The 100 Greatest “New Wave” songs 1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World-Tears for Fears (2 Viewers)

[otb_lifer]

I remember seeing Devo on some random video show in the 70s. I think it was Jocko homo, or maybe their cover of satisfaction. Bob Marley video was on the same show...first time I'd seen/heard actual non claptoned reggae. 

But Devo resonated big time. The weirdness felt too weird for me, but their songs rocked out too...almost punk.

Uncontrollable Urge still sounds current, and most of Duty Now for the Future does too..still in regular rotation for me- and I'm a pretty big anti-nostalgia guy.

Whip it and many of the songs in Tim's List-  I heard too many times then and then over the years. While I recognize that they were iconic and good songs, like a lot of classic rock, I just don't care about hearing most of it again. When these lists and drafts happen I'm always happy to see the more obscure tunes (at least to me).

But those first couple Devo albums...still current...still happy to hear.

"Gates of Steel" had more punk sensibilities/chops than anything the Clash did post '77 .... or a lotta other bands, for that matter. 

 

[Charlie Steiner]

I remember seeing Devo on some random video show in the 70s. I think it was Jocko homo, or maybe their cover of satisfaction. Bob Marley video was on the same show...first time I'd seen/heard actual non claptoned reggae. 

But Devo resonated big time. The weirdness felt too weird for me, but their songs rocked out too...almost punk.

Uncontrollable Urge still sounds current, and most of Duty Now for the Future does too..still in regular rotation for me- and I'm a pretty big anti-nostalgia guy.

Whip it and many of the songs in Tim's List-  I heard too many times then and then over the years. While I recognize that they were iconic and good songs, like a lot of classic rock, I just don't care about hearing most of it again. When these lists and drafts happen I'm always happy to see the more obscure tunes (at least to me).

But those first couple Devo albums...still current...still happy to hear.

I didn't get Devo until about 15 years ago  , but now that I do, I'm on board. Same goes with Talking Heads.

 

[Brony]

Overkill has to be one of my favorites. Seeing Colin Hay in Clearwater May 1st. Really dig his solo stuff and loved him on an episode of Scrubs 

Yep. I dismissed them as a quirky fun quintessential 80s band. But rediscovering them and Colin Hays solo stuff gives new appreciation. 

But their videos still remain goofy. 

 

[Mike Damone]

i hear ya, but power pop, in and of itself, was not part of this gig.  i already saw Hoard mention the Rasps and Badfinger, and we can toss some Big Star in there as well. 

matter of fact, i've posted my favorite song from '79 up on this bored at least a dozen times in various threads ... to me, it was the perfect ending to a decade rife with some great great groups of the Power Pop genre ... i really hope i don't see it here (HINT: i always lament how it was swallowed up by the tsunami that was "My Sharona" in that summer of '79 ... the band's name rhymes with 'Cram ByKoffskee', and i'll leave it at that).

and, just to be clear, the Cheap Trick/Petty/Miller weren't on personal New Wave playlists, but those of mags, fanzines, radio stations, etc.

keep on chuggin' 

ooh, it gets lonely in the night

 

[otb_lifer]

ooh, it gets lonely in the night

...when there ain't no one arooooouuund ...

ps -  best song EVAH about an inflatable paramour.  if not best song evah.  period. 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I remember seeing Devo on some random video show in the 70s. I think it was Jocko homo, or maybe their cover of satisfaction. Bob Marley video was on the same show...first time I'd seen/heard actual non claptoned reggae. 

But Devo resonated big time. 

Around that time my local radio had about an hour a week dedicated to this kind of music. Closest record store had very little so was forced to mail order outfits. One of my earlier purchases was this single.

https://www.discogs.com/Devo-Whip-It-Satisfaction/release/13930638

 

[wikkidpissah]

Devo has never left my rotation

 

[timschochet]

81. “Mirror in the Bathroom” The English Beat (1980, from Just Can’t Stop It) 

https://youtu.be/KOY8Zs-CeQw

The Beat, or English Beat as we knew them here, were the best ska band ever, mainly because, IMO,  they knew something about melody. This was one of their more infectious dance songs. Oh, did I mention that I like Saxophones? 

 

[Mike Damone]

The Beat, or English Beat as we knew them here, were the best ska band ever,

Normally I would be very upset about this comment but knowing it comes from a Springsteen fan it doesn’t even register.

good song though 

 

[Osaurus]

Saw this one coming a mile away. RIP Ranking Roger

 

[otb_lifer]

81. “Mirror in the Bathroom” The English Beat (1980, from Just Can’t Stop It) 

were the best ska band ever

ooooh, boy. 

dig the pick, but, "no" on the superlatives, Kasey. 

