The 100 Greatest “New Wave” songs 1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World-Tears for Fears (3 Viewers)

[RedmondLonghorn]

I agree, but it was one of the few that got played on radio stations other than LIR.

Similarly, it seems as though we'll need to get at least 3 more Duran Duran songs if Girls on Film is on the list.

I would say the over/under is 3.5 more.

 

[nirad3]

That's pretty much the case for just about any John Taylor bass line - the guy is a master at his craft.

My sister used to cut his and his entire family's hair.  Not sure if she still does or not.

 

[wikkidpissah]

if you guys are getting worked up over DM, wait til timmy makes the case for songs from Graceland & Travelling Wilburys as nuevo wavo...

 

[zamboni]

My sister used to cut his and his entire family's hair.  Not sure if she still does or not.

Hope she didn't light any matches near that Aqua Net.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

if you guys are getting worked up over DM, wait til timmy makes the case for songs from Graceland & Travelling Wilburys as nuevo wavo...

I think Roy Orbison played synth on Tweeter and the Monkey Man.

 

[wikkidpissah]

I think Roy Orbison played synth on Tweeter and the Monkey Man.

and his natural cowlick pattern was very close to Flock of Seagulls guy's

 

[nirad3]

Hope she didn't light any matches near that Aqua Net.

   This was in the past 10-15 years, so not sure if he's still using that....

 

[timschochet]

98. "Hold Me Now"- Thompson Twins (1983, from Into the Gap)

https://youtu.be/H9694K85Xc8

This British Trio had a number of pleasant hits between 1982 and 1985, when they seemed to disappear forever. "Hold Me Now" was the most pleasant of these pleasant hits. It's still very catchy with a latin percussion. The lyrics are trite, but unlike the Bob Dylan countdown I just did, lyrics are not going to be a huge feature of this list. I like to hum along.

 

[timschochet]

if you guys are getting worked up over DM, wait til timmy makes the case for songs from Graceland & Travelling Wilburys as nuevo wavo...

They're not? Uh-oh. Need to redo this.

What about "Africa" by Toto?

 

[zamboni]

Never thought of Thompson Twins in the new wave genre like some of the others we'll see - more like synth pop. But it's such a blurred line across genres.

 

[otb_lifer]

Never thought of Thompson Twins in the new wave genre like some of the others we'll see - more like synth pop. But it's such a blurred line across genres.

see, now i consider them classic New Wave (though i think "You Take Me Up" is a muchmuch better song).

 

[otb_lifer]

They're not? Uh-oh. Need to redo this.

What about "Africa" by Toto?

i'll take "Music Vidoes That Could Never Be Made In This Era" for $200, Alex

 

[Doug B]

What about "Africa" by Toto?

(Stylistically, a lot closer than people think at first blush. Bobby Kimball's [awesome] AOR-legacy vocals pull it a bit short.)

 

[Doug B]

Never thought of Thompson Twins in the new wave genre like some of the others we'll see - more like synth pop. But it's such a blurred line across genres.

Here's my analog to that:

"Never thought of Poison in the heavy metal genre like some of the others we'll see - more like hair metal. But it's such a blurred line across genres."

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

100. Girls on Film - Duran Duran 
  99. People are People - Depeche Mode 
  98. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins

 

[Mike Damone]

Never thought of Thompson Twins in the new wave genre like some of the others we'll see - more like synth pop. But it's such a blurred line across genres.

New Wave has many sub genres with synth pop being one of them. Thompson Twins are horrible 

 

[Doug B]

New Wave has many sub genres with synth pop being one of them. Thompson Twins are horrible 

Sorry, otb_lifer -- I think the house has to defer to freakin' Mike Damone on the fine points of '80s music genres.

 

[AcerFC]

They're not? Uh-oh. Need to redo this.

What about "Africa" by Toto?

No. But Weezers version def is

 

[Doug B]

No. But Weezers version def is

Did Weezer's drummer bang it out a set like this? 

 

[otb_lifer]

Sorry, otb_lifer -- I think the house has to defer to freakin' Mike Damone on the fine points of '80s music genres.

i woke up in a great mood this morning, dunno what the hell happened 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

To truly qualify as new wave, either new or wave should be in the title.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q40-TT6swoE

 

[whoknew]

New Wave has many sub genres with synth pop being one of them. Thompson Twins are horrible 

I always liked King for a Day.

 

[worrierking]

Having read the thread so far, I don't think I am going to like it much.  Apparently, nailing down what fits is impossible and so far I don't like any of Tim's selections!! 

Maybe Tim will come up with a few that I've forgotten about to salvage it. 

 

[DocHolliday]

New Wave has many sub genres with synth pop being one of them. Thompson Twins are horrible 

I like this song most of the 3 listed so far but I’m more of a hard rock/heavy metal/hair band guy.   

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I dig Hold Me Now.

 

[Gr00vus]

98. "Hold Me Now"- Thompson Twins (1983, from Into the Gap)

https://youtu.be/H9694K85Xc8

This British Trio had a number of pleasant hits between 1982 and 1985, when they seemed to disappear forever. "Hold Me Now" was the most pleasant of these pleasant hits. It's still very catchy with a latin percussion. The lyrics are trite, but unlike the Bob Dylan countdown I just did, lyrics are not going to be a huge feature of this list. I like to hum along.

I have nothing nice to say, so I'll say nothing at all.

