Global Charts
National Charts
 

Global Single Chart
40 years ago
the most popular tracks worldwide
according to the national single charts
dated to September 3, 1983
compiled and provided by

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1 / 1
week 13
Every Breath You Take - Police
A&M - 4 weeks at No.1
2 / 2
week 15
Flashdance...What A Feeling - Irene Cara
Casablanca
3 / 3
week 10
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
RCA
4 / 5
week 5
She Works Hard For The Money - Donna Summer
Mercury
5 / 4
week 10
Baby Jane - Rod Stewart
Warner Bros.
6 / 7
week 7
Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield feat. Maggie Reilly
Virgin
9 / 10
week 6
Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
CBS / Columbia
8 / 8
week 3
Maniac - Michael Sembello
Casablanca
7 / 6
week 8
China Girl - David Bowie
EMI
10 / -
week 2
It's A Mistake - Men At Work
CBS / Columbia
 

"Every Breath You Take" is the Police's and Sting's signature song and was released on May 20, 1983, as the lead single from the band's final album Synchronicity (1983). Sting wrote the song in 1982 in the aftermath of his separation from Frances Tomelty and the beginning of his relationship with Trudie Styler. While recording, guitarist Andy Summers came up with a guitar part inspired by Béla Bartók that would later become a trademark lick, and played it straight through in one take. He was asked to put guitar onto a simple backing track of bass, drums, and a single vocal, with Sting offering no directive beyond "make it your own". "Every Breath You Take" topped the official hitlist in the United States for eight weeks and was the biggest hit of the year there. Furthermore it reached no.1 in United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and no.2 in Australia, Spain, Sweden, and Norway. The song won two Grammys for Song Of The Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Sting received 1983 the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

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