David Bowie: Modern Love (1983)

This might be Bowie's most infectious song. He claims Little Richard inspired the song about the battle between God and man. Nile Rodgers produced and played guitar and Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hDbpF4Mvkw

Def Leppard: Rock Rock (Til You Drop) (1983)

This song is just a jam. Def Leppard rocking out at their first peak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpgUJLKC5tc

Quiet Riot: Cum on Feel the Noize (1983)

Quiet Riot frontman Frankie Banali had no desire to record a cover of the Slade classic. He tried to sabotage it, but failed miserably. He failed so badly that the Quiet Riot version became a monster hit and the band's signature song.    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Haypxj24_Uw

The Pretenders: Middle of the Road (1983)

"Middle of the Road" refers to eastern philosophy and the middle way. At the same time, it compares the difference between being rich and poor as experienced by Chrissy Hynde as a rock star. The song is as close to the perfect rock song as there is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niz2DuHc5K

David Bowie: Let's Dance (1983)

Bowie exited the seventies with the realization that he needed money. He spent the decade

creating, but not earning like other stars. Let's Dance was his response. The

song and album were monster hits. On a side note, the work featured a little

known Austin, Texas guitarist named Stevie Ray Vaughan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4d7Wp9kKjA

Billy Joel: Uptown Girl (1983)

Today, Uptown Girl is one of Billy Joel's signature songs. In 1983, it did not perform as well as his previous single. He wrote the song about Elle Macpherson, but it became associated with Christie Brinkley. Brinkley appeared in the video and eventually married Joel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuMWrfXG4E

Bryan Adams: Cuts Like a Knife (1983)

"Cuts Like a Knife" helped break Bryan Adams into the mainstream. It was one of the summer soundtrack songs of 1983. It reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 in Adams' native Canada. The Canadian remained a force in music for the next decade and continues to record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VZhSkREYBc

Night Ranger: Don't Tell Me You Love Me (1983)

Night Ranger released this classic in January 1983. It peaked at #40 in the Hot 100 and was ranked #92 in VH1’s greatest hard rock songs of all time. This probably would never break the charts today as the industry has moved away from people that play instruments and can write songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3IFVQhTqq4

Duran Duran: The Union of the Snake (1983)

Duran Duran made great videos. Indeed, they were actually short films. The “Union of the Snake” featured the band’s struggle against a bizarre snake-like creature. The adventure was continued to some extent in “Wild Boys.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6p5Q6_JBes

Genesis: Just a Job to Do (1983)

Love this song. It's about a private investigator chasing a bad guy. Very appropriate for the 80s considering all the P.I. shows at the time. Who didn't love Magnum P.I.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaGyPYTKTH4

Dio: Rainbow in the Dark (1983)

Dio thought the demo for "Rainbow in the Dark" sounded too pop and almost destroyed the tape. His band talked him out of it and the song became one of his signatures. "Rainbow in the Dark" is about Dio's feelings after leaving Black Sabbath. He is the "Rainbow", which was also a band he fronted for a time.

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUXSTY9AW-s

Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_h4ESpTIhE&feature=related

R.E.M.: Radio Free Europe (1981)

"Radio Free Europe" created "college" and "alternative" music. According to the Library of Congress, it set "the pattern for later indie rock releases by breaking through on college radio in the face of mainstream radio's general indifference." The song was originally released in 1981, but was re-recorded for their first album, Murmur in 1983. A decade later, the band's "Losing My Religion" made alternative the most popular music genre in the country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac0oaXhz1u8&ob=av3e

Elton John: I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues (1983)

This song has enjoyed an exceptionally long life. It has been used in commercials, on an episode of Family Guy, and remains a radio staple. It's even been covered by Mary J. Blige. The song peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 in 1984.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6KYAVn8ons&ob=av3e

Mary J Blige:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c7xn3zG0iA

840. Lick It Up by Kiss (1983)

Kiss scrapped their makeup and appeared in public without it for the first time since their early days. They premiered their new look on a half hour MTV special which also debuted their video for "Lick It Up." (Note for younger readers: MTV used to play music). Despite heavy promotion, the song stalled on the charts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcj34XixuYg

860. Die Hard the Hunter by Def Leppard (1983)

Back when people bought albums, everyone purchased Def Leppard's Pyromania. The work turned out to be one of the seminal albums of the early-to-mid eighties and made Leppard superstars. One of the most underrated songs on the album is "Die Hard the Hunter" which gets lost in the flood of hits. The song also represents a transition in sound for the band from their earlier stuff to what would become their signature sound.

Live (1988):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w37npfGIAPU

Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY1P7bf3BOw

866. The Metro by Berlin (1983)

"The Metro" is an archetypal New Wave song. It includes elements of punk, pop, and makes heavy use of synthesizer. Terri Nunn admits the song defined both the band and the period. Berlin released it as their third single off of Pleasure Victim. "The Metro" peaked at #58 on the charts, but the video received heavy MTV play.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UXtort76gY

871. Suddenly Last Summer by the Motels (1983)

"Suddenly Last Summer" is the only Motels song to hit #1. Martha Davis claims the song came about while she thought of an ice cream truck making the last rounds before disappearing for the winter. An ice cream truck makes an appearance in the video. The song recounts how some events seem to take forever until they are long gone...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Ox-lGm-wA

896. The Forest Battle by John Williams (1983)

"The Forest Battle" announces the beginning of the end for the Evil Galactic Empire in the Star Wars saga. The music coincides with Chewbacca's commandeering a scout walker and using it on imperial troops. The Battle of Endor turns in the favor of the rebels and their Ewok allies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q082xfzV1-g

919. Stand Back by Stevie Nicks (1983)

Stevie Nicks was listening to "Little Red Corvette" and that propelled her creativity. She quickly recorded a demo and called Prince. He came to the studio and played the synthesizers on the track. The song is now a staple at her solo gigs as well as Fleetwood Mac shows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdJ-i23OiJU

Scarlett video w/commentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC5YWPTCNEQ&ob=av2n

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-fxOS658H4

945. I'm Still Standing by Elton John (1983)

The song is about Sir Elton John's comeback from personal issues. It became a big international hit in 1983 and one of the soundtrack songs for that particular summer. The video accompanying the song is representative of the period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwVBirqD2s&ob=av2n