List of number-one singles of 1983 (Canada)

The Police released the most successful single of 1983: "Every Breath You Take".

RPM was a Canadian magazine that published the best-performing singles of Canada from 1964 to 2000. During 1983, twenty-seven singles became number-one hits in Canada. Toni Basil commenced the year with her single "Mickey" while Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's "Say Say Say" was 1983's final number one. Those who had previously reached number one on Canada's chart were Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Styx, The Police, Elton John, Bonnie Tyler, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, and Paul McCartney. No Canadians reached the summit in 1983.

The most successful artist of the year based on the number of chart-toppers and weeks spent at number one was Michael Jackson. He gained his first Canadian number-one hit this year with "Billie Jean" in March, then attained the chart's top position three more times with "Beat It" in May, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" in July, and "Say Say Say" in December. In total, Jackson remained at number one for 10 weeks during 1983. Despite this success, it was British band The Police that achieved the best-performing hit of 1983, "Every Breath You Take", which stayed at number one on the issues of 2 July and 9 July.

Alongside Jackson, The Police were also the only act to peak at number one more than once, rising to the top again in October with "King of Pain". Together with "Every Breath You Take", the band remained at number one for three issues. Toni Basil's "Mickey", Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie", Michael Jackson's "Beat It", Irene Cara's "Flashdance... What a Feeling", Michael Sembello's "Maniac", Lionel Richie's "All Night Long (All Night)", and Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's "Say Say Say" were the seven tracks that stayed at number one for at least three weeks.

Key
† Indicates best-performing single of 1983

Chart history

Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" became their first Canadian number-one hit in March.
Michael Jackson picked up four Canadian number-one hits in 1983: "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", and "Say Say Say", spending a total of 10 weeks at the top.
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler held the number-one position for two weeks with "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
Pop duo Eurythmics rose to number one in September with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".
Dolly Parton (pictured) duetted with Kenny Rogers on "Islands in the Stream", which stayed at number one for two weeks.
Issue date Song Artist Reference
1 January[A] "Mickey" Toni Basil [1]
8 January
15 January [2]
22 January "Pass the Dutchie" Musical Youth [3]
29 January [4]
5 February [5]
12 February "Africa" Toto [6]
19 February "Sexual Healing" Marvin Gaye [7]
26 February [8]
5 March "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" Culture Club [9]
12 March [10]
19 March "Hungry Like the Wolf" Duran Duran [11]
26 March "Billie Jean" Michael Jackson [12]
2 April [13]
9 April "Mr. Roboto" Styx [14]
16 April [15]
23 April "She Blinded Me with Science" Thomas Dolby [16]
30 April [17]
7 May "Let's Dance" David Bowie [18]
14 May "Beat It" Michael Jackson [19]
21 May [20]
28 May [21]
4 June "Flashdance... What a Feeling" Irene Cara [22]
11 June [23]
18 June [24]
25 June "Electric Avenue" Eddy Grant [25]
2 July "Every Breath You Take"†[26] The Police [27]
9 July [28]
16 July "I'm Still Standing" Elton John [29]
23 July "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" Michael Jackson [30]
30 July [31]
6 August "White Wedding" Billy Idol [32]
13 August "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Bonnie Tyler [33]
20 August [34]
27 August "Our House" Madness [35]
3 September [36]
10 September "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" Eurythmics [37]
17 September [38]
24 September "Maniac" Michael Sembello [39]
1 October [40]
8 October [41]
15 October "King of Pain" The Police [42]
22 October "One Thing Leads to Another" The Fixx [43]
29 October "True" Spandau Ballet [44]
5 November [45]
12 November "Islands in the Stream" Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton [46]
19 November [47]
26 November "All Night Long (All Night)" Lionel Richie [48]
3 December [49]
10 December [50]
17 December "Say Say Say" Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson [51]
24 December [52]
31 December [53]

Notes

  1. ^ Due to a two-week break in publication over the 1982/1983 New Year period, the weeks of 1 January and 8 January are inferred.

See also

References

  1. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – December 25, 1982". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  2. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – January 15, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  3. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – January 22, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  4. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – January 29, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  5. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – February 5, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  6. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – February 12, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  7. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – February 19, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  8. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – February 26, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  9. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – March 5, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  10. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – March 12, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  11. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – March 19, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  12. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – March 26, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  13. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – April 2, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  14. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – April 9, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  15. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – April 16, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  16. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – April 23, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  17. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – April 30, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  18. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – May 7, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  19. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – May 14, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  20. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – May 21, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  21. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – May 28, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  22. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – June 4, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  23. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – June 11, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  24. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – June 18, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  25. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – June 25, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  26. ^ "The Top Singles of 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  27. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – July 2, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  28. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – July 9, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  29. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – July 16, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  30. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – July 23, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  31. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – July 30, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  32. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – August 6, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  33. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – August 13, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  34. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – August 20, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  35. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – August 27, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  36. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – September 3, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  37. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – September 10, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  38. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – September 17, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  39. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – September 24, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  40. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – October 1, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  41. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – October 8, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  42. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – October 15, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  43. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – October 22, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  44. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – October 29, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  45. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – November 5, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  46. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – November 12, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  47. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – November 19, 1983" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 39, no. 12. p. 6. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  48. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – November 26, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  49. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – December 3, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  50. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – December 10, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  51. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – December 17, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  52. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – December 24, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  53. ^ "RPM 50 Singles – December 31, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2019.