New Wave Music

[starskin]

LittleEdieBeale, I made the shirt using an image I found and modified, iron on transfer paper and a plain white tee shirt. Feel free to steal the image and do the same, if you like. In my experice Hanes boy's large tee shirts work the best.
And YES!! to the idea of the image over substance stemming from the birth of the music video culture. Welcome to Chapter Two of my Thesis! The video era that spurred the rapid growth of NW/alternative music in the 80's and made it such a pop culture phenomenon is also the reason why so few people take it seriously. It's a double edged sword, and this is, IMO, one of the most fascinating parts of the movement. Just as punk was in part defined by its "anti-fashion", NW is defined by its outrageous image and over the top fashion sense. I think the artists really meant it as a form of self expression along with the music, but unfortunately in a lot of cases only the image remains in people's minds.

Speaking as someone who was very young in the 80's I was totally enamoured with MTV (The FORBIDDEN STATION in my house). I was in love with the lead singer from Ah-Ha because of the "Take On Me" video, and it still rocks my world. Incidentally, Ah-ha is yet another example of a terrific pop band that is better remembered for their visuals than their music. And this makes me sad.

I'm seriously happy people love this thread as much as I do. And like I said, if anyone wants to send me any songs via YouSendIt, I'd be thrilled to get them. (Kafka, looking in your direction for more Sisters of Mercy..ahem).

And word on the Cure love, satellite. Such a great and era-defining band. You're talking to someone who once danced gleefully in a crowded Starbucks when "The Lovecats" came on over the PA.

Edited to ask what everyone's favorite Depeche Mode track is, since they seem to be a thread favorite. This is going to make me sound like a total wanker, but my current favorite is "Sea of Sin". Mmmmmm. Makes me want to dance and do dirty, dirty things. Oh wait, that's just Depeche Mode in general.

[Deleted]

I think "This Corrosion" is probably one of the best, most haunting songs out there.

That's the song! (Excuse me while I head over to iTunes before I forget...)

But before I do that:

Ohh, just thought of another great group: Enigma.

Love them, too. Dammit! Now I have to go find that CD before tomorrow morning.

Welcome to Chapter Two of my Thesis!

You know, I really, really, REALLY hope your thesis is published. The new wave movement is pretty under-represented in the literary world. The punk movement has been covered ad nauseum—and depending on which country the author is from, the main theme eventually always comes 'round to a pissing contest between "punk started in NYC" vs. "punk started in Britain" argument. (And shut up, Legs McNeil—yeah, I'm talkin' about you.)

For a time right out of high school, I interned at a local radio station where they only played "new wave" music. I say "new wave" because they also played Greg Kihn (I met him ... very short dude!) and Cyndi Lauper in between Dexy's and Cutlture Club. It was great while it lasted—all six months of heaven.

[kafka]

starskin said:

And YES!! to the idea of the image over substance stemming from the birth of the music video culture. Welcome to Chapter Two of my Thesis! The video era that spurred the rapid growth of NW/alternative music in the 80's and made it such a pop culture phenomenon is also the reason why so few people take it seriously. It's a double edged sword, and this is, IMO, one of the most fascinating parts of the movement. Just as punk was in part defined by its "anti-fashion", NW is defined by its outrageous image and over the top fashion sense. I think the artists really meant it as a form of self expression along with the music, but unfortunately in a lot of cases only the image remains in people's minds.

My God! I want you to write your thesis NOW and let me read it immediately! Starskin, when (in the future) you're feeling frustrated about your thesis, low, or just without immediate inspiration, remember LittleEddieBeale and my reaction to your comments. Because you're so smart and your thesis will be brilliant!

I was in love with the lead singer from Ah-Ha because of the "Take On Me" video, and it still rocks my world. Incidentally, Ah-ha is yet another example of a terrific pop band that is better remembered for their visuals than their music. And this makes me sad.

Me too. The sad part at least. Especially because people think of "Take on me" but they have no idea of the beauty of "The Sun always Shines on TV," "Hunting High and Low," Blue-something and quite a few other songs.

But nothing makes me as sad as how forgotten and ignored are Alphaville. Without exaggeration, their music got me through a good 2 years of misery, if not far, far more. I wore out my tapes of theirs and I used to cry myself to sleep every night to their stuff. And they were trailblazers in a time when others were more pop-y or like The Romantics.

