| 1 | 1.Voyage, Voyage- Desireless
Back in the 80's, I kept a weekly chart of music. I typically completed it on Friday afternoon after work while listening to the Dare 10 on WLIR 92.7. It was followed by my weekly pilgramage to Slipped Disc Record Store in Valley Stream Long Island and then out with my friends to Reds or any of the other clubs on Long Island. While this list may not represent the best of New Wave music, it represents my favorites from a decade that was very important to me. I hope you like the list!
Voyage, Voyage was shared with me by a lovely German girl I visited in 1987. She and I were penpals for many years when she invited me over to Germany to spend my vacation with her. When she picked me up at the airport, this song played on the radio. When we went out dancing, this song played constantly at the clubs. We both bought the 12" and I still think of her when I hear the song. | |
Back in the 80's, I kept a weekly chart of music. I typically completed it on Friday afternoon after work while listening to the Dare 10 on WLIR 92.7. It was followed by my weekly pilgramage to Slipped Disc Record Store in Valley Stream Long Island and then out with my friends to Reds or any of the other clubs on Long Island. While this list may not represent the best of New Wave music, it represents my favorites from a decade that was very important to me. I hope you like the list!
Voyage, Voyage was shared with me by a lovely German girl I visited in 1987. She and I were penpals for many years when she invited me over to Germany to spend my vacation with her. When she picked me up at the airport, this song played on the radio. When we went out dancing, this song played constantly at the clubs. We both bought the 12" and I still think of her when I hear the song. |
| 2 | 2.I'm Going Slightly Mad- Queen
Queen was responsible for so much good music, but this song stood out because in my opinion, this is their "New Waviest" song with the pulsing synth beat and campy singing (by Freddie). I love this song! | |
| Queen was responsible for so much good music, but this song stood out because in my opinion, this is their "New Waviest" song with the pulsing synth beat and campy singing (by Freddie). I love this song! |
| 3 | 3.Summer in Berlin- Alphaville
Back in the 80's, I kept my own weekly chart of songs. My best friend at the time loved to chart his music and sharing our charts was a source of fun; especially end of year top 200's. His tastes tended more to the top 40, but by the mid-80's, he was also incorporating a lot of New Wave songs. Summer In Berlin also reminds me of that visit to Germany as it captures the complete feeling of Berlin for me when I returned home. Additionally, Alphaville is my favorite band of the 80's (and beyond as it turns out) and this is my favorite of theirs. I found a mini-compact disc while in Berlin with a different version of the song that I prefer; almost an extended single. | |
| Back in the 80's, I kept my own weekly chart of songs. My best friend at the time loved to chart his music and sharing our charts was a source of fun; especially end of year top 200's. His tastes tended more to the top 40, but by the mid-80's, he was also incorporating a lot of New Wave songs. Summer In Berlin also reminds me of that visit to Germany as it captures the complete feeling of Berlin for me when I returned home. Additionally, Alphaville is my favorite band of the 80's (and beyond as it turns out) and this is my favorite of theirs. I found a mini-compact disc while in Berlin with a different version of the song that I prefer; almost an extended single. |
| 4 | 4.Don't Go- Yaz
This song is amazing! I remember when Larry the Duck (WLIR- 92.7 Long Island) announced Yaz was splitting up. I was devastated as I loved every song from both their albums. However, without this break-up, we would never had Erasure. Unfortunately, Alison's solo career never took off though I did enjoy her performance with Paul Young at Live Aid. It is a shame they didn't collaborate more. | |
| This song is amazing! I remember when Larry the Duck (WLIR- 92.7 Long Island) announced Yaz was splitting up. I was devastated as I loved every song from both their albums. However, without this break-up, we would never had Erasure. Unfortunately, Alison's solo career never took off though I did enjoy her performance with Paul Young at Live Aid. It is a shame they didn't collaborate more. |