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Not a big fan of ska.

Click Click and Twist & Crawl aren't bad though.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

A lot of these posts are shear madness.

 

[Mike Damone]

A lot of these posts are shear madness.

Nothing special about it

 

[timschochet]

Nothing special about it

Did I go one step beyond? Sorry about that. 

 

[Osaurus]

Did I go one step beyond? Sorry about that. 

Save it for later

 

[otb_lifer]

Did I go one step beyond? Sorry about that. 

... it's a message to you, Timmmm-eeee

 

[Herb]

82. “Who Can It Be Now?” Men at Work (1981, from Business as Usual)

https://youtu.be/SECVGN4Bsgg

I think this song about paranoia was almost everybody’s introduction to these boys from Australia. Whether it be this genre of music or classic rock, I’ve always had a thing for songs that used saxophone as a lead instrument. Could be why I’ve always liked Springsteen a lot as well. Adds something distinctive to the melody. 

Song always makes me think of Nic Cage hiding in the shower at the party waiting for that chick Julie (who's truly dazzling) in Valley Girl.

Enjoying this Tim, even if some of your choices are borderline ridiculous 

As an aside, I have a DVD of that film that features a different song in that scene. They must not have secured the rights for it for that particular release. It was jarring the first time I saw it.

 

[Brony]

Did I go one step beyond? Sorry about that. 

Stand down Schochet 

 

[Brony]

Men at Work and English Beat are two bands I've come to really dig as I get a little older. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Not a big fan of ska.

Click Click and Twist & Crawl aren't bad though.

Ska jazz cover of Charles Mingus   >>>>    01 Boogie Stop Shuffle_New York Ska Jazz Ensemble

 

[zamboni]

Song always makes me think of Nic Cage hiding in the shower at the party waiting for that chick Julie (who's truly dazzling) in Valley Girl.

Agreed - Valley Girl is the quintessential New Wave soundtrack of the ‘80s. Will be interesting to see how many others appear on this countdown.

 

[Zegras11]

Agreed - Valley Girl is the quintessential New Wave soundtrack of the ‘80s. Will be interesting to see how many others appear on this countdown.

If I didn't get called into work, I would have been in the final dance scene.  We had an exchange with the Alpha Phi's that night and it turned out to be everyone dancing at the end of the movie as extras.  I crack up every time I see it as a few blatantly stare right into the camera.  

 

[Osaurus]

Agreed - Valley Girl is the quintessential New Wave soundtrack of the ‘80s. Will be interesting to see how many others appear on this countdown.

Agreed. Waiting for the obligatory Modern English song on this list. I’m a big fan of them, but like just about everything else they’ve done more than this song.

 

[zamboni]

If I didn't get called into work, I would have been in the final dance scene.  We had an exchange with the Alpha Phi's that night and it turned out to be everyone dancing at the end of the movie as extras.  I crack up every time I see it as a few blatantly stare right into the camera.  

Awesome

Was great to see that d-bag Tommy get his. As an aside, the actor (Michael Bowen) had a great turn as the white supremacist Uncle Jack in Breaking Bad. 

 

[zamboni]

Agreed. Waiting for the obligatory Modern English song on this list. I’m a big fan of them, but like just about everything else they’ve done more than this song.

Would love to see $ on the countdown, but maybe a bit too obscure.

 

[otb_lifer]

Nic Cage as the "hunky punky" dreamboat   good lawd did H'wood try hard with that flick.

most Razzie worthy moment? Cage mumbling "Sid Vicious Lives!" after doing something so punk ... like tipping a garbage can or sumtin' 

not my cuppa' folks. 

the music? ok. 

the flick? not so much. 

paging @rockaction

 

[Osaurus]

Would love to see $ on the countdown, but maybe a bit too obscure.

I keep thinking about the Repo Man soundtrack too.

 

[peaces]

I had an unhealthy crush on this other mohawk vixen around the same time.

Mrs. peaces had a mohawk back in highschool 

 

[joey]

81. “Mirror in the Bathroom” The English Beat (1980, from Just Can’t Stop It) 

https://youtu.be/KOY8Zs-CeQw

The Beat, or English Beat as we knew them here, were the best ska band ever, mainly because, IMO,  they knew something about melody. This was one of their more infectious dance songs. Oh, did I mention that I like Saxophones? 

I was never a huge ska guy myself, but English Beat (and General Public  Spotlight?  ) but we’re the perfect combo of new wave melodic pop hook sensibility plus that upbeat bounce. 

