# 80's melancholic synthpop,i can't be the only fan?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 5, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669 "2003-09-05T05:07:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/42 "2012-02-16T20:52:34Z")

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Most of the stuff I’d mention is already listed, but I will spank anyone who lists The Smiths as synthpop with a wet plimsoll.

Who, pray tell, played keyboards in The Smiths? Nobody. They were aiming precisely at synthpop with _guitar-driven_ tunes.

In fact the only Smiths tunes I can think with even a bloody _piano_are “Golden Lights,” “Oscillate Wildly,” and “Death of a Disco Dancer.”

a-ha, however, qualifies.

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**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/43 "2012-02-17T04:50:14Z")

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> [@punch\_line\_loser](#):
>
> You might be into **Scritti Politti** or **Comsat Angels** as well, although they’re more post-punk and lighter on the melancholy.

Scritti Politti kicks ass. They may not be melancholy, lyrically, but Green Gartside’s voice has such a sweet wistfulness to it.

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**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/44 "2012-02-17T05:37:12Z")

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I’m (secretly) proud to admit that I know (I was a teen during the 80s) about 3/4 of the songs listed here. Some of them include my all time favorites. for the rest of the 1/4, gotta do some looking up and listening. Ahhh, the 80s!

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**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-melancholic-synthpop-i-cant-be-the-only-fan/199669/45 "2012-02-17T14:21:53Z")

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> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#):
>
> In fact the only Smiths tunes I can think with even a bloody _piano_are “Golden Lights,” “Oscillate Wildly,” and “Death of a Disco Dancer.”

“Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.”

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