The 100 Greatest “New Wave” songs 1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World-Tears for Fears (1 Viewer)

[HellToupee]

Since none of these admittedly disparate artists were punk, they were New Wave. Full stop. 

Full ####### stop . 

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I’m not a a huge “genre” guy myself so I’m ok with Tim’s broad parameters and thank him for his efforts. While I’m not sure I would have included Wham or a Christmas song - it’s all fairly harmless especially if we don’t think of this as the definitive list and merely as Tim’s list.

I guess the easier way would have been to call it the “New Wave/Post Punk/Alternative” list from that certain time period which could have ended those debates. To me they kind of overlap anyway - and I don’t necessarily sit there and ponder what box The Smiths fit in. I just know I like them.

 

[GROOT]

Did Flock of Seagulls make the list?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Did Flock of Seagulls make the list?

Yes, but as usual for the wrong song.

 

[GROOT]

Yes, but as usual for the wrong song.

Space Age Love Song!

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Space Age Love Song!

That would have been my choice. But he ran from it. So far away.

 

[zamboni]

Space Age Love Song!

That would have been my choice. Wishing (If I Had A Photograph) would have been second.

 

[Zegras11]

it introduced me to the Plimsouls (A Million Miles Away

This was a KROQ staple and I'm surprised did not make the list.

 

[squistion]

This was a KROQ staple and I'm surprised did not make the list.

Zero Hour would have been my choice over that, although both are great songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLtytaFOabw

 

[squistion]

21. “Down Under” Men at Work (1981, from Business at Usual) 

https://youtu.be/XfR9iY5y94s

Nearly 40 years after this song was written, and I’ve still never had a Vegemite sandwich. Not even sure what one is. But I’ve been told by those who do that I’m not missing anything. 

A few years ago Colin Hay recorded an acoustic version of this song with a latin sound- it’s really beautiful: 

https://youtu.be/miF2IHOwJsU

Speaking of Vegemite, it is trending on Twitter after Tom Hanks did a tweet showing Vegemite being spread on toast and causing fits among Australians because apparently he used WAY TOO MUCH Vegemite on the bread. 

https://twitter.com/search?q=Vegemite&src=tren

My favorite tweets:

Cripes, we've given him coronavirus *and* Vegemite.

We really need to start putting Vegemite spreading instructions on the jar for foreigners.

Tom Hanks is going to die from Vegemite isn’t he.

killing coronavirus with nuclear levels of vegemite might be our only hope

 

[Mister CIA]

I like to give a wide berth to music fans (Aerosmith, Rush, Van Halen, and Phil Collins fans nothwithstanding), but the atrocities here are atrocious.

No:

• White Wedding Sunday
  
• Eyes Without a Face
  
• Rebel Yell
  
• Take Me On
  
• 99 Luftballoons
  
• Safety Dance
  

Lot's of mean things left unsaid.

 

[Honus]

Is Da Da Da not new wave? How do we categorize that? New Wave but not good?

Serious question. 

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Dead mans party is a top 10 song.

 

[El Floppo]

Is Da Da Da not new wave? How do we categorize that? New Wave but not good?

Serious question. 

New wave.

Big fan.

 

[squistion]

86.  “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” Squeeze (1980, from Argybargy)

https://youtu.be/3WngGeI9lnA

What a great sense of pop melody these guys had. And fine musicianship as well. Just a terrific, underrated band, largely forgotten now. Too damn bad. 

Found a live version from a 1980 TV appearance.

Think it is an improvement over the studio version as it is done in a slightly faster tempo.

Check out the Jools Holland piano solo. 

https://youtu.be/9rYhXQIs66U

 

[jon_mx]

I don't know what constitutes new wave, but looking at this list it means songs from the 80's.  I have seen groups like the Cranberries called new wave/alt rock.  

 

[FairWarning]

I don't know what constitutes new wave, but looking at this list it means songs from the 80's.  I have seen groups like the Cranberries called new wave/alt rock.  

They are definitely not new wave.  However they did break in on alt radio.  I remember them getting a lot of early airplay on Q101 Chicago. 

 

[rockaction]

I don't know what constitutes new wave, but looking at this list it means songs from the 80's.  I have seen groups like the Cranberries called new wave/alt rock.  

They're alternative rock from the '90s. Alt rock.