| 5 | 5.Enjoy the Silence- Depeche Mode
A brilliant song that ushered in the more mature/minimalist sound of DM. This whole album is fantastic and the video is genius. | |
| A brilliant song that ushered in the more mature/minimalist sound of DM. This whole album is fantastic and the video is genius. |
| 6 | 6.We Live so Fast- Heaven 17 | |
| 7 | 7.Don't Talk to Me About Love- Altered Images
I was changing channels one Saturday morning and this video came on. I know "Bite" was not a well received album; either critically or in record sales, but I thought it was brillant. I associated Altered Images with a very post-punky, guitarry sound with "See Those Eyes" and "Dead Pop Stars", so this took me by surprise. Very mature and almost luxuriously poppy. I went out and bought this album and all their prior ones. Claire Grogan had/has a very odd voice and I really enjoyed her take on "Song Sung Blue" from the Pinky Blue album. | |
| I was changing channels one Saturday morning and this video came on. I know "Bite" was not a well received album; either critically or in record sales, but I thought it was brillant. I associated Altered Images with a very post-punky, guitarry sound with "See Those Eyes" and "Dead Pop Stars", so this took me by surprise. Very mature and almost luxuriously poppy. I went out and bought this album and all their prior ones. Claire Grogan had/has a very odd voice and I really enjoyed her take on "Song Sung Blue" from the Pinky Blue album. |
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| 8 | 8.It's a Sin- Pet Shop Boys
This song grew on me and took some time to enter (and stay) in my consciousness. However, you can not deny the riff is classic. This is the classic PSB song for me in terms of energy, BPM, lyrics and mood. | |
| This song grew on me and took some time to enter (and stay) in my consciousness. However, you can not deny the riff is classic. This is the classic PSB song for me in terms of energy, BPM, lyrics and mood. |
| 9 | 9.Fairytale in New York- Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
Brilliant collaboration between Kirsty and Shane. This song still gives me chills when I hear it. | |
| Brilliant collaboration between Kirsty and Shane. This song still gives me chills when I hear it. |
| 10 | 10.Head Over Heels- Tears for Fears
"Songs from the Big Chair" is one of my favorite albums of all time. I remember commuting home on the train from New York City and reading my weekly Melody Maker music magazine from Britain. The center pages was an interview with the boys talking about this new album. They were very high on it and the interviewer (who had the chance to listen to the album before the interview (and before it's release) already predicted it would be a classic. Boy was he right! | |
| "Songs from the Big Chair" is one of my favorite albums of all time. I remember commuting home on the train from New York City and reading my weekly Melody Maker music magazine from Britain. The center pages was an interview with the boys talking about this new album. They were very high on it and the interviewer (who had the chance to listen to the album before the interview (and before it's release) already predicted it would be a classic. Boy was he right! |
| 11 | 11.Duel - Propaganda | |
| 12 | 12.Hold Me Now- Thompson Twins | |
| 13 | 13.A Million Things- Xymox
I was lucky to see this band play in Cologne when I was visiting Sylvia. This is an amazing group and an amazing album. You will see a lot of Xymox in my top 500. | |
| I was lucky to see this band play in Cologne when I was visiting Sylvia. This is an amazing group and an amazing album. You will see a lot of Xymox in my top 500. |
| 14 | 14.Relax- Frankie Goes to Hollywood | |
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| 15 | 15.The Different Story- Peter Schilling | |
| 16 | 16.99 Luft Baloons- Nena | |
| 17 | 17.I Beg Your Pardon- Kon Kan | |
| 18 | 18.A New England- Kirsty MacColl | |
| 19 | 19.Nobody's Diary- Yaz | |
| 20 | 20.My Ever Changing Moods- Style Council | |
| 21 | 21.Shellshock- New Order | |
| 22 | 22.West End Girls- Pet Shop Boys | |
| 23 | 23.Boys and Girls- Mandy Smith | |
| 24 | 24.Jet Town- SSQ | |
| 25 | 25.Doctor Doctor- Thompson Twins | |
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