Yet, they're only known for "Forever Young" or "Big in Japan." So unfair. Especially given the incredible violin background and technical aspects to "Sounds like a Melody" which both Dido seems to have copied (Take my hand) and some other artists as well.

Okay, perhaps all that about their being minimized and pidgeon-holed applies more to the American market because I think, in Europe, Alphaville (and A-Ha too, for that matter) were known for more than just the few hits. In fact, the more I think about it, many of the comments here about smaller groups being ignored or unfairly labelled due to appearances really seem to apply mostly to the American market. Because reaction to them --- then *AND* now* --- was very different in Europe. I think it still is.

I'm seriously happy people love this thread as much as I do. And like I said, if anyone wants to send me any songs via YouSendIt, I'd be thrilled to get them. (Kafka, looking in your direction for more Sisters of Mercy..ahem).

I'd be happy to do it if I knew anything about YouSendit, how to work it or anything. Seriously, this is the first time I've heard of the place. Give me details and then I'd be happy to send, forward or whatever stuff to you. Because I'm serious, if you like Depeche Mode, you *HAVE* to listen to Cause & Effect.

Edited to ask what everyone's favorite Depeche Mode track is, since they seem to be a thread favorite. This is going to make me sound like a total wanker, but my current favorite is "Sea of Sin". Mmmmmm. Makes me want to dance and do dirty, dirty things. Oh wait, that's just Depeche Mode in general.

God, I can't do favorites or absolutes. Everyone who knows me knows that. Nor can I ever single out anything when Violator is concerned. So, excluding Violator, I will give these, in order of preference:

1- Master & Servant --- First and foremost this. Even if Violator is included. BUT... there will be some days when Violator stuff knocks this one staple off the shrine where it's on for other 360 days of the year.
2- Strangelove -- Second even if Violator is included
3- Shake the Disease
4- Lie to me
5- Behind the wheel
6- People are People. (although I'm a bit iffy on this because there are others who could possibly qualify).

Ack, who am I fooling? I can't choose between DM's stuff!!!!! It's like asking me to give up my first born child!! (Not that I have one but you get the idea,) After Master & Servant, and then (maybe) Strangelove as well, everything is up for grabs and depends on my mood, and I'm not even 100% solid on Master & Servant either!

[dwanollah]

Dudes, although they haven't really done New Wave since their first album, I've been a die-hard a-ha fan since Day One. LOVE! Their sound now is more moody/U2ish, but, except for their last album, they still got It.

Anyone remember Ministry before they went metal? "With Sympathy" was a record of perfection.

HELL YEAH!

I also gotta add my love for Bronski's "Hit that Perfect Beat," which may be a slice of New Wave Perfection.

In the last couple years, I've been rabidly downloading (legally!) music to round out my "Why Wasn't I Cool Like That Back Then" playlist to reach its Idealized state: namely, If I HAD Been Cool Back Then, This Is What I Would Have Blasted in My Dorm Room at College (if I'd gone to college around 1984). So I've been listening to a lot of artists who had one or two well-known hits and discovering that they're fuckin' RAD! Like Toni Basil and Bow Wow Wow.

However, one of the hardest things with the New Wave playlist is how much to include of artists that went through the New Wave period, but were not limited to it. Like Bowie. How much Bowie do I include. The first a-ha album is a given, but what about the second? Is Oingo Boingo New Wave or something else? Why is Icehouse listed as New Wave when they totally aren't?! Does Duran's "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" still qualify as New Wave? Ah, decisions, decisions.

And don't worry, guys, I can still listen to the occasional Depeche Mode (mixed in with other stuff), but I still get flashbacks of DumbAss, a la Federline's Popozao, playing air keyboards and lecturing me on just how and why Depeche Mode was superior to Duran Duran, and I was just a bubble-gum chewing teenybopper by comparison to his lofty position as the Greatest Depeche Mode Fan Ever.

And just to piss off Kafka (;D), I include the B-52s on my New Wave playlist (along with some other not-quite-New-Wave groups like REM, Kraftwerk and Magazine) just because I heard their songs in New Wave contexts, like on certain radio stations or compilation albums.

[CAgirl]

This is my music! I LOVE Depeche Mode! And I could never just choose one favorite song. But on the top of my list would be Strangelove, Blasphemous Rumors, Shake the Disease, Somebody, Never Let me Down Again, and the entire Violator album. The recent album is great, too, as well as Dave Gahan's solo album. (That concert was amazing!)

