Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1983

Cafe Society
1

The year is now 1983, and we’re solidly into '80s-music territory here. I went to #41 to compile the 25 songs on this list. What’s your favorite?

Previous polls: 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982

Best #1 single polls: 1955-56 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 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 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s All-time

2

Lots of good contenders here, but I lurve me some Chrissie Hynde, so The Pretenders get my vote.

3

I’ve heard all these songs just about to death, but I really loved Twilight Zone at one point, so that one. Besides, my second choice (Little Red Corvette) is probably gonna win the whole shebang.

4

“Twilight Zone”…although, I was tempted to vote for one of my favorite 80’s one hit wonders/guilty pleasures in “Der Kommissar”.

5

The wife will kill me for not voting for Prince, and I feel oogy not voting for Golden Earring, but Chrissie Hynde wins without a doubt.

6

For me, it was a tough choice between “Chain Gang” and “1999,” but I went with Chrissie.

I’m amused to see two songs in this list that Al Yankovic parodied: “(Our Love’s In) Jeopardy” became “I Lost on ‘Jeopardy!’” and “The Safety Dance” became “The Brady Bunch.”

ETA: Expected to see “Rock the Casbah” in this poll.

7

“1999” gets my vote. “The Safety Dance” gained a few bonus points in the world-famous** Ponch8 Music Rating System** for having been used in * Hot Tub Time Machine*, but not quite enough to overtake Prince.

8

During this time I spent more time then I cared to driving around the Chicago area and there was a parody of Men Without Hats’ "The Safety Dance"that I used to enjoy and would love to hear again. Men Without Bats “The Cubbie Dance”.

9

Had to go with Marvin Gaye.

10

Very tough stuff, went with Human League with Eddy Grant, Prince(“1999”), Golden Earring making it to last round of consideration for voting.

Good year overall.

11

It only made it to #52 on the year-end chart, alas.

I, personally, nearly voted for Mr. Roboto before deciding instead to go with the Safety Dance.

And if you have a problem with that, then you’re no friend of mine.

12

Holy crap, 82 was a wasteland of trash, While in 83 over a 3rd of the list is fantastic. what the hell?

13

And this reminds me,
Does anyone else remember Taco on mtv saying something like “get used to seeing this face, I’m gonna be here a long time”?

I would love to find that clip.

14

I just have to vote for The Safety Dance. Take care if you watch the videothough; I’m pretty sure it contains spoilers regarding Tyrion’s fate on this season’s Game of Thrones.

15

I went with the Pretenders here myself, but lots of good choices here. I could vote for maybe a third of the field here. I’m somewhat surprised, but pleasantly so, that “Safety Dance” is doing as well as it is so far (I love Rhythm of Youth and its post-punk synth pop goodness.)

16

Our love’s in jeopardy…bay-ba
oooooo oo oo oooooo

C’mon, let’s see some love for Greg Kihn!

17

Puttin’ On the Ritz.

Irving Berlin was one of the most gifted songwriters of the 20th century and I guess this will be the only opportunity to vote for a tune from the Great American Songbook.

18

Voted for “Sexual Healing” but could have voted for many of these songs. #2 was the basketball-tinged “One on One” by Hall and Oates, probably the closest I will ever come to voting for the duo.

19

Voted for a personal all-time favorite in Twilight Zone, expecting to see It blown away by The Artist; pleasantly surprised to see it hanging in there.

20

Tough call this time between Puttin’ On the Ritz, (Keep Feeling) Fascination, and The Safety Dance, but Safety Dance gets it.