What is the Best New Wave Song?

The most interesting part of this thread is observing everyone's completely different takes on what "new wave" is.

This discussion has been going on for YEARS over here:

http://nwoutpost.com/forum/Default.asp

Violent Femmes | Blister In The Sun

Giant high school flash back, no one has mentioned the Swingers- Counting the Beat

Hard to choose with all the post-punk, ska and synth-pop that everyone jams into the genre.... Hmmmm...

Gotta go with...

How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths

Runners up...

Marquee Moon - Television
Doot Doot - Freur
People Who Died - Jim Carroll
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea -Elvis Costello
Just Like Nothing on Earth - The Stranglers
White Girl - X
Games Without Froniers- Peter Gabriel
I Know What Boys Like - The Waitresses
Fade Away and Radiate - Blondie
Rock lobster - B52's
Don't Box Me In - Stewart Copeland & Stan Ridgeway
Autobahn- Kraftwerk
Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs
Too Much Pressure - The Selector
Cars - Gary Numan
Saved By Zero - The FiXX
Moving in Stereo - The Cars
Take Me To the River - Talking Heads

The Nails...88 Lines about 44 Women!

I hate the term "New Wave"; it was a marketing gimmick cooked up by record execs back in the '70s who thought that "Punk Rock" was too threatening.

That being said, here are some personal favorites, a couple of which predate actual punk by a year or so, but have the punk nature nonetheless:

Personality Crisis - New York Dolls
Search and Destroy - Iggy and the Stooges
Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
New Art School - The Jam
Maybe Tomorrow - The Chords
Lambrettavespascoota - The Pop Rivets
Too Much Pressure - The Selector
Life Of Crime - The Weirdos
Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Viva Las Vegas - Dead Kennedys

My big red thong By The Flaming Croutons

Pretending to Be Drunk by Sparks
Hey Little Girl by Ice House

On 2007-01-30 23:46, Hiphipahula wrote:
My big red thong By The Flaming Croutons

The Flaming Croutons! I think I saw those guys at The Bacchanal back in '82. They opened for Flock of Haircuts. Great show (what I remember of it).

On 2007-02-04 00:13, Shipwreckjoey wrote:

On 2007-01-30 23:46, Hiphipahula wrote:
My big red thong By The Flaming Croutons

The Flaming Croutons! I think I saw those guys at The Bacchanal back in '82. They opened for Flock of Haircuts. Great show (what I remember of it).

• Spits soda threw nose... are you serious?..LOL I'm so caught

[ Edited by: Hiphipahula 2007-02-05 23:43 ]

Pretty funny stuff, Ian.

Age of Consent - New Order

On 2007-01-15 19:22, Shipwreckjoey wrote:
Love Is The Slug - Fuzzbox
W.O.R.K.(N.O. Nah NO!NO!My Daddy Don't) - Bow Wow Wow
Jet Fighter - The Three O'Clock
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding - Elvis Costello
Motorcrash - The Sugarcubes
I'm Bugged - XTC
Who Taught You To Torture? - Adam & The Ants
Cool Summer - Bananarama
Modern Love - David Bowie
Shiny Shiny - Haysi Fantayzee
Johnny Are You Queer? - Josie Cotton
Walk Like An Egyptian - The Bangles
Pretty In Pink - The Psychedelic Furs
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? - Culture Club

Joey, I like the way your ears work, do you have any New Wave Mix Tapes?

"House" by The Psychedelic Furs.

Too many to list ...But have been re-discovering the B-52s lately ...So right now , for me ...Private Idaho , Planet Claire , Rock Lobster ...band with 50's beach party / sci-fi / Gilligan's Island / surf-rock / Ventures sensibilities ...love 'em . Only in America could such a band be born .

No way to say! I am in conflict.

The Cult just played today. I can't, won't call them new wave but, it was only new wave stations playing them, 91X, KROQ & The End at the time of their heyday.

I missed the show. It was only $6. Saw them when ever Edie came out. And when they open for Guns. Blech! A comeback.