Ministry for me is all about Halloween!
And I pretty much agree with most of the bands you all mentioned. I love New Order as well. And back in the day REM. I was obsessed with the Green album. And yeah I like Cause & Effect as well. I liked some Smiths stuff as well as Morrissey. And seriously who didn't like Duran Duran? And then there's all those random one hit wonders.

[hbb]

I adore this thread! A few favorite Depeche Mode songs are Policy of Truth, People Are People, Enjoy The Silence, Just Can't Get Enough, and Strangelove.

[dwanollah]

Say, this could be fun... some favorite New Wave songs, by artist (non-NW songs by artist don't count):

Roxy Music: Love is the Drug (banal choice, but it ROCKS)
Paul Young: Come Back and Stay
Tears for Fears: Change and Memories Fade
Nik Kershaw: The Riddle
Cause & Effect: Something New
Ian Dury: Clever Trevor
Japan: Cantonese Boy
Go-Gos: This Town
Camouflage: Love is a Shield
Bow Wow Wow: C30, C60, C90, Go
Book of Love: Still Angry
Anything Box: Jubilation
Missing Persons: Give and Noticeable Ones
Red Flag: Count to Three
Depeche Mode: Lie to Me and Photographic
Thompson Twins: Lies
Siousxie: Hong Kong Garden
Blancmange: That's Love (That it Is)
Soft Cell: Down in the Subway
Cetu Javu: Situations
Blondie: Hangin' on the Telephone

and, of course
Duran Duran: Careless Memories

[starskin]

Kafka, YouSendIt is a free file sharing service. You upload a file to YouSendIt, it stores it for 7 days, and you can send people the link so they can download the file themselves. (link) I'll PM you--and anyone else who wants to share--- my e-mail address so there's no cluttering up the boards.

I'm glad you guys are having such a positive response to this idea. It's kind of terrifying, because as LittleEdieBeale pointed out, NW is under represented. There are so few good sources about its history, sociology and culture that I'm kinda flying blind. But then, that's the reason why I want to write about it. Because if Jazz, Hip Hop and Punk can all get their due, then why can't New Wave?

My favorite recent A-ha song is "Did Anyone Approach You". I love when he sings "It's not hopeless. Doubtful, but not hopeless". Perfect summation of a lot of 80's dance pop right there: dark, bleak lyrics set to a fun poppy dance beat. I think Punks where nihilists in that they believed in no future, but the New Wavers/post-punks were more fatalistic. They knew the future would suck, but they figured they might as well dance while they could!

And Dwan, "Greatest Depeche Mode Fan Ever"? Feh. Just set Kafka, CAGirl and me on him and we'll bring him down like a lamb amongst wolves! Synthed-out, dancing wolves!

[Casino Bride]

All the mean bullies at my high school were Depeche Mode fans ( ), so I hated them by association. It wasn't until 1993 (Songs Of Faith...) that I finally saw the light. Dave Gahan makes me melt all over.

And I didn't get New Order until the late 90s, either - and now they are second only to Radiohead in my book. (Since I adore Bernard Sumner, that includes Electronic too.)

[kafka]

dwanollah said:

Say, this could be fun... some favorite New Wave songs, by artist (non-NW songs by artist don't count):

Roxy Music: Love is the Drug (banal choice, but it ROCKS)

I like Roxy Music but my favorite version of this song is by Grace Jones.

Paul Young: Come Back and Stay

Love this song. Love it. But (please don't shoot me) INMVHO, it's SO not New Wave in my mind. I noticed someone earlier mentioned Spandau Ballet as NW and I have to disagree with that classification too. Poor Starskin, trying to define her terms and scope for this thesis is going to a B****. I don't envy her one whit!

Camouflage: Love is a Shield

AWESOME song.


I'm not sure I could do a list of favorite NW songs. I have huge problems with absolutes and lists in general. And in this field, it would be especially impossible.

Starskin, thanks for the tip about YouSendIt. How cool. I'll check out your link after my bath but I just want to warn you that you'll be getting Cause & Effect songs whether you like them or not! ;D Yes, you'll get the Sisters Of Mercy and anything else you are curious about, but C&E will come first!!! I even know the first song I'm going to select for you: "It's Over Now."

Anyone remember Ultravox, btw?

Also, I'd like to confess a huge, still rather undimmed love for Dead or Alive. You people are probably the only ones I could say this to without fearing being laughed out of town.

My people. I love you. <happy sniffle>