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What are some '80s new wave songs?
What were the best new wave bands of the 1980s?
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What is a new wave band?
Apr 9, 2022 · Here are the top new wave bands of the 80s from Chicago. Ministry; Resurrection Band; Algebra Suicide; Banda Dratsing; Bonemen of Barumba; Exene Cervenka; Hounds; Irish New Wave Bands of the 80s. Zerra 1; The Boomtown Rats; The Undertones; The Waterboys; Cuddly Toys; The Atrix; Auto Da Fé; Cactus World News; The Blades; Blue in Heaven; Conclusion
- Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Tears for Fears. 1,162 votes. Tears for Fears' soaring anthem "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" features mesmerizing guitar riffs and vibrant synths, making it an emblematic New Wave hit.
- Don't You (Forget About Me) Simple Minds. 1,117 votes. Simple Minds' unforgettable anthem "Don't You (Forget About Me)" defines the 80s New Wave sound with its moody synths and Jim Kerr's distinctive vocals.
- Tainted Love. Soft Cell. 1,086 votes. Soft Cell's pulsating cover of "Tainted Love" boasts infectious synth beats, perfectly complementing Marc Almond's signature vocal style.
- Don't You Want Me. The Human League. 960 votes. The Human League captured the essence of 80s synthpop with their catchy hit "Don't You Want Me," featuring irresistible electronic hooks and an engaging duet between Philip Oakey and Joanne Catherall.
- Duran Duran. It is impossible to have escaped the 80’s alive without grooving to at least one of Duran Duran’s songs. Based in England, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor burst onto the scene in 1981 after having worked hard throughout the end of the 70’s on their showmanship and highly polished image.
- The Cure. Not all New Wave bands took the same path towards fame and fortune. When The Cure was put together by band leader Robert Smith in 1976 in England, the original musical focus of the group was on a dark and melodic sound that would help them to define what later became known as the Goth genre.
- INXS. The New Wave genre’s inclusion of straight ahead rock music tinged with pop sensibilities was most deftly captured by the band INXS. Hailing from Australia and lead by the incredibly charismatic singer Michael Hutchence, the band spent the early part of the 80’s touring almost constantly and releasing albums largely for the Australian market.
- Devo. Some of the New Wave acts of the 1980s were just plain weird. Devo is a perfect example. Formed in 1976 in the hotbed of rock and roll that was Ohio, Devo spent a large part of their early existence mocking what their perceived as the “de-evolution” of the society around them.
- Steve Peake
- The Cars. One of the original and most musically balanced torchbearers for the new wave style, the Cars both exemplified and defined new wave with their sweeping, accessible sound.
- Talking Heads. Almost all of the early New York City punk rock bands would ultimately take on the new wave descriptor, which is actually rather appropriate given the array of experimental styles found in that city's mid-'70s scene.
- Elvis Costello. A common characteristic of the most enduring artists of the new wave era, perhaps by necessity, is an overriding versatility and searching needs to test the boundaries of what pop music had to offer.
- The Police. The proximity of the Police to the punk rock revolution in England may have had as much to do with the band's inclusion in the new wave category as its reggae-inflected sound, but the trio certainly reflected the variety ultimately housed within the genre.
- "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's. "Rock Lobster" clocks in at 183bpm, which is just ridiculously fast. It was a surf record made by weirdos from Georgia. It tears up the dance floor.
- "People Are People" by Depeche Mode. Just one of many sad songs from a man named Gore. It was their first commercial hit in the U.S. back in the summer of '85 when it peaked at number 13.
- "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners. I almost made this number one, but I have trouble giving the title to a one-hit wonder—although it should be noted that they had many ska hits in the U.K.
- "Once In A Lifetime" by Talking Heads. A surreal foresight into a midlife crisis by the Heads. Their ability to stretch the boundaries of what a pop song could be is their modus operandi.
The greatest New Wave albums of the 1980s, as voted by RYM/Sonemic users.
Apr 29, 2024 · The new wave songs and musicians of the 1980s helped to transform music into what it is today, influencing every genre from rock to pop, and many of these songs retain their popularity to this day. Learn about some of the most famous 80s new wave songs and what they’re all about.
