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

timschochet said:
37. “Blue Monday” New Order (1982, from Brotherhood) 

https://youtu.be/FYH8DsU2WCk

Throughout the 1980s as a young man in mr 20s, I attended dance clubs. It wasn’t really my thing but I went with friends to meet girls, or with girls we already knew because they already wanted to go, or with my girlfriend, etc. I am mentioning this because all during that decade I always noticed that when “Blue Monday” was put on, the dance floor always became immediately filled. Always. And the song only seemed to increase in popularity as the 80s went on. The other thing I clearly remember was that nobody ever knew the name of the song or the artist. Every time it came on, I always heard the same conversation “Oh I LOVE this song- what’s the name of it again?” Invariably I heard it called the “How does it feel” song. 

I want to add one more thing here: this will be the only New Order song on this list; I like a few of their other hits but couldn’t find room for them. My favorite song by them is a deep cut off of Low-Life called “Love Vigilantes”. No idea if this is a well known song by them; personally, I never heard it on the radio. But it’s a brilliant poignant tune about a man at war who longs to return to his family and finally does, only to discover that he’s dead. 
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#37?  Top-5 if you ask me.  But ok.  Carry on.

 
timschochet said:
37. “Blue Monday” New Order (1982, from Brotherhood) 

https://youtu.be/FYH8DsU2WCk

Throughout the 1980s as a young man in mr 20s, I attended dance clubs. It wasn’t really my thing but I went with friends to meet girls, or with girls we already knew because they already wanted to go, or with my girlfriend, etc. I am mentioning this because all during that decade I always noticed that when “Blue Monday” was put on, the dance floor always became immediately filled. Always. And the song only seemed to increase in popularity as the 80s went on. The other thing I clearly remember was that nobody ever knew the name of the song or the artist. Every time it came on, I always heard the same conversation “Oh I LOVE this song- what’s the name of it again?” Invariably I heard it called the “How does it feel” song. 

I want to add one more thing here: this will be the only New Order song on this list; I like a few of their other hits but couldn’t find room for them. My favorite song by them is a deep cut off of Low-Life called “Love Vigilantes”. No idea if this is a well known song by them; personally, I never heard it on the radio. But it’s a brilliant poignant tune about a man at war who longs to return to his family and finally does, only to discover that he’s dead. 
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Glad this made the list, sad there won't be more New Order (lots of good mentions already, my favorite of theirs besides Blue Monday is Perfect Kiss). One of my top 10 favorite artists of all time (combined with Joy Division's catalog or otherwise). They don't get nearly enough credit for how innovative they were. Lead Bass? Who does that besides Spinal Tap?

I was watching a documentary about the 808 drum machine. In it, Bernard Sumner talks about how at the outset of New Order, as they were continuing to merge traditional instruments with electronics, he tried to build his own drum machine from scratch based on circuit diagrams he found in various technical magazines, as they couldn't afford to buy one. He said he pulled it off, but it barely worked. They were really happy when they were able to afford a vendor made one and eventually put it together with some other electronics to make Blue Monday.

In  the article above Peter Hook sounds remorseful about stealing from Donna Summer's "Our Love" (the drum track beginning at about 1:31) for the track. Other documentaries on the song mention he borrowed the guitar riff that repeated throughout Ennio Morricone's sound track for For A Few Dollars More.

I had the 12" release of Blue Monday in that floppy disk replica design cover. I think I may have it still. They lost money on every copy they sold in that packaging.

 
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I remember recording a broadcast back in the day of NEW WAVE acts and still have it on VHS. Here is what I labeled as being on the tape: ZZ Top (Legs), Wall of Voodoo (Mexican Radio), Modern English (Melt With You), Tom Petty (You Got Lucky), Scandal (Goodbye To You), Romantics (Talking In Your Sleep), Tubes (She’s A Beauty), Huey Lewis (Do You Believe In Love), Howard Jones (What Is Love), Kajagoogoo (Too Shy), Nena (99 Luftballoons), Chris DeBurgh (Don’t Pay The Ferryman), Depeche Mode (Just Can’t Get Enough), Human League (Fascination), Robert Palmer (Clues), Talking Heads (Psycho Killer Live), Bryan Adams (Straight From The Heart), and Dave Edmunds (Slipping Away).

I don’t remember what show it was and I don’t have a VHS player or I would check. But that’s what I had jotted down at the time. 