 

[El Floppo]

81. “Mirror in the Bathroom” The English Beat (1980, from Just Can’t Stop It) 

https://youtu.be/KOY8Zs-CeQw

The Beat, or English Beat as we knew them here, were the best ska band ever, mainly because, IMO,  they knew something about melody. This was one of their more infectious dance songs. Oh, did I mention that I like Saxophones? 

Lol.

This was the new wave crossover band I mentioned earlier. Ska-lite more than ska...still a fan. Really good tune, but I have other new wavey songs from them I'd put ahead of this one, especially for this list.

 

[El Floppo]

Agreed. Waiting for the obligatory Modern English song on this list. I’m a big fan of them, but like just about everything else they’ve done more than this song.

Definitely, but for me that one song is the 80s, or at least the early 80s singularly iconic tune.

 

[Herb]

I keep thinking about the Repo Man soundtrack too.

One of the greatest soundtracks ever. But no way Tim puts anything from that on this list. It's all punk, not new wave, and from what I've observed Tim's knowledge of punk begins and ends with X's Los Angeles.

He may have a passing knowledge of the Ramones and Sex Pistols.

 

[El Floppo]

One of the greatest soundtracks ever. But no way Tim puts anything from that on this list. It's all punk, not new wave,.

Love the repoman movie and soundtrack. I've drafted it more than once here.

 

[Osaurus]

One of the greatest soundtracks ever. But no way Tim puts anything from that on this list. It's all punk, not new wave, and from what I've observed Tim's knowledge of punk begins and ends with X's Los Angeles.

He may have a passing knowledge of the Ramones and Sex Pistols.

Oh no. That’s punk. Such a great soundtrack though. Pablo Picasso   

 

[comfortably numb]

I have a feeling about 15 of my top 20 arent even gonna make this top 100

 

[Bracie Smathers]

English Beat (and General Public  Spotlight?  ) but we’re the perfect combo of new wave melodic pop hook sensibility plus that upbeat bounce. 

English Beat: "Save It For Later"

 

[Osaurus]

I have a feeling about 15 of my top 20 arent even gonna make this top 100

Probably. You’re not alone.

 

[otb_lifer]

Oh no. That’s punk. Such a great soundtrack though. Pablo Picasso   

COUP D'ETAT COUP D'ETAT COUP D'TAT ... KOOOO DAYYY TAAHHHHH!

Budski  

 

[timschochet]

One of the greatest soundtracks ever. But no way Tim puts anything from that on this list. It's all punk, not new wave, and from what I've observed Tim's knowledge of punk begins and ends with X's Los Angeles.

He may have a passing knowledge of the Ramones and Sex Pistols.

Now that’s darn rude. I like punk. I don’t love it but I like it. 

Here are my top ten punk rock bands: 

1. Early Clash

2. X

3. The Dickies 

4. The Buzzcocks 

5. The Undertones 

6. Stiff Little Fingers 

7. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

8. The Dead Kennedys

9. The Vandals 

10. The Circle Jerks 

 

[rockaction]

Been sleeping on the job, I guess. Hadn't seen the Men At Work or English Beat picks.

Valley Girl is about the extent of my non-pop New Wave knowledge, which may or may not be New Wave.

English Beat. I wonder what they're doing with that mirror in the bathroom.

That is all. 

 

[El Floppo]

Grosse Pointe Blank had a great 80s soundtrack too.

 

[Doug B]

Grosse Pointe Blank had a great 80s soundtrack too.

... which contains Tim’s most recent pick. Way to circle it around.

(Tuff Turf. Silly movie, awesome soundtrack)

 

[Charlie Steiner]

... which contains Tim’s most recent pick. Way to circle it around.

(Tuff Turf. Silly movie, awesome soundtrack)

Is that the one that was playing during the fight, that ended with Martin killing the guy with a pen?

 

[Doug B]

Is that the one that was playing during the fight, that ended with Martin killing the guy with a pen?

 

 

[Ilov80s]

I Ran at 92? That’s a shocker. Would have thought it was locked into top 10. 

 

[AcerFC]

Speaking of ska, The Toasters have a song called Weekend in LA that was melodically very similar to another song about LA that I heard on first wave this weekend. 

 

[Mike Damone]

for people who were to young or weren’t around then here is how new wave was looked at by the media. Poor video quality but a good slice of the times
 

ABC Show 20/20 reports on New Wave in 1979 part 1

Part 2

 

[squistion]

Things I have learned from this thread so far:

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham was a New Wave song.

Power Pop is part of New Wave.

I am waiting with bated breath for the other new gems of historical rock information that await me from the rest of Tim's list. 

 

[El Floppo]

The Wham, imo