Popdose: Lost in the ’80s: The Top 15 New Wave Songs – Ever!
jaimievernon
· 3 months ago
No "Switchin' To Glide/This Beat Goes On" by the Kings from 1980? Puhlease.....
JohnHughes
· 3 months ago
That's the thing about these lists - who would you excise to include the Kings?
breadalbane
· 3 months ago
Well, I could cheerfully excise Missing Persons, Kim Wilde, or Re-Flex. And I'd substitute the twee-but-sprightly "Just Can't Get Enough" for the earnest-but-dull "People Are People". And the epic "The Killing Moon" for the only-slightly-less-epic "The Cutter"...
But hey, it's only natural that my list would differ from your list. And jamievernon's list and Dw. Dunphy's list, etc. etc. But I'd bet that a few of these songs would pop up on virtually everyone's list of new wave classics: I'm thinking specifically of Pop Muzik, Cars, Don't You Want Me and Enola Gay.
With referrence to M's chart feat, I'm assuming that you're not counting "Heart Of Glass" as a true new wave song?
JohnHughes
· 3 months ago
Nah, although it certainly could be considered as such - but I've always slotted "Heart of Glass" as more disco.
breadalbane
· 3 months ago
Funny, I've always found "Pop Muzik" to be pretty much equally disco-y. Both tunes kinda fall in that 'in-between" area, I guess.
(In between what, you ask? Why, in between what I find is pleasing and "I'm feeling fine".)
JohnHughes
· 3 months ago
Here's my John-approved shortcut to deciding whether or not something is disco: Is there a high-hat lift on the off beat?
I know what you mean, but at least in this part of America, everything that came before Some Great Reward was like another band that just happened to have Dave Gahan in it. "People Are People" might be dull, but it's the one song that solidifies everything people would associate Depeche Mode with. So I'm giving John a pass for that one.
Kinda surprised that nothing from The Cars made the list though.
namea
· 3 months ago
Blondie is virtually a '70s band
JohnHughes
· 3 months ago
Yup - covered that in the rules up top. We're cheatin'!
andrewTee
· 3 months ago
notes on #1: "Missing Persons, along with maybe A Flock of Seagulls, just personify new wave." So where's Flock on the list, mon ami? Much more than a famous haircut, they issued about half a dozen great singles, any of which would have suited this list nicely.
Apart from that, some Cars and Cure would have been nice. Any could have supplanted the less-than-outrageous British pop act Kim Wilde. But great overall.
arensb
· 3 months ago
ridicule you for suggesting I left out the Bongos and how dare I.
[Insert reference to The Higsons and "who stole my bongos?" here.]
Normally, I'd chastise you for including M and the Bunnymen, and leaving out ABC, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Simple Minds. But hey, it's your list, not mine. And you did say your list was Americanocentric, while I was in Europe during the period in question (and yes, this means I have the uncensored versions of Pink Floyd's "A Nice Pair" and Waters's "Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking").
I was listening recently to some stuff I found on Popdose, and thinking that maybe there ought to be a sort of broader We Was Robbed: good songs that never make it onto Best of the [insert decade] compilations.
arensb
· 3 months ago
Having said that, good call on Depeche Mode, Re-Flex, Human League, and Kim Wilde.
Shannon
· 3 months ago
I laughed at your dig at pitchfork. So true!
drcastrato
· 3 months ago
IEnjoyable list, though not exactly my top 15, probably. I would find a place for "This is the Day" by The The.
enohead
· 3 months ago
Good list, by cracky. I would've included "I Melt With You" by Modern English, based simply on it's inclusion in the final scene in Valley Girl. Well, plus it was pretty ubiquitous (not that that should be a criteria for any "Best Of" list). But it's great to see a "Best Of" list that I think, "okay, I'm with you on that one," more often than I think, "are you HIGH?" Eh, maybe I'm just becoming less cynical and snobby in my old age.
Pete
· 3 months ago
It's not often you log onto a website wondering if the poster you left a comment for has seen it and responded already, to find that they've actually posted a whole new entry in part because of it... Being a longtime fan of your blog posts, John, I'm giddy as a schoolgirl right now! So thanks for this.
I actually think your list is pretty spot on in terms of suggested artist choices, and even particular tracks. (Some of the others mentioned in the comments, like Siouxsie, were more punk in origin than new wave to me.) I might add Flock as well just because their hair has become iconic (much like Kajagoogoo) but also because "Space Age Love Song" is one of my fave new wave tracks. The Cars would have also been a nice addition.
And while it may not be exactly "new wave" in sound, I probably would have included the Passions' "I'm in Love With a German Film Star". Perfection.
Thanks again.
Pete
· 3 months ago
Oh, and nice shout-out about Dale being an inspiration to Gwen Stefani. When I first heard "What You Waiting For?" I thought, "god, this is soooo Missing Persons."
djmattconsola
· 3 months ago
I was set to dislike your list from the get go because I hate these types of lists. They are so subjective. But i have to say I agree with 90% of it. I would have placed Howard Jones 'New Song" in there, given that a complete unknown enters the UK charts at #3 with zero promotion behind him and after three more singles (What is love?, Pearl In The Shell and Hide&Seek), releases the album Human's Lib that was the first ever album to enter the UK charts at #1 (Which beat out the Beatles entering at #2). So then add to that that he was a New Wave artist, and I think that should put him in the list and close to the top.
