# Ultimate '80s New Wave song list **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449 "2004-05-10T14:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/21 "2004-05-10T19:14:04Z")
sorry about the smilies…? ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/22 "2004-05-10T19:28:23Z")
Man, I’m out of control… One more thing, any **real** New Romantic, will freely admit that all they really are doing is playing a modified version of Motown, Disco or any other African-American influenced music form…as the Brits are apt to do. A little know fact, i guess it’s a fact…most New Romantics first got airplay on the “black” radio stations in the USA…where their R&B roots had a resonance with the audience. I remember some guy on WBLS in NY, commenting on Annie Lennox’s red hair from the “Sweet Dreams…era” (1983) WAY before the TOP 40 stations ever considered playing them… ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/23 "2004-05-10T19:33:30Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Obsession - Animotion The original version by Michael DesBarres with Holly Knight was IMHO much better - you got much more of the raw emotion behind the lyrics. (Michael DesBarres later toured as the lead singer for The Power Station when Robert Palmer backed out; he’s also the hubby of famous groupie Pamela DesBarres.) More tunes: “Reap the Wild Wind” - Ultravox “Love Will Tear Us Apart” - Joy Division “What Is Love?” - Howard Jones ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/24 "2004-05-10T20:08:05Z")
> [@sunfish](#): > > The original version by Michael DesBarres with Holly Knight was IMHO much better - you got much more of the raw emotion behind the lyrics. (Michael DesBarres later toured as the lead singer for The Power Station when Robert Palmer backed out; he’s also the hubby of famous groupie Pamela DesBarres.) Well, add that one to list of songs I didn’t know were covers. Thanks for info, I’ll have to look for the original version. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/25 "2004-05-10T20:45:21Z")
There is no Tears For Fears in this thread. This must be corrected, preferably with “Mad World”, “Shout” or Head Over Heels". Can we make a case for Welcome To The Pleasuredome, or any other FGTH track? It wouldn’t be 1981-86 without one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/26 "2004-05-10T21:35:31Z")
I think XTC belongs on your list, but not for the songs mentioned. For the New Wave sound, I’d stick to tracks from their first two albums, when keyboardist Barry Andrews was still part of the lineup (“Meccanic Dancing,” “The Rhythm,” or"Statue of Liberty"), or from their hopped-up third lp **Drums and Wires** (“Helicopter,” “When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty,” or “Real By Reel”). As for the New Romantic sound, I never thought of them in that context, but tracks like “Grass/The Meeting Place” (off of **Skylarking** ), “Love On a Farmboy’s Wages” (from **Mummer** ) and “You’re the Wish You Are (I Had)” (from **The Big Express** ) probably qualify. Other tracks: “Uh, Uh” – Yello “Mexican Radio” – Wall of Voodoo “Strobe Light” and “Dance This Mess Around” – The B-52’s “Der Kommissar” – After the Fire “I Love a Man In Uniform” – Gang of Four “Storm Warning” – The dB’s “Loveless Love,” “Original Love” or “The Boy With the Perpetual Nervousness” – The Feelies “Shrivel-Up” – Devo “Walking on the Moon” or “Do, Do, Do” – The Police “My Wife and My Dead Wife” – Robyn Hitchcock “Cities In Dust” – Siouxsie & the Banshees ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/27 "2004-05-10T22:07:15Z")
> [@holmes](#): > > Yazoo > . Do you mean Yaz? I don’t recall a Yazoo. Mine eyes are surely decieved… no Gary Numan or Tubaway Army? For shame! I would go with “Are friends electric” vs the over done cars song. Also, I would add: Split Enz - one step ahead Talk Talk - it’s my life ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/28 "2004-05-10T23:31:33Z")
> [@Bad News Baboon](#): > > Do you mean Yaz? I don’t recall a Yazoo. AFAIK, [Yazoo was one incarnation of Yaz](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040312152224413321&sql=An0uvad8kl8w6). I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, but I usually just take Yazoo to be essentially equal to Yaz. I’d call 'em Yaz before I’d call 'em Yazoo, though. ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/29 "2004-05-10T23:43:06Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, but I usually just take Yazoo to be essentially equal to Yaz. I’d call 'em Yaz before I’d call 'em Yazoo, though. they were yazoo first and us old timers are stuck in our ways… ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/30 "2004-05-10T23:44:22Z")
**Cars by Gary Numan** **She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby** **Whip It by Devo** Der Kommissar is by Falco, isn’t it? Rock Me Amadeus by Falco Peekaboo by Siouxsie and the Banshees **Just Like Heaven by The Cure** Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure **Letter to Elise by The Cure** Heh, Neverending Story by Lamahl **Twist in My Sobriety by Tinata Tikarim** **Trouble Me by 10,000 Maniacs** Kyrie by Mr. Mister Safey Dance and Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats **Words by Missing Persons** One Thing Leads To Another by The Fixx **Close (to the Edit) by Art of Noise** Your Wildest Dreams byThe Moody Blues Cruel Summer by Banarama **(Keep Feeling) Fascination by Human League** **People Are People by Depeche Mode** Puttin’ On The Ritz by Taco Send Me An Angel by Real Life **Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy** (LOVE that song) Life In A Northern Town by The Dream Academy Definitely **Pop Muzik by M** **"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" “Would I Lie to You?” “King and Queen of America” and “Here Comes the Rain Again by The Eurythmics”** can’t believe no one’s suggested them yet! At the very least, the first and last of those I listed should be included. **Who Can It Be Now? or Man Down Under by Men At Work** She’s A Beauty by The Tubes **Come On Eileen is by Dexys Midnight Runners** I Melt With You by Modern English **Pride (In The Name Of Love) by U2** **Let’s Dance by David Bowie** **Road To Nowhere by Talking Heads** **The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades by Timbuk 3**? \*\*I Wanna Be A Cowboy by Boys Don’t Cry \*\*? I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow Maybe Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac? Maybe Pictures Of Matchstick Men by Camper Van Beethoven? Maybe O Superman (For Massenet) by Laurie Anderson? Maybe Mickey by Toni Basil? Maybe They Don’t Know by Tracy Ullman? Heh, Sunglasses At Night by Corey Hart? Maybe Berlin’s Take My Breath Away orThe Metro? There are some good ones in there, hope they bring back some good memories. