1983’s Greatest: Prince, Lionel Richie, and the Hook That Labels Didn’t Hear

Professor of Rock

So a few weeks ago, I told you we had our final top 10 songs of the 80s, but I was wrong… We have one more I overlooked, and arguably its best year: 1983. That’s right, we’ve got the top 10 songs of 1983, including Prince's Little Red Corvette which was written during a nap. It would become one of the dirtiest songs of the time, even though some people still think it’s about a car. Then there’s the song All Night Long, which Lionel Richie interrupted a doctor's appointment with his wife’s gynecologist to nail down. Then there was the catchy song that came to a failing duo, The Eurythmics, who knew it would be a smash until they showed it to their record label said the song lacked any hooks… The bewildered songwriter said the whole song is a hook, and he was right. Then there’s my A Flock of Seagulls pick, which I’ll tell you right now will be a source of controversy with all the great songs that dropped in 1983… It only went to #30 and the band is mistakenly called a 1 hit wonder, but it’s the most exhilarating song of the year, and if you really listen to it… I know you’ll agree. It’s the top 10 of 1983… You’re gonna love it… I just know it.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.