The Best '80s New Wave Songs

Ranker Music
Updated April 1, 2024 120.4K views
Ranked By
71.6K votes
3.4K voters
7 reranks
Latest additions: It Must Have Been Love (live/studio), Mirror in the Bathroom, It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Most divisive: Holding Back the Years
Over 3.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best '80s New Wave Songs

So much of music in the '80s was defined by the new wave movement, but what are your favorite songs from the genre? Let's rank the best '80s new wave songs that truly defined the decade, with the help of your votes.

Many people think of new wave songs when they think of the 1980s, and it's no wonder why. Tracks like Kajagoogoo's "Too Shy" and Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" are the types of songs you'll always sing along to if you hear them on the radio. Even if you don't listen to '80s music, you surely know the lyrics to "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls. Another fantastic new wave song from the '80s is "People Are People" by Depeche Mode, despite the fact that the song's writer, Martin Gore, has been quoted as saying it's one of his least favorite.

Vote up the top '80s new wave hits and dance your problems away! There are so many good '80s new wave songs, so please add your own additions to the list if they aren't here already.