolutely cracking songs at Number 1, suddenly the 1982 British single buying public reverted to form and bought this shocker in large numbers.

I had no idea that this was a song about drugs. Perhaps I am just niaive. I thought it was just a novelty song. I guess this is why people bought the song – because it was a bit naughty, maybe. To me it is just a crap novelty song. It has not lasted well at all.

1/10

Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger

4th September 1982 for four weeks

What an absolute triumph of a song! It is the theme from Rocky III (I always thought it was from the first film) and wow, has it endured. It is a great psyche yourself up song and feels like a song that shows strength, and power.

Everyone loves this song and it has lasted its 41 years and will love forever without losing its effect.

What a song!

It sold almost a million copies in 1982 and eventually became a million seller in the digital era, in around 2010.

10/10

Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen

7th August 1982 for four weeks

Surely everyone knows this song? I think I heard it at millions of school discos as well as in various cheesy nightclubs when I was older. It is such a great song. It is brilliant to sing along to (or shout when drunk in nightclubs).

It went on to sell over a million copies during the digital era so it has clearly showed a lasting appeal.

9/10

Irena Cara – Fame

17th July 1982 for three weeks

I think I first heard this song as the theme tune for the TV show, Fame. It was always really catchy. I remember that people used to sing it school. Apparently it was the theme tune for the series which ended in 1987, so I must have heard it before then. I have a vague recollection of it being played at primary school discos.

The song has lasted well. It’s a dancefloor filler and a great song to sing along to.

8/10

Madness – House Of Fun

29th May 1982 for two weeks

After a few rubbish Number 1s, House Of Fun is welcome relief. It’s a great song. I remember it when I was younger thinking that it was just about having fun. As a child, that’s all you need to know and so the song is catchy and, well, fun.

It was years later when I found out it was about buying condoms!

Over the years, it has not stayed quite as strong as you might think, but it’s still a great song.

7/10