I was always a big Devo fan. Loved the B52's. The Cars, Yazz, and a few others. I kinda got sucked into the whole progressive rock thing by Jr. high with bands like Rush, Yes, UK (actually the drummer from Missing persons played in this band), Bill Bruford and a whole host of others.

If you wanna check the most happpenin 80's band on the west coast. I strongly suggest you go see the Spazmatics. They play at Butterfly every sunday night, Friday nights at Citywalk and Thursdays at the Canyon Club in Agoura. THEY SOOOO ROCK!!!

Here's their my space page. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=4613710

Here they are doing "take on me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GjDda2qhPs&mode=related&search=

Or "Cars" from Gary Newman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlzsUhf0MGQ&NR=1

Even "Girls just wanna have fun!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuWQfXXTJLo&mode=related&search=

Talk about good times!! lol!!

[ Edited by: GiantRobotTiki 2007-08-17 04:30 ]

Breaking Glass- Hazel O'conner.
Penetrators -Walk the Beat, Excitable Boy or Nervous Fingers.

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division should be in the top 10 .

[ Edited by: sushiman 2007-08-29 15:52 ]

A Forest by The Cure .

On 2007-08-29 15:51, sushiman wrote:
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division should be in the top 10 .

[ Edited by: sushiman 2007-08-29 15:52 ]

If you are a Joy Division fan, check out the band She Wants Revenge...the song "Tear You Apart".
Strains of Joy Division, New Order, Bauhaus, Peter Murphy and Psychedelic Furs...

PTD

"I Lost My Love at the Rifle Range" and "Rip Her to Shreds" by Blondie.

"Don't Go" - Yaz (Yazoo)

If Bauhaus counts (I may be booed by the goths) - "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
and Josie Cotton's "Johnny Are You Queer?"

On 2007-09-01 16:16, twitch wrote:
If Bauhaus counts (I may be booed by the goths) - "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
and Josie Cotton's "Johnny Are You Queer?"

If Bauhaus counts then I get to nominate "Elvis and His Boss" by the Residents and "Franky Teardrop" by Suicide.

I've got a few more to add later, but by far and away, the tune that ends up on ALL my mix-tapes is Devo's "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA". It makes me smile and reach for the volume when I hear the militaristic-march fade-in, and if I'm behind the wheel when 'Mr. DNA' kicks in, watch out!!

You can't forget Blancmange

Don't tell me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQbaCAlCQo

and

Living on the ceiling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L03PJeB38dI

I have so many, but!!!!

Split Enz – I Got You

Great choices here...a nice trip down memory lane.
Glad that Saxotica and Cool Manchu mentioned "Mirror In the Bathroom"....my
all time favorite sax tune.....also...
Joy Division...Love Will Tear Us Apart.

For Joy Division fans...your ship has come in!

http://www.tiff07.ca/filmsandschedules/filmdetails.aspx?id=706191033571345

I fell for the Flamin' Groovies' "Shake Some Action" first heard on a compilation album called "The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion". This was about the time Punk Rock Magazine (#2 I think) featured a nude centerfold of Debbie Harry clutching a Gibson SG (to cover up the naughty bits) and a great Iggy Pop article by Legs McNeil.

This post belongs in the "best NEW new wave song" catagory.

Check out Santogold! She is damn good. "My Superman" sounds like Siouxie and "L.E.S Artistes" sounds like Missings Persons or The Motels.

I can't see how she makes it super big but, I like it. Her stuff is played on Chill 35.

Many of my favorites have already been listed...
but I am rather fond of "Destination Unknown" - Missing Persons
and "Damned Don't Cry" - Visage.

Elvis Costello - I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea 1978 ( Live )

As usual everyone who's already posted is WRONG!

The correct answer is The Only Ones ~ Another Girl, Another Planet.

Well, that was fun and hopefully you've all learned something (Although I'm not holding my breath) now this thread can now be locked.

The End.

yep.

