# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1983 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 20, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201 "2015-02-20T16:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201/21 "2015-02-21T15:48:52Z")
This list has the highest number of "I can’t believe that didn’t go to Number One!"s of any we’ve seen since the '60s. Blame goes to Michael Jackson, who was hogging the charts in '83, and also “Every Breath You Take” which was Number One virtually all summer long. For me it’s gotta be “Little Red Corvette.” “Chain Gang” and “Sexual Healing” are so good though. And the Culture Club and Duran Duran tunes are very evocative of their moment. “Safety Dance” I find really irritating, though I’ve noticed that today a lot of 20-somethings love that one. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201/22 "2015-02-21T17:45:54Z")
Chrissie Hynde, always. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201/23 "2015-02-21T22:24:06Z")
Now there’s a list that’s full of worthwhile candidates. Rich, rich choice. Gimme some time to enjoy the decisionmaking, what with Marvin and Prince bringing the sex, CC and DD and the League upholding the New Wave legacy, Chrissie on the chain gang, your friends who don’t dance (let’s not talk about the video), and everyone rocking down to Electric Avenue. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201/24 "2015-02-22T02:17:44Z")
So 1999-1983 = 16, and as 1999 approached it remained a great song. And now 2015-1983 = 32. Is there any song from 2015’s playlist that we’d be listening to in 2047? _1999_ just holds on better than the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201/25 "2015-02-23T14:02:18Z")
I could have voted for many, but for some reason was compelled to vote for ‘Mr. Roboto’. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201/26 "2015-02-23T17:51:07Z")
I voted for Golden Earring, and I’m surprised so many others did, too. This a pretty strong collection of 80s music all in one year. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201/27 "2015-02-24T08:31:03Z")
Love Chrissie… but "Chain gang " is a…okay one to me… was almost for “corvette”… such a great build up in that song… Went with "Do you really want. …It was the introduction to Boy George… he as just a trancendant figure… He held attention… his voice was excellent…just tight group…and the lyrics really take it over the top… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1983/713201.md?page=1)