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

timschochet said:
64. “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?” Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1979, from Armed Forces)

https://youtu.be/Ssd3U_zicAI

This song was originally written by Nick Lowe in 1974 for his band Brinsley Schwarz. Lowe later produced the Elvis Costello version. Of special note, per the critics, is the excellent drumming by Pete Thomas. 

Although the lyrics are hardly the stuff of irony, Costello sings them in such a snarling, surly style that you have to question his sincerity. But that only makes the song even more memorable. 
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Cool Fun Fact I was not aware of.   :thumbup:

 
otb_lifer said:
how effin' cute was Wednesday, tho?  as a young lad, watching Addams Family reruns (RAAAAHHHHJJJ!) on Channel 9 up here, i was in smit ... deeply smitten (easy, moral police, talkin' me being about 7 or 8 yrs old at the time).

i blame her for my devotion to Goth ladies, a lurve affair that has yet to wane. 
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I was all about the mom - crazy sexy hot.  

 
63. “Dead Man’s Party” Oingo Boingo (1985, from Dead Man’s Party) 

https://youtu.be/iypUpv9xelg

Ultimate Halloween song. Starting in 2000, Danny Elfman said there would never be an Oingo Boingo reunion due to hearing loss he had suffered over the years. However, in 2016 Elfman conducted an event at the Hollywood Bowl devoted to his movie scores, and at the end of the evening, a few members of the old band appeared on stage with Elfman and they performed “Dead Man’s Party.” I wish I had been there. 

 
timschochet said:
63. “Dead Man’s Party” Oingo Boingo (1985, from Dead Man’s Party) 

https://youtu.be/iypUpv9xelg

Ultimate Halloween song. Starting in 2000, Danny Elfman said there would never be an Oingo Boingo reunion due to hearing loss he had suffered over the years. However, in 2016 Elfman conducted an event at the Hollywood Bowl devoted to his movie scores, and at the end of the evening, a few members of the old band appeared on stage with Elfman and they performed “Dead Man’s Party.” I wish I had been there. 
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Another good movie use for this one

 
62. “Cruel to Be Kind” Nick Lowe (1978, from Jesus of Cool) 

https://youtu.be/b0l3QWUXVho

Nick Lowe, along with Elvis Costello, Dave Edmunds, Graham Parker, the band Tenpole Tudor (“Swords of a Thousand Men”) All originally were part of the British independent label Stiff Records which in the late 70s can be credited with introducing the world to some of the best New Wave music ever- the analogy here would be to Sun Records for early rock and roll. Actually Lowe referred to his own style as “British Pub music.” “Cruel to be a Kind” was his biggest hit ever as a solo artist; as mentioned earlier he was mostly a producer and very talented songwriter of Power pop. 

 
timschochet said:
62. “Cruel to Be Kind” Nick Lowe (1978, from Jesus of Cool) 

https://youtu.be/b0l3QWUXVho

Nick Lowe, along with Elvis Costello, Dave Edmunds, Graham Parker, the band Tenpole Tudor (“Swords of a Thousand Men”) All originally were part of the British independent label Stiff Records which in the late 70s can be credited with introducing the world to some of the best New Wave music ever- the analogy here would be to Sun Records for early rock and roll. Actually Lowe referred to his own style as “British Pub music.” “Cruel to be a Kind” was his biggest hit ever as a solo artist; as mentioned earlier he was mostly a producer and very talented songwriter of Power pop. 
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The Jesus of Cool.

 
timschochet said:
Sort of. Lowe was married to Carlene Cash, but she was Johnny’s step daughter. 
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I remember hearing a story from the Nick Lowe era, when Carlene's mother & stepdaddy snuck into a showcase gig she had @ the Lone Star in Manhattan. She replied to  enthusiastic response to one of her songs with "Well, that puts the c--- in country!", then fairly melted onstage when she was informed her folks were in the crowd. Liked her much better than her stepsister Roseanne when they were young because Carlene had her great-aunt Maybelle's (a deity in our house) deeppool blue eyes and a fresher approach, but Cash has passed her with her re-devotion to her father's roots music over the years.