LOCK IT UP! :x

On 2009-05-11 22:25, Bora Boris wrote:
As usual everyone who's already posted is WRONG!

The correct answer is The Only Ones ~ Another Girl, Another Planet.

Well, that was fun and hopefully you've all learned something (Although I'm not holding my breath) now this thread can now be locked.

The End.

yep.

LOCK IT UP! :x

I second Boris on this one. The Only Ones are pretty great but what about The Real Kids?

Couldn't even narrow it down to a couple... so much great stuff...

"Teenage Enema Nurses (In Bondage)" Killer Pussy
"Ronnie's Song" LAX
"Computer Games" Mi-Sex
"Love and Pride" King
"TVOD" The Normal
"Locals Only" Surf Punks
"Are Friends Electric" Gary Numan

It was mentioned a couple of times but bears repeating because it is one of the coolest songs of all time: "Janitor" by Suburban Lawns

Almost anything by B-52s, Sparks, Oingo Boingo, Soft Cell, Wall of Voodoo, and DEVO (even "Whip It"!)

Terra
[email protected]
http://www.myspace.com/swangulo

On 2009-05-12 09:44, Swangulo Tikis wrote:

"Teenage Enema Nurses (In Bondage)" Killer Pussy

I still have the 45 RPM single of this classic w/ original full color picture sleeve...in mint condition. I hope to have it appraised on PBS's Antiques Roadshow someday before I die.

On 2009-05-11 22:25, Bora Boris wrote:
As usual everyone who's already posted is WRONG!
LOCK IT UP! :x

As usual,
Boris has a head for Fantasy!

How's about: Dreaming - Blondie
What? - Soft Cell
Radio, Radio - Elvis Costello
X Offender - Blondie
Rock Lobster - The B-52's
Eloise - The Damned
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow

I could go on, these are some of my faves. This was just a quick answer.

Cheers!

Forgive me if these are covered elsewhere, but --

The Cars -- "Just What I Needed",

and Blondie's "Heart of Glass".

The twin loins from which anything that was both New Wave and melodic sprang from.

(Back to my Ennio Morrecone now... :D )

S :wink: K

I will always love Soft Cell, Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, Killing Joke, and Siouxsie. Cheers to "She Wants Revenge" one of my favorite newer LA bands.

Didn't see any Heaven 17. How about "Let me go"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9uj98Tgm8Y

The Soft Boys - Insanley Jealous

On 2006-11-19 19:40, Pepe le Tiki wrote:
Looks like we could throw a great New Wave party!
Some more favorites not mentioned yet;
'Eisbaer' and 'Galle' by Grauzone
'Amok' by Ledernacken
'Go' by Tones on Tail
'Da Da Da' and 'Anna' by Trio
'October Love Song' by Chris & Cosey
'Interzone' by Joy Division

Love me some Chris & Cosey!
My favorite was "Hazey Days!"

On 2007-09-16 17:25, Shipwreckjoey wrote:

On 2007-09-01 16:16, twitch wrote:
If Bauhaus counts (I may be booed by the goths) - "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
and Josie Cotton's "Johnny Are You Queer?"

If Bauhaus counts then I get to nominate "Elvis and His Boss" by the Residents and "Franky Teardrop" by Suicide.

Desire by Gene Loves Jezebel.

How about "Anything,Anything" by Dramarama ??

Some overlooked eighties Eurotrash entries include:

Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand (France)

Der Kommissar - Falco (Austria)

Motorcrash - Sugarcubes (Iceland)

Autobahn - Kraftwork (Germany)

T.V.O.D. - the NORMAL (England)

Kiss Me by Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy

Didn't see the five nuggets below on any lists above

(so many titles bring back great and/or bittersweet memories...i.e. my youth!)

When I Look In Your Eyes, Talking In Your Sleep - The Romantics
Zero Hour, Nickels and Dimes, Now! - The Plimsouls
Monkey Suit - The Plasmatics
Red Shoes - Elvis Costello

I have a few others in mind but song titles or band names escape me now :(