 
33. “Cities In Dust” Siouxsie and the Banshees (1985, from Tinderbox) 

https://youtu.be/wsOHvP1XnRg

Another band of the era that was hard to define. They were originally identified as punk rock, except they didn’t sound remotely like any other punk rock band. Then they were post-punk, then New Wave, then synth-pop, and also goth. Some of you purists may argue their inclusion here (because you guys argue everything.) I really don’t care. They were great. I loved several of their “radio hits”, especially “Christine”, “Israel”, their cover of “Dear Prudence”, and “Spellbound”. But I regard “Cities in Dust”, a dance song about Pompeii, as the best thing they ever did. 

 
timschochet said:
33. “Cities In Dust” Siouxsie and the Banshees (1985, from Tinderbox) 

https://youtu.be/wsOHvP1XnRg

Another band of the era that was hard to define. They were originally identified as punk rock, except they didn’t sound remotely like any other punk rock band. Then they were post-punk, then New Wave, then synth-pop, and also goth. Some of you purists may argue their inclusion here (because you guys argue everything.) I really don’t care. They were great. I loved several of their “radio hits”, especially “Christine”, “Israel”, their cover of “Dear Prudence”, and “Spellbound”. But I regard “Cities in Dust”, a dance song about Pompeii, as the best thing they ever did. 
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My student org in college brought them to UW-Milwaukee with Spiritualized opening. Not sure I could pick any one favorite song by them, but again, its not my list. Have I ever mentioned that were also sued by J&M Chain's management for breach of contract?

 
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Again, not close to my favorite of theirs, but love the band.

Underrated tune is their epic Lord's Prayer. But lots of great ones throughout.

 
Anarchy99 said:
I remember recording a broadcast back in the day of NEW WAVE acts and still have it on VHS. Here is what I labeled as being on the tape: ZZ Top (Legs), Wall of Voodoo (Mexican Radio), Modern English (Melt With You), Tom Petty (You Got Lucky), Scandal (Goodbye To You), Romantics (Talking In Your Sleep), Tubes (She’s A Beauty), Huey Lewis (Do You Believe In Love), Howard Jones (What Is Love), Kajagoogoo (Too Shy), Nena (99 Luftballoons), Chris DeBurgh (Don’t Pay The Ferryman), Depeche Mode (Just Can’t Get Enough), Human League (Fascination), Robert Palmer (Clues), Talking Heads (Psycho Killer Live), Bryan Adams (Straight From The Heart), and Dave Edmunds (Slipping Away).

I don’t remember what show it was and I don’t have a VHS player or I would check. But that’s what I had jotted down at the time. 
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That's a wider net than Tim's...........so far.

 
RedmondLonghorn said:
I get the word play, but not the reference. :shuked:
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Robert Plants scream out in their song, The Crunge:

"I'm just trying to find the bridge
Has anybody seen the bridge?
Please
Have you seen the bridge?
I ain't seen the bridge!
Where's that confounded bridge?"

:)

Getzlaf15 said:
I have no ####### problem with including them here.  :D
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I'm with you. The Cure and Siouxsie cut from the same cloth and included in my (and wikipedia's ;) ) broad definition of what is included in the New Wave genre.

 
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timschochet said:
32. “Pump It Up” Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1978, from This Years Model) 

https://youtu.be/3Y71iDvCYXA

This is his hardest rocking song ever, and certainly one of his very best. This is played best when it is played very LOUD. 
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I overplayed this song. Was hoping Elvis would make it. You all got me into This Years Model and I ordered an audiophile copy from Mobile Fidelity. Sounds yummy. No Action is actually my favorite off of the album, though. 

 
timschochet said:
32. “Pump It Up” Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1978, from This Years Model) 

https://youtu.be/3Y71iDvCYXA

This is his hardest rocking song ever, and certainly one of his very best. This is played best when it is played very LOUD. 
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Love it.

Lol at hardest rocking song ever.

But yeah, love it.

Strange- I have a real soft spot for Get Happy and Trust, which I don't think are his most popular albums.

 
rockaction said:
I overplayed this song. Was hoping Elvis would make it. You all got me into This Years Model and I ordered an audiophile copy from Mobile Fidelity. Sounds yummy. No Action is actually my favorite off of the album, though. 
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Hoping Elvis would make it. Again.