 Felt sure Cruel to Be Kind would be #1 on your list, mr timmy. Thought it was your favorite tune... 

 
timschochet said:
61. “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” The Police (1981, from The Ghost In the Machine) 

https://youtu.be/aENX1Sf3fgQ

Another simple sounding song that is actually pretty complex. Sting had a beautiful falsetto voice back then. I love a stand up bass too. 
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Maybe at some point we will get an actual new wave song from The Police. But that’s just my humble opinion. 

 
Look, I love The Police. But IMO, “new wave” comes with the expectation that a song is new and different, perhaps edgy, and features some synth or guitar effects. Don’t Stand So Close To Me was a great choice.  

There’s nothing wrong with King of Pain or Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic. They are good songs. But to my ears, they are much closer to pop songs and ballads than they are new wave songs, ESPECIALLY when The Police have plenty of new wave songs in their own right. 

Again IMO, either Synchronicity 1 or 2 are more new wave. If we had to go with a slower song, Wrapped Around Your Finger. as the sound is different than most other songs of the era. Pretty much any other song on Ghosts In The Machine would be more of a new wave option than ELTSDIM. But again, not knowing what else is on the list makes it harder to criticize or comment. Carry on. Don’t want to be a buzz kill.  

 
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60. “I Want Candy” Bow Wow Wow (1982, from The Last of the Mohicans) 

https://youtu.be/WBN19FnT13Y

I was a little surprised when a few folks here assumed that my selection of “Do You Wanna Hold Me”  at #88 meant that I was choosing that song instead of the band’s bigger hit. There can be no list of Greatest New Wave songs that does not include “I Want Candy”, even though it’s a cover of a 60s song, which was itself a Bo Diddley ripoff. Doesn’t matter. The incredible opening drum solo, the great rockabilly guitar line, Annabelle’s squeak when she sings the word “sweet”- all classic. 

 
No clue where this "incredible" drum solo is in I Want Candy (the intro is cool, but incredible, hell no), but it's a fun little catchy tune.  Never one I gravitated towards, but I get why it was popular. 

 
Anarchy99 said:
Look, I love The Police. But IMO, “new wave” comes with the expectation that a song is new and different, perhaps edgy, and features some synth or guitar effects. Don’t Stand So Close To Me was a great choice.  

There’s nothing wrong with King of Pain or Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic. They are good songs. But to my ears, they are much closer to pop songs and ballads than they are new wave songs, ESPECIALLY when The Police have plenty of new wave songs in their own right. 

Again IMO, either Synchronicity 1 or 2 are more new wave. If we had to go with a slower song, Wrapped Around Your Finger. as the sound is different than most other songs of the era. Pretty much any other song on Ghosts In The Machine would be more of a new wave option than ELTSDIM. But again, not knowing what else is on the list makes it harder to criticize or comment. Carry on. Don’t want to be a buzz kill.  
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Honestly, I would have no clue where to start and end with trying to figure out which Police songs are new wave, so I think it is probably best, as it appears Tim has done, to just assume all of their songs are new wave and then rank them accordingly. 

Also, I think new wave songs can absolutely also be pop songs and/or ballads. Plenty of new wave classics are also pop tunes.  

All that said, I think it's clear that there is a lot of gray area when it comes to this genre.  I would not describe myself as a new wave enthusiast per se, but there is definitely a lot of new wave that I like.  

 
timschochet said:
60. “I Want Candy” Bow Wow Wow (1982, from The Last of the Mohicans) 

https://youtu.be/WBN19FnT13Y

I was a little surprised when a few folks here assumed that my selection of “Do You Wanna Hold Me”  at #88 meant that I was choosing that song instead of the band’s bigger hit. There can be no list of Greatest New Wave songs that does not include “I Want Candy”, even though it’s a cover of a 60s song, which was itself a Bo Diddley ripoff. Doesn’t matter. The incredible opening drum solo, the great rockabilly guitar line, Annabelle’s squeak when she sings the word “sweet”- all classic. 
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that video fills me with lust............................................................for a Gretsch White Falcon. a genre-heightening, near-perfect single

 
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