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/31 "2004-05-11T01:54:52Z")
Scanning the lists, I saw no Go-Go’s or early Madonna. So I suggest “Head Over Heels” by the Go-Go’s “Get Into the Groove” by Madonna Also, “Be Near Me” by ABC and “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles (very important because it was the first song played on MTV…and the 80’s were all about MTV) “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran “In Between Days” by The Cure “Walking In L.A.” by Missing Persons or Berlin–I get those two bands confused for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/32 "2004-05-11T02:16:44Z")
I guess X was never heard much out of LA. They don’t ever seem to be mentioned, even though they were, truly, The Greatest Los Angeles Rock Band Ever. “White Girl” “Nausea” “Once Over Twice” “Adult Books” and more, all big hits on K-ROCK. The best individual new wave cut (and very obscure): “Goodbye Frankie” by Brian Briggs. (See you on the other side…) ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/33 "2004-05-11T02:45:01Z")
\*\*B Movie - Nowhere Girl Robert Hazard - Change Reaction \*\* Killing Joke - Love Like Blood Always - Erasure Eurogliders - Heaven Giorgio Moroder - Together in Electric Dreams \*\*Heaven 17 - Let Me Go (awesome song) Images in Vogue - In The House (good luck finding this one!)\*\* Joy Division - Love Will Tears us Apart OMD - Enola Gay \*\*Peter Schilling - The Different Story (really awesome song) Spoons - Romantic Traffic / Arias & Symphonies / Nova Heart (all good)\*\* Strange Advance - Worlds Away Talk Talk - Such a Shame Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive Trans-X - Living on Video **Ultravox - Dancing With Tears in my Eyes (pure 80s coolness)** **Visage - Fade to Gray (just oozing with synthesizer sexiness)** The bolded titles are especially unique/totally wicked songs. (PS. Can anyone identify my sig? And no using Google!) ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/34 "2004-05-11T02:50:29Z")
Sorry, that should’ve been **Robert Hazard - Escalator of Life** Though Change Reaction is good, too (though good luck finding either of them). ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/35 "2004-05-11T04:15:27Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > AFAIK, [Yazoo was one incarnation of Yaz](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040312152224413321&sql=An0uvad8kl8w6). I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, but I usually just take Yazoo to be essentially equal to Yaz. I’d call 'em Yaz before I’d call 'em Yazoo, though. Nah, I was just teasing. I should have used a ;). I would def call them Yaz before Yazoo, also. Yazoo makes you sound reeeeeeally old. (;)) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/36 "2004-05-11T04:16:06Z")
> [@holmes](#): > > Bizarre Love Triangle: New Order (Blue Monday, The Perfect Kiss) Yeah. Blue Monday is the classic (even heard it a couple of times in the dance tent at Coachella). Perfect Kiss is my favorite (you want the 8 minute version). Bizarre Love Triangle is a great song. ---
**Author:** ![Aitara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aitara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aitara)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/37 "2004-05-11T05:46:29Z")
I don’t think that these have been suggested yet: **Obsession** by Xymox **Mystereality** by Orchestral Manuevres in the Dark **She’s Lost Control** By Joy Division **Transmission** by Joy Division **Living in Oblivion** by Anything Box **Noise in this World** by The English Beat **Tears of a Clown** by The English Beat **What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy)** by Information Society **Ich Bin Ein Auslander)** by Pop Will Eat Itself **Touched By The Hand Of God** by New Order ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/38 "2004-05-11T07:52:28Z")
You gotta get The Cult on there! I suggest: She Sells Sanctuary Rain Little Face Miscellany: Zeromancer- Send me an Angel Joy Division- Love will tear us apart Maybe some Bryan Ferry or Roxy Music Borderline: Buzzcocks Violent Femmes Asia ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/39 "2004-05-11T07:52:50Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > AFAIK, [Yazoo was one incarnation of Yaz](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040312152224413321&sql=An0uvad8kl8w6). I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, Indeed. Yaz and Yazoo were the same act at the same time. The duo had to use a different name in the US for legal reasons, is all. So far from looking older by knowing who Yazoo are, you’re looking more clued up to music from outside the US. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449/40 "2004-05-11T08:05:16Z")
These are more quasipop and don’t have the same feel but fall into the timeline. Nu Shoooz The Cars Corey Hart and that one song, " Future’s so bright I gotta wear shades" -dunno who sings it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-80s-new-wave-song-list/244449.md?page=3)