I think you may have jumped in and missed a bunch of picks?

 
El Floppo said:
Hoping Elvis would make it. Again.

I think you may have jumped in and missed a bunch of picks?
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Oops. I did. I missed about two dozen, actually. I had a week where I didn't do much on the internet, including sift through the thread.

eta* I think I may have commented on an Elvis song, actually. Whoops.

 
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El Floppo said:
Love it.

Lol at hardest rocking song ever.

But yeah, love it.

Strange- I have a real soft spot for Get Happy and Trust, which I don't think are his most popular albums.
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Trust is my favorite album by him but I couldn’t find room for any of those songs on this list. 

But when did Costello ever rock harder than on “Pump It Up”? 

 
Anarchy99 said:
Pump It Up at the end of THIS SHOW is extra good. 
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That version is too coked up. waaaay too fast. But that happens to the best of us when adrenaline is pumping in a live concert (yes, I dared to put myself in a sentence with Elvis ;) )

timschochet said:
Trust is my favorite album by him but I couldn’t find room for any of those songs on this list. 

But when did Costello ever rock harder than on “Pump It Up”? 
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Radio Radio is a close one for me. The energy in that song is undeniable as well.

 
joey said:
That version is too coked up. waaaay too fast. But that happens to the best of us when adrenaline is pumping in a live concert (yes, I dared to put myself in a sentence with Elvis ;) )
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EC in the early days jacked the speed up on just about every song in every performance. He would play 60 minutes of music in 45 minutes. 

 
31. “Here Comes the Rain Again” Eurythmics (1983, from Touch)

https://youtu.be/TzFnYcIqj6I

Back when I revealed my selection of “Sweet Dreams” at #72, several people here argued that “Here Comes the Rain Again” was the better song. I agreed with them but I couldn’t write that then; I can now. It IS a better song, partly because it’s not as repetitive, but mainly because the lyrics are so poetic, the melody is so lush, the sound is so brilliant...this is just one of the best pop songs of the 1980s, bar none. 

 
Big fan of all things Annie Lennox. She has an amazing voice. Dave Stewart is pretty amazing in his own right too. My favorite is Love is a Stranger, but I like There Must be an Angel too. Mostly bc it was sampled by the Utah Saints (90s electronic band) in What Can You Do For Me. Dave Stewart is going to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fane which is a pretty big deal. 

 
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timschochet said:
31. “Here Comes the Rain Again” Eurythmics (1983, from Touch)

https://youtu.be/TzFnYcIqj6I

Back when I revealed my selection of “Sweet Dreams” at #72, several people here argued that “Here Comes the Rain Again” was the better song. I agreed with them but I couldn’t write that then; I can now. It IS a better song, partly because it’s not as repetitive, but mainly because the lyrics are so poetic, the melody is so lush, the sound is so brilliant...this is just one of the best pop songs of the 1980s, bar none. 
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Agree 100%. 

 
Great tune.

I'm hoping to just copy/paste that phrase from here on out.

For some reason, wife and I pronounce her name- len-KNOCKS. 

 
El Floppo said:
Totally missed that, but really interesting concept. Was it good?
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It was incredible back then and no doubt still has a lot of relevance today.

Between that and Scared Straight, our childhoods were forever scarred (in good and bad ways).

 
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Osaurus said:
Big fan of all things Annie Lennox. She has an amazing voice. Dave Stewart is pretty amazing in his own right too. My favorite is Love is a Stranger, but I like There Must be an Angel too. Mostly bc it was sampled by the Utah Saints (90s electronic band) in What Can You Do For Me. Dave Stewart is going to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fane which is a pretty big deal. 
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As mentioned earlier, I’m a big fan of Lennox’s voice.   It is mesmerizing.   I remember listening to a live version a few times on YouTube that was really cool.   

 
30. “Life During Wartime” Talking Heads (1979, from Fear of Music) 

https://youtu.be/OVHNwBbkSj4

The link is to a live version from the concert film Stop Making Sense. If you’re unfamiliar with this, I strongly suggest you watch it from beginning to end, as I rate this to be the single finest live performance I have ever seen captured on film or video. The entire band is simply unreal, Byrne is beyond unreal, and Tina is great and sexy as hell. 

At the end of this amazing performance, David Byrne asks if anyone has any questions. The answer, then and now, is no. 

 
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