Smells Like Gen X • Video

All the #1 Hits of 1983: Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Eurythmics & More!

Published:February 22, 2026 Video Decade:80s Topic:Music

← Back to videos Watch on YouTube

Play

Billboard Hot 100 1983 Rewind

All the #1 Hits of 1983 — The Year MTV, Thriller & New Wave Took Over

Take a nostalgic trip back to 1983 — the year MTV was getting louder, pop radio was unstoppable, and the Billboard Hot 100 #1 songs sounded like the entire 80s had finally plugged itself into the wall.

This Smells Like Gen X music rewind runs through every Billboard #1 hit from 1983, from Daryl Hall & John Oates and Men at Work to the full Michael Jackson Thriller-era takeover, David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, The Police, Eurythmics, Bonnie Tyler, and Lionel Richie.

If 1983 had a sound, it was glossy pop, new wave hooks, monster ballads, yacht-rock leftovers, soundtrack explosions, and Michael Jackson casually turning the Hot 100 into his personal driveway.

Keep Rewinding 1983

The #1 hits were only one part of 1983. This was also the year Return of the Jedi ruled the box office, network TV was still appointment viewing, toy shelves got even more character-driven, and the decade’s fads started getting louder, brighter, and more impossible to ignore.

Top 10 Songs of 1983 The Billboard year-end hits that made 1983 sound like MTV, Thriller, new wave, and giant hooks. Top TV Shows of 1983 The Nielsen-ranked shows that owned the living room when network television still ran the night. Top 10 Movies of 1983 The box-office year of Jedi, comedy hits, sequels, star vehicles, and peak early-80s movie energy. Top 10 Toys of 1983 The toy aisle as action figures, character brands, video games, and kid obsessions kept escalating. Top 6 Biggest Fads of 1983 The crazes, trends, fashion, music, and pop-culture obsessions that made 1983 feel fully 80s. Explore the 80s Hub The main decade hub for 80s music, movies, TV, toys, fads, commercials, videos, and Gen X nostalgia.

1983 Songs 1983 TV Shows 1983 Movies 1983 Toys 1983 Fads More Music Rewinds 80s Hub More Videos

Featured Hits

A few chart-toppers from the 1983 lineup

Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” / “Beat It” The Thriller era hit full blast, and 1983 basically had to rearrange itself around Michael Jackson.

Men at Work “Down Under” A quirky new wave radio monster that helped make early-80s pop feel global, weird, and completely unavoidable.

Toto “Africa” The smooth, dramatic, endlessly replayable anthem that somehow became even bigger in nostalgia memory.

David Bowie “Let’s Dance” Sleek, stylish, and absolutely built for the MTV era — Bowie’s 1983 pop reinvention hit hard.

The Police “Every Breath You Take” One of the biggest songs of the entire decade, even if everyone at prom misunderstood the vibe. Classic 80s behavior.

Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” A full power-ballad thunderstorm, complete with drama, fog machines, and emotional damage.

Why It Hits

Why this 1983 playlist still feels legendary

MTV changed the room Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Eurythmics, Irene Cara, and Michael Sembello all benefited from a world where the video mattered almost as much as the song.

Pop got massive 1983 gave us hooks from Hall & Oates, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, and Men at Work that still feel instantly recognizable.

Soundtracks ruled too Flashdance brought “What a Feeling” and “Maniac” into the chart conversation, because apparently 1983 needed leg warmers and anxiety.

Song List

All the Billboard #1 hits featured in this 1983 countdown

Maneater — Daryl Hall & John Oates
Down Under — Men at Work
Africa — Toto
Baby, Come to Me — Patti Austin & James Ingram
Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
Beat It — Michael Jackson
Let’s Dance — David Bowie
Flashdance… What a Feeling — Irene Cara
Every Breath You Take — The Police
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) — Eurythmics
Maniac — Michael Sembello
Tell Her About It — Billy Joel
Total Eclipse of the Heart — Bonnie Tyler
Islands in the Stream — Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
All Night Long (All Night) — Lionel Richie
Say Say Say — Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson

More 80s Music Rewinds Are Coming

Like, comment, and subscribe for more Gen X flashbacks, 80s music countdowns, Billboard Hot 100 history, retro playlists, forgotten pop-culture stories, and deep dives into the songs, shows, toys, videos, and chaos that raised us. For the full written breakdown, read Top 10 Songs of 1983.

Top 10 Songs of 1983 1983 TV Shows 1983 Movies 1983 Toys 1983 Fads More Videos

Topics: 1983 Billboard Hot 100 #1 songs, 1983 number one hits, 80s music countdown, Michael Jackson Billie Jean, Michael Jackson Beat It, David Bowie Let’s Dance, The Police Every Breath You Take, Eurythmics Sweet Dreams, Irene Cara Flashdance What a Feeling, Michael Sembello Maniac, Bonnie Tyler Total Eclipse of the Heart, Lionel Richie All Night Long, Paul McCartney Michael Jackson Say Say Say, Top 10 Songs of 1983, 1983 TV shows, 1983 movies, 1983 toys, 1983 fads, Gen X nostalgia, Smells Like Gen X.