1983: The Best Songs Of The 80s For Your Wedding Playlist

For those modern brides and grooms who have stumbled on this blog post prior to clicking over to my About Page, I used to play LOTS of 80s songs on the radio. That experience was one of the most influential moments in my life and really what started the fire and passion to become one of the top wedding DJs. While the average bride and grooms wedding playlist is comprised of many types of music; ranging from Motown to soft rock to alternative, the 80s are still one of the most popular genres that are placed on playlists. Over the past year during COVID, I’ve managed to refresh a lot of the content on my blog and have seen a steady increase to a lot of the pages that spotlight 80s music. During the dark days of COVID, I’ve caught myself cranking up the 80s and I’ve noticed quite a few new likes on a lot of the playlists on my Spotify profile. Would you believe that one of my 80s posts has been viewed in 112 countries? I’ll let you know which post that is as you read on, but today is all about another great year of music from the 80s. It won't be too long that I'll have covered every year of this fantastic decade for music, but for now let's flashback to the year 1983.

The year was 1983. My age would soon be double digits, as I would turn the big 1-0 in September of this fabulous year.  The Washington Redskins would win the Super Bowl. M.A.S.H would sign off the air for the last time, and Mario Bros would debut for the first time. The year was 1983.  MTV would turn 2 and continued to feature iconic music videos that would forever burn images in a generation of minds. For those of us in elementary school in 1983, we got to see the premiere of Fraggle Rock, and the Swatch watch would be on every child's birthday and Christmas list. 

POPULAR MOVIES OF 1983
Superman III
Tootsie
National Lampoon's Vacation
Yentl
Flashdance

POPULAR TV SHOWS OF 1983
Dallas
Dynasty
Magnum P.I
Kate & Allie
The A-Team

Download These Top Songs From 1983 From My Spotify Profile NOW
With every featured post on my blog that includes my selection of music, I've continued to create a Spotify playlist. The truth of the matter is that modern brides and grooms are coming to me with pre-made wedding playlists.  With over 130 playlists created (and counting), my Spotify profile is the perfect choice for the modern bride and groom looking to gain inspiration about music when putting together their wedding playlist. Just head over to Spotify and search for DJ Mike Bills.

"All Night Long (All Night) | Lionel Richie
We kick off this salute to the great 80s year of 1983 with a classic from the amazing Lionel Richie.  He' release his second solo album, Can't Slow Down in 1983. "All Night Long" would be released in the late summer of 1983 and peak at #1 on the adult contemporary, R&B and Hot 100 chart).

"Flashdance (Oh What A Feeling)" | Irene Cara
When I think back to the year  1983, I remember it being a year of Solid Gold on Saturday nights, and the movie Flashdance in the theaters.  We first heard from Irene Cara in 1980 when she would star in the movie Fame, and sing the Top 10 hit "Fame". She'd reach #1 in late May of 1983 on the Hot 100 with "Flashdance (Oh What A Feeling).

"Baby, Come To Me" | Patti Austin & James Ingram
Originally this song was released in the spring of 1982, but did not chart well. It was not until the song was used in the soap opera General Hospital in late 1982 and early 1983 that it caught on with music fans. The song would peak at #1 on the Hot 100, as well as adult contemporary chart in February 1983.

 "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson
1983 was one of the biggest year in the career of the late Michael Jackson. As a matter of fact, the year was so big that this will be the first of two songs placed into this post. "Billie Jean" was released as a single not too long after 1983 began and would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. For more of the Best Michael Jackson Songs For Your Wedding Playlist, <----Click HERE

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" | Eurythmics
What more can I say about Annie Lennox? She had a look that was all her own in the early 80s with that short, orange hair.  Nearly 3 weeks after the release "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, the Eurythmics would release "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" on January 21, 1983. The song would peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Maniac" | Michael Sembello
In the spring of 1983, people were flocking to the movie theater to see Flashdance.  If you were listening to the radio through the summer of 1983, you probably heard a lot of the songs from the movie soundtrack, one of which I've already talked about. "Maniac" would peak at #1 in September of 1983 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Come On Eileen" | Dexy's Midnight Runners
Released in the UK back in the summer of 1982, "Come On Eileen" would be released in America on January 22, 1983. The video for the song would become one of the many iconic images you'd see during the first few years of MTV. "Come On Eileen" would peak at #1 on the Hot 100. Dexy's Midnight Runners would never repeat the success of this song and would become one of The Greatest One-Hit Wonders Of The 80s. 

'Let's Dance" | David Bowie
If there were ever a David Bowie that was a "must-play" at a wedding, it would be this track. This title track to this 1983 album would be released in March of 1983 and features a solo by late guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn.  The song would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as the Hot Dance Disco chart.

"Electric Avenue" | Eddy Grant
"Electric Avenue" would gain more popularity through it's music video in rotation on MTV, than its #35 peak on the Billboard Hot 100.  For more of the biggest songs of the 80s for your wedding playlist <----- Click HERE

 "Africa" | Toto
In 1982, Toto would release their album Toto IV, which would feature singles like Rosanna, as well as Africa. "Africa" would be released in the fall of 1982 and peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983.

"Up Where We Belong" | Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
If you are a fan of this blog and want some of the most requested soft rock songs of the 80s, <---CLICK HERE  "Up Where We Belong" was featured on thw 1982 movie An Officer And A Gentleman.  The song was released in August of 1982 and peak at #1 in February of 1983.

"Puttin' On The Ritz" | Taco
"Puttin On The Ritz" was written by Irving Berlin in 1927. It was first used in the film of the same name in 1930. Taco would cover this song in 1983 reaching Number 1 in Canada and New Zealand, but only #4 in America.

