80s new wave

rsm

rsm

Well-known member
80s was my decade as a late teen / 20s. The Smiths, Duran Duran, The Cure, The Clash, A Flock of Seagulls, Adam and the Ants, Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Echo & the Bunnymen, Kajagoogoo, Til Tuesday, Psychedelic Furs, Simple Minds,...

but there are many obscure bands and many sound very good IMO. I found this channel years ago, and its a goldmine of obscure 80s new wave if you're into it.

so many bands/songs I never heard or forgot; it's fresh and new to me.

https://www.youtube.com/@80zforever
 
You forgot The Human League brother. :LOL:

Great list there; I like your taste.

I can predict what it is you like about all that stuff:
"Clean", sweet rhythms and drums.
Good arrangements.
Good melodies.
Original.

We seem to have similar tastes in everything from fusion to '80s to Asian stuff. I therefore conclude that you have impeccable taste.
 
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Monkey Man said:
You forgot The Human League brother. :LOL:

Great list there; I like your taste.

I can predict what it is you like about all that stuff:
"Clean", sweet rhythms and drums.
Good arrangements.
Good melodies.
Original.

We seem to have similar tastes in everything from fusion to '80s to Asian stuff. I therefore conclude that you have impeccable taste.
Click to expand...
Yes, I was going from memory...forgot a few: Joy Division, Japan, New Order, a-ha, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Gary Numan, Modern English, Pet Shop Boys Oingo Boingo, Devo, Tears for Fears, Softcell,...forgetting even more!

early 80s was the start of my era coming up; my girlfriend at the time had MTV which was heavy into new wave - the local radio stations weren't playing it much, there was only the 70s music and punk scene around me (in the late '70s / early '80s we used to sneak into CBGBs underage, did that several times, taking the metro north trains down from new haven ct to NYC).

the new wave was so different, I always liked (saw) prog bands like Yes, ELP, Pink Floyd (never saw them live), and the hard rock / metal of the 70s (LZ, Sabbath, Aerosmith, and similar), but the new wave synth music was amazing. Not many keyboard players around, and those synths cost more than cars or even houses!

Great to know we have similar music interests outside of the standard rock/metal that's most popular here. That 80z Forever channel has amazing content, there are a few "duds" still good but just not my style.

Cheers!
 
rsm said:
Real Life too!

Click to expand...

I loved Real Life. That song was their first single and of course it was awesome.

You probably know Pseudo Echo? I used to see the drummer often on the tram I took to school and a buddy of mine mimed keyboards for them on Countdown. I can only assume their keyboardist was sick.

They and Real Life were the two biggest new-wave bands from Melbourne.

Their first single:



... and some others...





 
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I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn't for your misfortune
I'd be a heavenly person today
 
As a full blown metalhead by 1982, I thought this music was garbage back then. While I still don't actively seek out and listen to this stuff, I can definitely appreciate it now. Obviously maturity and nostalgia comes into play but I think an even bigger factor in my warming up to this music is that this early 80's stuff is so superior to today's pop music, in terms of pretty much everything. Songcraft, performance, real musicianship, character, etc.
 
There seemed to be greater experimentation and creativity and risk taking to try something new in the '80s that started to wane in the '90s and later IMO.

I listen to the top ten spotify songs of the week review by rick beato occasionally, and not really hearing anything groundbreaking IMO
 
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