We begin the top 20 songs turning 30 years old countdown with a song that back then was considered taboo but today is a classic track from a very talented singer/songwriter.  This is arguably her most famous if not her most enduring song of her career, and is a go-to track for anyone feeling like they are someone the rest of the world does not understand and need that other person who does.  Starting out at #20 is Come To My Window by Melissa Ethridge.

Once again, we are back for another countdown of songs turning 30 years old and 40 years old, this time for 2024.  Starting on April 1 I will begin to countdown a song each day until my birthday on April 20 when I announce the #1 song turning 30 years old and 40 years old.  See this previous post to determine the criteria of this list. Normally I would list out the tracks that didn’t make it but I will wait until we reach the end of the countdowns before doing so.

We finally reach the top of the 1983 countdown.  And given the amount of songs by this one artist that made it in, why not throw in one more?  Only it just happens to be what some consider to be his greatest pop R&B song ever.  It has stood the test of time, a performance of it introduced us to one of the greatest dance moves ever, and there is hardly anything you can find wrong with the track.  And so, the #1 song released in 1983 and turning 40 years old this year is…Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.

We now come to the end of this tough countdown, and this song managed to make its way to the top because of many factors.  It is a heavily recognized hip-hop track.  It makes a more impactful on the culture of popular music than the other songs in this countdown.  This song, interestingly, is seen as one of the first bridges between hip hop and metal, linking both cultures together.  And lastly, it’s such a great track to groove to.  And so, the #1 song released in 1993 and turning 30 years old this year is…Insane In The Brain by …..more →

This was such a tough song to place, but it ultimately resided at this point of the 1993 countdown.  This song made this artist a rock star.  A powerful guitar riff and rockin’ rhythm track, this song is still heavily played in all capacities.  It came real close to snagging the top spot.  I love this track, especially the solo section which has one of my favorite bass runs ever.  Coming in at #2 in this countdown is Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz.

I reiterate what I said two songs before – what 1983 song could possibly beat the previous entry?  How about one of the most misunderstood, played, and hypnotic songs of all time?  How many times has this song been played, used in commercials, performed in weddings, etc.?  This song made Sting a world-renowned songwriter, and the track is so big no one can deny it deserves to be this high in the countdown, but it only reaches #2.  It is Every Breath You Take by The Police.