 "Sexual Healing" | Marvin Gaye
At the time of  the writing of this post, we just passed the 37th anniversary of the untimely murder of the legendary Marvin Gaye.  "Sexual Healing" is the perfect song to calm down a very overheated dance party at the end of your wedding reception. Released in the fall of 1982, "Sexual Healing" would peak at #3 in the spring of 1983.

"The Safety Dance" | Men Without Hats
New wave & synth pop was one of my favorite sub-genres of 80s music.  I know you probably I sound like a broken record but Men Without Hats was another one of early iconic music videos seen in the first few years of MTV.  The song was released in America in the summer of 1983 and peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Mickey" | Toni Basil
There was a group from the UK that originally recorded this song in 1979, but it would be Toni Basil who would make so many girls in the 80s want to become a cheerleader. "Mickey" was released in the fall of 1982 and would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1983.

 "One On One" | Hall & Oates
In case you missed it, Philadelphia is a city that produced so many great musicians and bands. <---CLICK HERE.  Hall & Oates would become the most successful duo in the history of music.  "One On One" is a slower ballad released in January of 1983 and can be found on the album H2o.  The song would peak in the Top 10 on the Hot 100, as well as #4 on the adult contemporary chart.

"We've Got Tonight" | Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton
Originally recorded and released by Bob Seger in 1978,  Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton would record the song as a duet.  Released in January 1983,  the song would peak at #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Truly" | Lionel Richie
More Lionel Richie you say? Yes, I don't mind giving you more, especially when they are amazingly beautiful songs like this one. "Truly" would be the song that would kick off a very successful solo career for Lionel Richie.  Released in October of 1982, the song would win a Grammy for Best Pop Male Vocal and peak at #1 on the Hot 100 chart.

"Too Shy" | Kajagoogoo
Contrary to what people wanna say about this band, they are NOT a one-hit wonder.  This song is definitely on my list of favorite 80s songs and makes me wish I was old enough to go to a dance club in the summer of 1983. "Too Shy" would hit the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1983 and peak at #5 during the summer of that year.

"Goody Two Shoes" | Adam Ant
Music videos told a story about songs in the 80s, and Adam Ant was an artist who created some iconic videos.  "Goody Two Shoes" would be the first single to be released by Adam Ant in the fall of 1982. The song would peak at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Rock The Casbah" | The Clash
"Rock The Casbah" was the second song to be released from the album Combat Rock.  The song would peak at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100  in the spring of 1983.

"She's A Beauty" | The Tubes
To all the modern grooms reading over this post, be sure to send this fun song out your beautiful bride. "She's A Beauty" would hit the Hot 100 in chart in April of 1983 and eventually peak at #10. The song would peak at #1 on the U.S Top Rock Track chart too.

 "China Girl" | David Bowie
Appearing on the famous 1998 movie, "The Wedding Singer", "China Girl" would be the follow-up single to Let's Dance. The song would become one of the song of the summer of 1983 and eventually peak at #10 in the fall of 1983.

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" | Michael Jackson
Ah yes! We've reached the second song by Michael Jackson to be included in this playlist of some of the best wedding songs from 1983. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" would be released just in time for an amazing summer of music in 1983. The song was the follow-up to "Beat It", but only peak at #5 on the Hot 100 chart.

 "Faithfully" | Journey
Journey was riding high in 1983 with the release of their Frontiers album.  "Faithfully" would be the second single to be released from the record in the spring of 1983, and would peak at #12 on the Hot 100. For more of the Best Soft Rock Songs Of The 80s <----Click HERE

"Pass The Dutchie" | Musical Youth
And we've now reached the reggae portion of the best songs for your wedding from 1983.  Reggae is a very popular choice for cocktail hour. <--Click HERE for a great reggae cocktail hour playlist "Pass The Dutchie" would be another one of those early iconic music videos seen on MTV and would be released in December of 1982. The song would peak at #10 on the Hot 100 in the spring of 1983.

"True" | Spandau Ballet
New wave bands were being introduced to America by way of MTV, as well as the radio in 1983.  They'd release their self-titled album and "True" would be the third single to be released from the album. The song would peak at #1 in the UK, but only manage #4 on the Hot 100 in America.

"Tonight I Celebrate My Love" | Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson
When I get around to putting together a published post about the Top 80s Love Songs like I did for the Best 90s Love Songs, this song will surely be on it.  Roberta Flack has one of the most beautiful voices, and Peabo Bryson compliments it so very nicely in this song.  The song would be the first song to be released off her 1983 album Born To Love, and would peak at #4 on the adult contemporary chart in 1983.

"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" | Culture Club
Culture Club was another band in heavy rotation during the early years of MTV.  Their album was titled Kissing To Be Clever and would feature 3 songs that would become hits for the band. "I'll Tumble 4 Ya"  would be released in the summer of 1983 and peak at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Come Dancing" | The Kinks
The Kinks released their first songs in the early 60s and got a little taste of what MTV was all about. "Come Dancing" was released in the fall of 1982 and would peak at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ready To Speak To Mike Bills About Being Your Wedding DJ?
And there you have it, some of my choices of some of the best songs from 1983 to add into your wedding playlist.Thank you for making it all the way to the end of this post. The content you see on this website is carefully designed and researched for the modern bride and groom in mind. You'll also find some of my thoughts and opinions as to how your wedding DJ should work with you. I would love to speak with you about your wedding. You are invited to click back over to the other parts of my blog to learn more about me and my style as a professional wedding DJ. If you are interested in setting up a time to speak with me, please click the link up above and you'll be taken over to my contact form where you'll be asked for some basic details. I would love to be the DJ at your wedding. Let's talk soon.