 

[otb_lifer]

I have nothing nice to say, so I'll say nothing at all.

hopefully you're saving yourself for vitriolic gymnastics upon the first Police selection 

 

[Gr00vus]

hopefully you're saving yourself for vitriolic gymnastics upon the first Police selection 

I have no idea whether they meet the criteria for this, and frankly, I'm not too concerned about whether or where they would appear in this endeavor.

 

[otb_lifer]

I have no idea whether they meet the criteria for this, and frankly, I'm not too concerned about whether or where they would appear in this endeavor.

gonna be an interesting ride to the top 

 

[wikkidpissah]

Having read the thread so far, I don't think I am going to like it much.  Apparently, nailing down what fits is impossible and so far I don't like any of Tim's selections!! 

Maybe Tim will come up with a few that I've forgotten about to salvage it. 

join mr timmy in a fevered, madcap spree down a well-worn, clearly-marked path to purgatory. Mad Max: Middle of the Road

 

[otb_lifer]

join mr timmy in a fevered, madcap spree down a well-worn, clearly-marked path to purgatory. Mad Max: Middle of the Road

... on a side note, took him 9 days to get to 3 pages in the Dylan thread, already on 3rd page here in 9 hours ...

the great debate is puttin' asses in the seats 

 

[wikkidpissah]

... on a side note, took him 9 days to get to 3 pages in the Dylan thread, already on 3rd page here in 9 hours ...

the great debate is puttin' asses in the seats 

i'm his hype man and i fell short by not finishing "Dylan v. covers" in the last thread, so i mean to spit hot fire here.

 

[otb_lifer]

i'm his hype man and i fell short by not finishing "Dylan v. covers" in the last thread, so i mean to spit real fire here.

i was on hiatus thru pretty much the entire countdown ... your lack of flame was surely felt. 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

To truly qualify as new wave, either new or wave should be in the title.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q40-TT6swoE

Another good example, bonus points for Bono's hair.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f8BtB4C3Vi8

 

[AcerFC]

I think someome needs to fire up the Mr. Ishidas top 100 babymetal song thread. 

 

[lardonastick]

New wave definitely not in my wheelhouse, but I'm a sucker for tim's threads, and lists in general, so

 

[Patrick Bateman]

OK time for a new music countdown thread. I thought this would be a fun one. Between around 1978 and 1985, New Wave was used to describe a wide number of disparate artists. Some were singer songwriters, some were punk rockers who had softened their tone a bit, some were guitar based power pop bands, others relied on electronic instruments. Many were British. Certain radio stations were devoted to playing these songs as opposed to AOR or classic rock (In Los Angeles it was KROQ). 

I have selected what I believe are the best 100 songs of the era. Almost all of these songs were “radio hits” in that they received extensive radio play even if the didn’t chart; I have tried to avoid deep cuts even though there are some on certain albums that are quite good. 

100. "Girls on Film" Duran Duran

99. "People are People" Depeche Mode

98. "Hold Me Now" Thompson Twins

"Hold Me Now" is 98?  Holy smokes! I'd have it in my top 30.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I think someome needs to fire up the Mr. Ishidas top 100 babymetal song thread. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WIKqgE4BwAY

112 million views cannot be wrong.

 

[Osaurus]

:joydivisionspoiler:

As it should be. My favorite band (New Order is a very close 2nd)

ETA: Apologies for missing the first 17 hours of this thread.

 

[Osaurus]

I always liked King for a Day.

Dr. Dream is a steaming pile imo. 

 

[Osaurus]

bull#### ... no way in hell bands like the Pixies or the Cult or the 'Mats or Joy Division or PiL or R.E.M. are ####in' NEW WAVE - there may be some gray area with some acts, sure ... but lines gotta be acknowledged in the most obvious instances. 

and, yes .... on with the countdown, plz 

Post-punk for Joy Division work for you?

 

[Osaurus]

I left out erasure. Who doesnt love those guys

Still great live

 

[PIK95]

The New Wave Station on XM plays a bunch of this Post Punk people mentioned.  That english DJ show especially.

 

[Osaurus]

99. “People are People” Depeche Mode (1984, from Some Great Reward) 

https://youtu.be/MzGnX-MbYE4

You know those clinking and clanking sounds at the start of early Depeche Mode songs that sound like somebody is throwing metal cookware across a room? That’s exactly what it is: Martin Gore revealed a few years back that they would go into the kitchen of the studio, pull out pots and pans and chuck them on the floor. Who knew? 

Anyhow, Gore always hated this song, which is about racism, because he thought its message was too unsubtle. Apparently they haven’t performed it live in over 30 years. I can’t understand...

Get the Balance Right ftw

 

[whoknew]

Still great live

Saw them about 2 years ago. They were really good.

 

[Osaurus]

The New Wave Station on XM plays a bunch of this Post Punk people mentioned.  That english DJ show especially.

Richard Blade? Dave Kendall? 

 

[otb_lifer]

Post-punk for Joy Division work for you?

of course ... see my earlier post(s) 

they have no ####in business being on a "New Wave" countdown. 

 

[PIK95]

Richard Blade? Dave Kendall? 

Richard Blade.  He's pretty cool too.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Get the Balance Right ftw

Much better song.

 

[Osaurus]

of course ... see my earlier post(s) 

they have no ####in business being on a "New Wave" countdown. 

I did. I agree with you, but it’s a very large pool of music from the time including many that fall into more specific genres imo. You can argue Joy Division’s earlier stuff (Warsaw) is considered punk. I don’t care about the label, just the music of my favorite bands.