Eric S.
· 3 months ago
That's great Adam and the Ants video. What's it from and can it be purchased?
:::theroux
· 3 months ago
Berlin! Mention new-wave and the synth intro to "The Metro" plays in my head. Kim Wilde's "Kids..." achieves the same effect, good call John.
Old_Davy
· 3 months ago
I guess I take my New Wave with a little more rock influence, as I was expecting some 1979-ish Elvis Costello, The Records, Nick Lowe, Joe Jackson, or Ian Gomm.
NIce choices though. I've always liked that M track and wondered if he was sincere or mocking the whole genre. The models in the video look bored as hell, and the final scene with the woman on the right tossing the records away makes me wonder.
The drum on "Cars" kick serious butt.
mike
· 3 months ago
Probably a combination of the two. Don't forget that Robin Scott, Mr. M himself, once roomed with Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood way pre-Sex Pistols. And "Pop Musik"'s lyrics seem like a string of knowing cliches mixed with nonsense ("boogie with a suitcase"). The whole thing seems almost like an Eastern Bloc version of new wave - not surprising when you consider M's whole second album, _The Official Secrets Act_, was replete with spy/CIA/espionage references.
Also, "The Cutter" was a good choice.
Gigi
· 3 months ago
Special props for M, Re-Flex, "Freedom of Choice," "Planet Earth" (when Duran Duran was still wearing peasant blouses) and Missing Persons. I did "Words" at karaoke some years back and people had no idea what or who it was.
MrOktober
· 3 months ago
"Totally different head", great Square Pegs reference. How about early Simple Minds, before they got all grandiose? The opening of "Promised You a Miracle" screams new wave.
Rami Braginsky
· 3 months ago
I made my own list 1. PET SHOP BOYS - West End Girls 2. SIMPLE MINDS - Don't You (Forget About Me) 3. GARY NUMAN - Cars 4. EURYTHMICS - Jennifer 5. PSYCHEDELIC FURS - Love My Way 6. SCRITTI POLITTI - Absolute 7. JAPAN - Life In Tokyo (12" version) 8. PASSIONS - I'm In Love With A German Film Star (long version) 9. NAKED EYES - When The Lights Go Out 10. FRIDA - I Know There's Something Going On and what the hell, another ten: 11. PETER SCHILLING - Major Tom (Coming Home) 12. DEPECHE MODE - Never Let Me Down 13. THE FIXX - Red Skies 14. LAID BACK - White Horse (uncensored extended) 15. AFTER THE FIRE - Der Kommisar 16. DEAD OR ALIVE - You Spin Me Round 17. ERASURE - Chains Of Love 18. IMAGINATION - Just An Illusion 19. PROPAGANDA - Dr. Mabuse (13th Life mix) 20. VISAGE - Fade To Grey
All Comments
But hey, it's only natural that my list would differ from your list. And jamievernon's list and Dw. Dunphy's list, etc. etc. But I'd bet that a few of these songs would pop up on virtually everyone's list of new wave classics: I'm thinking specifically of Pop Muzik, Cars, Don't You Want Me and Enola Gay.
With referrence to M's chart feat, I'm assuming that you're not counting "Heart Of Glass" as a true new wave song?
(In between what, you ask? Why, in between what I find is pleasing and "I'm feeling fine".)
http://www.ehow.com/video_2379872_playing-disco...
Kinda surprised that nothing from The Cars made the list though.
Apart from that, some Cars and Cure would have been nice. Any could have supplanted the less-than-outrageous British pop act Kim Wilde. But great overall.
[Insert reference to The Higsons and "who stole my bongos?" here.]
Normally, I'd chastise you for including M and the Bunnymen, and leaving out ABC, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Simple Minds. But hey, it's your list, not mine. And you did say your list was Americanocentric, while I was in Europe during the period in question (and yes, this means I have the uncensored versions of Pink Floyd's "A Nice Pair" and Waters's "Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking").
I was listening recently to some stuff I found on Popdose, and thinking that maybe there ought to be a sort of broader We Was Robbed: good songs that never make it onto Best of the [insert decade] compilations.
I would've included "I Melt With You" by Modern English, based simply on it's inclusion in the final scene in Valley Girl.
Well, plus it was pretty ubiquitous (not that that should be a criteria for any "Best Of" list).
But it's great to see a "Best Of" list that I think, "okay, I'm with you on that one," more often than I think, "are you HIGH?"
Eh, maybe I'm just becoming less cynical and snobby in my old age.
I actually think your list is pretty spot on in terms of suggested artist choices, and even particular tracks. (Some of the others mentioned in the comments, like Siouxsie, were more punk in origin than new wave to me.) I might add Flock as well just because their hair has become iconic (much like Kajagoogoo) but also because "Space Age Love Song" is one of my fave new wave tracks. The Cars would have also been a nice addition.
And while it may not be exactly "new wave" in sound, I probably would have included the Passions' "I'm in Love With a German Film Star". Perfection.
Thanks again.
Kim Wilde's "Kids..." achieves the same effect, good call John.
NIce choices though. I've always liked that M track and wondered if he was sincere or mocking the whole genre. The models in the video look bored as hell, and the final scene with the woman on the right tossing the records away makes me wonder.
The drum on "Cars" kick serious butt.
Also, "The Cutter" was a good choice.